News: HC Northampton Saints vs Cardiff Blues - Match Preview
By St Anger
December 9 2010
Two of the most important weekends in the Northampton Saints rugby calendar are on the horizon with back-to-back Heineken Cup fixtures against Cardiff. This Saturday sees the Blues visit Franklin's Gardens in a tea-time kick-off and St Anger takes a look at what to expect...
NORTHAMPTON VS CARDIFF BLUES
HC: Saturday, 11 December 2010 - 5.45pm
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS
MATCH PREVIEW
This coming Saturday Cardiff Blues are the visitors to Franklin’s Gardens in round three of the Heineken cup pool stages. Both sides have aspirations of progressing to the quarter finals, and indeed beyond, and this double header will go a long way to establishing the final make up of Pool 1.
A win for Northampton, combined with a loss for Edinburgh who look to be on a hiding to nothing out in Castres, would see The Blues in real and serious danger of being cut adrift. A Blues victory on the other hand, would leave The Saints’ dreams of finally securing a home quarter final in tatters, and the possibility of needing to win their remaining three fixtures just to qualify. Though there are other pools in this competition perhaps rightly dubbed ‘the pool of death’, there is scope here for a three way fight to the wire, potentially for only one quarter final spot, such is the intensity of competition in this Cup.
The Blues arrive in fairly poor form, having managed two wins from their last five in all competitions. However their squad is boosted by the return of several key players from international duty, and their performance in a narrow loss at Munster was commendable. They have a side blessed with international class players throughout, and though they have several long term injuries, most notably to Jamie Roberts and Ben Blair, they are able to call upon Wales internationals Tom Shanklin and Chris Czekaj as more than adequate replacements.
Their side is centred around a framework of Kiwi’s and Islanders. These players are available for the entire season, unlike their Welsh team-mates who are removed from the WRU’s cotton wool for occasions such as Saturday’s and the International fixture list. However, a core of Filise, Tito, Molitika, Rush, Laulala and the currently injured Blair would be a strong base for any side, in any competition. When combined with players of the calibre of Gethin Jenkins, Bradley Davies, Martyn Williams, Dan Parks and Leigh Halfpenny, it is obvious that The Blues are a very tasty side, with some serious class in every position.
However, Saturday nights under the lights of Franklins Gardens are special occasions indeed. The later kick off seems to build the atmosphere to an awesome crescendo, and benefits those like me who would rather head to The Becket and watch the earlier kick off’s on TV, while acquiring the trusty beer blanket that should see me right until the end of the game. The win against Munster from last season’s pool stages must rank as one of the most awesome atmospheres ever at The Gardens, and it is a noise of that ilk we should be aiming to recreate to greet and see off the Cardiff Blues this weekend.
Northampton had a rest last weekend, due to the dodgy conditions up in Leeds, providing some of the ever-presents with a well earned weekend off Premiership rugby. However, the form shown by The Saints has been nothing short of staggering. They sit atop of both their domestic league and also their Heineken Cup pool, and you’ll have to go back 10 games to find the last time Northampton suffered a defeat in any competition.
The Saints have six internationals making their belated return to club rugby this weekend, though quite how Jim Mallinder can drop six players from the side who beat London Irish to accommodate them all is anyone’s guess. Whatever 23 he chooses to go with for Saturday’s game there will be some players who will feel rightly aggrieved at their non-inclusion.
One thing both sides have in common, which should make this game all the more interesting, is their desire to play a 15 man game. The Blues pack is a very mobile unit, and their backs are capable and dangerous in most areas of the field. They always raise their game for the big stage, as was seen in last season’s fantastic European Challenge Cup win in Marseilles against Toulon.
However, the casualty list in the Welsh capital is massive. Ben Blair, Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts, Gareth Cooper, Rhys Thomas and Deiniol Jones are all out injured and after going off injured last weekend Sam Warburton is also a doubt. With a probable starting front row of Gethin Jenkins, Gareth Williams and Tau Filise and Tito being a fixture in their second row, the Blues pack could be at a considerable disadvantage in terms of size verses Northampton. Especially when you consider that Martyn Williams and Xavier Rush are mainstays of their back row.
Were I a Blues fan, I would find solace in the strength of their centres and form of their half backs. Ritchie Rees at 9 made a real difference coming off the bench for Wales during the AI’s. Dan Parks has had a solid start to his career in Cardiff and is running their backline and kicking well. Casey Laulala is everything a foreign import should be, with touches of brilliant skill, strength and a workman like attitude. I don’t believe there to be a fault in his game, and if Northampton stop him, and stop him offloading, they’ll have gone a long way to stopping The Blues’ backline.
Also there is the small matter of perhaps the two best loose-heads in Europe playing across from each other. This for me will be the highlight of the contest. Tonga’uiha has been in barnstorming form, and Gethin Jenkins is a truly world class forward both in the loose and the tight. They both have very similar strengths, and very few, if any weaknesses.
If Rhys Thomas ends up combining with Jenkins in the front row, this could be Mujati’s toughest test of the season so far. However it is considered unlikely he will play, and so his replacement, the diminutive and rather angry Gareth Williams will instead seek to assert himself physically on the game, in much the same way as Dylan Hartley does, so that too could also prove to be an interesting battle.
I personally cannot wait for this contest. It is rare that we get Welsh visitors coming over for a meaningful game and I have always enjoyed their style of play and found their supporters to be amongst the best non saintly company.
So to the predicted starting XV’s
CARDIFF BLUES
15. Czekaj
14. Mustoe
13. Shanklin
12. Laulala
11. James
10. Parks
9. Rees
8. Rush
7. Williams
6. Molitika
5. Davies
4. Tito
3. Filise
2. Williams
1. Jenkins
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
15. Foden
14. Ashton
13. Clarke
12. Downey
11. Elliot
10. Myler
9. Powell
8. Wilson
7. Wood
6. Dowson
5. Day
4. Lawes
3. Mujati
2. Hartley
1. Tonga’uiha
Prediction:
I just cannot see past the form and strength of our pack. If Cardiff Blues can get at that then fair play to them, they will deserve everything they get from the game. If the teams I’ve predicted are somewhere near, I’d give it to Northampton by 8.
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I believe this is Tom's first article for ComeOnYouSaints.com and it's a great piece of work. Lots of comment please!
Saint til I die
Albion Saint
Looking forward to very emotional and succesful game.
“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 have a lot of time for the Saints fans, organisation and Jim Mallinder (I thought he took defeat up in Coventry the year before last really well)
Looking forward to it, could go either way but I'm afraid I can see your lot sneaking it.
Seriously, very good preview thanks.
With our long list of injuries and lack of recent form and your fortress and current form I think a win is beyond out of our reach. It's a shame, I was looking forward to a cracker, although I'm sure you guys won't mind if we're a pushover!
I won't be up at your place on Saturday but I look forward to welcoming you down to the CCS, always had time for you guys - great bunch of fans.
Good luck Saturday, although we need all the luck for this one!
Should be good and I hope a good advert for European rugby at it's best.
I can't wait to get back in Northampton and for kick off on Saturday. Come on you saints!
I mocked him that night for being out without him mum's permission. I might have to check on the location of his care assistant this weekend!
"Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it."
-- Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 A.D.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:12:09:20:54:38 by Paul Flatt.
Towsaint
Looking forward to seeing the game on Saturday. It's been a while since I visited FG. Fingers crossed we'll be taking a Blues victory back down to Cardiff to make next weekend even more interesting.
Go glad the temp has risen.
Hope to read more from you St Anger.
The return game is going to your banana skin, I think. Pressure on you, now. Looks like we've bombed.
Look forward to your next instalment and prediction. Will be well impressed if you get that right too.