News: GP: Saints vs Sale Sharks - Match Preview
A little tench?Just Relax
By Adrian Jones
March 11 2009
And so, the run-in to the end of the domestic season begins and Saints welcome Sale Sharks to Franklin's Gardens this weekend. ComeOnYouSaints.com fire-walker, he's a twisted fire-walker, St Didge looks forward to what we can expect this Saturday...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SALE SHARKS
GP: Saturday, 14th March, 2009
FRANKLIN’S GARDENS
MATCH PREVIEW
So, after the mighty Saints recorded their first away win of the season last week at Worcester we now welcome Sale Sharks to Franklins Gardens. Early in the season we were dubbed 'Sale of the South' due to the signing of one or two ex Sale players who have made quite an impact for us. Nacho Lobbe has proven to be a true leader of men and makes a huge difference when he plays. Hopefully he will be back to face his old club (and little brother) on Saturday. However, without doubt it will be all eyes on Ben Foden and what position he plays in. Will it be 9 or 15? To be honest, who knows? Hopefully big Jim!
I was down at Worcester last week and was highly amused to be approached by a TV camera man and asked "Which one is Ben Foden?" Clearly the media eyes are on him too. Like fools we actually told him the right player rather than sending him in Tiny's direction. It would have made an interesting shot on Rugby Club (or whichever programme it was for). Foden is undoubtedly a very talented and dangerous player. His breaks at pace scare the bejesus out of defenders. From full back there is the space to exploit and with Digger on hand the pair of pocket rockets could prove to be lethal. But, at 9 Dickson was rested at the start last week and Ben looked assured and probed whenever he could. His pass was reliable, mostly, and he did not look out of place.
Anyway, to the other 13 players on the pitch for Saints. We again lose one or two to international duty, the most significant of those in my opinion being Euan Murray. He has proven time and again to be the difference between a go forward scrum and a go backward one. It must be such an honour to run out for your country with accolades ringing in your ears and to see all your team mates supporting you by having your name on their shirts! Although he will be missing from the Saints team on Saturday it was announced at 9.29 this morning that he will be staying with the club until AT LEAST 2012. Truly fantastic news.
Try scoring machine Scott Gray will also be missing with Scotland this weekend along with Dylan with England.
Not too many selection problems for Jim then but a different story for Sale. Talk on their SportNetwork site suggests that strength in depth in the squad may be becoming an issue. Where our discussion is around whether Foden plays 9 or not, for Sale it's who plays 9? With injuries really making a big hole at scrum half there will be an interesting scrap there on Saturday. Further talk of other senior squad members, not least Lobbe junior, looking at other offers it's an uncertain time for them. However, the players are professionals and I am sure they will be a very stern test for Saints at the weekend.
So to the game, our season so far has been remarkable for a number of reasons; a fantastic home run of victories only broken by the Falcons who also got one over on Sale last weekend. Many people had Falcons down for the drop, me included, but they have shown that with a bit of grit and determination things can turn out very differently. Our away duck was broken last weekend with a brilliant team performance in the victory over Worcester which then brings us to Saturday. Which Saints team will turn up? I believe we have now seen our low point for the season. Some very poor displays that sadly included shipping 19 points in 12 minutes in a very lack lustre performance. Not to say anything about the trip to Wasps. But last week the team looked fired up. The number of dropped passes was down, the errors seemed to be under control and the finishing was out of the top drawer. If we can just maintain that level of performance for the run in at the end of the season then we still have some fantastic rugby to see.
A lot this weekend will depend on the front 5. As said above it is noticeable when Euan is away but if we can secure our set plays and have a steady scrum our back line should be able to see us to victory. Our back three in the forwards have done well all season, even with the enforced changes we have had to make. If Nick Johnson (another Sale old boy) will just continue to substitute the players porridge on match days for fire and brimstone we should get our fair share of ball from broken play. The selection at 9 and 10 will be an interesting one. Barry the Boot (or should that be Barry the Breakaway?) and Foden delivered well last week but is it time to get Smyler back in to see if his form has returned?
With Sale sitting comfortably in 4th spot and Saints just out of relegation contention (famous last words there) there seems to be quite a gulf between the two sides seasons so far. But at this time of the year with both sides losing key players to international call ups or injury I think this game will be wide open.
With the loss of our home record and a pretty poor display to boot I believe the team will come out all guns blazing. I expect to see quite a few 'incidents' with players on both sides looking to prove a point. However, it will be Saints that will come out the victors (IMHO) with Sale getting a losing bonus point. Surely the headline writers are hoping for a Foden try to make the difference, and from full back too!
On a personal note Saturday will be an interesting afternoon. It's the first game for quite a while when I will not be lubricating my vocal chords with a couple of pints of London Pride, I am remaining alcohol free for the entire afternoon (cheers of joy from everyone in A Block). This is not for any particular health or well being reasons simply that later in the day I will be walking across 20ft of very hot coals to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. So after the match I will be hot footing it (sorry) up to Sixfields where at approximately 9pm I will endeavour not to set my feet on fire. If you can spare even a pound I would be very grateful. You can donate here http://www.justgiving.com/adrianjones1
So blatant plug over, back to the rugby. I reckon this will be a cracking game with Saints taking it by 5 points, with stout defence and electric attack we will once again create Fortress Franklins.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:18:10:36:34 by Phil..
Don't you mean AT Wasps?
Good luck with the feet of fire too
Good preview, btw..
Saint til I die
Take a walk on the wild side?
Ring of fire?
Firestarter?
Fire Woman?
Oh yeah and nice preview!
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
Sale just reported they will have Rory Lamont starting after an injury lay-off - which will be interesting. Where will Sean be this weekend?
And we can probably expect to see Saints old boy, Oriol Ripol.
Good luck tonight!