GP: Northampton Saints vs London Irish - Match Preview
By Richard Lindsley
December 29 2009
The first weekend of 2010 in the Guinness Premiership sees 1st play 4th (Sarries/Tigs) and 12th play 11th (Leeds/Bath). Both big games. However, all eyes will be on Franklin's Gardens this weekend as the 2nd and 3rd teams, the two most free-flowing sides of the GP, go head to head. Rich looks ahead at a mouth-watering prospect this Saturday at FG....
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs. LONDON IRISH
GP: Saturday, 2nd January 2010 – 3pm
FRANKLIN’S GARDENS
MATCH PREVIEW
This is surely the most eagerly anticipated encounter at Franklin’s Gardens since the Munster match. Second plays third. According to the media, the only two teams in the Guinness premiership playing with style, flair and ambition. It’s last year’s GP runners up against the European Challenge Cup Champions. Excited yet? Well I know I am!
There is much to admire about London Irish and we can count ourselves lucky that two thirds of the (second,) deadliest back three in our league are still injured. Just look at the match up’s; Foden v Armitage, Downey & Clarke v Seveali'I & Mapusua, Hartley v Paice, Kruger v Kennedy…still unexcited? Well ponder this; who will be the fly halves? Will it be the Steady Eddie’s or the Flash Harry’s who get the nod at 10, many will want to see Geraghty v Lamb but on recent form it’ll probably be Myler v Malone.
London Irish are definitely one of the teams in this league who can live with us for fitness. They’ll scrum hard, their lineout is awesome, they’ll compete hard at the breakdown and those monsters at centre will shut the midfield tighter than everyone’s belt after Christmas dinner. Unlike many of our recent opponents they also very much know their way to the try line. To top it all, they’ll be brimming with confidence after a superb win against the previously unbeaten Saracens.
That’s enough about them though. What about the Saints? 8 wins in a row. Yes, 8. Our current Guinness Premiership record is played 11, won 8 lost 3. The three losses being the big match at Wembley (we woz robbed,), at Adams Park and Welford Road. Hardly a nightmare is it? Still a shadow of doubt seems to hang over this team, particularly here at comeonyousaints.com. There’s a feeling that the Saints are getting the results without putting in the performances. That they could easily have lost at home to Bath or away to Treviso. Well yes that’s true, actually. However there’s something different about this Saints team. Other teams don’t seem to put them away and at some point during the match a purple patch erupts, usually involving Foden and Ashton. Then the defeated opposition exit in a state of confusion, wondering what just happened. To quote Tony Windo at half time on Boxing Day:
“It’s for us to lose this one, if we’re honest.” Oh dear.
Let’s look at the GP stats. Top try scorer: Chris Ashton with 8. Most tries scored: Saints 24. Look at the rest of the attacking stats. Saints are third at worst in any area. In offloads and carries they are better than any other team but there is a worry, the team that is often first to our second are London Irish.
Whilst we’re on stats, a direct comparison of Saints and Irish at the lineout makes very interesting reading. London Irish lead the ‘lineout’s won,’ table with the Saints languishing in 5th. However the Saints have lost the fewest with 21. Within all the lies, damn lies and statistics (especially as someone is bound to point out that Irish have only lost 22,) expect the lineout to be the keenest of battlegrounds on Saturday.
It’s traditional in a COYSDC preview to have a stab at team prediction and my best guess would barring any late injury updates be a repeat of both sides that start this weekend. So for Saints:
Foden
Ashton
Clarke
Downey
Diggin
Myler
Dickson
Tonga'uiha
Hartley
Murray
Lobbe
Kruger
Lawes
Dowson
Wilson
And for Irish:
D Armitage
Homer
Seveali'i
Mapusua
Hewat
Malone
Lalanne
Dermody
Paice
Ion
Kennedy
Casey (capt)
Thorpe
S Armitage
Hala'Ufia.
Last season’s matches against Irish were crackers, at home the Saints took the spoils http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s99/st143343.htm and at the Madejski a brave display saw a losing bonus http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s99/st141937.htm .
I have no reason to think that this season’s encounters will be any different. Home advantage and the rub of the green will be key in what I hope will be a closely fought affair full of blood and thunder. My heart says Saints and frankly my head does too.
So in the first match of 2010 we say “Happy New Year,” to the players, management, support staff and supporters of London Irish. Hopefully we’ll meet again at Twickenham in May.
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Excellent preview.
Most important thing about meeting at Twickenham in May is not finishing in 2nd and 3rd places.
As as we are closer to overhalling the SAracens could you let us have the 8 points (or better still 10) from our two games.
Then we can play the decider at HQ in May. Remind me what was the score last time we met there?
Hope by the time that you come to the Madstad in round 22 that we are both secure in the playoffs and not fighting for places in the top 4.
My big fear is that our ex player has a hand in helping you to the points and no I don't mean Barry the boot!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:12:30:08:56:22 by Jon_r43.
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
Then along came Brian Smith and took us to a Heineken Cup semi vs 2 loos (yes we was robbed too). No doubt other clubs were relieved when he disappeared to the England coaching team. Fortunately for the Exiles his understudy Toby Booth took this as the platform to launch from, not an act to follow.
Last season we made the GP playoffs by nilling local rivals Quins on their home turf. Many will say we were robbed in the final losing by a single point. The truth is we were knackered having stetched the smallest squad in the premiership beyond its limit. Tigers had one eye on the Heiny the following weekend otherwise we probably would not have run them as close as we did.
Since then we have made some good signings and lost some talented players. Jimmy Hudson will be an asset to the budgies, an excellent player but the harsh reality for him was that if Bob Casey and Nick Kennedy were available he did not get a start. Then of course there is Shane. There is a lot of history there. Nurtured through our academy, enfant terrible for England, then carrying him for pretty much the whole of last season through injury. The bad blood over his departure is certainly to do with a feeling that the club put in more than they got out, and that Saints would be the beneficiaries. He certainly put in more quality performances on the pitch for you this autumn than he did for us the whole of last season.
Has Mr G's saintly halo become tarnished already? There were some raised eyebrows at his omission from last week's starting lineup. When he did come on to chase the bonus point try he put in that daft chip. I think it was Toby who was asked if Lamb was better than Geraghty. The answer was along the lines of "he does what he's told."
'Nuf said. I am sure many would like to see Sicknote pitched against Asbo, but you are right on recent form I would put my money on Molly - Myler this weekend.
It is indeed a mouthwatering match. I shall be in the naughty corner where you put all your visitors, probably still trying to find a clock visible from the South West Corner. One of the best teams on the road versus one of the best teams at home, two vs three, could have been tied on points, both clubs about the only ones playing attractive rugby.
I've never seen London Irish win at FG but it is one of those things a club has to do if it is going to lift silverware. This Sat would be a good time to do it.
PS note to stewards, my crozier is not an offensive weapon but in deference to your sensibilities I shall be bringing the lightweight travelling version.
PPS note to drunken saints supporter I met last time, no, you still can't kiss my ring...
Thank you!
The Stats are interesting, and as you say they show up as very good for both sides. A few stats you don't mention are also very interesting. I am not saying they give any particular benefit to either side but they are intersting nonetheless.
1st point is that Irish kick more ball out of hand than any other team apart from Sarries. Now you could argue that this will just give Foden and Ashton loads of ball to run back at us, funny thing is, we also have the lowest points against in the league, so that certainly hasn't workrd out for other teams. - dunno, I just reckon we are not gonna see the free running game many are anticipating.
2nd and 3rd points.
The stats show that You have one of the highest numbers of rucks in a match, while we have one of the lowest. conversely you have one of the lowest numbers of scrums while we have one of the highest. Scrums normally happen as a result of mistakes, now another interesting stat is mistakes and Irish do indeed have a very high error count, we also force lots of errors from the opposition. Your high ruck count low error count and low scrum count show that you are very accurate in your play but dont force a lot of errors from the opposition.
What I am saying is that although You, and We are touted as the exciting teams in the prem this year, we set about our games in very diferent ways. Another important point is that IMHO Mallinder and Booth are among the best (Smartest) coaches around at the moment, they will always say that they are only concerned with what their own team does but you can guarantee that both will know absolutely everything about their oponents and will be putting game plans in place to nullify opposition strengths and exploit weaknesses.
Bottom line as far as I am concerned is that this one is just too tight to call. On their best day either team will beat anyone anywhere. I think on this day it will depend a lot on who wants it most
It will be a cracker folks - cant wait.
I totally agree with Old Pete good to see a preview with a positive approach to the game and opposition rather than the how many people can I offend type that seem to be the style of some posters.
Still as I never do previews I guess I shouldn’t knock those who do.
Quote:MadMonk
Oh dear, you have really done your homework...Apart from beating some other green shirted club in the Powergen final...
But you haven't done your's eh?
;-)
Quote:Mad Monk
still trying to find a clock visible from the South West Corner.
Push your cowl back MM. Directly in font of you (NE) is the countdown clock at the east end of the Sturtridge!
\
Looking forward to a tight game (both sides playing against their normal styles!). Jumpers for sticking it up will be distributed pre match to Saints.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
But second half was like a totally different team, we bossed them and forced them into schoolboy mistakes, with Elvis scoring simply, we could & should have won by more!
Watching you several times, if Sicknote plays from the start then your in trouble I like the way he is used second half to your advantage of finishing of teams, but he fails to THINK or have the forsight on his actions...like the BP last weekend.
With out bias, my head says that Saints will win by a margin of four.....but if Sicknote again forgets his brain and starts my heart says we will win buy seven!
Come On You Saints
"1st point is that Irish kick more ball out of hand than any other team apart from Sarries. Now you could argue that this will just give Foden and Ashton loads of ball to run back at us, funny thing is, we also have the lowest points against in the league, so that certainly hasn't workrd out for other teams."
Just been writing about this for tomorrows paper re your kicking stat, perhaps though you might be meeting the first team that runs it back again and again.
Albion Saint
Jimmies, Jimmies, Jimmies etc.
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
Lines out will be fun!
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Quote:Kruger v Kennedy
Quote:I'm looking to see Lawes v Kennedy, or even Daisy v Kennedy
Might be a day to see all 3 in action. Now who'd want to throw in against those 3?
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
And to be fair i can not see Bestie missing this one...
Irish by less than 7 - bp to Saints
Well yeah, I suppose that's a fair point of view except.
If you do try to run it back all the time that actually makes defending easier. When a team kicks the ball back you have to commit players to covering the back field and that dilutes the original kick chase, however if you know that the ball will always be run back you can blitz the kick chase perhaps isolating the runner behind his support - hey presto penalty for holding on in your own half or turnover with not too many defenders about.
I beleive this is why many coaches take the pragmatic view and tell their players to kick the ball out of ther own half.
Anyway - rest assured, Jim Mallinder and Toby Booth know a lot more about rugby than we do, and will both doubtless come up with appropriate gameplans.
Robby Richmond "A wollop in the chops from Daisey or Courtney" Sadly mate, in these days of TV cameras and citings, wollops in the chops have become a bit frowned upon. However should that happen, I am sure that Kendo will handle it appropriately
Quote:HH
defending easier
Moot Point - depends on your runners!
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
If they see a decent opportunity they should run, if not they should kick. That is probably what most teams do - I suppose the variable is what you class as a decent opportunity!
Hope the pitch will be in good nick.
Really? is that why England recalled Simon Shaw?
dont answer the question or anything...
Also Twit is unseemly and not very constructive. The English language is very rich I am sure you will do better next time.
Premiership Rugby Union
Northampton Saints vs London Irish
Match scheduled:
Last updated: 26-11-2010 from 19:45 until 21:45
23-11-2010 on 08:55
Aviva Premiership - Match Round 9
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