Northampton Saints
News: Honours evened at the Aviva H.C. Leinster 9 Saints 18
By David Lowrence
December 15 2013
My previous visits to Dublin had all been on business, usually a dash in in, lots of meetings, straight to a hotel then back home the next morning. I have wanted to make a proper visit to the home of the vicar of Laracor, Agher, and Rathbeggan, and the prebend of Dunlavin in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. Also a trip to learn about a man whose work has touched my life frequently over the last 50 years, one Arthur Guinness Esquire. And of course there was the little matter of going to watch Leinster continue the demolition of Saints started last week. Still two out of three is not bad at this time of the year.
Heineken Cup Pool 1* Leinster v Northampton Saints
Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Saturday 14th December 2013 KO 6pm
* ERC’s idea of a seeded pool is to put the French Champions, The Irish Champions The Welsh Champions in a single pool with the English runners up. Great seeding skills!
Leinster 9 Northampton Saints 18
My perambulations started at Twickenham on Thursday with a visit to see Oxford dominate a classy, but weaker Cambridge. A Quick dash up the M1 to Kegworth in preparation for a silly o’clock departure. The flight to Dublin was largely uneventful until the pilot suddenly pulled out of his approach to the runway. The attendant announced that the landing could not take place “at this time” because a passenger was in the toilets, and rules state that all passengers must be seated and strapped in for a landing. Loo inhabitant restored to seat and the landing duly took place. Positive result was that crew could not sound awful fanfare for an on time flight. It’s an ill wind……
Arriving in Dublin airport at 7:30am I learned a new lesson. That is that nobody gives you the right directions first time. Having been directed to the wrong bus twice, I finally got on the correct bus and set off for my hotel. I was staying out of the city, having got a great rate for an early booking, and the inestimable Luas (tram system) was a great help in getting around. A days sightseeing and education, crossing off items one and two from my list above, before meeting up with another editor and Saintly travellers for dinner at the Hairy Lemon. (Which I can thoroughly recommend for a good night out in Irelands’ capital.) We met lots of supporters of Leinster, both knowledgeable and friendly. They were all expecting a tough match, but were confident that they would be too strong. The general air amongst the travellers was that, having travelled more in hope than expectation; we would be pleased for a good performance to redress the happenings of last week. We were there to do our bit, but expected to be swamped by the sea of noise at the Aviva. A postprandial libation in Temple bar before turning in on the eve of what would be a remarkable day.
The Saturday dawned with the much-heralded bad weather all to evident. Outside my hotel, crossing the bridge over the motorway to the luas station was akin to standing on an open ship’s bridge in a force 9 gale. By the time I had completed the five-minute walk to the tram I was soaked to the skin. This foreboded a tough day at the Irish office.
I had decided to visit the Kilmainham Gaol on my way to meet others for lunch, and it was here I got my second set of poor directions from a Dubliner. Lost and soaked, I found myself outside a coffee shop. Going in to dry off, get a coffee and directions, I encountered some of the Saints squad. We exchanged a few words about the match, and they vouchsafed in passing that looking after BOD would be George North’s problem. I was somewhat puzzled but the penny did not drop until the team was announced at 5:50 in the Stadium!
Cultural and historical duties completed I met up with other supporters in the centre for the pre match meeting at the Lansdowne Football Club. Great hosts, a terrific facility and much (real) banter pre match. Thanks to the Supporters’ clubs for arranging this get together. By 5 pm the place was shoulder to shoulder, so we set off the 100 yards to the stadium. First visit, and a somewhat surreal experience, to be whisked in a lift to a carpeted bar on the 3rd floor, with a glassed view of the pitch! So to my padded seat, someone remarked that it was like stadium mk but bigger. As the ground filled up, it be came clear that the 47000 attendance touted by the hosts was somewhat optimistic. (I was told later that tickets were being given away to anyone who wanted them in the city centre)
To the match. The team announcements that Tom Collins would start and that George North was at outside centre due to Dom Waldouck’s hamstring was a surprise to many, then the conversation in the coffee shop fell into place! D’oh.
From the starting whistle Saints set off like Hats on Wheels and tore into the hosts, clearly looking for an early try. Burrell and North look to be a frightening combination, and in the seventh minute North took a great line off a Burrell pass to touch down under the posts.
The Leinster faithful were stunned. Their singing became muted. (in fact I never heard “Molly” once all evening.) Saints were kicking all to the corners, and my opinion on this differs from some Leinster supporters and at least one critic on this site. Their belief that Saints were looking to score 4 early trys by turning down 3 points, was I belief misguided. This is a Saints team that loves to bully, and I believe that, following a number of high profile articles crowing that Leinster could cope with any mental pressure put on them, saints decided that real, physical pressure would be the key. And so it proved. Leinster started to commit silly errors (to be fair so did Saints but they just ignored them!), missing touch, knocking on and resorting to the production of handbags on a number of occasions. Leinster were very lucky to avoid a yellow card and penalty try when Tom Collins – playing a blinder, kicked ahead for the line and was impeded by Kearney. Kearny was lucky to stay on the park, and those Leinster supporters on their site who blame the ref for the defeat, should look again and ponder this. (They won’t – but I offer the suggestion!)
Fly half Madigan kicked a penalty (following a rare Myler hook at a penalty kick) to make the score 3-7 at half time. I had to explain to my (Saints supporting) neighbour that this was not the dreadful performance he thought it was. I travelled 250 miles to shout and sing for my team. I really don’t understand those who travel that distance just to sulk.
The second half started with an error by Dickson and a rush by Leinster that reminded us all of the start to last week’s game at the gardens. Leinster pulled Saints all over the field, but to no avail. Leinster drew to within 1 point and that gap remained for nearly all the half. A brutal, physical and exciting competition. As the half wore on the bench substitutes came on. Kahn Fotu’ali produced the rarest of rarities for Saints, a drop goal! This put us 9 -13 up, and seemed to galvanise Leinster who mounted a sustained attack on our line. Heaslip was playing like a man possessed, and was leading phase after phase. Shades of past Munster matches were seen flitting across the park. Surely not! No? No? at the clock stopped on 80 they set up a last attack. Healy made a dogs breakfast of a pass and the resulting fumble allowed Jamie (“The Future”) Elliott to grab the ball, step over the prone bodies and set off like a man possessed for the Leinster line. Our contingent of supporters, although hoarse and emotionally drained, were on their feet screaming him on. Following a look behind to check his chasers he headed for the corner to touch down.
Leinster. Deflated.
The conversion was missed but we did not care. A remarkable come back. I said I was speechless after a disappointed reaction to the team sheet. I was proven wrong. There are bits of Saints body all over the Aviva pitch testifying to that. Some awesome performances. Samu, well deserved MoM, but George North looked like the player we signed, reveling in possession and space, Dylan, Churchillian leadership with massive bursts of skill, Tom Collins taking his chance with both hands. Too many to mention – a real team performance. I will draw a veil over the evening’s celebrations involving wine and song. And some wonderful Leinster supports who were at pains to go out of their way to shake my hand and say what a wonderful performance. Faith. Restored.
Sunday R&R resting voice before an early start to East Midland airport tomorrow.
Words from the skipper:-
and from the Boss
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon15/12/2013 18:53
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
And yes that is Guinness!----------------------------------------
Please sponsor me for Saints with Heart [www.justgiving.com]
“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
What a great rugby week.
Firstly, Oxford win a fourth victory on the trot against the Polytechnic of East Anglia. Then Saints deliver one of the most memorable and emotional victories I can ever remember.
Your ERC seedings point sadly speaks for itself.
I hope we never have to see that ref again. I still think we would have lost but he was blind to so much it was amazing. He brings new life to the saying of playing the ref.
It makes the pool look interesting now as we both have the same opposition to face in the final two rounds though you have the easier run having the french in your back yard. If we slip up and you take your two wins you might still steal this one from us.
As for the ref ... I reffed a game on Sunday, which the away team won by a single score. Afterwards the away team thanked me for a fantastic performance, my fellow home coach thought I was shocking and made me buy all the beers afterwards ... the truth is probably somewhere in the middle and I'm sure it applies here as well, leaving side the Tom Collins block.
It was great to see St George in the centre, it certainly got him more in the game.
Once a scrum half .... always a scrum half
More Northampton Saints headlines
- End of season how the squad was used analysis
- This weeks rugby 1st - 5th July
- Weekend Rugby 27th/28th June
- Weekend Rugby 19th - 20th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 12th - 14th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 5th - 7th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 29th - 31st May 20206
- Weekend Rugby 22nd - 23rd May 2026
- Weekend Rugby 15th - 17th May 2026