Thoughts from the Chron 11th March


By Chris Gleadell
March 12 2009

After the loss to Newcastle at the Gardens two weeks ago it was commented that all good things must ultimately come to an end. By the same token it seems that so do all bad things. At last folks Saints have won away from home in the Guinness Premiership! It may have been a long time coming but when it did happen it made it all that so much sweeter. The monkey is well and truly now off the back.

 CHRIS GLEADELL'S

THOUGHTS FROM THE CHRON

12th MARCH 2008

On reflection though this has been building for a while. The loss at Harlequins was a real kick up the backside for the lads and they were desperately unlucky to lose a game they dominated the next time they were out on the road at Wasps. The seeds for Saturdays win may well have been sown at that game at Adams Park. The team took the field with an attitude of of we are not here to be bullied and if you dish it out expect it back.

The team may not have been successful on that occasion, for a variety of reasons, but they took heart from that performance and on Saturday it was Worcester that paid the price. The victory may well have been built on a rock solid defence that held Worcester at bay all afternoon but we were pretty good in attack too. Worcester coach Mike Ruddock was being a bit unkind saying we only had four chances of which we converted three as his side dominated the game. In truth with ball in hand we were the more creative and but for all the endeavour of Chris Latham at fullback when did the home side really carve out any clear chances of their own if that is Ruddock's criteria?

You can camp in the oppositions twenty two all day but if you cannot unlock their defence then you are never going to win in a month of Sundays however much ball you have. Points win games not ball retention.

One statistic that did however show dominance for one party was the three try to nil scoreline. The handling errors we saw at Wasps all but disappeared and while the Joe Ansbro try was the icing on the cake the one that will be remembered was the end to to end score finished off by Paul Diggin.

And special praise must go to the architect of the try, Barry Everitt. I wrote a couple of weeks ago after Carlos Spencer had left the club how our cupboard looked a bit bare in that department. I was doing Barry a disservice. Having not seen much of him at all in the top flight, and to be honest also looking at his age, I thought we would really struggle in this department if push came to shove. I need not have worried. Barry was cool calm and collective. At the instigation of that try, behind our own goal line, when you thought most others would have tried to kick the leather off the ball in clearing it he quickly gauged with just a front rower in front of him something might be on and a matter of seconds later Digger was under the opposition posts.

So job done and not only the first long awaited away win of the league season but a bit of a confidence builder to take forward in the last remaining games of the season, starting with the visit of Sale on Saturday.

SALE
I'm am not quite sure who compiles the Guinness Premiership fixture list each season but it seems a trifle daft to me that we are in mid-March and with just five GP games left we have yet to play Saturdays visitors Sale Sharks either home or away - and even dafter that we have not played London Irish either. In a few short weeks we will meet Sale again in the regular seasons finale at Edgedley Park. They say familiarity breeds contempt, I do hope not on this occasion as if you look around the Saints we have a fair smattering of ex-Sale employees. Coach Jim Mallinder, fitness guru Nick Johnston and players Christian Day, Ben Foden, Barry Stewart, Chris Mayor and Nacho Lobbe have all served time at Sale, indeed Nacho, if he has returned home from Argentina, might even come face to face with his bother Juan Fernandez on Saturday. In return Dave Ward and Oriel Ripol moved in the opposite direction.

So there will be more than a handful knowing the ins and outs of the opposition. Tactics may of course have changed but there is nothing quite like turning over your old club and mates for bragging rights.

Sale have been a bit in the doldrums in the last couple of weeks, a loss to a supposedly demoralised Sarries was followed up by a home loss to form side Newcastle Falcons last week. Having lost at home to Newcastle ourselves in our last home game we know the feeling but it could be that game that holds the key.

The lads will be smarting for letting the long home record slip due to that erratic first quarter of an hour against the Falcons and will surely be looking to put things right and who knows perhaps start another run in the process. It will not be easy though, Sale currently sit in the last playoff place but have both Bath and Irish snapping at their heals - indeed the top six are just separated by five points - so will not be coming to the Gardens to just make up the numbers. For us, well seventh place in the Premiership is still attainable, the chances are slim maybe but you will not be in with a shout without trying. It could prove to be an interesting very close contest and it could go a point either way. Home advantage with us back on song lifting the team might just swing it. Looks like a good one.

One player who will be lining up against his old club on Saturday is Ben Foden who has been released from the national squad. Just what Ben has to do to get a start for England is beyond me. That's not just the one eyed Saints supporter talking it seems most of the great and good elsewhere are coming to the same conclusion, from Shaun Edwards to Stuart Barnes all are mystified by his absence. England's loss is of course our gain but again it does make you wonder about those who are selecting and coaching our national side.

One player who unfortunately will not be starting on Saturday is Euan Murray who is away with Scotland. Our loss is of course Scotlands gain but I am sure I was not alone in letting out a muted cheer (some probably even let a loud one escape) when the news came through that Euan had opted to stay at the Saints for a further three years.

Considered to be in the top handful in the world in his position it was great news for the club as a whole. I am sure the quiet unassuming Scotsman had more than a few pounds and Euros wafted under his nose so it is great that he has committed to the club again. He cited Jim Mallinder's building of a squad and culture that he wanted to be part of as a reason for starting. Sounds good to me!

 

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Chris Gleadell's thoughts from the Chron 1th March
Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 12/03/2009 20:58
ComeOnYouSaints.com
12/03/2009 20:58
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ChrisG
13/03/2009 11:23
Ed,s can you lop my name off this when you post it please. Just 'Thoughts from the Chron' will do thanks.

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Saint Swill
13/03/2009 12:01
So much talent, so little conceit!

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ChrisG
13/03/2009 12:16
No its just that my ghost writers complaining again.

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St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad
13/03/2009 17:12
Nice work Mr G

No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.

Dryathlon

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Wee Jim
13/03/2009 17:37
Agree Euans reason for signing on again sound very good to me!
Good read as ever.

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