By Little Jim
April 7 2005

With this weekend’s game away to Bath following on from the home game against Harlequins it adds a certain pattern to the fixture list. Let’s not look back to the start of the season when it all seemed full of promise and simply hope the result this Saturday at the Rec reflects the symmetry of the fixtures and delivers a win.

 

 

It’s yet another big “cup final” game in the relegation fight. Leeds win against the Tigers last weekend means that the victory at home against Harlequins at Franklins Gardens wasn’t quite strictly the game that made Saints safe.

 

Of course there was the pleasant diversion of a trip to Toulouse and a Heineken Cup QF in between. A game of equal importance to any ZP clashes this season and one that demanded the utmost from the team and the supporters.

 

Well the result may have gone the way that only the blindest of optimist like me hoped it wouldn’t. Can we take anything from that French sojourn into the run in to the end of the league season? Injuries might well be the first thing that springs to mind. With Smith out with a broken hand and Blowers concussed, it’s certain they will be missed and some may rue Saints French sally. Their absence will make the game at the Rec harder to win, won’t it? Well, no not really. If there is one thing to take from the Toulouse trip it is the team spirit and determination. OK that’s two things we can take from the “Spanish Inquisition” at Toulouse – spirit, determination and steadfastness.

 

We saw those qualities in the wins against Leicester, Gloucester and Harlequins but it is equally heartening to see it in a defeat against a team of the quality of Toulouse. In a relegation dog fight tenacity counts. It's last man standing. Let him be a Saintsman.

 

So don’t expect elegant rugby, expect a scrap with mistakes, but when you are still close enough to the dreaded drop, winning ugly is what counts. It’s at times like this that team spirit comes into play and the absence of any one player counts for less.

 

So the team for the Bath game announced today has much to commend it.

 

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

15 BRUCE REIHANA
14 John Rudd
13 Andy Vilk
12 Marc Stcherbina
11 BEN COHEN
10 Shane Drahm
9 Johnny Howard
1 Simon Emms
2 STEVE THOMPSON (capt)
3 Brett Sturgess
4 Matt Lord
5 SELBORNE BOOME
6 ROSS BEATTIE
7 Darren Fox
8 Grant Seely

Replacements
16 Dan Richmond
17 ROBBIE MORRIS
18 Damien Browne
19 Mark Soden
20 Ben Jones
21 Luke Myring
22 Mark Tucker

 

It’s no surprise that Smith’s and Blowers’ injuries rule them out this Saturday. Krige’s efforts last Friday and a hand injury mean he has a rest. Boome’s welcome return off the bench at Toulouse is followed by a start at the Rec. Combined with Lord, the return of Beattie and Seely means that our lineout should be competitive.

 

This week has seen several announcements of new signings, especially of Academy players making the step up to the first team. So it’s heartening to see Vilk starting at outside centre and Myring and Jones on the bench. Already the Saints of the future are stepping up to help steer the Saints through the choppy waters of the end of this season.

 

There are no details as yet of the Bath line up and like Saints they’ve had their share of injury problems. Nevertheless, as at the home fixture at the beginning of the season, their forwards will need to be neutralized, especially in the set pieces, if Saints are to take some points home. Let’s not forget this is a big game for Bath who are chasing the championship as much as we are fighting the relegation battle. They have backs returning from injury, so it’s imperative we deny them quick ball.

 

Which leads onto another thing we can take from the Toulousian Inquisition – once the forwards win the ball, get quick ball out and pass it, pass it, pass it!  - With Cohen restored to the wing and Reihana and Rudd running onto quick ball the Saints could well repeat the result at the beginning of the season and so complete the symmetry. Well we can dream can’t we?

 

One more thing to take from Toulouse – never underestimate the power of the supporter, wherever they are. We have people like the  group who overcame the Toulousains' noise  with a gold and black sign and  those lovely ladies who encouraged the lads from the  touch line at warm up and danced on the tables at the Frog and Rosbif at every game. Never mind the numbers see the quality.

 

Reality says it will be a tough scrap for the ball but if the Saints win that, then a win is possible. It may not be a pretty, but it's still rugby.

 

Saints by five

 

 

Little Jim