Northampton Saints
News: Tigers Tamed
By Howlin'
September 6 2010
Well I guess today's match will determine whether you are a glass half full or a glass half empty kind of person.
Aviva Premiership Round 1
Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers
Sunday 5th September 2010, Franklin's Gardens
KO 3p.m.
Score Saints 27 Tigers 19
The half empties will be bemoaning the lack of a bonus point after what was a very dominant Saints performance. They will suddenly turn on Stephen Myler (their erstwhile kicking hero) claiming that he couldn't hit a cow's rear end with a circular instrument. They will berate the management for bringing on so many substitutes with ten minutes to go disrupting the teams rhythm long enough for Tigers to score two tries. They will rail against Pearson for not producing his yellow card until the last 15 minutes of the game and for ignoring a couple of face slaps masquerading as high tackles. Well if you are that supporter you may be factually correct. But for me you kind of miss the point.
As I, on the other hand, am a glass totally full kind of person. I follow the Saints to watch good rugby win or lose. I always have a good day out . And I also have not forgotten what a short time it has been since Saints were playing their rugby in a lower league. I don't expect perfection from anyone either in life or sport, realising that this is an impossibility and , in reality, something that I would never wish to see anyway. Life is full of uncertainty. It's what makes it exciting !
So my version of today was that I have just seen a cracking game of rugby between two very good sides indeed. My team has just beaten last season's (and many other season's) champions very comprehensively in the first day of what looks like being a fantastic season of rugby and I can't wait for the next match.
So if you want to moan, I for one, won't be listening. Saints beat Leicester 27-19, have four league points and Leicester tigers have none. That counts as a damn fine day at the office for me. So if you want to winge about the lack of Kruge , I will point to the Saints lineout today and the added variation Woods brought and the hard work of Day and the dominance Saints had in that aspect of the game. If you wish to carp on about the lack of Murray playing on a Sunday , I will point out the eminance of Brian Mujati, now playing after his first full pre season under the Hood, and his searing run down the wing for Saints third try. Is he not perhaps our first choice tight head at the moment ? Perhaps you want to repeatedly tell me that Geraghty can't kick. If so, I will refer to his first attempt wide out on the right which sailed between the uprights and finally put the result beyond doubt and the pace and skill he brought to create Mujati's try to give him that opportunity.
Possibly you would like to convince me that there is a huge slope at Franklins Gardens and all the tries get scored at the South stand end or that the only reason Saints pack looked sharp pre season was due to the poor quality of the opposition. If so I may be tempted to show you the two tries scored by the man mountain who is Soane Tongauiha. The second following a sublime break and offload by Chris Ashton, which effectively ended the match as a contest after only five minutes, putting Saints into an unassailable 14-0 lead. I could also point out the awesome performance of the Saints forwards in every aspect of play against one of the toughest teams in the land.
So my advice is be happy, be very happy. Beating Tigers is great sport and should be enjoyed. This was the first game of a new season and there are many things to be worked on, there always will be. The team have just beaten last seasons champions and still can and will improve. If that isn't a reason to be cheerful then perhaps you should consider an alternative weekend pursuit.
Timeline:
3mins SAINTS Try Tongauiha Con Myler 7-0
5mins SAINTS Try Tongauiha Con Myler 14-0
17mins TIGERS Miss pen Flood
20mins SAINTS Miss pen Myler
24mins SAINTS Pen Myler 17-0
26mins TIGERS Try A Tuilagi Con Flood 17-7
30mins SAINTS Miss pen Myler
33mins SAINTS Miss pen Myler
34mins SAINTS Miss DG Dowson
36mins SAINTS Miss pen Myler
HALF TIME SAINTS 17 TIGERS 7
40mins TIGERS Miss DG Staunton
43mins TIGERS Miss pen Staunton
51mins SAINTS Miss pen Myler
54mins SAINTS Miss DG Myler
60mins SAINTS Try Mujati Con Geraghty
65mins TIGERS Yellow Chuter
65mins SAINTS Pen Geraghty 27-7
69mins SAINTS Yellow Hartley
70mins TIGERS Try Hamilton Con Staunton 27-14
74mins TIGERS Try Hamilton 27-19
FULL TIME SAINTS 27 TIGERS 19
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Stumbleupon06/09/2010 07:19
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Well writ sir.
I hope nobody does 'turn on' Stephen Myler. After the first two kicks at the posts he had a bad day - it happens.
It does, however, present an interesting problem for the management as to who starts at 10 for the visit to the Stoop because Shane Geraghty looks to have recovered his lost form. Similarly, it would be hard on Brian Mujati if Euan Murray came straight back into the tight head slot, but perhaps they are going to rotate them come what may.
Overall a very good performance by Saints with some outstanding contributions throughout the team.
However, as you mention it Malcolm, I did think the multiple substitutions (and the timing of them and the particular choices) was a very strange decision indeed.
One player not mentioned for outstanding play for me was Mr Wilson. Tremondous.
What was amazing was the pace that Saints played. We did not always play precisely and we did not play for 80 minutes but when we were good we were very good.
For me Shine has to stay and so does the Mooj.
And a final thought. I cannot remember a game of such quality, importance and intensity where Bruce, Bruce, Bruce played so little part. It is a real sign that we are moving forward when we do not rely on him to lead and to spark the big plays.
Saint til I die
06/09/2010 17:00
It was obviously a pretty strange anti-slope game, Leicester seemed to have won the toss and, don't know why, chose to play down the slope in the 1st half and, unusually, most of the tries were scored at the Sturtridge end. Maybe it was their policy to use the slope and wind to silence the crowd in the first 10 mins or so, then play the game, it certainly failed if that was the case.
dej
06/09/2010 19:18
(or possibly my book of inane comments)
Saint til I die
Quote:DEJ
most of the ML internationals who toured last summer have not even played in a warm up, meanwhile our guys have had warm ups and a full on game,
...and pray, where would we bust the salary cap to acquire the cover which we cannot afford?
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
I too was very happy overrall. It was a tremendous performance against the top club in the country.
However, I have to admit to being concerned at the time when we didn't go for the 5 yard scrum but went for the 3 points instead. Unfortunately I also had Sturat Barnes telling us all it was an unadventurous decision; and I did agree. Five minutes later Tigers had a similar opportunity and went for it, albeit the scoreline dictated that they had to, they scored a try. With them down to 14 I saw it at the time as an opportunity to maintain momentum. We surrendered that and Tigers grabbed it. That would be my only gripe, hopefully you will allow me just the one?
Saint til I die
07/09/2010 18:35
100% spot on with your outlook on The Saints.
I made several posts defending Shane and Smyler last year.
While others chose to jeer Smyler on Sunday (yes, o.k. you pays yer money yer takes yer choice blah blah) I really felt for the guy.
How many of those who jeered him have played at fly-half for The Saints? - virtually none of them so shut the heck up - you are not qualified to comment (nor am I having been a humble Saints Colts second row who soon realised that playing fast bowling in league cricket was immeasurably easier than playing rugby so my career ended as quickly as it began).
We have been treated royally in recent years and I steadfastly refuse to berate the team (or individual players) because of that.
I know that win or lose when I stand on the terrace I am about to be entertained - and yes,that includes our great encounters with Sarries last season.
Shane and Smyler have their detractors for different reasons.I said on the terrace after the Mooj's try - set up by Shane- that if Shane missed two penalties soon after that try the 'fickle element' would be on his back within minutes of cheering him to the rafters - it makes me sick.
Although I appreciate we need an all-round ten who can kick run and pass at the right time I will never be one of those detractors.
For the meantime my season ticket is my equivalent of buying the final, golden Wonka Bar.
Quote:Howlin
If they had gone for the scrum and not scored a try (highly likely) Tigs could have gone on to secure a bonus point.
Quite right Howlin, however, if we wish to be a consistantly top team/Prem title contender I feel it's times like that we need to stamp our mark on a game.
I'm all for the pragmatic choices (Munster away protecting the LBP for example) but could you imagine a Martin Johnson led Tigers taking the three there?
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
"Surely one of the attractions of sport is the unpredictability ?"
I absolutely agree. And a large part of that unpredictability is the human factor. It's why I always feel a little saddened when sports call on TV technology to try to make sure every decision is correct, and the likes of Pro-zone automate the skills that the good coaches excelled at.
What will we have to talk about when the sport is perfect?
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