Northampton Saints v Worcester Warriors

Guiness Premiership Round 1

KO Sunday 7th September 1:30pm - Franklin's Gardens

Northampton Saints are back in the Premiership. But what does it all mean? It means tension more than anything else. Plus early nights on Saturdays, hangovers on Sundays and once again buying newspapers on Sundays and Mondays. God how I have missed it all.
 
This month's Rugby World carries an article on the Saints, Stuart Barnes is on his way and Barfly was on Jagger and Woody. The boys are back on the media radar and let joy be unrestrained.
 
First up are the cuddliest of our comforts in the torture chamber, Worcester Warriors. Before the Saints went down we became absorbed into a kind of group hugging with Wuss as if we were both waiting for Davina to announce which one of us was to be evicted. It may well be the same again next April, but let us dream on for now.
 
Despite all the luvvie duvvie stuff off the pitch these two teams tend to slug it out on the pitch. There have been some great battles in recent years, none more memorable than when we all went to Sixways in 2005. The Warriors won then and overall despite the odd blip that is how it has been since they first arrived in the Premiership. Saints have to change things around and Sunday would be a great place to start. With recent history showing that newly promoted teams take a while to get adjusted we cannot afford to start slowly and do not want to drop points against Wuss or Newcastle; Wasps and Tigers wait beyond those two so a bad start would make things tricky. Confidence would take a battering.
 
Here are the two selected sides...
 
Saints
 
15 Bruce Reihana (capt)
14 Chris Ashton
13 Jon Clarke
12 James Downey
11 Sean Lamont
10 Carlos Spencer
9 Lee Dickson
1 Soane Tonga'uiha
2 Paul Shields
3 Euan Murray
4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe
5 Christian Day
6 Neil Best
7 Scott Gray
8 Roger Wilson

Replacements
16 Dylan Hartley
17 Tom Smith
18 Alex Rae
19 Mark Hopley
20 Ben Foden
21 Stephen Myler
22 Joe Ansbro
 
 
Worcester
 
15 Chris Latham
14 Rico Gear
13 Dale Rasmussen
12 Sam Tuitupou
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Matthew Jones
9 Matt Powell

1 Matt Mullan
2 Aleki Lutui
3 Tevita Taumoepeau
4 Greg Rawlinson (c)
5 Craig Gillies
6 Netani Talei
7 Tom Wood
8 Kai Horstmann

Replacements                                                                             16 Chris Horsman
17 Chris Fortey
18 Will Bowley
19 James Collins
20 Ryan Powell
21 Loki Crichton
22 Chris Pennell
 
What are the key issues and matchups for Sunday then? Well you probably have loads of your own but here are just a few of mine....
 
Franklins Gardens v Travelling Wusses
 
You might think that Old Pete has retired to a care home by moving to a seat. Not so.  Think again. C Block has deployed a brilliantly devised strategic manoeuvre by placing it's Commander-In-Chief  in a position that rouses support and surrounds the enemy. By all accounts from the Wuss board, they will be massing in vocal numbers, but what hope have they when so suffocated by the traditional efforts of C Block and the newly roused South Stand? So gargle heartily in the morning, for you will be warbling mightily in the aftenoon!
 
Ashton v Latham
 
After a brief look at the Warriors site they seem cock-a-hoop about having Chris Latham. Despite this I have never been fully enamoured with and less so convinced by him. One of my favourite all time moments as a follower of sport was at the Gabba in Brisbane in 2001 when the Lions faced the Aussies in the first test. Early in the game Jason Robinson was given a little running room on the left wing. Up strolled Latham and showed him the touchline in his confident style that seems to say "come on then son, take me on". Well Jason did and within a whisper Latham had his face in the turf as he groped at a faint whiff of embrocation and a few floating blades of grass. Latham looked cumbersome and slow. That was a long time ago I accept, but I have never been able to shake the image whenever I have watched him play; which is strange really because when he has the ball in hand and running at defenders he seems blindingly quick and difficult to pull down.. We all know about Ashton, although he is not to be compared with JR, I am really looking forward to these two meeting up. My money is on who is attacking at the time.
 
Mallinder v Ruddock
 
Both coaches will know the importance of this fixture. Will they play a positive game or look to keep it tight? Who has best prepared and selected their side to match the ELV's? Both these two have a lot of respect in the rugby world and will want to consolidate that with a solid start to the season. On the face of it, both seem to have packed their respective back rows with quality. If kicking is the new name of the game then running back should ensue on Sunday.
 
The Packs
 
Despite my limited knowledge of these things I am suddenly optimistic. For the first time in ages I am really excited by the Saints pack. There seems to be genuine competition for places with quality players in all positions. Neil Best plays with the heart of Blowers and the ferocity of a Burger. With Lobbe and Wilson and the all-surprising Gray things are looking good, let us hope they can keep up with the Premiership standard and stay free from injury. I don't know very much about Worcester other than the fact that Gillies has been a pain in the backside for a long time. Horsmann seems to be a bit of a naughty boy, let us hope we get to see him.
 
The Johnston Factor
 
What the flippin' heck happened to Courteny Lawes? And Tonga'uiha? And James Downey? They have been toned and chiselled during the summer so that they are barely recognisable from before. We had been told that Nick Johnston had the team working early and hard in the summer, and now there is concrete evidence. If the team are as fit as we are told then we should be able to compete, throughout the season.
 
Foden v Dickson
 
If  Mallinder and West wanted competition for places, then they have got it at No.9.  It is a massive statement of intent from Mallinder and West to start with Dickson in this game. If the rest of us apply the old adage that form is temporary and class is permanent, then our coaching team are applying a new one that says something along the lines of "recent form is the priority, use it or lose it."
 
I could go on for ages.... Dylan on the bench? Are the Wuss backs as dangerous as they sound with Rico Gear and Miles Benjamin? No Pat Sanderson? How fit is Lamont? Will Tiny be as good as he looks?
 
Sunday cannot come quickly enough. I have missed it, moped about and sulked for too long. I have been to the manicurist, taken the antacids, booked an emergency visit to the quack for Monday and never really gave up my seat at the AA anyway.
 
Having been told off by the Frooners, I must now predict..................Saints by 12
 
Bring it on.

Kenny & Leisa

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