By Mark H & You
July 9 2003

And so to part two…if anyone’s wondering what happened to the Most Disliked Opposition category, Rich and I decided to pull it as (a) it would fan unnecessary flames and (b) we’d probably have needed the services of Broonie! Best Opposing Player 2002/03

JONNY WILKINSON    25.00%
James Forrester        23.08%
Richard Hill        7.69%

No-one else got more than one vote, but those that impressed you were Xavier Garbajosa and Christian Labat (Toulouse), Jake Boer, Phil Vickery and Ludovic Mercier (Gloucester), Paul Sackey and Chris Sheasby (Irish), Jason Robinson (Sale), Phillippe Bernat-Salles (Biarritz), Gus Pichot and Felipe Contepomi (Bristol), and Thomas Castaignede (Sarries).

Not a surprise to see the World’s Second Greatest Fly Half at the top of the poll, his performance against us at Kingston Park was immense.  My memories of Forrester this season don’t come from any of the Glaws matches, but his performance for England A against Scotland A at the Gardens, where he proved that he could do just as good a job on the wing as in the pack (and for those in Block C who remember it “Run Forrest Run!!”.  Air Ben tried it the other way against Bris a few weeks later…

Comments

“Not Kenny Logan”
“Richard Hill - without him Sarries would be in the first division”
“Probably James Forrester who has a big future”
“Jonny Wilkinson - perfect 10”
“Castaignede, the bloke’s a star”
“Where do you start?  I was impressed with the Contepomi/Pichot partnership but we’ve seen so many good opponents this season.”



Who most personifies being a Saint?

MATT DAWSON    19.23%
Keith Barwell        11.54%
Wayne Smith        9.62%
Geoff Allen        7.69%
Peter Jorgensen        7.69%
Matt Lord        7.69%

Other votes went to (in no particular order) John Leslie, Jon Phillips, Paul Grayson, Tom Smith, Andrew Blowers, Nick Beal, Budge Pountney, Bernie, and the supporters.

I didn’t know what to expect when I put this question across, although I did think it would be Uncle Keith who ended up topping the poll.  Congratulations therefore to Daws, who seems to be enjoying every minute of his rugby in the GB&G, and is as determined as we all are to see a trophy back at FG.

Comments on Matt Dawson

“…you can tell how much he wants to win something for the club having missed out in 2000”
“…as he always come to say thank you to the crowd and his champers moment at the semi”
“…cut him in half and he’s got Northampton written through him like a stick of rock”
“… Saints through and through - loyal - inspirational - wears his GBG scarf with pride when being interviewed on the touchline!”
“Close call between Daws and Bealer but I always end up back at Daws.  I always feel Daws appreciates the fans as much as we appreciate the team.  Definitely a true club man.”

Comments on Keith Barwell

“…must be the most passionate chairman around and not afraid to speak his mind even if it can get him into trouble with the bigwigs”
“…his dry wit and laid back attitude before the game at WR”
“So many.  Nick Beal for honest endeavour.  Likewise Matt Dawson, Budge Pountney, Jon Phillips, Paul Grayson, Andy Blowers, Jorgy, Wally.  They are all outstanding club men.  Given the fact that I can’t single one out it must be down to Keith Barwell.”

Other comments

“Wayne Smith, he has a humble belief in putting rugby first and is a superb role model…”
“Wayne Smith - for his knowledge and love of the game, the way he cares about the supporters and in such a short time the way he clearly loves the club and everything it stands for.”
“Smudger, he now lives and breathes for the Saints”
“…Geoff Allen…his incomparable, wry comments together with his traditional approach in welcoming the opposition and without hectoring the crowd with the silly inane twaddle/music that nearly every other club now seems to go in for, has been and remains an absolute joy.  It sums up exactly what watching and supporting the Jimmies is all about.  Long may he continue!”
“Geoff the PA man.  He demands respect for the opposition, has a sense of humour and does a great job.  I loved his remarks when Ben Cohen came on in the scrum in the Bristol game (‘should be an interesting ten minutes’)”
“Peter Jorgensen - continued to give everything to the cause despite knowing he would not be staying with the club next season.  Loves the club, the supporters and the town, felt our sorrow after the
“Peter Jorgensen, he’s been in love with the club since he got here”
“Matt Lord, his attitude and commitment typify the Saints will to battle”
“Matt Lord - battles hard even though he’s just arrived”
“Matt Lord - grunt in the pack, 110% heart, playing to his best ability, not as naturally gifted as others.”
“John Leslie, because he’s indecisive and only turns it in every now and then”
“Nick Beal.  Has been with the club for donkeys, still turns out every week, puts his heart on his sleeve and plays as well as he can.”
“Andrew Blowers - he is a top player and really nice guy whose way to top honours has been blocked by NZRU.  He goes out and gives his considerable best every time he dons the green, black and gold.”
“Bernie.  He’s at most games, has a sense of humour, and follows a great club.”
Powergen final and still remained dignified when others would have criticised the club for letting him go (knowing that the club was bigger than any individual and at the heart of all we believe in).”
“…Tom Smith, for overcoming handicaps”
“Paul Grayson - marvellous turnaround from the last couple of seasons and a true club man”
“Jon Phillips - he’s totally committed whether he’s on the pitch or supporting the players from off it”
“Budge, coming back from an injury that would put most off rugby for life, he gave up on Scotland but committed to the Saints for life…good man”
“Anyone who watches, because it is what they like doing most”



Who would you most like to see in a Saints shirt in 2003/04?

…otherwise known at the COYSDC shopping list!

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL    19.23%
Tana Umaga        13.46%
Andrew Mehrtens    11.54%
Matt Dawson        7.69%
Happy with the squad    7.69%
Christian Cullen        7.69%
Jonny Wilkinson        4.81%

Requests were also made for more homegrown talent, Peter Jorgensen, Doug Howlett, Paul Grayson, Ma’a Nonu, Jon Sleightholme, Taine Randell and Dave Walder.

Spot the connection?  They’re all backs (except for Randell).  It was suggested at the tail end of the season that the lack of tries in matches may have cost us dear, as the defence was the best in the league and it was the first time that the best team defensively had not finished top of the pile.  Interesting that there are a large number of centres in the list as well.  And to the two people who put “me” down, well, I’ve seen you both play, and NO!!!!!

Comments

“Easy.  Andrew Mehrtens (even if that would mean replacing Larry who is a favourite of mine).”
“That doesn’t already you mean?  Erm.  None.  I’m sure I’ll grow to love them but I’d like us to develop the future greats internally.  We have enough (not too much but enough) imported talent in the squad.”
“Matt Dawson.  I would like to see him return from the World Cup uninjured (South Africa please note).  For other additions I would like to see the likes of Blowers and Peillard, players whose national associations have proved foolish in disregarding them.  I do not want to see the likes of Mehrtens coming here to earn a pension.  He’s been a great player but I would prefer to see a hungry one (e.g. Matt Lord).”
“Brian O’Driscoll - one of the best centres in the world and would inject much neded pace to the midfield and set up numerous tries.”
“I’d like to see some homegrown talent from the academy coming through and making a mark.  Quality imports have their place, but if we can nurture and develop local talent that would be fantastic”
“Jon Sleightholme - much under appreciated player who has made an impact in every game he has played in this season.  From the very first home game try and his attacking play to his outstanding tackling at Cardiff.”
“ME! But given that I’m too old, too slow and too crap I’d like to see Tana Umaga”  (Mark’s note - I am open to bribery to out this man!)
“I’d just be happy to see our internationals return injury free, the rest I’ll leave to Smudger”
“AB, not in the current team Dave Walder”


Where will Saints finish next season?
 
Difficult one to put down for this one, as a number of you put “Top 6” for example, rather than an actual position.  Taking then, if someone has put Top 6 as sixth, you think we will be:-

1st    - 15.38%
2nd    - 38.46%
3rd    - 34.62%
4th    - 11.54%

Should be a good season then…

Will England win the World Cup?

Yes - 26.92%
No  - 73.08%

Wonder how many opinions have changed since the tour?

If you could change one thing about this season what would it be?

Saturday 5th April         - 38.46%
Keeping Peter Jorgensen    - 7.69%

These were the only two subjects that received more than one vote, and although people offered up different aspects of the cup final, I’ve grouped them all together.  Other issues mentioned were:-

“I’d have got more people out to Biarritz…”
“The inconsistency…or possible signing Matt Lord at the start of the season instead of halfway through”
“No Friday night games - especially on bank holiday weekends”
“Number of matches too many for our boys”
“The injury to Action man - Totally changed the shape of our pack and disrupted the game plan for the season.  Think he would have become a Saints legend given the 2 seasons he was contracted for.”
“The loss of Nick Duncombe, London Irish not going down, Stuart Barnes not spontaneously combusting, do you want me to go on…”
“Newcastle!!”
“Some silverware”
“Wish I could have got to more matches!  It’s only my second season, so I don’t have a season ticket and haven’t yet got myself organised to make sure nothing clashes with home matches”
“Beat Tigers at FG!”
“Referees”
“Nothing really, it would not be the same”
“Win everything and see Leicester relegated”

Most memorable moment

I’ve shared all of the memories, just to stir the heart.  The winner of the individual moment was Budge’s try at Welford Road, but unsurprisingly that game, together with the Bath and Biarritz games, feature high in the memory banks.

“Sarge and Jorgy leading out the team at the last home game…Jorgy converting …”
“Chris Hyndman’s try at Leicester - at that moment we knew we had finally beaten the b****rs”
“Jorgy’s try at home to Biarritz that put us in QF”
“Beating the Tigs at Welford Road…Tigs admission price:£20; Overpriced, flat Tigs beer: £2.50; Beano’s face as the Jimmies relieve him of five year unbeaten home league record…utterly PRICELESS!!!!!!”
“Jorgy’s last minute try against Bath in QF in Bath”
“Either (a) Dan Cooper’s better half’s chant in Toulouse: DCBH “Oh when the Saints!”; All “Oh when the Saints” pause “Oh **** I’ve forgotten it!” or Junior Connect’s Ben Cohen impression after the Leeds game”
“Peter Jorgensen’s try against Biarritz”
“Winning the Powergen semi-final”
“The penalty awarded against Saints at the lineout in injury time vs. Biarritz”
“Air Ben’s try against Ulster - watching the game on TV the quality of the try leaving the full back on his derriere coupled with the disappointment of the BBC Ireland commentary team made it special”
“Budge’s try at Wellbad Road”
“Budge’s try at WR - made memorable by the stunned silence of those around us in the stand…followed by a Leicester Tigers fan applauding the brilliance of it.  A true rugby fan.”
“Jorgy tackling Robinson and effectively curtailing his involvement in the game”
“The infamous ‘kissing the badge’ moment on Sky TV after the Leicester away win”
“Beating Cardiff at the Arms Park and not conceding a point”
“Budge scoring that try”
“Jorgy’s try at the Kassam”
“Asking Bruce and his family to pose for a picture”
“Hearing the BBC Radio Northampton commentary on the Welford Road game when we scored a second time from the front of the lineout - ‘and there’s no-one at home AGAIN!!’  Fantastic”
“Budge’s gypsy try”
“That gypsy try”
“The Golden Snitch against Newcastle at home.  The first time we saw what he could do”
“Budge’s cheeky try v Tigers”
“Welford Road (25-12) sorry but I just can’t stop saying that!!”
“Seeing a man in a tutu”
“Hyndman crashing over for the third try at Welford Road…Budgen dancing on the tables in the Frog & Rosbif”

Have Saints done better, worse or as you expected this season?

Better         - 61.54%
As expected    - 30.77%
Worse        - 7.69%

“Better position wise considering some of their performances”
“Hmmm!  Better position wise but this was in some ways down to others (Sale)?  Disappointed about no silverware but hey, there’s always next season.”
“Better than I expected, worse than I hoped”
“Roughly as expected.  I expected a better showing in the HC than last year (& got it) & getting to the PC final was a bonus.  The league form was a maddeningly inconsistent as it was predictable.  We need to think like winners all game, every game and WS hasn’t got them doing that…yet!  I would expect us to improve next year though.”
“I expected us to win the PGC after the Bath game, and a good run in the HC was I think about all we could have hoped for.  So maybe a little worse.”
“At the start of the season I hoped for (rather than forecast) third.  After the run from the Autumn internationals until Christmas, I thought we would do well to finish fourth or fifth.  In truth, we have done better than I expected we would.”
“As expected.  Hopes were not that high anyway.”
“Slightly worse than expected based on the squad at the start of the season - think the loss of Actionman was critical as Smudger had built the pack around him and we never seemed to recover until the end of the season.  3rd place probably flatters us somewhat!”
“Better.  Frankly, I thought mid-table mediocrity would suffice this season”
“Better than I expected, worse than I hoped” (Mark’s note - yes, two people did put exactly the same wording down!)
“Better, if we go on Smudger’s three year plan we are further on than he thought”
“In this, the final days of the season, they have done slightly better than I expected in the last few weeks as it was all doom and gloom for a while, but we pulled it back.  Slightly better than I expected overall, but then I am a pessimist!”
“I think they’ve met their goals, which were to qualify for the knockout stages of the HC, reach the PC final and top three in the zippee so on that score I’d say they’ve done better than I expected”
“As expected given the last result against Leeds and third place in the ZP”
“As expected - would like a trophy though”
“Better - we knew this season would be transitional”


Is there anything that can be done to improve the “Matchday Experience” at FG?

I knew that I was opening myself up to all sorts with this question.  For the person who made the first suggestion, shame on you!!  Lom is coming round to whack you with her cucumber as we speak…

“A real ale bar with guest beers, a roast chestnut stand as in Roma, a salad bar for the CC, topless…ow!”
“More crowd appreciation of the game.  More shouting.  Doesn’t cost anything to cheer and shout but too many people are too reserved!  More moaning!  If everyone was happy with most of the performances last season then they don’t know diddly!  They’re professionals who should be told when it’s unacceptable.  If people want to settle for second best then go and watch the Cobblers!”
“Let’s just keep it as traditional as possible”
“Decent real ale in bars (Frog Island brewery only a few hundred yards away)”
“I suspect that a lot of those in the seats would say something about early leavers/latecomers obscuring the view.  It doesn’t affect us GT C-blockers, but maybe we should set up a machine gun nest to persuade people to sit down”
“More veggie food!!”
“My hot prediction.  Mark H will finally discover his darker side.  He will seek out Old Pete, remove his communist hat, pour hot custard over his head and stick the pie where the sun don’t shine.”  (Mark’s comment - er, no I won’t!  And is you want to know who wrote this Pete, you know where I am…)
“I really appreciate the SSC booking bands after matches.  I would like somebody enterprising at the club to get a few more - no more than 1 per month but certainly more than the three per season we’ve had.”
“Better parking and shorter post match exit times.  Discounts in the club shop for season ticket holders.  Cheaper ticket prices”
“(Beer prices)…and introduce better control of movement at half time between standing areas, several times this season supporter have moved from other blocks to Block C at half time to gain a better view resulting in overcrowding and problems.”
“Stripograms!!  I think it is just about right.”
“Not having the bars especially Heroes closed, Heroes being important because it’s the only place under 14s can go.”
“Parking improvements, better service in the Rodbar, ban horns.”
“Stewards holding your pint as you try to pull your season ticket out of your back pocket (again) to gain entry back to the terrace…”
“Keep away cheerleaders, silly promotions, annoying horns, people in front of the terrace pre-kick off…”
“Improve the selection of beers and the prices - NO MORE TETLEY!!!!  Allow children in the bigger bar - Heroes is too small.”
“At the moment I think it’s just about right, still the old traditions but something for everyone.  I’d like to see the club shelling out for the bands in the bar rather than the supporters club using their hard earned cash.”
“Make sure that there is no silly dancing”
“I wouldn’t imagine so.  I go there to see rugby, we have a good stand, Hog Roast and beer.  Queues in the beer tent are tolerable, as are those at Hog Roast.  People leaving early or arriving late does annoy me, but I guess we can’t imprison them in the stands until play is over.”
“To actually have properly trained bar staff in the Rodber Bar who notice to serve instead of just standing and chatting to each other.”
“Apart from the aforementioned real ale bar, I think we will outgrow it in a couple of seasons, parking is still ropey. Perhaps we should have a picnic every week and there should be a separate queue for vegetarians at the pasty van. To be honest it’s better than everywhere else so we should be happy with what we’ve got.”
“Very little.  I am a very happy fan.”
“Limo service from my house?  No seriously, can’t think of anything significant (except maybe some real ale).”
“More single easy women in C Block…” (Mark’s comment - AND NO THIS WAS NOT ME!!!!)

Right, that’s enough for you to read at the moment.  The third part will finish off the questions, including how long it will be before a World Cup in the USA.  That’ll be some time next week (the third part, not the World Cup).