By Chris B
December 10 2008

For a fourth time this season (there will be a fifth) Northampton Saints take on Bristol Rugby this weekend in Round Four of the group games in the 2008/9 European Challenge Cup. After the fun and games at Franklin's last Saturday, can Saints repeat the full-on 80 minute effort and come away with that elusive away win? Chris B looks forward to Sunday...

BRISTOL RUGBY vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

ECC: Sunday, 14^th December 2008 – 3pm

THE MEMORIAL GROUND, BRISTOL

MATCH PREVIEW

It’s Round 4 of 5 as Saints make their way once again south along the M5 for the season’s second trip to the Memorial. Saints narrowly missed out after their last visit; surely lightning doesn’t strike twice?

Playing under what are apparently completely different philosophies, Jim Mallenders men are looking for consistency and to build up a string of results while Richard Hill has been employing the Alex Ferguson 2-team method; a first choice for the Premiership and a second choice team for the distractions. A method so far not bearing fruit in either competition as the West Country side have so far only picked up a total of 11 points in all competitions; albeit 4 against Saints.

But, otherwise there’s not much more to say about fixtures between the 2 sides. Saints have generally had the rub of the green so far. Saints have scored 109 to Bristols 34, Saints have 15 tries to Bristols 5 and of the 240 minutes played, Bristol have been down to 14 men 30 while Saints for a measly 10.

I do pity whoever has to sort out the preview for the 3rd of January!!!!

Richard Hill has hinted he wants to keep out the same side which suffered the 10-try mauling against Saints last week at FG, which for those of us with a short-term memory was;

15. Vunga Lilo
14. Tom Arscott
13. Luke Eves
12. Kevin Maggs
11. Anthony Elliott
10. Adrian Jarvis
9. Graeme Beveridge
8. James Phillips
7. Redford Pennycook
6. Matt Salter ©
5. Dave Attwood
4. Mariano Sambucetti
3. Peter Bracken
2. Scott Linklater
1. Mark Irish

16. David Blaney
17. Ray Hogan
18. Nathan Budgett
19. Alfie To'oala Vaeluaga
20. Haydn Thomas
21. Chris Ashwin
22. Lee Robinson

As for Saints, more of the same will be the welcome order of the day as the boys in Black, Green and Gold look to all but secure their quarter-final spot this weekend. There’ll be no complaints from me to see a 22 of ;

1. Tiny
2. Hartley
3. Murray
4. Natcho
5. Day
6. Bunny
7. Gray
8. Rog
9. Dickson
10. Smyler
11. Digger
12. Downey
13. Clarkey
14. Flash
15. Chopper

16. Shields
17. Wee Tam
18. Rae
19. Hoppers
20. Pop Idol
21. Los
22. Mayor

The main part I’d like is the return of the messiah to his 13 shirt and the start of a long, unbroken run of good form and no injuries. I also believe that should he make a successful comeback, it’ll maybe be the catalyst for a second half of season revival similar to what we all remember from a few years ago… That also started with an away win in the West Country.

So a prediction for Sunday?

Home advantage is always a factor to be considered (and if anybody should know about that, it’s us), but really the side that Bristol put out against us last week was boys against men. Unless there’s wholesale changes in both tactics and personnel from Mr. Hill, to say Saints are capable of putting 50 over the home team wouldn’t be unreasonable. The real question will be down to Saints leaky travelling defence which tends to haemorrhage once the hour mark of any game is reached. Should Saints plug the wholes, I can’t see any problems and a 5 pointer really shouldn’t be a problem.

Whichever way, it should be a game to remember. Come on Jimmies!