Guinness Premiership Round 13

Harlequins vs. Northampton Saints

Saturday 31st January - The Stoop KO 3pm

Match preview

Sure, as we look forward to the start of the six nations the supporters begin to wonder what effect the loss of Dyl, Big Evil, Fodes, Monty and Scottie Gray will have on the side, its time for our underrated (nationally, not underrated in the realms of Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas) youngsters to step up and show everyone that not only are we stronger in depth than many had given us credit for, but we hit an awful lot harder than our weight might suggest.

Our previous meeting with the hairy ones caused a bit of consternation as it seemed there were a few amongst their number who saw us a soft touch. Ahh, don't our boys love to prove people wrong these days eh?

Sure The queens seem to have earned a large selection of new friends with some dramatic and entertaining live games against Stade Francais, whose reputation, like that of Beer'n'chips, seems to precede them much further than the selection of superstars seem capable of producing. A lesson our own club has learnt in recent years, egos, talent plus a full house stadium do not a good team make.

Still, thanks to the pandering of the Sky broadcast team their two wins against Parrisse and Co. seem to make them one of the finest sides in Europe. No one seems to dare to mention that when you watch the games again and make a point of taking the emotion out of the viewing, they erm, well, they weren't very good games in terms of skills, performance and actually try scoring opportunities.

They came to the Gardens on a high, believing their own hype and we gave them quite a schooling. Though they taught us one when it came to bleating in the press and citing players, which leads me to my next point...

This business of citing people in the press before the Citing officer has any chance to make an assessment. It's for the birds in my opinion. It's just so bloody petty. So while young Mr Skinner may be from this parish, it still seems to me that he needed to pay more attention during the tiger's classroom lessons while in the academy there. Rule number one: people in glass houses...

So if there is any danger of Skinner growing a pair and manning up, that would be great. It's a mans game remember...

 I don't normally recognise the RFU for doing anything of merit ever, the long list of things they've naused up over the last few years is longer than a Yes prog-rock acid tinged odyssey. Still introducing former players from the highest level of the game to look over citing committees and disciplinary sessions seems a smart idea, if we can just get that halfwit Blackett to put down his gin and tonic and pay attention to what they say. Here's hoping...


Quins' having reinvented themselves in the eyes of the public has given them more credence than they have normally ever received. With a history of being a ‘cup side' being prevalence by ‘flying high' in the Heineken cup  it seems interesting to me to see if Deano can get his boys to keep their feet on the ground and not look away longingly at the cup quarter final.

Still the side seems a little thin on the ground an a bit of analysis will show that the same 10 or 12 players have played pretty much every game so far this year for the Quins. Are they going to begin to feel it? Well, history suggest yes. Despite having a superb conditioning coach in Gareth Adamson there is only so much they can do to keep these guys playing and playing well. Sooner or later between now and April there is a good chance of the bubble bursting...

It could well start this weekend.

Saints supporters will have been looking to this weekend's game with one confrontation likely to take centre stage above any other. The battle between the Easter brothers sadly it isn't going to happen thanks to the EPS thingymajig. Oh well, the quest to find out who is the better of the two will have wait a little longer. Still we all know that Junior has it in the bag at the moment.

Mark's form has been nothing short of superb for the Saints this season. It has been like signing a new player for many supporters as he is finally free from injury and being given the chance to shine. Not only has he married his skills with those of his counterparts but the fierce performances have not only drawn comparison to those of his elder brother but reminded me of Mike Teague in his pomp and even harking back to Ben Clarke during his raw and intuitive breakout seasons at the Rec.

Still, who knew that he was so fast? It doesn't surprise me if I'm honest but when he has stepped into the 7 shirt on occasion this year its fit him, metaphorically, like a glove.  It also had me asking my own younger sibling why the club had never thought of playing there previously rather than sticking with Foxy through thin and thinner. The answer was not fit for human ears and certainly won't be repeated here....

I expect to see Mark playing at 7 this weekend and the saints hoping to overpower Skinner at the breakdowns. A good big'un will always beat a good little'un...

Bestie is available for the first time since his ban/ character assassination/ holiday (delete as appropriate) and I like many expect him to feature. From the bench one would imagine but will the rise and rise of Courtney Lawes continue unabated? Yeah, it probably will...

Were I to pick the side however I would go with Daisy and really put the Quins lineout under as much pressure as possible. Fuga and Brooker are not the best throwers in the world. They probably aren't the best throwers in the borough of Richmond for that matter...

Take the bull by the horns I say...

This weekend again represents a measuring stick to see just how far we have come this season. A win at the Stoop would certainly make people sit up and take notice...

Well until Will Greenwood writes that the Quins were awful and the ref had a stinker and the Saints were lucky and whatever blah blah blah he's got lined up for Sunday morning....

Saints by 6.

1) Tom Smith
2) Paul Shields
3)  Barry Stewart
4) Nacho Lobbe
5)  Christian Day
6) Juandre Kruger
7)  Mark Easter
8)  Mark Hopley
9)  Lee Dickson
10)  Stephen Myler
11) Sean Lamont
12) James Downey
13) Joe Ansbro
14) Paul Diggin
15) Bruce Reihana

16) Joe Gray
17) Saone Tonga'uhia
18) Neil Best
19) Scott Gray
20) Alan Dickens
21) Los Spencer
22) Jon Clarke

 

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