Let’s not be nice to the Not-Nots...

Saturday, 18th April 2009

Northampton Saints against London Irish

Franklin’s Gardens, 3pm

MATCH PREVIEW

There’s a special place in my hard heart for the unlovable Irish rogues from Reading. As previews go, this one has gone to my head. It is personal, for reasons which will become obvious as we explore the recent history between the two clubs…

If you want the inside story on the Exiles, as they are quaintly known, the men to ply with your questions would be Saints’ ex-Exiles, Nils Mordt and Barry Everitt. (Don’t forget there are three other real Irishmen in the Saints’ squad: Best, Wilson and Shields, which begs the question as to which team has most right to be called “Irish”.)

Currently occupying a well-earned 3rd place in the GP, with Bath and Glaws breathing down their necks, London Irish will want to consolidate their place in the top 4. There was another draft, but Bourgoin tore up the script by knocking them out of the ECC. However, they have already qualified for next season’s Heineken Cup.

‘They will be really revved up’, says Jim.

On a roll, the Exiles have won their last three games in the Premiership since a 16-21 reversal to Wasps in Wycombe on 8 March. They won 32-27 against Saints at the Madstad just 4 weeks ago and are attempting to do the double over our boys this season… Irish have never done the double over Saints in the GP – let this not (not) be the first.

A bitter-sweet memory of the last game of our relegation season lingers. We had to win our final game and hope Worcester lost theirs. We did our part but Wuss spoilt the party. For Irish, Nils Mordt scored a conversion and a penalty on that fateful day, which saw us relegated from the Premiership: 28 April 2007. And the 2002 horror Powergen Cup Final defeat at Twickenham still rankles. Can anyone ever forget those dreadful plum-coloured shirts, Saints’ powder-puff defence and the humiliation of a 7-38 hammering?

Even worse was the 5-40 thrashing (away) in the 2006-07 season, which I had to witness, surrounded by sham shamrock-waving juveniles. Some recent matches at the Madstad have felt like playing inside a deserted hangar, so one thing is for sure: they won’t be used to playing in front of a full stadium – and I mean full: there won’t be a spare seat in the Gardens for this last home league match of the season. This will be our first opportunity to welcome them back to FG since we returned to the Premiership, and we need to be as inhospitable as possible. After Bourgoin, they are a crestfallen lot and see this match as the opportunity to pick up their crest and repair damaged pride. That makes them dangerous.

Head to head – Saints W18, L13 and D1 in all competitions since a 12-12 draw in November 1991 at FG.

For the hoodies and anoraks, here are the highs and lows since October 2005:

Jim in the Chronicle and Echo explained current objectives in his direct way. This match, he said, is all the team needs to be concerned with at the moment:

"We said after Saturday's game, that we want to build some momentum. We have two tough league games, starting with London Irish this week, which will be hard after they were knocked out of the Challenge Cup. The league is all they can focus on now, so they will be really revved up…”

Their [Irish] strengths lie in their kickers, for whom a hoof from halfway is a mere bagatelle (Delon Armitage and young discovery, Tom Homer, not to mention Mike Catt, twice the age of Homer), and in the try-scoring behemoths Thorpe, Ojo, Tagicacibau, Mapusua, and the other Armitage (Steffon), who is their top try-scorer. Expect plenty of drop goal attempts (even Nick Kennedy dropped one against Bourgouin!). However, Bruce Reihana has discovered that he too has a hoof like a champion donkey (remember that 50-metre penalty at the Madstad, to equal Homer’s own 50-metre effort?). Their top try-scorer is Steffon Armitage with 6, but our Digger has notched 9 tries this season.

The Exiles have scored more tries than any other GP team (58 compared with Saints’ relatively meagre 37), and they tend to concede fewer too (32, compared with Saints 35 against). Only Quins have shipped fewer tries this season to date (30). They have scored 6 try bonus points, while we have managed 2 and their points difference is a statistically startling 152 (Saints’ points difference is 11). Theirs is one of the best-performing lineouts in the GP, while Saints is the worst (see Opta stats here:

http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/202_10074.php).

The Irish Coach – Toby Booth

‘A modest man – with much to be modest about…’ – don’t be fooled by this coach’s easy manner. He is astute, cute and no beetroot…

Less than a month ago, the only difference between the sides was a controversial penalty try awarded by Sean Davey – for collapsing the scrum? This time, if we are to win, our pack must have the shove of a bulldozer and the technical discipline of an order of Jesuits;  our lineout jumpers must soar with the grace of skylarks and the grunt of a fork-lift truck;  and our defence will need to be as unyielding as a really frumpy  rhinoceros.

Likely returnees for Irish since last time: Nick (climbing plant) Kennedy, Delon (da Boot) Armitage, and Bob Casey, if recovered from injury. Shane Geraghty (on the move?) is still injured.

For Saints: Digger, Dylan, ‘Nachio, Scott Gray and Euan Murray, none of whom played in the recent defeat in Reading, due to injury, family circumstances or 6 Nations call-ups.

One of the most hotly contested areas will be the lineout and it is critical that Saints are not out-manoeuvred there, especially with Kennedy in form. Look out for the irrepressible Paul Hodgson, the versatile Peter Richards, the dexterous Danaher, the dangerous David Paice (the man most likely to get a card) … and beware, the awful dirge that is Athenry:

Low lie the fields of Athenry

Where once we watched the small free birds fly

Our love was on the wing

We had dreams and songs to sing

It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.

Join in the words, if you feel so inclined, ma non troppo. That will disconcert them! The song deals with an Irishman being exiled to Botany Bay – this game is our opportunity to exile the Exiles, our payback time for all those unhappy memories. Let it be our small birds that fly freely on the wing, not theirs. We need to give them a good dose of melancholy to take home to lonely Reading with their mournful anthem.

Will it be a tight game separated by the odd penalty, or a try-fest, fit for a diet-eschewing Saint Dom? Will the sun shine on a streaker, as it did in the away game? Will Smyler or Bruza kick a penalty from behind the Sturtridge to settle the scores? Will the astute Everitt put one over his erstwhile colleagues?

We will know on Saturday, in the Gardens, starting at 3 o’clock. This game will not be one for the faint-hearted, nor will it be one to miss.

The teams…

Saints’ team, at this stage of the season, will almost pick itself. Areas of doubt, to my mind, will operate around the second row and outside half. Courtney Lawes may sneak into the starting line-up ahead of ‘Nachio, for his speed, tackling, workrate and, well, he’s easier to lift than the big friendly Argentinean. At fly-half, there is a temptation to pick Smyler, whose form with the boot has returned, but Everitt’s snappy passing and reliable kicking – and the Irish Factor – could see him preferred. Then again, Nils Mordt might earn a place on the bench ahead of Mayor or Everitt after his exquisite performance for the Wanderers against the whole might of the Moscow State Circus (VVA-Podmoskovie).

There may be some tweaking on the wing and at full back, depending upon whether Lamont is in favour, Bruza and Foden are fit, or whether the slopes on the pitch favour young Welsh Will Harries or someone else. Otherwise, I anticipate no changes from last week, but watch out for the announcement on the Offy at lunchtime on Friday.

This is another end-of-season, crunch encounter with the Exiles. Saints must want to win this more than they do – let’s give them all the support we can muster: mournful or joyful tunes, huge encouragement for the gladiators of Franklin’s Gardens and – as always – respect for the ref, who always has the last word…

The Ref

Dave Pearson took up refereeing in 1992 – was a former winger/full back, now an international Test Match referee (since the 2007 WC). Like Sean Davey, he is a Geordie. He will not tolerate backchat or ‘incompetent cheating’, so expect some Yellows. Sir Pearson is never reluctant to use his card for ‘cynicism’ in the red zone. He could be the new Spreaders – chirpy, cheerful, fit and fearless when it comes to standing up to Big Unfriendly Giants. His threatening catchphrase is: ‘You know what I'll do…’.

The referee is always right – even when he is wrong. Just remember, whatever the result, don't blame the ref …!

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