NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs NEWCASTLE FALCONS

GP: Saturday, 13^th February, 2010 – 3pm

FRANKLIN’S GARDENS

MATCH PREVIEW

Jane Austen famously wrote, “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a rugby team in possession of a desire to win trophies, must be in want of a good home record”. A very perceptive woman was Ms Austen. Fortunately, as heads turn towards the sharp end of the 2009/10 season, Northampton Saints have a home record which is the envy of almost all the teams in the Guinness Premiership. Beaten only once at Franklin’s Gardens in almost three years (by the team they play Saturday), you have to go back to March 2007 to find another home reverse, Saints being on the wrong end of the score-line at FG in a two point defeat to Gloucester. Fortress Franklins indeed!

Looking back to the equivalent fixture last term certain parallels immediately stand out. Saints were, of course, unbeaten at home and Falcons were just starting to find a bit of form, slowly steering themselves from the relegation mire. Both teams were missing key players due to the Six Nations and almost everyone was predicting a Saints win. In his match preview of twelve months ago, Simon Hendy noted, “I don't think that this game will be anywhere near as easy as it might have seemed a month ago as Newcastle are finally showing some form, but I predict a Saints win. We probably won't score a bonus point, but then I don't think we'll let Newcastle get one off us either.” So, what happened? Newcastle rolled up to the Gardens, scored 19 points in the first twelve minutes of the game and that was that. Gloom descended on the Franklin’s Faithful and a wailing and gnashing of teeth could be heard slowly emanating from St James and spread across the county like a dark veil.

Fast forward twelve months and we find the home of Northampton Saints to be a much brighter and cheery place. Saints are the only English team in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup, a home semi-final in the Loved-Up Cup and a comfortable third at this stage of the Premiership season. Which is nice. Northampton are quietly going about their business, have a settled side, even taking into account the International absentees, and appear to have the belief that they are going to win every game even if it takes the whole 80 minutes in which to do so.

For Newcastle, their form of the last few weeks has been patchy to say the least. Although winless in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, they have secured a quarter-final spot in the Amlin Challenge competition and will entertain Cardiff Blues on the same weekend that Saints travel back across to Munster in the Heineken. Premiership form is similarly very much up and down. Over the Christmas period Falcons failed to see off Leeds but then travelled to Adams Park and ground out a precious away win against Wasps. Add to that wins on the road against Bath and London Irish and it is clear that Steve Bates’ team will journey south firmly believing they can take something from this game.

As to the teams, speaking to the Chronicle (up north version) earlier this week Falcons’ coach Bates was hopeful of being able to pick his strongest available side this weekend. He is sweating on the fitness of prop Jon Golding but can welcome back Tane Tu’ipulotu in the centres after shoulder trouble. After playing just 40 minutes against Wasps last weekend, expect Carl Hayman to start in the front-row.

For Saints, Jim Mallinder’s biggest decision will be who to start at 10. Whilst Shane Geraghty has been away with England A, Stephen Myler has put in two assured performances at fly-half and I would expect him to keep the shirt on Saturday. Elsewhere, with Hartley, Foden, Murray and Lawes away, I’m not expecting too many changes from the team that took to the park against Tigers last week. However, we may see changes at centre with James Downey returning, Jon Clarke could be back at 13 and, after a week’s rest, Lee Dickson may slot in again at 9. Also back from England A duty is Phil Dowson and this impressive player should return to the XV to take on his old side this weekend.

POSSIBLE TEAMS:

NEWCASTLE FALCONS: Tait, Williams, Vickerman, Tu’ipulotu, Amesbury, Gopperth, Young; Golding, Vickers, Hayman, Hudson, Swinson, Afu, Wilson, Levi.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: Reihana, Ashton, Clarke, Downey, Diggin, Myler, Dickson; Tonga’uiha, Sharman, Mujati, Lobbe, Kruger, Dowson, Best, Wilson.

The referee is Dean Richards.

As Mr Hendy found last year, this game is a difficult one to call. We really don’t know which Newcastle team will turn up but if they come out all guns blazing it could be a long afternoon at the Gardens. However, this Saints team has evolved significantly over the last year and this is a far more street-wise unit than twelve months ago. I simply can’t see this particular side allowing Falcons the rampant start we saw in the corresponding fixture last term. It may not be pretty and it may well take the whole 80 but I’m taking Saints to prevail by around eight points.

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