By Maverick
January 20 2005

Three games away from a place in next year’s Heineken Cup. Three games away from our first piece of top-flight domestic silverware. That’s where Northampton Saints stand as they look forward to this weekend’s Powergen Cup Quarter-final against Leeds Tykes at Franklins’ Gardens.

With those with the financial means to make a second trip to Toulouse already feverishly sorting their flights and accommodation for the jaunt to sunnier climes in April, we turn our attention back to domestic matters, a Powergen Cup Quarter-final against Leeds this Saturday.

 

Saints had the best of it when the two sides met on New Year’s Day in the Zurich Premiership. Their 18-9 win came courtesy of tries by Andrew Blowers and Ben Cohen in a scrappy game not helped by the performance of the officials. In the corresponding ZP fixture earlier this season Saints were on the reverse of a 26-21 score-line which helped hasten the departure of Alan Solomons. In fact he survived only a further 14 days after that particular match before he (and the rest of us) was put out of his (our) misery.

 

So, to happier times. On Friday night Saints secured their place in the elite of European rugby with a convincing second half display against Glasgow Warriors. From this writer’s perspective we are showing improvement each time we take the field under the new regime. Defence and forward play have both been pretty solid throughout but now we seem to have the confidence in the backs to take our forward play that next step forward. It’s by no means “total rugby” but the players now know what is expected of them in their respective positions and seem to have the confidence to play with a little freedom.

 

It’s amazing what a difference playing in a winning side can make! Just ask Captain Fantastic! Steve Thompsom has been in astounding form in the loose in the last couple of games. Who would bet against a third try in as many weeks come Saturday as Wally starts from inside his own dead ball line to cover the full length of the pitch to score? The big fella likess a challenge!

 

What should the highest ranked East Midlands club in the Heineken Cup this season expect from our visitors this weekend? Leeds have had a rough old time in the Premiership over the last couple of months but they can hold their heads high in Europe. They are in the semi-finals of the European Shield after a convincing victory over Padova at the weekend and this may well give them some much needed confidence for Saturday. Will it be enough to overcome an increasingly sparky Saints side? Time will tell.

 

With the Saints team not due to be announced until Friday, we can only speculate on the XV that Budge will send on to the field come Saturday afternoon. In the front row, Tom Smith must fancy his chances of starting after a sterling 40 second-half minutes last week. Wally is a “given” at hooker whilst Robbie Morris is improving his work-rate each time he pulls on the shirt. In the second row, assuming no injuries, Grant Seely and Matt Lord should retain their places.  Selbourne Boome is back in full training but a start is unlikely and Damien Browne is doing the business coming off the bench.

 

The back-row could be the interesting call as Budge has his pick from Fox, Krige, Blowers, Soden and Beattie as possible starters. AB should start, as should Krige; the remaining berth could well be a “horses-for-courses” decision by the coach.

 

With Sharky Robinson expected to be fit, one would expect him at scrum-half. At ten, Shane deserves the chance be in the XV from the off and be told to go out and boss the game.

 

Unless given a deserved rest, Marc Stcherbina (left) will play at twelve but who will be his partner? The percentage call gives Mark Tucker the 13 jersey with Ben Cohen back at 11 and perhaps Wylie Human, smarting from being dropped last week, in at 14? Bruce Reihana, full-back, nuff said.

 

All of which will probably end up being a complete load of tosh when the team is finally revealed!

 

 

 

 

Given recent form, Saints are good enough to win this game with a little bit to spare but we underestimate Leeds at our peril. We are conceding few tries and the backs seem to be starting to fire again after a dormant time before the turn of the year so, let’s be positive...

 

 

Saints by (at least) ten!