Northampton Saints
News: AP: Northampton Saints vs Harlequins - Match Preview
By Rob Leach
December 29 2010
After an extended break over the Christmas period due to the postponement of the Boxing Day Kingsholm fixture, Northampton Saints return to the park this weekend when they entertain Harlequins at Franklin's Gardens on New Year's Day. Regular COYSDC contributor Rob Leach covers all bases with a comprehensive match preview...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs HARLEQUINS
AP: Saturday, 1st January 2011 - 3pm
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS
MATCH PREVIEW
23 is the Magic Number as Saints Return to League Action
Boy oh boy, the 26th November seems a long time ago – it was back in the days prior to the current ice age that has descended upon us – it was back in the days when London Irish were still a formidable team. Yes, it really was a long time ago that Saints took part in the Aviva Premiership and yet, we are still top of the table with two games in hand. This fact will probably come to bite us in the bum later in the season as we strive to fulfil fixtures but for now, we concentrate on the visit of Harlequins.
The good news is that our Saintly heroes should be rested after an extended Christmas break but the bad news I suppose is that we might just be a little rusty and lack that momentum that has driven us forward this year. One thing for sure, the Saints will need to at their best as the Quins are no mugs and pose threats from every position.
The Bloodgate years have long passed and this Quins team under the leadership of COS appears to be on the verge of re-finding their form once again. Someone recently asked whether this game was a ‘Banker’ for the Saints – definitely not.
The Robshaw, Skinner, Easter v Dowson, Wood ,Wilson challenge is probably worth the entrance fee alone. The Smyler v Evans kicking dual will be fascinating whilst watching Marler and the rest of the front row do battle is another area of interest.
Our visitors have been fortunate enough to have been playing Rugby with wins against London Irish and Leeds to their credit and a defeat to Saracens (which they should have won) Like the rest of you, I settled down to be entertained last Sunday as Quins played Irish in the latest Big Game Twickenham spectacle The result was a kick-fest, which was not really what I was looking forward to but the Quins won and showed they can defend well and can put width on the ball when they want to.
Games against Quins are generally close affairs and with the weather forecast suggesting damp, cold conditions I do not think we will see a try fest. I envisage another forwards dominated game with the Saints pack coming out on top – that’s if we are able to apply discipline as Nick Evans will punish us hard if we infringe as much as we have done recently. The referee for the occasion is Dean Richards, somewhat ironic I suppose, his performance will no doubt contribute to the result as much as the players on the field. The one thing that in my opinion is for certain, this will be our hardest game of the season. Quins are no mugs.
Predicting this game is easier than most as we only have to look at the date – 010111 which if translated from binary gives us 23. Also, the first of January is the 8th day of Christmas which is all about the 8 maids a milking or more realistically the Beatitudes. So, it’s Saints to win 23 – 8.
I do not envisage any significant changes to the Saints fifteen other than a start for Lee Dickson. I have quoted the Quins team that beat Irish.
Saints: Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, Jon Clarke, James Downey, Paul Diggin, Stephen Myler, Lee Dickson, Soane Tonga'uiha, Dylan Hartley (capt), Brian Mujati, Courtney Lawes, Christian Day, Phil Dowson, Tom Wood, Roger Wilson
Harlequins: Brown, Williams, Lowe, Turner-Hall,
Monye, Evans, Care, Marler, Gray, Johnston, Kohn, Robson, Robshaw, Skinner, Easter.
The Mood in the Quins Camp?
“Unfortunately I think the referee was bad with the cards
throughout. The Irish yellow card came far too late and for an offense which
didn't seem to slow the ball down at all, I think Care's card was harsh, and
then not sin-binning one of our players in the dying minutes was ridiculous. I
agree with Arlecchino that the lack of an early sin-binning really did set the
tone for that match, and, while I'm pleased that we've got the win and with
many aspects of our play (and amazed that JTH finally did something other than
run into a brick wall), it was still a very poor game of rugby. I'm hoping for
better when I go to the Gardens next week, but I fear that it will all be from
Saints
Nevertheless, well done to the team on a hard-fought win. It wasn't pretty, but
they did what was needed.”
http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s98.htm?100,12089590
Posted by: The Advocate
Date: 28 December, 2010 11:07
“Just wanted to say I thought they (our front row) were outstanding yesterday (perhaps apart from JJ going to sleep at a lineout). Given the oldest one is 24 and they are signed up for a few years, I think they will only improve. It will be a test at N'hampton on NY's day but all good. “
Posted by: DOK
Date: 28 December, 2010 11:44
“At the end of the day there were a
few unexpected good things in that game.
1. Our scrum. More than held it's own in the tight.
2. Our lineout. I thought Irish would make us look like Wasps the day before.
3. Our defence. Never expected to hold Irish out for no tries at all.
And looking at that list, I see a platform on which a winning team can be built
(or rather is being built). We'll know a
lot more by the 8th I reckon.”
Posted by: Quaking Quin
Date: 28 December, 2010 12:34
“Let's see if Quins can change their poor away form next weekend. It's a big call but the team have to start sometime getting back into top 6 contention. History tells us Quins invariably have a mare of an away game immediately after a half-decent home performance.”
The Last Three League Games
The history books tell me that there have been 23 league games between the Saints and Quins. Saints have 15 wins. Saints have scored 61 tries to Quins 49
Saints
26/11/10 Saints 35 - 23 L Irish
19/11/10 Sharks 10 - 19 Saints
30/10/10 Saints 34 - 13 Falcons
Quins
27/12/10 Quins 28 - 18 L Irish
5/12/10 Saracens 26 - 14 Quins
28/11/10 Quins 51 - 18 Leeds
A Decade of Results
06/09/00 Saints 27 Quins 20
23/12/00 Quins 25 Saints 34
09/11/01 Saints 13 Quins 13
25/01/02 Quins 16 Saints 24
23/11/02 Saints 35 Quins 7
02/05/03 Quins 19 Saints 31
08/11/03 Quins 43 Saints 21
08/05/04 Saints 18 Quins 17
11/09/04 Quins 13 Saints 45
28/03/05 Saints 22 Quins 20
04/11/06 Quins 34 Saints 19
17/12/07 Saints 15 Quins 28
20/12/08 Saints 23 Quins 13
31/01/09 Quins 27 Saints 6
21/11/09 Saints 26 Quins 17
20/02/10 Quins 13 Saints 6
11/09/10 Quins 16 Saints 20
Law Changes since we last played a league game !!
http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2040903.html
The IRB have made a few changes to the laws since we last played in the league, one of which comes into play on the 1st January 2011.
From December 1st 2010
“The IRB Council has reinforced its zero-tolerance stance towards all dangerous tackles by approving an amendment to the Law relating to the spear tackle.
An amendment to Law 10.4(j) has been approved to recognise the defensive actions of the tackled player when the arms are outstretched to break a fall and to further ensure the consistency of application of the appropriate sanction for offending players.
The
amended Law 10.4(j) will now read: Lifting a player from the ground and
dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player’s feet are
still off the ground such that the player’s head and/or upper body come into
contact with the ground is dangerous play. A definition has been added: an action taken
by a ball carrier to fend off an opponent by using the palm of the hand.
The amended Law 10.4(f) will now read: Playing an opponent without the ball.
Except in a scrum, ruck or maul, a player who is not in possession of the ball
must not hold, push or obstruct an opponent not carrying the ball.
From January 1st 2011 – potential for more drinking time….
“The IRB Council approved an amendment to Law 5 which will permit a match organizer,
Member Union or recognised body with jurisdiction over the match to implement a
half-time interval of up to a maximum of 15 minutes.
The amendment to Law 5.2 will now read: After half-time teams change ends.
There is an interval of not more than 15 minutes. The length of the interval is
decided by the match organizer, the Union or the recognised body which has jurisdiction
over the game. During the interval the teams, the referee and the assistant
referees may leave the playing enclosure.
The amendment comes after extensive consultation with Member Unions, including
an IRB sanctioned trial in the English Premiership in 2007-08 to establish
whether there would be any change to the risk of injury by extending the
half-time interval.
The analysis of the Premiership trial established that there was no additional injury
risk and that the extended half-time period could present player welfare
benefits. “
Your Match Day Weather Prediction
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/em/northampton_forecast_weather.html
A barmy 6 degrees of ‘heat’ with a light drizzle and moderate wind
For the Travelling Quins
The Thomas A Beckett and Foundry remain the popular venues for pre and post match refreshments and as always ensure you park legally. The car parks at the rear of the ground remain the best options as they haven’t been converted to an ASDA store just yet. The Village Area within the ground still serves up a variety of refreshments including the famous Pork Rolls and Balti Chicken. For those that have risked the Rail Network then come out of the station and turn right and head towards the ‘lighthouse’ (as If you needed to be told.)
Have a safe journey.
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Fantastic piece of work, Mr L. Many thanks!
As I said on another thread, their front row should provide us with some good practice before our trip up the motorway next week.
Well researched and well written Rob - 10 out of 10...
*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:11:06:00:12:39 by ikdrf.
Quote:StBleach
Are you some sort of SPIV? Not sure if Im buying this Sob story - the Club advertised spare tickets available throughout the week.. Tickets for the Shrubbery end were made available only a few days ok..
As ikdrf has said in reply on our board, he is well known on the Quins forum and is legit
Nunquam Dormio
Looking forwards to a cracking game!
Quote:Simon Templar
Nice one oh pungent one! I enjoyed the preview and now I'm really looking forward to the contest.
As I said on another thread, their front row should provide us with some good practice before our trip up the motorway next week.
I admire your confidence... and I truly hope that messrs Marler/Gray/JJ give your guys more than just "practice"
I can see an Exeter or Castres sort of game where they try to starve us of ball and generally restrict our space... I am sure they've been watching the odd video.
However, having said all that, if Our scrum gets the upper hand than Quins will find life quite difficult. But not impossible.
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