Northampton Saints v Harlequins

GP: Saturday, 20^th December 2008 – 3pm

Franklin’s Gardens

MATCH PREVIEW

The Guinness Premiership returns to Franklins Gardens after the interesting diversion of the ECC over the past couple of weekends. With its return come one of my favourite fixtures and one of the things I missed during our sojourn in National Division 1 – the visit of Harlequins. In many respect they still serve as a role model for Saints on how to progress upon promotion so Saturday’s game is a real litmus test for Saints. Their first season back up got off to an even shakier start than Saints until their early season losing run was ended, kindly by Saints.  It was an intriguing encounter at the Stoop that saw a Saints side with 3 scrum halves on the pitch, one doing his level best at full back. That game was a turning point for both clubs – Harlequins went on finish 6^th while Saints continued on the downward spiral.

Not that I wish to raise the tension on Saturday but this game could equally be another seminal point in our respective clubs fortunes. Harlequins are coming off the back of two wonderfully managed wins in the Heineken Cup against one of the premier French clubs Stade Francais. We might rightly think they are knackered worn out and will do a reverse Bristol (possibly with a 2 and 1/2 twist) and field a side weakened by recent efforts. Who could blame them as we all know the premiership is a marathon not a sprint and most sides need to choose a moment to pause for breath along the way. That’s true, unless you aspire to add to your collection of silverware. Good sides have strength in depth or a way of developing a momentum throughout the season that allows them to mount a challenge across all competitions in a season.  Harlequins want to be that sort of side so being the first club to break Saints unbeaten home run right after dismantling a French side home and away is the sort of message they want to send. Make no mistake they will be up for it.

So will Saints! Like Bristol, surviving in the premiership is our top priority; unlike Bristol we are trying to mount a challenge across all competitions. Our GP survival so far is heavily dependent on home performances as, unlike our ECC efforts we have been unable to dismantle sides away in the premiership. Our last effort was away at fellow strugglers Bristol where we failed to nab an away win that would’ve bought us breathing space. All of which adds pressure on the home games and while most of us would’ve grabbed a draw with Bath at home at the start of the season, the reality left us feeling slightly robbed. In the same vein, a loss on Saturday would leave us in the relegation dog fight and make sustaining a campaign across all three competitions just that little bit harder.  We need the points pure and simple and the Bath game shows we can mix it with the best on our on turf.

Harlequins offer a tough challenge and although they have see sawed up and down the table so far  this season being as high as second at one point. That’s more a reflection of the close competition in league than any inconsistency in the visitors whose last away defeat was at Welford Rd. They have one of the best back rows in English club rugby. Nick Easter rightly attracts plaudits as an excellent ball carrying number 8 and Will Skinner leaves me wondering how on earth can a captain of the Saxons simply vanish of the international radar? Robshaw is to Quins as Gray is to Saints and equally deserving of international recognition. This back row are behind front five that may not rock the premiership but are more than capable of holding own and it includes the ever improving Percival (it always good seeing him take the field after that awful neck injury).

Behind them is Danny Care who is both a strength and a weakness with his impulsive decision making. While Evans is working his magic at 10 do not underestimate their centres – Tiesi and the explosive running of Turner hall pose a real attacking threat and our defence cannot afford some of the lapses that have let in soft tries recently both against Bath and away at Kingsholm. Turner Hall’s try last weekend may have been off a set piece training ground manoeuvre but it was beautifully executed. That’s one area Jim Mallinder has said Saints need to improve on. Their execution and finishing still lacks that final polish that gets points in the bank…

Equally we aren’t going to simply roll over – while our form away in the premiership has been less than ideal we are a strong side at home and the comeback in the second half at Bath shows this side can deliver and finish sides off.  Equally the unfortunate Bristol found Saints can be ruthless in exploiting opportunities, it does needs to be done week in week out for 80 minutes. Roger Wilson and Scot Gray have been finds of the season so far in the forwards. While the back line probably isn’t as settled, consistency of selection should evolve rather than be dictated by management policies and concerns.   Players compete for the position and play themselves into the form to get picked. Paul Diggin is an excellent example of that and is showing that locally raised small wingers have plenty to offer in the Premiership. Both teams favour similar styles of attacking rugby and it could be a very even contest on the day. Sides will kick away at their peril if it’s done without forethought as both back lines can and will run the ball right back.

Indeed possibly the most intriguing choice will be who starts at 9 for Saints – Foden or Dickson? Foden’s style has similarities with Care so picking him would keep both back rows busy. Dickson’s sharp passing would create opportunities for the back line to run onto. The  hard choice at scrum half reflects the healthy competition for places that exists in the squad and is in stark contrast to the last time these clubs met when scrum halves were playing out of position simply because they were fit and covering for injuries.

No news on team selection as yet and while Jim showed some degree of  a rotation policy when he rested key players last week that was more because they needed the rest than any prioritising one competition over another. The competition for a spot in the starting line up has seen Diggin play himself into a rich vein of form and Id like to see him lining up for the kick off right in front of C Block. The depth that’s developing in the squad means Saints can field a competitive 22 while allowing a DoR to cope with all the circumstances  a club will encounter  over the season– injury, suspension and a the need to counter a specific sides tactics. It is the execution of that 22 when the whistle goes that is regulating Saints progress at the moment. Whoever is picked needs to get the basic manoeuvres right and, more importantly, manage the referee. That we still don’t is why we are currently 10^th in the league. There is no need to panic as this is a side that’s still gelling. If there is one thing that sets Harlequins apart from us and could decide the points is that they are a more settled side that over time has gelled – 29 phases last weekend was proof of that. Fear not, our time is coming if not this season, then the next.

Both message boards contain some good debates on likely team selection and tactics and I commend them to you for their insight is better than mine. May these discussion continue in the pubs and bars on Saturday as we welcome our multicoloured visitors to Northampton. As has been said on the boards already it’s the last game before Christmas and it’s the season of good will so who cares what the result is as long as we have an entertaining afternoon.  News of the financial concerns within the GP has highlighted the fact many of us are experiencing the impact of the harsh economic climate. A Saturday afternoon is a welcome escape from all that. Charge you glasses, your voices and give a mighty welcome to our visitors. Give them banter in the bars but not an inch on the turf. Come on you Jimmies – all I want for Christmas is a win for Saints, precious league points and a safe journey all. Merry Christmas!

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

Related Articles:

• News:ECC - Saints qualify after Bristol fightback
• ECC: Bristol Rugby vs Northampton Saints - Preview
• Tales from the Members Bar v2 No 9 - Paul Diggin