Northampton Saints
News: Saints smash Perpignan to reach the HC Final
By St Martin
May 2 2011
So Heineken Cup Semi Final, Sunshine, Bank holiday Monday to recover, does life get any better. Firstly and importantly thanks to Mrs Saint Martin who kindly allowed her birthday BBQ to be held on the Saturday rather than originally planned Sunday, she is as kind as she is beautiful. Anyway enough mushy stuff and onto big blokes crashing into each other!
HEINEKEN CUP 2010/11 SEMI FINAL
Sunday May 1st
Stadium:MK - KO 3pm
Northampton Saints v USA Perpignan
The atmosphere built as the stadium gradually filled and the travelling support of Perpignan gave splashes of blood and gold within the background of the overwhelming support of Green, Black and Gold.
The teams entered the field side by side which always gives that gladiatorial feeling of the battle to commence and a loud chorus of “Oh Wendy” reverberated around the stadium. As expected the Perpignan kick off was greeted by deafening noise with Saints calmly catching and the much maligned Stephen Myler finding a safe touch. Perpignan (USAP) took the line out and tested the Saint defence which repelled each wave with great intensity. The arm wrestle for possession and territory continued in the Saints half and after 10 minutes with no sign of the Saints defensive wall cracking USAP attempted a drop goal from distance which was wide and short of the posts. This miss spurred the Saints as if “that’s the best you can do” could be sensed. The Saints crossed the half way line picking and driving and with intelligent short passes, USAP subsequently infringed and Myler had the first penalty of the day in his sights. The kick was missed although from near the touchline but the pressure cooker atmosphere was intensifying. This pressure was finally released after 15 minutes when a superb pop pass from James Downey (hang you heads everyone who believes he’s crash ball only) sent Phil Dowson through the defensive line and into the USAP 22. Although stopped by the French full back Dickson and co were on hand to secure quick ball, with Diggin acting as scrum half he looked left
but then spun right I assume after receiving a call and he duly passed to Myler who with the USAP defence in disarray passed onto Ben Foden who cantered unopposed over the try line for the first score. Myler duly converted and Saints lead 7 to Nil.
The restart resulted in a mini kicking duel with Foden taking the last of these bombs on his own 22, would he restart the duel with another bomb...no, a shift into top gear and a swerve saw him break the USAP line and move into the opposing half, the ball was shifted onto the ever available Chris Ashton but the move was thwarted as he was brought to ground on the USAP 22m line.
A few minutes later USAP have clearly not learned from previous and a high bomb is marked by Foden who quickly taps and go, his break takes him to half way where an intelligent grubber kick across to the wing unfortunately could not be gathered by Ashton. The resulting next five minutes were pivotal in the game which started with a stroke of good luck for the Saints. The USAP fly half LaHarrague deftly chipped the ball over the oncoming Saints defence and this was plucked from the air by the French international centre David Marty, it would almost certainly have been a try with only Ben Foden standing in the way of what appeared to be the whole USAP backline which were supporting Marty but a shrill whistle from Mr Clancy gave Saints the penalty for being offside in front of the kicker. The USAP supporters around us were up in arms which was not tempered by the giant screen to our far left replaying the move and showing the decision to be incorrect. Myler then sent the USAP blood pressure above critical when he slotted the penalty from inches inside his own half perfectly between the posts. 23 minutes elapsed and Saints lead 10 to Nil.
The restart is taken by Saints and Myler kicks long for territory, the French return the ball but are caught short of numbers at the breakdown with a penalty to Saints for coming in at the side. The USAP coach Jaques Brunel (apologies for spelling if incorrect) is now fixed to the touch line, hands on hips staring at both the official and his own side, discipline is vital and this is one battle USAP are losing rapidly. The kick is a difficult one but is not executed well as it swerves well right and short of the posts so much so that it does not go dead but Julien Candelon the diminutive winger knocks on 10m from his own line, things will get worse for Julien...keep reading.
The much hyped battle of the scrum which up to now has been very low key now takes on huge meaning. Pressure from the Saints and Mr Clancy’s arm goes skyward. Saints kick to the corner, “catch and drive time”. Saints take the catch but Perpignan defend well initially to repel the drive however Dickson spins the ball to Myler and with James Downey running a dummy line he sucks in the defence. Jon Clarke takes the pass from Myler in centre field and showing “foot candy*” of the sweetest kind he runs in the 2nd try past some woeful defence by USAP. Myler easily converts and Saints lead 17 to Nil.
*The Foot Candy reference is for my good friend Nick who heard the reference from a commentator whilst watching Aussie rules of all things, I had to agree with him that the Jon Clarke step and run merited such a mention.
Anyway back to the restart and the red mist which had clearly descended on Julien Candelon. The ball hung in the air and was taken expertly by the safe hands of Lee Dickson however his return to earth was halted by the at best “mistimed” tackle by Mr Candelon which resulted in Lee Dickson landing shoulder and neck first. The Saints crowd went crazy with shouts of “off”, the USAP supporters held their breath fearing the worst. After a few moments and consultation with his assistant Mr Clancy sent Julien on his way to the naughty step for 10 minutes, whilst he sat with his head in hands Dickson returned to his feet to the relief of all, the lad is made of stern stuff. From the resulting penalty Saints move into Perpignan territory where after an initial breakdown in play they win a penalty after a scummaging infringement in front of the posts. Myler duly knocks the kick between the sticks and Saints lead 20 to Nil with 4 minutes remaining in the half.
At this moment in time I was feeling as fairly confident as you can after watching Saints for a few years you get used to the rollercoaster of emotions. But Saints will kick themselves with the mistake that subsequently followed. The restart was fielded by Diggin who jinked infield but with Saints support coming into the breakdown off their feet USAP turned down the shot at goal and kicked to the corner just in front of where we sat. With 1 less back on the field there was only one thing on USAPs mind and the forwards caught and drove expertly. The 3 man splinter off the initial maul sent the French hooker Guirado over the line and Perpignan were on the board. Porical with time up kicked accurately from a difficult angle and both teams headed down the tunnel for a well earned cup of tea with Saints 20 to 7 ahead.
Half time flew by and the teams returned to the field ready to renew battle. The first score in the second half similar to when Saints played Ulster was vital. With Ashton and Lawes combining to take the restart Saints played the territory card and Myler pinned USAP back on their 5m line with a well executed grubber kick. USAP could not escape the vice like grip of the Saints defence and were lucky initially to not concede more points with Tonga’uhia taking the ball forward on a couple of occasions just being stopped short. The giant Tongan then almost charged down an attempted clearance by the constantly pressurized French scrum half and then Captain Dylan Hartley was thwarted in the corner by a superb tackle by his opposite number Guirado.
Finally the pressure told and after an initial break near the touchline by Jon Clarke he released the ball expertly out of the tackle and a deafening cry of “Mooj” could be heard. This could only mean that Brian Mujati was on the rumble, how we Saints supporters love a prop on the hoof. The French defence penalised at the breakdown and Myler cooly slotted over the penalty from out wide, Saint lead 23 to 7 with 49 minutes gone.
At this point Perpignan unleashed the mighty Henry Tuilagi from the bench and he made an immediate impact, although tackled well Saints infringed and USAP kicked to the corner, it did not take a mind reader to work out what was about to happen. The catch and drive started but was thwarted illegally by Saints and Mr Clancy sent out a warning. The second catch and drive though was defended and with USAP not moving forward Guirado tried to break free down the blind side but was bundled into touch. Saints usually very accurate from 5m lineouts on defence let the ball bounce on this occasion from the long throw and were lucky to smuggle the ball to Myler whose kick to touch was touched in flight. After this the game became a stalemate as the Saints defence could not be cracked by the ever more desperate USAP attack whilst Saints Myler and Ashton kicked intelligently to the corners to keep USAP at arms length.
Into the last 10 minutes with substitutions a plenty taking place and Saints continuing their stranglehold a possible shot a goal was rejected after the Saints scrum showed they were in the ascendency and the ball was kicked once again to the corner. This was high class knock out rugby with Saints delivering a message to the Leinster pack that more of this was coming in 3 weeks time. With the clock counting down into the last 2 minutes it seemed appropriate that a perfect kick forward by Ben Foden was fielded by the replacement USAP fullback who turned in readiness to launch one final counter attack but was greeted by 3 Saintsman and no support, a huge roar rang out as he was driven back over his try line sealing USAPs fate. It was left a short time after for Myler to take a pass from the replacement Saints scrum half Commins and despatch the ball into the crowd to end the match. Saints win 23-7 and go to the final.
A fantastic performance by the Saints who now know that an even bigger test lies ahead in the Final. Leinster will start as favourites and rightly so but anyone who writes off the Saints does so at their peril.
Honourable mentions go out to my man of the match Jon Clarke who often unheralded was a rock in defence and showed just what he can do when the try line beckons. The other Clark, Calum who I think if memory serves has been involved in every single Saints match this season and gets better and better on each occasion, and finally to the USAP supporters who had travelled a long way but were still singing at the very end. Finally a big hello to the two Tigers fans waving a Perpignan flag, I hope they were successful in their attempt to break the world record for “leaving the stadium in the quickest time” when the final whistle blew.
Thanks for taking the time and making it to the end of my report, hope to see you all in Cardiff but not before we secure a play off place this Saturday....COYS!
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Stumbleupon02/05/2011 14:00
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An absolute cracker, Martin.
Thank you!
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