Northampton Saints
News: AP: Northampton Saints vs Gloucester - Match Preview
By SAINT_aitch
February 24 2011
Northampton Saints welcome Gloucester Rugby to Franklin's Gardens this Saturday afternoon for what has become a vital fixture for the Green, Black and Gold. Regular COYSDC contributor SAINT_aitch looks forward to the game...
Gloucester are the visitors to Franklins Gardens this week. Cheer up everyone! Look at it this way - this week we have 3rd plays 4th in the Aviva Premiership to enjoy, at home, at 3pm on a Saturday. What else could you ask for? Answers on a post card to COYS.com please, but keep them clean.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs GLOUCESTER
AP: Saturday 26th February 15:00
FRANKLINS GARDENS
MATCH PREVIEW
So the residents of Castle Grim travel east to attempt to siege Fortress Franklin's Gardens in a premiership campaign which currently sees the Cherry & Whites whizzing up the league table and into play-off contention quicker than Saints are falling down and away from it. Gloucester travel here having won no less than seven games on the bounce, which is in stark contrast to our recent run. Last week saw them leapfrog us in the table now two points ahead of us, and they will be attempting to widen the gap between us further this week.
Gloucester’s form
This week’s visitors must be licking their lips at the prospect of playing us at the moment knowing full well that this year we have struggled against opposition who they have beaten, knowing that we are yet to win a league match in 2011, and knowing that our once perfect defence was breached again, and again at Bath last week as we were humiliated into a 30 point loss.
Now 3rd in the premiership behind Sarries and, of course Tigers, Gloucester have won nine from thirteen league matches, are on 40 points and with a poor start to this season Gloucester had, what was considered a surprise at the time, a loss away at Exeter followed by a one point win at home to Leeds the following week, then a loss away to Irish, and a narrow win over Wasps before soundly beating Bath at The Rec.
Their European Challenge Cup campaign spluttered and faltered along until a remarkable 53 point win over Agen but this all came as too little too late as the Cherry & Whites find themselves out of any European competition for another year.
They do, however have a shot at trying for the LV= cup again with a rather tasty home semi final draw to Newport Gwent Dragons in a couple of weeks time, after they try to get full West Country bragging rights with a visit from the team from the pretty city.
Head to Head
Over 24 games, the honours lean towards our visitors slightly, but recent fixtures between our two teams swing in our favour with, of course, the most recent of which being the LV= cup final at Sixways on a gloriously warm and sunny day near the end of last season.
Saints Gloucester
11 Wins 13
0 Draws 0
532 Points 491
50 Tries 48
67 Penalties 58
Who to watch from Gloucester
This game should see another real forwards battle with the likes of Glaws Hooker Scott Lawson proving a real handful in open play who is very capably supported by Saxon, Nick Wood and future Saint, Paul Doran-Jones who has been released from England duties this week. Peter Buxton and Andy Hazell are menacing flankers, although Hazell sustained an injury in last week’s encounter with London Irish and was suitably replaced by the war horse, Akapusi Qera who helped to continue the Cherry & Whites pack domination in that match, and indeed went on to score one of their 2 tries.
Luke Narraway (Saxons) is a regular in the 8 position and also got on the score sheet last week.
The pivotal position of scrum half is eagerly contested by Rory Lawson and Dave Lewis, neither of whom are regular scorers, but do provide solid direction for the pack, a pack which will be well supported from the replacements bench as well with the likes of Olivier Azam and Alasdair Strokosch ready to help out.
I see this match as being evenly contested with two dominant packs that both have attacking attitudes, and defensive strengths that will be battling for possession with Gloucester feeding to the likes of Eliota ‘thingy’ Sapolu and Tim Molenaar, neither of whom are prolific try scorers, but are certainly a match for our centre combination and will provide a mean attacking platform for wingers Charlie Sharples, who is providing a steady supply of tries whilst Tom Voyce, not as regular a scorer slots in for, fans favourite James Spankmyspaniel whilst on his Saxons duties, and does provide a solid defensive line. Nicky Robinson in the fly half position is kicking, both from the tee and from hand to near perfection this season and has been a very astute buy for the club. Gloucester’s number 15 shirt will undoubtedly go to Olly Morgan who has the line breaking attitude we all like to see from that position and has proved very reliable under the high ball.
Who to watch from Saints
There’s been enough said about the key players missing from our team sheet as we suffer the success of International call up, and I have no doubt that Jim and Dorian will have turned the air blue this week in an attempt to revive some of the spirit that seems to be missing in the current squad. I doubt there will be much of a change from the squad that met Bath last week, and Tiny, Mooj and Sharman will have their work cut out with the irrepressible Dan Vickerman beginning to feel very much at home with more game time. Dowson will need to improve on his defence from last week if he is to match up to the likes of Qera, Hazell and/or Buxton. Downey will possibly be back in the centre with Clarke but I feel that the Smyler – Downey crash ball method must now be changed to a new plan. Maybe Shane will be in the mix there instead. Will Digger be back on the wing, or will Scott Armstrong get another run out? Well, we all know Digger loves scoring tries, especially at home. As for Bruce, enough said. He puts his all into every game and this game will be no different.
Team and score Predictions:
I have a very positive feeling about this match and I believe that the team will want to prove to themselves that they are still a team that can win, and win well:
15 –Tonks
14 – Bruce
13 – Downey
12 – Clarke
11 – Digger
10 – Smyler
9 – Powell
1 – Tiny
2 – Sharmen
3 – Mooj
4 – Vickers
5 – Daisy
6 – Calum Clark
7 – Dowse
8 – Wilson
We all feel it, we all know the pain that our fellow Saints fans are suffering at the moment, it’s that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you are desperately hungry, it’s that feeling you get when you hear that you position at work is under review. It’s going to be down to us, every last man, woman, and child of us to let the team know that we still wear our Green, Black and Gold with pride and that we support them. We can make the difference.
Saints by 10!
Come on you Saints.
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“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
Quote:Saint Tim
Isn't Roger having a rest for a couple of weeks?
I do know that "H" wrote this preview early in the week - may have been before Hizzoner's judgement.
Good read, Sir! Many thanks.
Hazel was ill last week not injured.
Nicky Robinson kicking has been inconsistant this year
Scot and rory lawson away with Scotland and Dave lewis injured meaning we'll have a very inexperianced Scrum half with little back up.
Hopeing for a Glaws win of course but be happy with a losing bonus point to be honest
goodluck!
Quote:Glaws in daventry
You are a long way from home zur.
You should come to a club that does not wear out your car, train tickets or petrol vouchers.
You will be very welcome
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
15 Bruce Reihana
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9 Stuart Commins
1 Soane Tonga’uiha
2 Andy Long
3 Brian Mujati
4 Mark Sorenson
5 Christian Day
6 Calum Clark
7 Phil Dowson (capt)
8 Mark Easter
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