Northampton Saints
News: Match Preview - Aviva Premiership Saints v Sharks
By Bob Fossil
March 30 2011
And so, it’s been awhile since I’ve done one of these and it’s fair to say that the fortunes of the club have changed dramatically in that time. But, it’s also fair to say that the fortunes of the club have changed dramatically in the last few weeks. After a post-Christmas slump the Saints looked to be back to form for the business end of the season after an excellent performance at home against Wasps last Sunday.
Match Preview Aviva Premiership
Saturday 2nd April, Franklin's Gardens
KO 2:30 pm
But, a new week brings a new challenge and this week sees the Saints facing an old adversary in the shape of Steve Diamond. Now, as most Saints supporters are aware Mr Diamond has been living up to his name and has found several diamonds for us whilst working in a advisory capacity for big Jim.
Most supporters these days have forgiven and forgotten his time in charge at Saracens and the famous kicking tee debacle. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about ask Old Pete, wink, wink.) However, Steve has returned to his roots back in the North and the club he served so well as he has joined Pete Anglesea in trying to rejuvenate the fortunes of the famous Sale club.
It has been a difficult season for Sale who have seen Mike Brewer come and go and are now currently dealing with the loss of long time club talisman Charlie Hodgson who is headed to Sarries next season. But things are not all bad for Sale who can look to some very talented young players who have come through the Academy and I believe will be knocking on the international door very soon.
The potential of James Gaskill is very well known to most rugby folk but few are aware of the talented Carl Fearns who is headed to Bath in the summer or Lee Imoleck, a talented young prop forward who has survived well at the coalface of premiership rugby this season.
But, I’m sorry to say, that Sale have won just one of their last seven encounters against the Saints in all competitions and that was at Edgeley Park on 25 April 2009. So it would seem that the Saints is something of a hoodoo team for Sale.
Sale won a relegation six pointer last weekend as they relied on the boot of Charlie Hodgson to knock over five penalty goals in what seemed like a very fraught encounter with Leeds. But, after eventually coming away with the points in a 15-12 win confidence will be high for Mr Anglesea’s boys.
Meanwhile, the Saints can look back on a physical performance against an outmanned and outgunned Wasps team with great positivity. The return of the England internationals did make a big difference especially in the shape of the skipper.
While Dylan seems to be as unpopular as ever with opposing sides it was great to see him belying his reputation with two excellent passes setting up two lovely tries, his usual high standard of throwing at the lineout and what most Saints supporters love to see most, a typical bruising and bullish performance making a real nuisance of himself at the breakdown. Along with Tom Wood and Christian Day, he never gave the scrum-half a moment’s peace and set the tone for an excellent win when, truth be told, the Saints were cruising at half-time.
After a physical battle against Neil Back’s Leeds team it was nice to see the Jimmies get back on the horse and allay any fears supporters might have over not making the play-offs. With some supporters having one eye on our forthcoming trip to Milton Keynes and a showdown with Ulster Rugby it would be easy to think this game could be something of a cakewalk, but frankly nothing could be further from the truth as Sale will certainly come to spoil the party and are more than capable of doing so.
Unlike the Magners League there are no easy games in the Premiership. Every game means something and Sale are fighting for their lives. To underestimate them would be a great mistake and most of us are fully aware of the talents they have at their disposal.
Which brings me to Kingsthorpe’s Finest, who returns to his old stomping ground at Franklin’s Gardens again. Ben Cohen is out of contract at Sale in the summer and is looking for a new club - who is to say that a strong performance against his old club might not turn a few heads? But, with all sentimentality behind us, it will be a good battle between him and either of our two whippets on the wings.
The men in green black and gold have no major injury worries coming into the game and are likely to field an unchanged team from the demolition of Brian Glover’s woeful Wasps. (Yes, I enjoyed writing that!) It would be easy to heap praise on some of the excellent performances that team gave last weekend but it is difficult to make a comparison when the opposition were frankly going through the motions.
Sale were delighted last week to be able to welcome back the man mountain Eifion Roberts as well as Dave Seymour and club skipper James Gaskell for the game against Leeds and it’s fair to say they made a big difference. But they are still missing England and British Lions loose head Andrew Sheridan - which is a shame for those of us who like a good front row battle. It would have been nice to see him go head-to-head with the Mooj.
Overall it looks like being a cracking game on paper with plenty for both sides to play for and a change in attitude and performance from both sides recently should make this a game not to miss.
While I fancy the Saints will win I am not expecting a bonus point as I know, and I’m sure you do too, that Sale have plenty to fight for and would love to come to Franklin’s Gardens and deliver a bloody nose.
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Stumbleupon30/03/2011 19:30
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Thanks again for stepping in at such short notice - it's really appreciated, fella.
Now, due to the need to accommodate the current Mrs C on Saturday, I am giving up my seat and am going to be in D Block for the first time. Should I expect any initiation rites?
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As for Mr. Cohen - whilst he has not gotten any quicker he has been a revelation for the most part this season. His appetite for the game and desire to compete have been exemplary. IMHO one of our most consistent players - consistently good that is!
I shall be viewing on ESPN instead of sampling the Gardens again. Good luck and enjoy the game.
“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
01/04/2011 03:09
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