By Chris Gleadell
December 19 2003

So we go into the last game of the year at the Gardens with a derby against our best of friendly enemies Tigers with the chance of that elusive double to play for. Tigers languish near the bottom of the table we are in touch with the top, but when has that ever mattered in these games? A win up at Welford Road back at the end of October, our second in two seasons, sets up a mouth watering encounter to claim the unofficial kings of Midlands rugby for 2003.

And what a time to play it, both teams have back their England stars after five months away winning the World Cup. Finally a chance to see two full strength sides in what should be a full on head to head encounter with no quarter asked or given.

But no, dream over, the powers that be decided to organise an ‘exhibition’ game at Twickenham between and ‘England XV’ and a NZ Barbarians side. Despite both the Saints and the Tigers voting against this money spinning fiasco both sides have lost three players to the cause. Tigers lose Martin Corry and Ollie Smith to ‘England’ and Daryl Gibson to the BaaBaas while we lose Larry, Ben and Wally (who despite not playing counts in the quota as he was injured during England training). Now quite why this was organised for a league weekend is beyond me but I’m sure in the backrooms of the RFU there are some quite smug faces this morning knowing that yet again despite all the efforts and money the clubs put in, in bringing players to the England table at the end of the day it is proved yet again who is really pulling the strings. Indeed the word from Leicester is that Daryl Gibson was told directly that he was taking part without the Tigers being consulted. Now that’s hardly working together in a common cause!

Now we can complain all we want about this ‘game too far’ but at the end of the day ten other ZP clubs voted for it, perhaps it is them and especially those two clubs that now join Saints and Tigers objections that should be hanging their head in shame. Now people will say we must comply with the RFU demands because of the cash payments we receive but simple economics tells you that with clubs of our respective sizes its us, the common or garden supporters, that put far more into Saints and Tigers banks accounts in ticket sales, merchandising catering etc than the RFU ever do. But as always (and yes I’m starting to sound like a broken record) it is us, that pay our money week in week out, that are always considered last while a secondary paymaster calls the shots yet again.

Anyway rant over, on to the game.

By any stretch of the imagination Tigers are not having a good season of it. They can point to losing players to the World Cup, as other clubs can of course, but they seem to have lost a bit of that spark and the old Tigers never say die attitude. However in last weeks display against the Dragons they played what was undoubtedly their best performance of the season.

Back and Johnson were outstanding and Little Austin is back to his best and the Tigers backline were playing at a completely different level to those that played in the return fixture at Welford Road when to be brutally honest they were dire.

However we should not forget we have capable of equally dire performances this season ourselves, Quins comes to mind, but one game does not make a season and Tigers, just like the Saints, will be looking to add a bit of consistency to their campaign.


TEAM NEWS

Starting at fullback Saints stick with the ever dependent booming boot of Nick Beal while it’s a first visit to the Gardens for Tigers temporary Springbok signing Jaco van der Westhuyzen.

On the wings two very contrasting styles, the elusive running of Bruce Reihana and a returning John Clarke come face to face with route one Freddie Tuilagi and recent rugby league convert Neil Baxter.

A bit of a conundrum for Tigers at centre after losing first choices Smith and Gibson to the game too at Twickenham. Dean Richards has opted for Glen Gelderbloom and Leon Lloyd to come into the breach where they face a returning John Leslie and young Chris Hyndman.

At scrummie Saints welcome back referee in waiting Matt Dawson for the first time since the RWC. Matt teams up for the first time with Shane Drahm in a new halfback combination which could be the key to the game if Daws manages to gain the upperhand against Little Austin at nine for Tigers who plays inside the hot and cold Ramiro Pez.

And so to battle, now the forwards…………

With both first choice hookers out injured Dan Richmond and Jim Richards (no relation) come into their respective front rows. Dan packs down alongside Robbie Morris who is starting to regain form and Tom Smith who, despite what that the idiot Barnes thinks, has not put a foot wrong since the World Cup. The evergreen Graham Rowntree and Julian White who goes under the knife on Monday complete the Tigers first three.

At lock it’s a tall order for Rob Hunter and Mark Connors as they come up against England’s second row pairing of Martin Johnson and Ben Kay. However, just like the game at Welford Road last season there are whisperings that the Saints may have a couple of wild cards up their sleeves this time round too.

Alas Budge will not be there to ‘steal’ a gypsy try this time round but an able deputy in Darren Fox still tales his place coming ap against the master himself, Neil Back.
Foxy will have to keep his wits and his cool to come out on top in this encounter but he looks like a lad that thrives on a challenge and this is certainly it. Grant Seely, in a thick vein of form himself, and the rock that is Andy Blowers complete the Saints back row while Adam Balding and Will Johnson complete the Tigers setup.


SAINTS

15 NICK BEAL
14 John Clarke
13 Chris Hyndman
12 JOHN LESLIE (capt)
11 BRUCE REIHANA
10 Shane Drahm
9 MATT DAWSON
1 TOM SMITH
2 Dan Richmond
3 ROBBIE MORRIS
4 Rob Hunter
5 MARK CONNORS
6 Grant Seely
7 Darren Fox
8 ANDREW BLOWERS

Replacements
16 Matt Miles
17 Chris Budgen
18 Jon Phillips
19 Mark Soden
20 Jon Golding
21 James Brooks
22 MARK ROBINSON


TIGERS

15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen
14 Neil Baxter
13 Leon Lloyd
12 Glenn Gelderbloom
11 Freddie Tuilagi
10 Ramiro Pez
9 Austin Healey

1 Graham Rowntree
2 Jim Richards
3 Julian White
4 Martin Johnson
5 Ben Kay
6 Will Johnson
7 Neil Back
8 Adam Balding

Replacements:

16 George Chuter
17 Darren Morris
18 Louis Deacon
19 Will Skinner
20 Tom Tierney
21 Dan Hipkiss
22 Sam Vesty

It could be a close one to call. Tigers will be aiming to carry on from last week while Saints will be looking to improve on last weeks Agen display and try to repeat the form of the first 40 mins against Gloucester at the Gardens and home advantage could prove vital.

The Saints to edge it........just.