By St Dom
November 4 2010

The Autumn Internationals kick-in in the Rugby Union world this week and we also see the start of this season's LV= Anglo Welsh Cup. Northampton Saints are the current holders of the trophy and St Dom looks ahead to their Sunday afternoon trip to Saracens...

Saracens vs Northampton Saints

Vicarage Road, Watford, Herts

Sunday, 7th November 2010. 3pm

MATCH PREVIEW

Competition: LV= Cup – Holders: Northampton Saints

London Saracens – to give them their assumed name – are Saints’ next opponents. They are a fine, well-drilled, hard-hoofing and damaging team: just look at Saints’ last few results against the Fractions.

Fractions? I hear you cry… Well, arithmetic is not my strong point, but it seems Saracens (or Sarries, as they like to be called) are part-London, part-Watford, part-South Africa and…wait for it [drumroll] possibly part-Barnet (mooted as their next bivouac)!

So they are nomads, but none the worse for that, some might spit…

Adding an unusual bit of edge to the proceedings is this week’s news that the (now re-named) very bad Dr Venter has been fined €25,000 for “misconduct”: it’s official, then – he is not good any more. In fact, his crime was not just bringing the game into disrepute, for he has been found guilty of “being inappropriately critical of the ERC, Heineken Cup, the match officials and the sport of rugby union…”   The question in the future might be: what hasn’t the very bad Dr Venter done?

Away from such crimes and back to rugby. A glance at recent records is alarming: Saracens have the best record of any visiting side to Northampton, gaining seven Premiership wins there over the years. Carlos Spencer’s impudent overhead kick, which contributed to Saracens’ most humiliating defeat at FG in 2006, seems a whole generation ago. (For those who did not see that game, here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T126TYBorhA )

Already this season (26 September 2010) Saints have tasted the bitter stench of defeat at Vicarage Road, when a bad-tempered game ended with Northampton on the wrong end of a Dave Pearson-whistled defeat:

The Sorries Stars are the South African Schalk Brits, Dave Strettle, and the prolific Hougaard (8 successful kicks in the last game). But their magnificent South African kicker is injured and will not be playing, hence the signing of one Gavin Henson from the Welsh Hairsprays – who won’t be playing either.

But Sorries are also smarting after an unexpected defeat at home against Exeter, 9-23, which came after a narrow win away (against Saints’ most recent opponents) Newcastle. On that occasion, they scraped home 13-15, entirely on the strength of 5 penalties from young Goode, who must have thought he was the obvious replacement fly-half, until Henson shot over the horizon like a hairy orange haemorrhoid from the nether regions of somewhere Celtic…

Earlier this season, the hard-to-hug hoofers miraculously beat Leicester at home with a phenomenal comeback in the last quarter to win 26-20. On that occasion, they sliced through the famed Tiggers defence like a hot poker up a cow’s @rse.

For Saints, Hartley, Lawes, Dowson, Wood, Ashton and Foden were called up for England’s team against NZ. Dowson and Wood were returned to Saints but, as they have not been able to participate in full training with the rest of the team, they may not be regarded as available for selection. And (a personal gripe here) I would like to say that another Saint has been called up for international duty, but this is one we let go – Will Harries, who will start for Wales against the Australians. He made his name in this very LV= Cup last season when he scored two dazzling tries against (you’ve guessed it) Saracens at Vicarage Road – a feat that few feet will repeat.

International call-ups might suggest a front row of the ever-present, ever-willing Tonga’uhia and Mujati (although, deservedly, they should be rested in favour of Dreyer and Mercey). So might Jim go for a Wanderers-based team – which will be entertaining for some – or could it be a blend of experience and youth? I think the former, but with a couple of key twists.

Euan (NeveronaSunday) Murray is unavailable, so we might see a line-up comprising:

15 Greig Tonks
14 Charlie Sadler
13 Glyn Hughes
12 Matt Cornwell
11 Scott Armstrong
10 Shane Geraghty
9 Ryan Powell
1 Regardt Dreyer
2 Andy Long
3 Tom Mercey
4 Dan Sanderson
5 Mark Sorenson
6 James Ingle
7 Calum Clarke
8 Mark Easter

Replacements may feature the likes of Jamie Elliott, Stuart Commins, Adam Eustace, Brett Sharman and Paul Diggin. And I wonder when Bruza will return.

Prediction: We will score more tries but they will win…

News: LV= Cup: Saracens vs Northampton Saints - Preview

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 04/11/2010 23:44

ComeOnYouSaints.com
04/11/2010 23:44

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Saint Tim
05/11/2010 05:52

Good read Dom



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

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Wee Jim
05/11/2010 06:41

Yes a fine peview. Will be interesting to see the team.

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tws
05/11/2010 07:37

I doubt if that many youngsters will play.Yes , some big guns will be rested but not all of them . The bench will have some experience on it.

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StBleach
05/11/2010 07:46

Nice job Dom as this was a difficult preview to write - I think the team that is selected this week will be very different to the one selected next week at Home - bums on seats and all that. Its nice to go into a weekend without worrying about results. Will enjoy it.

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Saint Dom in Hanoi
05/11/2010 08:44

Well, as it's 5 November and my birthday today (oh, thankyou so much), I have treated myself to the supreme gift of picking my own team.

But the only certain thing about my selection is that it will be very little like Jim's...

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smurfomatic
05/11/2010 08:57

Nice preview Dom, and a happy birthday too!

Photo Gallery

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St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad
05/11/2010 08:58

Quote:

Big bad dom...
who must have thought he was the obvious replacement fly-half, until Henson shot over the horizon like a hairy orange haemorrhoid from the nether regions of somewhere Celtic…

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

Dryathlon

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lilyg
05/11/2010 12:15

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Saint Tim
05/11/2010 12:19

Team was closer than a lot of people thought.

Well done that man!



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

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Convex Hull
06/11/2010 04:09

London Saracens? Shirley some mistake, never called London Saracens.

Just Saracens, although looking likely to be in North London, close to their historical home, next season.

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ChrisG
07/11/2010 11:43

I thought everyone playing miles outside the city boroughs called themselves London something nowadays Convex?

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Howlin
07/11/2010 12:36

I must have imagined the London double header then Mr obtuse vessel.

Saint til I die

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