Tales from the Members’ Bar

Volume 2 No 4  Carlos Spencer

The Scene

One of the realities of life while Saints were in National League One was that until Chris Ashton was re-writing the record books, the national press did not feature at Jim Mallinder’s little mid-week gatherings. Dylan Hartley and Chris Ashton are not sent into bear-pit to have each and every syllable analysed and interpreted. Older heads and safer hands are usually on hand to discuss the issues of the day – well the standard answers to the anticipated questions about the forthcoming match. While the strengths of the opposition are listed and enumerated, weaknesses, if such there are, are diligently avoided in the conversation.

Last season, it took thirty tries and from Chris Ashton, a declined interview and a journalist from The Guardian to get Carlos Spencer to the starting blocks. This season we have already seen The Independent’s rugby correspondent. This week it was the turn of The Times (and television). Carlos was a man in demand.

If that has set the scene, now comes the confession. I was unable to get my five minutes exclusive. The bite-sized coaching tip and the latest vote in the Marmite debate have to wait for another day. I am not sharing my information with our local paper or radio stations. No, not even with the man from The Times.

In the Court of The King

A very fit-looking Carlos Spencer sat down between the microphones to tell us what we all knew – his name and position. He was quite firm that the changes to tactics brought about by the experimental law variations have very little effect on the way he tries to play the game. While there seems to have been more kicking across the board, it is, he believes, the result of a conservative approach being taken to the game. Risk-taking is down.

Apart from getting himself fitter than he has been since he cannot remember when, Carlos has been practising his tactical kicking. With the way the “gate chase” has been working, kicking, thus far, has served Saints well. He does not expect this change in emphasis to be permanent. Once sides start to counter attack from ball kicked away, there will be a re-think and he is looking forward to running a bit more ball.

Needless to say, Carlos and the squad as a whole are pleased with the start to the season. The Newcastle game was one that got away which is frustrating. The game could and should have been won in the first half but there was no excuse to be made for the second-half performance. Registering two wins at home has been really important. Having been out of the loop for a year, you are never too sure at what level you will be when you return – especially with a number of new players that have never played in the Guinness Premiership before. The new guys have settled in really well. Winning and winning well in front of a big home crowd is a great boost for the team’s confidence. The noise and support from the crowd against Wasps was tremendous.

The area in which everyone is looking for improvement is the breakdown. Although it seems that it is largely a matter of interpretation, our discipline needs to be better. If we can improve that and get five phases or so going, without giving away what seems to be an inevitable penalty, we can do some damage to teams.

Saracens are on the horizon and it just goes to show that there are no easy weeks in this league. Saracens have a big forward pack with some outstanding players in it. Their half-back pairing of de Kock and Jackson certainly knows how to run a game and they have pace and talent outside. It will be a tough game.

Eavesdroppings

Jim had delegated his duties to Dorian West and while I was not part of this particular circle, I was close enough to hear some of the questions and answers. Having observed Jim Mallinder on such occasions fail to answer a question with a mixture of charm and verbal dexterity, Dorian tackles such things in a more direct way. In the wider world it would be like tuning in to Prime Minister’s Questions and finding John Prescott at the despatch box instead of Tony Blair.

Sarries: they have a big pack of forwards; they are going to be hard. I have played at Vicarage Road; it is going to be hard.

The palpable improvement in the performance of our pack with special reference to Soane Tonga’uiha and Euan Murray: What do I do? I talk to them, every day, about scrummaging.

On candidates for Lions selection: Nothing to do with me! And anyway it is too early. Playing well week in week out for your club is what matters. Recognition can and will take care of itself. You start thinking about that now and you are in trouble.

Soane Tonga’uiha: He will not be a Lion.

Dylan Hartley: needs to realise that doing his own job well is the way in which he benefits the team most. He has plenty of ability outside that but that is extra. Scrummaging and throwing in to the line-out are his most important jobs.

arw

25.9.2008

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