Northampton Saints
News: Northampton Saints - Half Term Report
By Ginger Prince
October 27 2010
Sitting at home during half term, I take a break from marking coursework and find myself thinking about Saintly issues. There’s no mid-term break for the squad, but I imagine plenty of assessment from all corners. I guess I’m being indulgent in offering my own thoughts here.
Well, I say report, I mean observations. And the observations are
easier to make than before due to the exposure we’ve had in both the
Premiership and European competitions.
The exposure is a double edged sword – both pundits and opposition
coaches are aware of our strengths and weaknesses. The kicking issue
has been done to death already, and this is an area of over-exposure –
If the number of games we’ve featured in wasn’t as high, there wouldn’t
be quite the noise made over the issue. Even on the highlights
programme, the emphasis is on the score and attacking play. We never
hear of other players missing x kicks in the TV package. Although it is
a concern, it’s been over-played in the media – how many column inches
have the hacks been given by this? Comments like “He can’t kick
penalties, but he can score tries” as Johnny Hammond said in the Castres
game, show how easy it is take an on-going issue and turn it into a
“crisis”.
Winning ugly is something we’ve developed over the last year, and the
tenacity and refusal to capitulate under pressure is much more marked. I
wonder how many points will be earned / saved with this mind-set.
The increased exposure has led to the coaches working harder than they
might have in developing and evolving game plans to suit conditions and
opposition. Edinburgh had the measure of us in the first of that
encounter, but the really pleasing thing to come from that game was a
discernable plan “B” being used, and most importantly, plan “B” working.
Contrast that game with Saracens, where we kept on with plan “A” and
came up short… I don’t mind losing (and taking a small backward step)
so long as the long term benefit is the reaction and recognition of the
same thing occurring, means a different result next time we hit the
pitch. I’m not so much interested in finishing top of the pile, but
being there for the play-offs. A loss in the league, but a definite
show of learning from that game is of more value than finishing top,
then losing in the semi.
Familiarity is breeding quality and trust – take the forwards as the
example. Only Tom Wood is the new arrival in the “starting 8”. Chris
Day has been bedded in for over a year, but the pack playing together so
many times have improved infinitely. The scrum seems to be more
powerful and balanced; the lineout still assured with responsibility
moved from Freddy to Daisy; the mauling is top class (there is a real
“gears meshing” quality about the maul when it rumbles forward); and the
handling and support of the big blokes in the loose is first class.
The performance of the pack has been distinctly different, but given the
same result. Leicester and Bath were blown away by the ferocity,
literally knocked out; Wasps were choked over 80 minutes, having the
life strangled out of them like Boa constrictor devouring its prey.
They were the victims of an opposing pack for whom everything clicked on
the day. It was mentioned last year that we were close to really
putting in a performance to make the rest sit up and take notice – I
think it was Sunday at Adams Park. The backs didn’t look particularly
potent, but when your forwards are on top, why change the winning
formula?
For the “love-them-or-hate-them” brigade, respect must be given to both
Messrs Myler and Geraghty. They have both been played when their talents
have been suited best, and played to the conditions and oppositions’
perceived weaknesses. The backline can only function if given the
platform by the big blokes. We can’t throw the ball around and ask the
backs to run as they did last year as teams are wise to it – the
evolution of the game plan is to give more opportunities for the backs
to exploit in any given situation. There will be more tries scored by
those wearing the higher numbers, but I think playing heads-up rugby and
what’s in front of you is paying dividends right now.
Defensively, we are a harder nut to crack than last year. Everybody
tackles, either individually or in pairs, but the speed at which we
compete at the breakdown is much quicker. Committing fewer to the ruck
means fewer gaps in the outside channels, and as a result, we are more
capable in defending the middle (when properly guarded) and also across
the width of the pitch. Worthy of particular praise is James Downey,
who absorbs a lot of pressure (on both sides of the ball) and Jon Clarke
– just how strong a defender is he? So far, we’ve seen him hold up
opponents to deny try-scoring opportunities, rip ball free from
opponents in contact and make tackle after tackle after tackle.
The upcoming autumn internationals and then the 6 nations will test the
quality and depth of the squad, and I look forward to seeing more of the
new boys; especially Tonks, the introduction of Cornwell, Mercey,
Eustace and Sorenson on a more regular basis, with Easter and Sharman
continuing to prove their value to the squad. These may not be the
faces, we see week in, week out and the temptation is to compare what
they can’t do to what we’ve seen the “first XV” do before. A little
perspective is needed; they all offer something that is of worth to the
game plan, but there is no substitute to match play – especially at
first class level. They’ll continue to play for the shirt, and aim to
keep it when our EPS squad members return. What sweeter blackmail is
there for the coaching staff? Players stepping up and ready to take
their chance, wanting to keep the shirt they’ve waiting to wear – and
the EPS returnees, wanting / expecting to reclaim their place in the
XV…the team is the only winner here.
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Great post GP and agree about the kicking "issue". In comparison with last season I'm not sure our defence is any better and occasionally we are exposed out wide. As you mentioned the backs aren't quite as potent but the pack is more than making up for it; many thought Kruger irreplaceable but with Day's form we've hardly noticed. I would like to see better outcomes from Foden's attacking play, especially when Flash is absent. The aim must be to finish at least second in the league and a HC semi - both attainable in my view. I think we are better equipped to withstand player loss to internationals than last season.
All in all a great season thus far
You're excellent post deserves a wider audience so I've taken the liberty of turning it into an article...
Phil
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:10:27:23:17:56 by Phil..
All in all a great season thus far.
I personally think your final paragraph is the most pertinent. Yes, we can point to ‘x’ number of tries scored against Wasps, or ‘x’ number of lineouts won/disrupted, but the real test of our squad will be how it rises to the challenge of the AIs this coming month. It’s no good having a squad of 15 ‘world class’ (groan) individuals if the remaining 15 / 20 players are talentless cart-horses.
Individually there are a lot of players who should be very proud of the manner in which they have trained over the previous two seasons, and also players who have visibly developed their games as a result of the hard work put in over that time – Tiny, Clarke, Hartley, Downey… I could go on.
You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.
Richards/Jagger
Tedge, I only meant the backs weren't as potent in the game. It would be difficult to try and "play them in" just for the sake of it when the pack were so dominant. I didn't mean to infer that the backs weren't doing it right now, just the display of the forwards left them redundant for passages of play.
I'm pretty sure there will be a day where the width and speed of the backs will be used to exploit the weaknessess of some opposition, and we'll be waxing lyrical about that.
Ginger - The Colour of Sexual Rejection
We are joint top (with Saracens and Harlequins) on paucity of tries against.
We have only conceded 1 away (premiership) and 6 at home
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
David, can I be pedantic? We conceded two tries away from home - at Quins and Wasps.
Tries for: 17. Against: 8. Not so shabby.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
What's left for Wasps, queried the reporter. After all:
Quote:Chris Hewett in the Independent
given the fact that New Zealand are likely to be at least twice as good as Northampton
I say, gosh! Isn't that a bit unfair.......?
Saint til I die
I shall desist in future (but I couldn't resist, just this once)!
I've been guilty as anyone as banging on about the kicking and this article nicely puts it in perspective to the all-round performances.
Completely agree about the Edinburgh game in particular - for me that was the most satisfying win of the season for the very reasons you put. Others may have been more eyecatching in terms of the scorelines and opposition, but the ability to make corrections on the hoof and turn round a bad situation was especially pleasing and a real sign to me of the team's growing maturity.
We are, on form, the best side in England.
We have, in Soane Tonga'uiha, the best player in England.
Although he shouldn't really be playing for us...
(I now need to make my escape...
Good read though.
Quote:Amen!The Prince of Ginger
A little perspective is needed; they all offer something that is of worth to the game plan, but there is no substitute to match play
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
Quote:S4l
Although he shouldn't really be playing for us...
Bit like Henson and Watford eh?
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Quote:saracens4life
We have, in Soane Tonga'uiha, the best player in England.
Although he shouldn't really be playing for us...
(I now need to make my escape...
Re Gavin H, I trust you've learnt your lesson and this time round employed someone who knows the difference between a head of agreement and a full playing contract?
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