Morning all...

Saints certainly seem to be going hell for leather in pursuit of the European Challenge Cup. In the space of ten days the two French sides in our group have both been despatched with half century plus scores. Last week it was Toulon who were taken apart at the Stade Mayol, this week back at the Gardens it was the turn of Montpellier Herault to be put to the sword. To be fair to Montpellier they appeared to make more of a fist of it, quite literally in some cases, than Toulon but ultimately it was their discipline that let them down. Certainly the best team won on the night but with a full compliment the French side might have been a lot, lot closer than the drubbing they got. They showed glimpses of what they are capable of and in the return at the Stade Yves du Manoir in January, especially if they chose to select all their big guns, they might be a completely different proposition on home turf.

Apart from possibly Biarritz in the Heineken a couple of years ago the Montpellier supporters who travelled to the Gardens on Saturday must have been the biggest compliment of fans we have seen so far from over the channel for a European game.

Much as we try we cannot offer the same delights, or the same climate, as the south of France and I know in their shoes I would think twice before making the trip. So well done to those that made the effort and well done to the Montpellier club who the previous week had drawn twelve supporters names from a hat for free trip alongside the players to England.

Meanwhile though it is the Saints that are flying high at the head of the ECC group two table with a maximum ten out of ten points and qualification for the knockout rounds of the cup looking a good prospect. With it being the only group that contains two French and two English clubs it always looked like the hardest to qualify out of but not counting too many chickens just yet we are in the driving seat for a quarter final spot and fingers crossed maybe a seeded home tie too at what is increasingly becoming Fortress Franklins once more.

FEZHEADS

We take a break from European competition now until a double header against Bristol (not exactly the Côte d'Azur) early in December. This week it's back to the least loved competition, the EDF Cup and a Pool D game down at Vicarage Road on Sunday.

Again after the first round of games and the bonus point win over Bristol Saints sit with maximum points at the top of the group and with the visit of Llanelli a week on Saturday to the Gardens a victory down at Watford could see us a long way to a semi-final spot at the Ricoh Stadium in March. As Sarries showed in the Guinness Premiership clash a few weeks ago they can be formidable opposition though especially up front but as with any team in this competition you are never quite sure what quality of opposition you will face.

The question as always is just how seriously some clubs and indeed we supporters (I will not be going this week) are taking this competition. Like some French clubs in the EEC it seems an inconvenience to most and the news that the EDF may be played over international weekends next year has not come too soon. With clubs shorn of their internationals, especially the Welsh provinces, it will in all essence be a second tier competition; exactly how some clubs treat it now. At least then we will know where we stand. However I think it might even encourage more people to attend with EDF games probably watching up and coming talent at lunchtime then the international games on screens in the bars in the afternoon, so maybe financially the clubs may not lose out too much.

This week though I hope the lads carry on in the same vein as the previous two weeks.

I may not have much interest in the EDF myself, especially a visit to Watford on a Sunday, but in the big scheme of things if we can keep the ball rolling over the next couple of weeks and take that confidence into the return to GP action in mid-November then all the better.

Royal Scots Gray

A big well done to Scott Gray in his selection for the Scottish squad in the upcoming November internationals. As I said a few weeks ago I did Scott a disservice before the season proper started by suggesting we looked a bit light at openside. Since that GP opener against Worcester he has improved week in week out and now looks to follow in that long line of those that have worn the Thistle of Scotland and the Gold, Black and Green as he joins Sean Lamont and Euan Murray in the squad. In the professional era Saints by far must have supplied more Scots to their international side than any other English club with the likes of Budge Pountney, Gregor Townsend, John Leslie, Mattie Stewart and Tam Smith amongst many, many more. As that number builds again I'm reminded why Michael Dods thought the crowd was chanting ‘Jimmy's, Jimmy's' during the demolition season of the mid 90's. Of course we all know it is because the clubs in St James but Gregor Townsend had convinced him (with a little help from Russ Abbott) that it was in homage to our Scottish players. I may be a dyed in the wool Englishman myself but as the son of a Scottish mother long may this connection continue.

SWH 7

As I sit here writing this it is the Tuesday after the Saints with Heart walk and I'm still nursing blisters. I should not moan too much though, it was all in a good cause, the near 100 people who took part, including Matt Lord and Neil Best, seemed to enjoy the day and once again whoever controls the weather was smiling on us yet again. It is hoped at least £10,000 was raised this year taking the SWH total to well over £80,000 in the seven years it has been running. So a big thank you to all those who contributed, those who walked, but probably most of all the organisers especially Paul Flatt who for the last couple of months has been running round like the proverbial blue backsided fly in making it all happen. Well done to all and here's looking forward to SWH8 in 2009 blisters or not.

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