Northampton Saints
News: AP: Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs - Preview
By Jonathan Stockham
October 6 2011
Well, this won’t be easy, but then again, which game is at the top level these days? There’s the contrast, however, between Saints and their next visitors, Exeter Chiefs. This lot have the winning habit and it is easy to forget that they only arrived in the Premiership last season.
Including the 3 pre-season friendlies, Chiefs have won 6 out of 8 games played so far. They have beaten Tigers at Welford Road, Falcons and Wasps, both at Sandy Park, whilst losing by only 4 points against Bath and Saracens. So, bonus points from both defeats and a try bonus against Falcons see Exeter in 3rd place in the Premiership table, narrowly ahead of Sale Sharks.
Saints meanwhile lie in 11th place, only off the bottom on points difference. Try-less for the last 3 matches (if one excludes the penalty try against Irish) the winning habit seems to have deserted the Northampton lads and much improvement is needed in several areas.
Many say it is the little things that make the difference but the focus, concentration and leadership to play for a full 80 minutes would be a good place to start. Maybe the home crowd factor at Fortress Franklins will help Saints raise their game to a winning level but, on form alone, it doesn’t look likely.
Some of the Chiefs team will feel equally at home on Saturday with regular starting loose head Brett Sturgess returning to the town, along with former Saints No10 and Academy coach Ali Hepher who is building a decent reputation as backs coach for the Chiefs. His boss, Rob Baxter, has been with Exeter since dinosaurs roamed the South West but when it comes to finding someone who eats, sleeps and breathes Chiefs, it would probably be difficult to find anyone better. His brother Richie regularly features in the back row as No 8.
Sadly, crowd favourite at both The Gardens and Sandy Park, Chris Budgen won’t be turning out as he will be propping for The Army at the weekend. His try scoring abilities from his own half (well, 2 metres) have already resulted in 1 try this season. The ultimate impact sub!
Exeter have assembled a squad of nicely understated quality talent from other Premiership clubs, Championship teams and a few foreign imports. Ruling the roost at fly half is Ignacio Mieres, a 24 year old Argentinian with spells at Stade Francais and Perpignan on his cv and good enough to keep Gavin “Steeno” Steenson on the bench for every game. Haydn Thomas is the likely scrum half, bringing experience from spells on the books of the 3 “other” south west teams to the position.
Leading try scorers are Richie Baxter and Sireli Naqelevuki, a Fijian international centre, with two each. Leading points scorer is Mieres with 55 points in the Premiership from the boot.
For Saints, one try apiece for Dowson, Tonks, Roberts and Penalty with Stephen Myler as leading points scorer on 44 points.
More worryingly is the relative disciplinary records of the sides. Exeter have acquired no yellow or red cards whilst Saints have picked up 3 yellows to date.
I’ll leave the rest of the Exeter team selection to Mr Baxter but a settled side, untroubled by World Cup absentees makes his job a lot easier than Mr Mallinders.
Jim has yet to rediscover the spark in the team that took Saints to the Premiership play offs and of course the Heineken Cup Final last season (where again, the ability to play for 80 minutes would have been handy!). Admittedly, having 8 RWC absentees from the squad, plus injuries to Roger Wilson and, until recently, Lee Dickson has not helped his choice in selection but one would hope that the summer signings brought in to cover will really gel one day soon and it might as well be on Saturday.
One area where we should have the upper hand is at the set scrum. Chiefs finished the last match with only 14 men and uncontested scrums due to injury but it all depends on how well the Chiefs front rowers have recovered. Otherwise, we’ll just have to wait to see how Saturday shapes up and maybe Saints will rediscover last season’s quality and the fans will spur them on to victory.
Maybe…..maybe.
Form and my head predict a Chiefs win, my heart always hopes for something different… a Saints win!
Come On You Saints!
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Stumbleupon06/10/2011 10:59
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Also a bit rushed as at work :-(
“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
Mieres looks a very good signing for them. And will there be a bigger bang at the weekend than when air Jimmy D and their Naqelevuki clash?!
You've set it up nicely for the weekend
Btw, dinosaurs still do roam in Devon - mostly in God's Waiting Room (Torbay).
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
On another note I am suffering from a head cold at the moment so although I fully intend to crawl into D block to take my place in the crowd I will be unlikely to be creating my normal noise level. I therefore request, no demand, that every other D blocker does their duty and makes up for the lack of "Oh Wendy's" that normally get belted out in the wrong key and out of time.
COME ON YOU SAINTS
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:10:07:07:40:13 by ElmaFudd..
(well apart from me i'll be out on a windswept beach in Norfolk
) Quote:fatheralice
Good preview.
GARETH Steenson btw.
It's an old journalistic trick you know. Pop in the odd mistake just to make sure readers are awake!
"....makes up for the lack of "Oh Wendy's" that normally get belted out in the wrong key and out of time."
Oh, it's you is it??!!!
but alas no tis me 
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