By Paul Shaddick
January 11 2011

After one of the most intense club rugby matches of recent times, last weekend at Welford Road, Northampton Saints put the Aviva Premiership on the back-burner for a couple of weeks as they try to secure a Heineken Cup Quarter-final spot. Edinburgh are the visitors to Franklins Gardens - Shaddo looks ahead to Friday night's game...

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs EDINBURGH RUGBY

Friday, 14th January 2011 - 8pm

FRANKLIN'S GARDENS

MATCH PREVIEW

So, this is when we find out just how good Jim Mallinder and Dorian West really are.

In little more than three years, the coaching duo have gone from being the objects of hope and expectation to near-deification.

A clean sweep of Division One and an immediate return to the Premiership in their first season at Saints, followed by Heineken Cup qualification and an ECC victory in their second, and places in the Premierhip semi-finals and HC quarter-finals last season have seen their stock soar.

And Northampton supporters couldn’t have hoped for a better start to 2010/11 - unbeaten in the first four rounds of the HC and only one loss in the Premiership, where they topped the table with two games in hand.

And then, if you believe some, the wheels came off. A lacklustre showing against Harlequins led to a surprise home defeat on New Year’s Day, and a very much improved performance against Leicester could not prevent a more predictable defeat at Welford Road last weekend.

To make matters worse, Courtney Lawes, Chris Ashton and Shane Geraghty all returned down the M1 with injuries, at least two of which are rumoured to be serious.

Then there’s the small matter of the Six Nations just over the horizon. If fit, Lawes and Ashton will join England, along with Dylan Hartley and Ben Foden. There have also been calls in the media for Tom Wood, Phil Dowson and Jon Clarke to be considered for international duty.

Fortunately, it appears the Irish selectors have still not found the cash for a Sky Sport subscription. At least, that’s the only reason I can imagine there being for their overlooking Roger Wilson and James Downey. It is likely, however, that the Scots will want Joe Ansbro back after a fine debut last autumn.

There are also a couple of Saxons fixtures coming up, and an existing injury to Lee Dickson. In the worst case scenario, Saints could be missing a dozen or more players who one would normally expect to be in the match day squad.

So this is where we find out just how good the Saints’ coaching team is, and how much depth there is in the squad.

First up, it’s the final two pool games in the Heineken Cup. Good performances against tough opposition in Edinburgh and Cardiff have given Saints a little leeway, and a home win against Edinburgh on Friday night should be enough to earn a place in the quarter finals, although last season’s experience in Limerick and the strong start this term will mean the coaches will have been aiming for a home tie in the first of the knockout rounds.

Certainly, if Saints continue to play as they did up at Leicester, then consecutive wins against Edinburgh and Castres are very achievable – provided they can get the line out functioning again.

A pair of LV= Cup fixtures follows these two HC games, so I would expect the Saints to field the strongest possible side both this Friday and next weekend in France, and then use the following fortnight for rest and rehab.

The worry for Saints’ coaches, however, is that the Six Nations period contains four Premiership weekends, and for Northampton it could be five or six, with postponed games against Leeds and Gloucester still to be rescheduled.

Back in the autumn we saw some of the ‘fringe’ players do very well when called on to step in to cover team mates on international duty, and the return of old hands such as Bruce Reihana and Adam Eustace will be some comfort to Mallinder and West.

Personally, I’m optimistic that Saints will win these next two games, and will do enough over the next couple of months to be in the reckoning for a home semi-final for the play-offs. However, further injuries to key players could be more than even the sainted Jim and Dorian can cope with.

News: HC: Northampton Saints vs Edinburgh - Match Preview

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 11/01/2011 23:56

ComeOnYouSaints.com
11/01/2011 23:56

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

Saint Dom in Hanoi
12/01/2011 07:59

Two defeats tend to slow momentum, but the performance against Tigers, as you say, showed glimmers of improvement.

A good if terrifying preview, but I take issue with the statement that we will see "how good the coaches are".

What we are more likely to see on Friday is how good the players are, and particularly - how good they are at sticking to the game plan, and putting the coaching into practice!

And, when necessary, switch the gameplan.

Reply Quote Report

ChrisG
12/01/2011 13:04

Just read it Shad, good stuff mate and time will of course tell.

Reply Quote Report

Howlin
12/01/2011 13:57

Yep, good stuff Shad. We are indeed entering a crucial couple of months or so. Let's hope the squad are up to the challenge.

Saint til I die

Reply Quote Report

St Marlowe
13/01/2011 00:30

I'd forgotton how good your writing is Paul. More please!!

David L

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

- Live wrong and preposterously

Reply Quote Report

St Francis
13/01/2011 07:25

What a good piece of writing - said more than I could have done with three times as many words.

Thanks.

Reply Quote Report

Wee Jim
13/01/2011 12:17

Excellent preview and as you say it will be an interest test of the squad and how its managed.

Reply Quote Report

Gwendoline
13/01/2011 18:14

Am I alone in thinking it is barking mad to hold premiership matches while the top teams have half their first fifteen away on international duties ?

Don't other countries do this more sensibly ?

Reply Quote Report

Saint Liz
13/01/2011 19:42

Great preview, can't wait to get myself down to the gardens tomorrow night :-).

Reply Quote Report

Saint Dom in Hanoi
13/01/2011 21:47

Gwendoline,
See the discussions elsewhere about the impact of International call-ups.

But, in a way, we are just beginning to experience what Wasps and Leicester have dealt with in previous years.

We have good strength in the squad. We will get there!


*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*

Reply Quote Report

St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad
14/01/2011 06:27

Good preview Shaddo but I have always wondered something: Does anyone ever use the M1 to go to Leicester from Northampton?

No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.

Dryathlon

Reply Quote Report

Matthew
15/01/2011 00:05

Quote:

St.Rich Joe, Niamh and Sam's Dad
Good preview Shaddo but I have always wondered something: Does anyone ever use the M1 to go to Leicester from Northampton?

Yes: I have the misfortune to work there.

And last week we went to/from Welford Road via the M1.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2011:01:15:10:28:04 by Matthew.

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net