By Maverick
January 20 2006

Well, it’s quite simple then. A bonus-point win away in Viadana and Northampton Saints will secure a home quarter-final tie in the 2005/6 European Challenge Cup.

 

THE ITALIAN JOB - PART II

 

In normal circumstances, one would think that this should be straightforward. On the one hand we have an English Guinness Premiership side who are seemingly on the up, whilst Viadana are worthy but limited Italian opponents.

 

The records of the two teams in this competition are in stark contrast - Saints, played 5, won 4 as against Viadana who have nothing to show in the W column and only a single bonus point to mark their efforts to date. A stroll in the park, then? It should be but a word of caution may be advised.

 

Saints have travelled to Italy with a squad that could politely described as “depleted”. “Savaged by injury” would perhaps be closer to the truth. It’s not in the forwards where Northampton are struggling, there is quality cover in every position. The problem is that the forwards will also have to cover the backs on Friday night! Let me give you a list…. Seamus Mallon, Rhodri Davies, David Quinlan, Sean Lamont, Luke Myring, Paul Diggin and Ben Jones. They are all players registered to play in the ECC, all backs and all are, one way or another, crocked!

 

So, with options limited behind the scrum, the club announced the following side to take the field on Friday night:-

 

15 BRUCE REIHANA (capt)
14 Johnny Howard
13 Jon Clarke
12 BEN COHEN
11 John Rudd
10 CARLOS SPENCER
9 MARK ROBINSON

1 TOM SMITH
2 Dylan Hartley
3 Chris Budgen
4 Damien Browne
5 DAVID GERARD
6 Ben Lewitt
7 SAM HARDING
8 Mark Soden

Replacements -16 STEVE THOMPSON, 17 Brett Sturgess, 18 Matt Lord, 19 Daniel Browne, 20 Darren Fox, 21 Dan Richmond, 22 Mark Hopley

 

The forwards have more or less taken care of themselves with Budge’nGrays sensibly rotating the pack where they are able. Dylan Hartley comes in at hooker enabling Steve Thompson to rest his sore leg. Elsewhere up front, Matt Lord and Daniel Browne, both carrying niggles, are also given a break from the first XV giving opportunities to David Gerard and Mark Soden. The fun and games come in the backs. Basically, it’s a case of, “if you are fit, you play”.

 

Johnny Howard impressed when he took the right wing berth against Bristol Rugby last weekend. Listening to the Radio Northampton commentary I had to smile when he was described as, “lightening fast and tackling above his weight”. The Rad N’pton boys could have been talking about Digger who, of course, would probably been in the 14 berth had he not soldiered on, above and beyond the call of duty, only to see his knee knackered for three months.

 

So, what happens if a back has to leave the park? Well, Saints do have options. Depending on where calamity strikes (pick a number between 9 and 15 but you know it will!), we can move Johnny H to scrum half, Ben back to the wing or even Bruce to SH with JC moving out to fullback. We’d need to fill the gaps though so, what about, Wally to 6 with Dan Richmond in at hooker (Rabbit to prop, somewhere out wide, probably) Ben Lewitt out to the back three and Sam Harding into the centres. It is do-able.

 

It must be noted at this point that rumours that Beef, erstwhile co-editor of comeonyousaints.com and centre for the Yaks and the SSC in the FatBoy 7s, has been told to take his boots and answer only to the name of “Quinlo” this weekend are unsubstantiated. The club was unavailable for comment, being stuck in thick fog over the English Channel and passing time with Glenn Miller.

 

Viadana have no such worries and named the following 22…

 

15. Adrian Durston, 14. Roberto Pedrazzi, 13. Sandro Ceppolino, 12. Claudio Spadaro, 11. Sami Pace, 10. Jaques Schutte, 9. Matteo Mazzantini, 1. Matias Aguero, 2. Gigio Ferraro, 3. Carlos Nieto, 4. Cristian Bezzi (capt), 5. Quint Geldenhuys, 6. Ben Daly, 7. Carlos Wannenburg, 8. Josh Sole,

16. Mario Savi, 17. Gnazi Rouyet, 18. Mario Vella, 19. Fili Filimoehala, 20. Daniel Stead, 21. Dimitri Tonni, 22. Andrea Accorsi

 

Only three changes from the XV that graced Franklin’s Gardens back in October. Roberto Pedrazzi moves from centre to right-wing whilst Facundo Lopez makes way at flanker for Ben Daly. Daly started at hooker at the game at FG and his place in the front row this time out is taken by Gigio Ferraro.

 

So, what to expect? Saints know what they have to do and I fully expect them to do the business out in Italy. I’ve just got a worrying niggle that it won’t be as easy as they hope. In ideal circumstances, it would be a case of, “ four tries by half-time, protect the wounded and get home”. That’s what I hope to see.

 

What do you mean, “see”, Mav? Don’t you mean listen to commentary on Radio Northampton? Err, well no, and we can’t blame local radio. Viadana are a small club and simply do not have the facilities to cater for a live broadcast over ISDN lines back to Blighty. So, The only way you’ll find out scores updates AS THEY HAPPEN! (ahem! ..ish) is to login to the message-board where there will be a thread of updates. If you are feeling a little more adventurous, why not log-in to tout Chat Room (the link is on the main menu on the left hand side of your screen). Talk to fellow Saints fans as we collectively wait for updates from those at the game.

 

Reading back, the start of this preview seems a little downbeat. Sorry. What I will say is this. This season, when Saints have got in a winning position after twenty minutes or so (Leeds away and last week against Bristol’s 2^nd XV for example), we have taken our foot off the gas and let the opposition back into the game. Please, not this week.  Stuff all that. Let’s go to Italy and get the job done. By half-time, thank you very much. Just nail the result, protect the players as best we can and come home.

 

There’s a bigger fish to fry next week.