By Howlin'
October 9 2010

I wrote somewhere before the game that, as much as I prefer my rugby on a Saturday afternoon, I had to admit that there is usually a certain frisson at evening matches and the atmosphere often crackles. Unfortunately this was not the case Friday night as the Saints put in no more than a workmanlike performance, the crowd reacted with, well, not a lot really.

Heineken Cup Pool 1 Round 1

Nortrgampton Saints v Castres Olympique

Franklin's Gardens Friday 8th October 2010

K.O. 8:00 pm

Perhaps it’s the expectation now placed on this good, but still young and relatively inexperienced team, that weighed heavy in the air. Whatever it was the place felt flat and hardly raised a notch even when Foden crossed for Saints second try just after half time. A try which eventually proved to be the difference between the teams, and send Northampton into the second round with a hard fought win under their belt.

 The team had started the match functioning reasonably well and a couple of breaks by Courtney Lawes, one followed through by Geraghty , who was a hairs breadth from crossing the line, looked promising. But sadly for the home side, Bruce had not brought his kicking boots and a deserved 6-0 lead after twenty minutes drifted aimlessly off into the night sky along with the ball.

 Bruce was to miss a third penalty chance and despite Saints enjoying most of the possession it was Castres who crossed the line first. They had looked quietly effective when they had the ball and would continue to push the Saints defence hard throughout the match.

 With the penalty count at 6-1 in Saints favour the referee finally issued a warning and Bruce decides to make up for the poor kicking performance by dashing over for a try in the corner. Of course the conversion was missed and the scores were level. Unfortunately for Saints almost immediately after the restart Castres gained possession from one of the stranger decisions of the evening and a sloppy drop goal gained them three points and the lead.

 There was still time before the HT whistle for Castres to see a yellow card and for Shane Geraghty to take over the kicking duties and show everyone that whatever Bruce does he can do more spectacularly ……….wrong. 5-8 in Castres favour at half time and the 16^th man limped into the bar for a comforting pint.

 The second half was a reminder of a past era playing the French. Feisty, physical, time wasting. I think Northampton missed Day in the lineout as he obviously had all the calls in his pocket. Shouting “your ball Courtney” was a bit easy to read, and the Saints lineout provided very little decent ball. The scrum, as with Exeter, yielded a few penalties (for both sides) but as a result also provided very little quality ball with which either side could build any real momentum.

 Apart from Foden’s try penalty kicks were exchanged and thankfully Geraghty and Myler when he replaced him, found their range. The defences for both teams dominated and at least that is one aspect of the game that won’t be worked on too much in the coming week on the training paddock.

 Well they say that great teams win even when they are not playing that well. In that case we must be well on the way to becoming a great team. Stuart Barnes says you can’t win anything without a reliable kicker. Well Barnesy look at the table. Saints just beat Castres, which in my book means they just won a game without a reliable kicker. No doubt it is an aspect that needs a lot of work. But as the players put in the extra hours this week kicking a ball towards the uprights, time after time after time, I think the 16^th man also has to take a long hard look at himself and decide whether he wants to be a team player and do his bit when his team needs him (or her) . Seems to me maybe the team and the crowd were resting on their reputations a little Friday night and, as a result, neither put in a particularly dynamic display.    

 Timeline:

9mins SAINTS Miss pen Reihana

18mins SAINTS Miss pen Reihana

19mins CASTRES Bernard

21mins CASTRES Try Tekori 0-5

27mins SAINTS Miss pen Reihana

31mins SAINTS Try Reihana 5-5

34mins CASTRES DG McIntyre 5-8

35mins CASTRES Yellow Bonello

40mins SAINTS Miss pen Geraghty

HALF TIME SAINTS 5 CASTRES 8

40mins SAINTS Try Foden Con Geraghty 12-8

51mins CASTRES Miss pen Bernard

58mins CASTRES Pen Bernard 12-11

63mins SAINTS Pen Geraghty 15-11

67mins CASTRES Miss pen Bernard

71mins CASTRES Pen Bernard 15-14

78mins SAINTS Pen Myler 18-14

FULLTIME SAINTS 18 CASTRES 14