LV= Cup: Northampton Saints vs Saracens - Match Preview
Ere anyone seen my camel?
By John Benson
November 11 2009
One of the most important games in the FG calender this Saturday as Saints welcome Saracens to Piggy's Patch. Important not for the rugby but for the pre-match annual wreath laying ceremony in front of the Sturtridge Pavilion to remember the sacrifice of those who laid down their lives in our name. And then there will be rugger...
Northampton Saints v Saracens
LV= Anglo Welsh Cup 2009/10.
Pool 1 v Pool 4, Round 2, Franklin’s Gardens
Saturday 14th November 2009 1.00pm.
Love it or hate it, the Anglo Welsh Cup fills the void created by the autumn internationals and is a good opportunity for a spot of squad rotation, with some fringe and academy players getting some first team action. The eventual winner will only have played 6 games, and for their efforts will be rewarded with a shiny trophy and the bonus of Heineken Cup qualification for next season. The tournament structure is slightly unusual, with 4 teams in each of the 4 pools not playing each other, but instead as in our case, pool 1 playing 2 home and 2 away games against teams in pool 4. Confused? It gets worse but thankfully that Gleadell bloke has summed it up beautifully here...
Having narrowly beaten a depleted Ospreys side away in the first round, the second round sees us facing our old friends – Saracens, who we also met last season in round 2 of the old EDF format. The Saints visited Vicarage Road and left empty handed, losing 33-19 but subsequent results meant that we still managed to progress to the semi finals.
Saracens come to Franklin’s Gardens as the only unbeaten side in the current Guinness Premiership campaign. Their first and only taste of defeat in all competitions so far this season was in France, going down 31-23 to Toulon at the Stade Felix Mayol in the Amlin Challenge Cup. Indeed, had they actually played some rugby and maintained some discipline during the first hour of their match against Toulon, they could have won. They opened their account in the LV= Cup with a 30-22 victory over Bath.
Since our return to top flight rugby for the 08/09 season Sarries have the slight edge over Saints, winning 3 out of 5 meetings in all competitions, although the scores have been getting much closer recently. The Saints will be looking to maintain their home record which has seen just one defeat since March 2007. Sarries will no doubt be keen to avenge their defeat in the ECC semi final with a late Stephen Myler drop goal tipping the score in our favour.
27.09.08 Saracens 26 Saints 12 GP Vicarage Road
26.10.08 Saracens 33 Saints 19 EDF Vicarage Road
01.05.09 Saints 16 Saracens 13 ECC Semi Final Franklin’s Gardens
14.02.09 Saints 20 Saracens 15 GP Franklins Gardens
06.09.09 Saracens 19 Saints 16 GP Wembley Stadium
It has to be said though, that Saints were one dodgy TMO decision away from reversing these stats. We’ll get over that one soon I’m sure...probably.
There have been plenty of negative comments in the press and even their own fans regarding Saracens’ tactics and general style of play. They’ve been accused of being boring and of not playing much ‘attractive’ rugby. There can be no argument though that DOR Brendan Venter has put together a winning side. Unfortunately, the success on the pitch has yet to attract the crowds to VR, despite nearly 45,000 packing into Wembley stadium in September and their marketing department practically giving away season tickets.
Saints have lost 3 players to the EPS squad in the shape of Captain and hooker Dylan Hartley, Shane Geraghty who has been excellent this season at 10 (not 12 MJ), and our newly capped lock Courtney Lawes. Ben Foden was released by England this week so he should feature in the side on Saturday.
We are also still without 3 first choice tighthead props with Euan Murray still recovering from his injury sustained during the Lions tour of South Africa. Puma Santiago Bonorino has missed the last 2 matches with a knock but he may have recovered for this one. Springbok Brian Mujati is suspended ‘till December for giving Nigel Owens a back massage. Depending on what sort of team Saracens put out, and whether or not Bono is fit, we could have a hard time in the scrum.
Juandre Kruger is available for selection after 3 weeks off, although Big Jim may stick with James Cannon and Christian Day as they both had excellent games against Leicester and the Ospreys.
Saracens have one player away with the EPS with Steve Borthwick captaining the national side.
The way this tournament is shaping up I’m expecting Big Jim to stick
with a broadly similar team as last week:
1. Reg Dreyer
2. Joe Gray
3. Jon Vickers
4. James Cannon
5. Christian Day
6. Mark Easter
7. Scott Gray
8. Mark Hopley
9. Alan Dickens
10. Stephen Myler
11. Digger
12. Chris Mayor
13. Joe Ansbro
14. Flash
15. Ben Foden
16. Brett Sharman
17. Alex Waller
18. Adam Parkins
19. Owen GIles
20. JIngle
21. Brakey
22. Christian Lewis-Pratt
23. Grant Pointer
As for the Sarries team, they have to face South Africa on the Tuesday after our game, and Wasps in the GP on the following Sunday. It’s hard to work out what sort of team they’ll field against us as presumably, they’ll want to do a Leicester and beat the Boks, whilst keeping their league run going.
I would imagine that like the Saints, the good Doctor will field a mix of youth and experience.
Should be a close game but with the home advantage we should win by 7. COYS.
Don't forget your poppy as it's the Remembrance Day game. Please spare a thought for the fallen during the minute's silence.
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If the attendance at the Wasps game is low then the CEO has hinted that Sarries will actively look to move from Watford, although it is not going to be easy to find 20,000 seat stadiums in London.
The bit about 'we was cheated at Wembley' is really beginning to sound like a stuck record. Sarries have had plenty of dodgy decisions against them since then, have refrained from whining and have still managed to record wins
Like a certain droap goal attempt thats never been forgotten in your neck of the woods Convex?
And I agree, Sarries supporters rarely whine. Neither of them.
Bit gutted I shall miss this one!
Unfortunately the South Africa game is now looking like an unwelcome distraction.
We could tell it wasn't from where we were sitting.
At the far end of the ground.
“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
I think the tassles from the Fez's covering there eyes gave a different impression to the home supporters.
“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
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