By Hippo
September 26 2003

Prehistoric vacuum cleaners, sorrow, consensus. It’s all here. Being a Saints fan is testing at times. This was one of those times. Listening to the web cast was difficult. And in the words of Mav “It will be interesting to see what the travelling support have to say on their return”. Palpable sadness and an almost unanimous agreement on how to improve.

In the beginning…

Had a nice greeting from Wayne, and thought we were on for a good day. The
beer was good in the Rising Sun.
Then we watched the match. X block pete

The game…

Words cannot say just how bad that was. It wasn't that Bath were anything
special, but 15 fans picked out of the crowd would (NOT could) have done
better than that. Somehow, I have to write a match report out of that.
And the tonking wasn't just up front - I can only think of three players
(Drahm, Reihana, Beal) who can come out of that match with even a smidgen
of credit. Mark H

But it seemed utterly hopeless as the first try went in rob richmond

Just an example of how bad it was ...one incident stands out...scrum
against us on approx our 22...we win against the head ,we attack across the
field,panic and throw ball backwards over head..Bath pick up run 20 metres
5-0!. Jazzman

I am still disconsolate. I had a bad feeling about this game (see my entry
in statto's competition), but no way did I expect the abysmal display we
were treated(?) to.
St. Marlowes

So that leaves Bruce who always tried and nearly broke through but never
seemed to get the ideal ball. Chris Hoddle

The good bits against Bath
1. Rips' tackle after a good chase upfield.
2. Errr, that's it.... Saintian

Wasn't there but listened on Radio Nuthampton, getting increasingly
irritated by the minute at our lack of edge, and more worryingly a lack of
basic skills. WS has a right to expect skills, not have to coach them at
this stage. St. Bart

I'm also not at all sure why we elected to play such high risk rugby in the
first half - we just gifted Barf the opening try & coughed possession which
led directly to second which was of course very well taken. wrong game
plan. woeful execution & no passion.
Abysmal. Gregor

However I was kept up to date by Connect via mobile. The disappointment in
his voice was tangible!. Saintsby

Altogether now…..”What do we want? …… When do we want it? NOW!”

Please please get us some tight five brutes,. Gazmo

One thing we have to worry about is front row players - with injuries and
WC callups, we have precisely three props and two hookers. Smurf

yesterday was not a shock to many of us.
i have been moaning on for about 2 years now about the lack of a rallying
point in the second row capable of acting as a focus for the pack,
i doubt if there are too many good 'uns left out of contract now, so we go
with what we have , as decided beforehand ; it's going to take a job of
forward coaching to put this right . in theory with unit-based skills,
intensive work should yield swift returns, but it needs to be sorted fairly
soon, or we'll be looking at a 2001 scenario again broonie

Having watched the game yesterday I can only say how bitterly disappointed
I am. losing Actionman and Ollie Le Bruise was a big loss but I would
imagine Smudger wants the right person not just the first available and as
such is prepared to wait, possibly post WC, we do not make a song and dance
about who we will sign, it is signed and sealed before it becomes public
knowledge, which is a good thing.
I am not sure where we go from here, cue Smudger. Ajack

(And directly after broonie and Ajack’s posts)
I was about to to post similar views under "Here we go again" but you have
saved me the trouble so a simple "hear hear" will suffice. Ian Spokes

But it's the Brutes we need, those who will fight for the ball (at this
level they all fight for the ball, but you know what I mean). We have (on a
good day) the ball handlers. But we need the players who will win the
ball. Gazmo

Ouch!… That hurt!
losing in the manner we did....
in the forwards is where it's missing - imho we need a couple of nasty
rough ugly brick ****houses to dominate other packs BBF

We certainly could have done with an Ackermann type player yesterday.
Somebody to get the game by the scruff of the neck and take it too the
opposition with a bit of fire. Dave Tavener

I dont feel qualified to comment in depth but do have two concerns -
Several oppo teams seems to have strengthened their packs to far greater
extent than we have done during the off season. Did they take the view that
during the RWC that this was the esential pre requesite to survival /
success.
Also - How often is it really feasible to bring on youngsters as front row
players - isnt this an area where you have to look around as widely as
possible - yes grow your own - but also buy in the grizzled and proven
warriors. OLD PETE

Never was it truer said that forwards win a game and the backs decide by
how many points. St. Bart

Interesting to read the many and varied reports of a match I wasn't able to
keep in touch with and only heard the result much later. I do think the
comments about our forwards are pertinent. tedge

A little bit of this, wouldn’t go a miss…..

Its 8:00am Sunday morning
And I hope the lads have enjoyed the first hour of training this morning.
We were dire. Lets hope it the kick we needed and just a blip. Chris
the Saint

I hope there is some real beasting going on at FG as we speak, because
Pests will have looked at our woeful performance up front against Barf, and
will be licking their lips in anticipation. St. Bart

It’s not all completely hopeless….

Two away games, (Sale and Bath), one draw, one loss, three points.
Maybe 1 point down on my estimations so far. Dan P Cooper

One week blip. Hopefully. Mark H

Oh well, 2nd game of the season and it provided a loss. We should not feel
downhearted at all. The season is a long way from finishing and we can pull
this loss around by going out there and putting our weight behind the team
come this Saturday when we play hosts to the Wasps.
My final words are nothing but simple...
Come on you saints!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DaveTavener

Anyways am looking forward to Sat game as us Saints never put in two inept
performances in a row Samwigg


And Finally……

What a difference from the Sale away game, 1 week we look like world
beaters the next like carpet beaters Samwigg


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