Tales from the Members’ Bar

Volume 2 No 3  Christian Day

The Background

Rumours that Christian Day was coming to Northampton started way before the end of last season. A boy from Blackpool where he attended the Arnold School and played his early rugby for Fylde, Christian had been at Sale Sharks since he became a professional rugby player. He had done his apprenticeship at the club and represented England at age-group rugby.

After three solid seasons in the first team, opportunities were suddenly limited. However, the rumour had to be put on hold while he went to Paris. Stade Francais required another lock forward and Christian was the man who fitted that particular bill.

The sojourn was not without incident. In the lead up to one game – quite a crucial match against Biarritz – there had been some high jinx in the changing room (a break-dancing competition or something similar) when one of les entraineurs entered the room. The extent of the sense of humour failure can only be gauged in the fact that the coaching staff went on strike. They refused to take training, refused to take part in preparation for what was one of the season’s defining matches.

Stade went on to win the match and the wounds healed quickly. Goodness me, the French, eh?

Northampton’s New Saint

On his return to England, the rumours turned out to be true and he found his new home from home with the Saints. There were lots of familiar faces around with five recent Sale players in the squad and, of course, the master torturer himself, Nick Johnston.

Pre-season went well and probably helped that he had already had such hard preparation before. As you might expect, he is very enthusiastic about most things Northampton and Saints. He made particular mention of the input players have in training. Players identify for themselves areas for improvement and development. Time is set aside for those specific sessions and players opt in for those they feel will be beneficial.

He has never been anywhere with quite Northampton’s preoccupation with rugby. It is amazing. For those that may be interested in domestic arrangements, Christian is about to change his. While one eligible young man disappears from the scene, it means that Scott Gray could be looking for a house share.

On match days, Christian is our line-out captain. He makes the calls and everybody else makes them happen. Calls vary depending on whereabouts on the pitch the line-out is being taken. Like many other facets of our game, it is still coming together, there is room for improvement. He does not think that the ELVs have had any major effect on the forwards’ game. The most beneficial, as far as he is concerned, is the two-metre separation of the man stationed in the five-metre area from the main line-out. Being able to lift the first man in the line was too much of an advantage to the side that just relinquished possession.

While there are fewer mauls than previously, the maul is not dead. As evidence he pointed to Monday’s Wanderers match where drives came up just short.

Everybody still seems to be working out how best to defend at a line-out and we work hard on the training field to get the right balance between attacking the line-out and being ready to defend across the pitch.

Everyone is focused on this weekend’s game. No, Wasps have not started well. Yes, there will be a big and passionate crowd. Nobody wants to be the start of Wasps winning streak especially those of us here at Franklins Gardens.

Amen.

And Finally…

Daysy never has Marmite.

His favourite biscuit is, “Them all!” There is not much room for them in his diet. Big Brother is watching, otherwise he would have more than his modest allowance of Chocolate Hob-Nobs.

The bite-sized coaching tip: play what is in front of you and enjoy what you do.

arw

19.9.2008

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• Tales from the Members Bar vol 2 2
• Tales from the Members Bar Volume 2 No 1