The Saints face some old foes from over the bridge this weekend at Franklin’s Gardens for the first time since a legendary try from former Saints great Steve ‘Wally’ Thompson broke hearts late on in January of 2005.

Many Saints supporters will remember that day, cold, foggy, cold, pretty greasy pitch and pretty cold. Llanelli, at Stradey, is always a formidable task but for Saints on that day it looked to be a task too many. Northampton had fought hard to escape a tough group, relying on the Franklin’s factor to put Llanelli, Toulouse and Glasgow to the sword. Now with memories of Stradey still fresh in the mind of almost all rugby fans around the nation we are fortunate to welcome the re-branded Scarlets to FG.

Now, I don’t know about you but I’m old school. I can’t get my head round Scarlets, or Ospreys or Blues or Dragons. I dread to think that something similar might one day occur in the Guinness Premiership simply because you could have so much fun naming Bath.

You will be pleased to know that this author has stopped himself there from going on about ball-bags, bean-sprouts and buttercups. Well, nearly.

So, Scarlets in their new guise have been doing their thing since 2003 but as we all know the clubs heritage goes back further than the turn of the century. Many a Saints supporter will recall a magical day at the Madjet where the Scarlets fell short and the Green Black and Gold went on to European glory. At this point I would like to make it clear that it’s the ‘law’ to remind everyone that “Northampton Saints Won the European Cup”. When I volunteered to do this preview I received 14 private messages reminding me of the ‘law’, one even threatened to cast a hex on me and find a way, anyway to punish me. The threat of being banished from the COYS message board and forced to spend eternity with the Fezboys was the one that forced me to relent.

Anyway, to Llanelli, I mean Scarlets. It’s quite a queer one. The Scarlets, based in Llanelli, are supposed to represent the whole of the west and north of Wales. Yet they move into a new stadium next month in the heart of, erm Llanelli Parc Y Scarlets based on…. Yep you’ve guessed it Franklins Gardens. Which is nice and you never know the time might come when we have to play there and many of us will have no trouble at all finding the loo. Still a big part of me can’t wait to visit the new stadium where unlike us have chosen to celebrate some of the clubs most famous players by naming stands after them.

Not that the Scarlets don’t have any player which we shouldn’t fear and respect playing in the current squad. Regan King is much coveted around the country, certainly one to watch as his partnership with former Wales skipper Stephen Jones continues to bear fruit. Indeed, Jones’s kicking is well regarded and respected. Discipline will be paramount as Jones is more than capable of slotting them over from almost anywhere inside the Saints half. The Scarlets are more than capable of building a score then squeezing the life out of you.  A bit like Sarries. But Scarlets perform with a lot more style, panache and ambition than those of the dark depths of Watford. Another very talented player featured in the Scarlets back line is Mark Jones, who has pace and a step that would frighten even the most determined and hard nosed defender. Yet during the Final game at Stradey on Friday night Jones jarred his knee badly and it seems he is a serious doubt for Saturdays game which a real shame as his head to head with ‘Rory’s brother’ Sean Lamont would have been a barnstormer.

Worse still for the Welsh if Jones is unavailable for the autumn internationals. Yet Leigh Halfpenny would appear to be a worthy replacement for Jones, showing spectacular form another talented Scarlet may well be an option. Morgan Stoddart has been in blistering form for his club, scoring one of the tries of the round against Stade Francais. Saints will need to be respectful of his free running ability, like Barry Davies before him he has gas and an eye for a gap. He also has the bottle and confidence to give it a go.

In the pack the Scarlets have some problems with only Vernon Cooper fit from the 1^st choice 2^nd rows.  Scots international Scott MacLeod has been banned yet again under some mysterious circumstances. Former All Black and Harlequin Simon Mailing is still injured from his appearance against the Saracens, he will be a big loss to the Scarlets, the lineout is not one of the stronger areas of the Scarlets game.

Dear old friend of King Carlos, Kees Meews is available for the Scarlets but Deacon Manu is still out with a fractured cheekbone. In the back row the formidable Simon Easterby continues to runabout like a giddy school kid walloping everything in sight while David Lyons finds he sees a lot more of the ball than he did in the gold jersey of Australia.

Saints meanwhile are looking forward to the return of King Carlos to full fitness. Being a home game you can also expect to see some of the star turns on display for our amusement. Yet the question is asked how do you solve a problem like Boom boom?

Stephen ‘Boom boom’ Myler has become almost un-droppable. And he’s done it the right way. He may be slotting over the goals for the Saints but he is also playing very well with some astute kicking out of hand a delightfully fizzing long pass reminiscent of Mike Catt in his pomp.  So where do you play him? Full back? Well that means moving Bruce to the wing or worse still relegating him to the bench. Question marks raised by the two blokes who talk during the game, sorry, commentators about the lack of leadership may be taken with a pinch of salt however. So if not full back, then inside center perhaps? Well while many folks have been quick to notice the good work of the back row, the unofficial forth member is James Downey, who may be subtle but is absolutely tireless. Like Big Q before him he offers a security blanket. With big hosses like Lyons running down the 12 channel I wouldn’t want to go in there without him.

Ok so, we play Boom-boom at 10 and move Los to 13 yeah? Well, Joe Ansbro is also in great form and is forming a brilliant partnership and understanding with Downey. He also offers a lightening fast break and his cover defense is superb. Remember were facing Regan King here, sooner or later, he will break the line.

Saints:

1 Tiny

2 Dyl

3 Big Evil- Eugene

4 Nacho man!

5 Courtney

6 Hoppers

7 Scotty Gray

8 Big bad Rog

9 Fodes

10 Boom-boom

11 Monty

12 JD

13 Joey Ansbro

14 Ash

15 Bruce

16 Sheildsy

17 Wee Tam

18 The bear

19 Chris Day

20 bluey

21 Dicko

22 Los

Scarlets:

1 I Thomas

2 Rees

3 Meeuws

4 Cooper

5 Day

6 Easterby (c)

7 N Thomas

8 Lyons

9 Martens

10 S Jones

11C Thomas

12 Evans

13 King

14 Higgitt

15 Stoddart

Even I'm not brave enough to guess the bench for the Scarlets.

The Ref is Wayne Barnes, who goes from strength to strength with almost every performance. The game is live on BBC1 and BBC Radio Northampton.

It has all the makings a right Bobby Dazzler here; Saints need a win, a good win pure and simple. The Scarlets will be giving it their all to get one over on the English but as is clearly seen over the course of this tournament the Welsh take it a damn sight more seriously than we all seem to.

I'm going for a tight-un and a good-un till late on Saints with a late surge and a trip to the Ricoh arena in march...Saints 32-23 Llanelli

Eds Note - The Scarlets Named Team is:-

Stoddart
Higgitt
King
Gav Evans
Jacob
Ceiz
Martens
Iestyn
Ken-O
Meeuws
Daf Jones
Day
Nathan T
Lyons
Easterby

PJ
Smiler
Josh
Gav
Tom
Roberts
Stevo
Jon D