NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs. HARLEQUINS

Friday, 6th January 2012 - 7.45pm (ESPN)

FRANKLIN'S GARDENS

MATCH PREVIEW

Saints take on Quins for New Year's Honours

The first game of 2012 sees first v third at the Gardens. A Harlequins side which has only suffered two defeats this season takes on a Saints team who have lost only one of their last seven league matches.

While the home team's form may have been less spectacular than the visitors this season, they have scored at least twenty points in the last thirteen games - including (winless) visits to Thomond Park, Welford Road and Stade JP Antoine. In the process they have scored 46 tries and conceded 20, with many of the games still in the balance in the last quarter.

In fact, that has been Saints problem in some matches - dominating opponents in terms of possession and territory, but not scoring the points to put the game out of reach. Add to that convincing wins over Saracens, Exeter and Bath but only scoring three tries in each, they could be more comfortably ensconced in third place.

Harlequins, however, started the season with a bang having won their first ten games (then again, Saints won nine out of their first ten last season...) before slipping up against Saracens in the "Big Game" at Twickenham last week. That is their only domestic defeat - the home loss against Toulouse was avenged the week after in France - so can Saints add another "L" to Quins results sheet?

Quins struggled at Sandy Park last time out, with Rory Clegg missing five kicks but bagging the last to take the spoils. Having to play on Saturday following a Tuesday afternoon game didn't help, in addition to missing Evans and Easter - who may both be fit again for Friday's match. Mike Brown is definitely a dangerous player - he ranks in the top five for clean breaks, metres gained, defenders beaten and try assists. Then again, he's top of the turnovers conceded...

Saints last minute try through ex-Falcon Tom May secured a first league five pointer since...Tom May scored two of the six tries against Falcons at FG. However I doubt Quins will give Saints so much possession from lineouts (though Christian Day still tops the lineouts stolen table, not bad considering the Newcastle match was only his seventh appearance) and Saints cannot afford to make as many elementary mistakes in both handling and kicking against the league leaders.

My predicted team (depending on whether Lawes, Calum Clark, Wood and Elliott are fit or not):

Tonga'uiha

Hartley

Mujat

Sorenson

Manoa

Dowson

Nutley

Wilson

Dickson

Myler

Ashton

Downey

Pisi

Artemyev

Foden

Subs: Waller, Haywood, Doran Jones, Day, Craig, Roberts, Lamb, May.

However, I wouldn't be surprised to see Armstrong, Cato or Tonks involved somewhere along the line.

My predicted result: Saints, by a few (Quins to get a losing bonus point) in a tight but entertaining game.

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