By Stockers
February 28 2003

Now, anybody reading some of our predictions for Sunday's Cup Semi could be forgiven for thinking that some of our number have written the team off already and are anticipating defeat as surely as rugby club mascot's heads are to disappear!! So to any of the players who read these messages and we know for a fact that some do, let us just assume that this is "managing expectations" by supporters. We have all borne witness to disappointing performances against Irish, not least the Cup Final last year, where we foolishly believed our own press and thought we only had to turn up to win. Some of us don't want to take the hurt at the hands of Irish once again.

But this game is huge. It is important for the players and coaches who suffered the humiliation and embarrassment of Twickenham 2002 and for the fans who witnessed it all unfolding before them.

It is our chance to put all that behind us. To front up and show Irish who's best and to have the opportunity in successive years to be in a Twickenham final. To take that chance to put things right and put disappointment behind us.

The Saints will not take to the pitch at Oxford with anything less than determination to succeed. Those who were on the field last year for the Final will, I hope, want to take the opportunity to get the message across to Dr Venter and his team mates that Saintsmen have pride in the shirt and the club and that they want their fans to head north up the road to Northampton with happy hearts after no side on Sunday and with anticipation of a forthcoming Final appointment at HQ.

To all of us as supporters falls the duty and responsibility to be as supportive as our tradition as Saints fans requires, to get behind the boys on the pitch 110%, to keep it going even when behind, to encourage those Saintsmen to raise their game just a bit more to keep the Irish out and to keep our part of the scoreboard ticking over.

The Irish will make noise with their singing, their drums and bodhrans, maybe even their eccentric air raid siren and certainly their very loud green wigs! Stay focussed Saints, keep the faith, keep supporting, keep shouting, keep singing, keep applauding and for the boys on the pitch, keep playing like this was the last game of rugby you were ever to play in your life and the game you wanted to be remembered for.

Now, let's all of us go out there and let's give 'em hell!