News: HC: Northampton Saints vs Ulster Rugby - Match Preview
By Ugly
December 6 2012
It's the biggest match of Northampton Saints 2102/13 season so far as they welcome Ulster Rugby to Franklin's Gardens for Round Three of the pool phase of this year's Heineken Cup. With a full house under the Friday lights the atmosphere is sure to be electric and COYSDC contributor, Ugly, looks ahead to a match which promises to be a belter...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs. ULSTER RUGBY
HC: Friday, 7th December 2012 - 8pm (Sky)
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS, NORTHAMPTON
MATCH PREVIEW
I could wax lyrical about the importance of flags (Eddie Izzard take a bow) - a hot topic in Belfast right now. Or rattle on about the impressions we made on some parts of the Ulster anatomy (allegedly). There are a thousand jokes in the whole Titanic thing, that are almost too good to pass up. But - and my 'but' almost certainly does look big in this...It really boils down to who turns up on the day. It will be won in the head to heads. Man on man. So allow me to depart from the usual elegiac prose to put some flesh on the names which will be at the back of your programme on Friday.
Head to head:
1. In the front row an ex Worcester boy, Callum Black will probably start at loosehead as they'll be anticipating Mooj. Frankly Waller or PDJ could match this guy and that is no disrepect to Mr Black, but I expect both sides will put the best beef up first. Their alternative is an Australian shot putter, but at 32, Tom Court is much more likely to be used as an impact sub. If it is Court to start, it means they're digging in for a 12:9 grinding game.
2. What a pair of hookers: Dylan versus the uglier of the two Best brothers is always fun. Dylan has a point to prove before the 6 nations and now is the time to do it against the erstwhile Irish Captain.
3. 36 All Black caps will play 13 Tongan ones as Afoa and Tiny go at it. You will feel the rumbles of this 'set' on the other side of the M1. Afoa can hook too, but they're going to want to put the anchors on here. We simply cannot expect to out muscle this team - and they can go the full 80 with some impact subs to boot. The MK game plans will not be enough.
4. There's nothing 'lite' about Muller, an ex South African captain with 24 caps, ex-Shark and the rock on which much is built. Samu will have to be at his very best here - this is where he measures his progress.
5. Usually twinned with Muller is Touhy, who some may remember from Exeter (and the Glos academy); but with 5 Ireland caps he is a real trooper for the Ulster team now. My guess would be Jim will get Long Arm on somewhere and with Daisy doubtful, he would trump Zorro here, but it really is close. This game has some exciting backs, but make no mistake - it's vital that the back rows get to rampage as much as grunt, and if you are going to shut Pienaar down, Courtney will be essential.
6. With Ferris off fishing elsewhere, Woody should have a few more yards to play with, and Ulster struggle to deploy a dedicated no6. Henderson is most likely, and as a talented youngster with 2 Irish caps they will be hoping he steps up. Think Courtney 2 years ago. If they want a grinding game, they'll use Diack, an ex Stormers lock, however, although my guess is he'll be on the bench.
7. Irish capped Chris Henry is most likely at 7 and although they have several No 8's who can flank. Henry is another of those leaders that you find a shirt for. Specialist flanking is not high on their list, however, but playing 3 No8's gives you something of a clue to how they like to play the fringes. My call would be Dows to take this shirt for Saints as the back row needs brains and braun in equal measure.
8. Sarge will hopefully get a great reception, and while Van driver or Rhys could step up, this is one for Callum to lead really - maybe the pupil can become the master; find out, we shall.
9. Dicko is a must for Saints here as Pienaar is a handful. Marshalling the pack is Dicko's forte too, and the chance to play the Rabo's outstanding scrummie is simply not to be missed. Pienaar can be rattled, but he glides when he's on form. He makes yardage look easy adn cold well deliver a passing lesson if he's allowed time to breath.
10. For me that means Myler at 10 too as while they have a talented youngster in the 10 shirt (Jackson), kicking out of hand is at a premium over running into their 3 no8's. Doreen knows what playijng inexperienced 10's means in terms of upping the front 8 game - it's what they do, and they do it well. With poachers like their backs too, risky passes are simply a no-go area so my guess is Lamb in this context crosses the line from 'adventurous' to 'liability'.
11. Trimble is nailed on for the wing, as is Bowe, and where one adds muscle, the other adds guile. Both can last the full 80, and they spend much of their time actively reinforcing centre (and blocking) roles, but the rules are quite simply 'No missed tackles'; no really - none, nada, not allowed. If you kick and don't chase here, you'll pay. Let them have the ball and they're trouble; let them move with the ball, and they're going to break the first tackles more often than not. Another reason for Myler over Lamby perhaps, but inaccurate kicking will be punished. For me Elliot has earned his shirt and has the added advantage that they don't know him. Mr P's reputation has preceded him, and he needs to make it stick.
12. I have been a bit flippant regarding their centres in the other thread, but the truth is they have a Spence shaped hole. Wallace is a 'soldier' who can cover full back and out half but even at 33 he may be old, but he's also beautiful (geddit?); similar to our Mr May - underestimate this Indian summer at your peril.
13. Darren Cave is likely to take the 13 shirt, but bear in mind that Ireland have some bed blockers in the international squad in the centre roles and you'll see why this guy only has 3 caps instead of many more.
14. Ulster wings simply don't 'goal hang'; they are defensively very strong and for every Osprey's boast about Mr Bowe, it is closer to the mark to remember his defensive work. Think Benny Cohen, and Brucie and you are close to their wings in style; ignore the finishers rhetoric - ofcourse they can finish well, but they are even tougher to break down.
15. Their full back may be internationally uncapped, but he cut his teeth with the Crusaders in NZ; who needs caps? Payne is solid and they have yet to see the best of him. Benny will need to be sure we don't see it any time soon.
On their bench you can expect to see some exciting youngsters like Herring (Hooker), Marshall (centre), and Gilroy (wing), and Jim's right - they bring on young'uns well. Gilroy in particular is already feared as a finisher; if they use him, they'll probably have the game in the bag and be chasing 40 points or more. If he's not even on the bench - they'll be packing their handbags and wanting a punch up. Declan Fitzpatrick and Tom Court (props with 31 International caps between them) would make a very hefty impact front row. You simply have to have Waller, PDJ or Mercey picked ruthlessly on form to meet that. Pienaar will come off if the job is done, and the diminutive Paul Marshall is good - its just he's in a big shadow. Nick Williams is an Auckland Blues no8 and likely to understudy Wilson and the flankers. Break one of their 3 No8s and they have more on stand by. Getting the picture yet? They do have one tree feller called McComb who at 6'7" can match any jumper and if they prefer this to another utility back, the game plan will be clearer again.
Imagine playing a whole team of Dallaglio's with the best rush defense in the business - that's close to what's coming. Head to head it really is too close to call. The difference is how much either side wants it, intuitively 'get's it', is prepared to bleed for it, and yes - keeps their discipline. This will be an all but impossible game to referee, so go easy on the poor sod who wears the Bertie Basset strip. We are not Leicester, or Bath - we are Saints.
Ulster don't play Munster and Leinster week in week out without picking up some gamesmanship. Bring it on. We will welcome any and all of the Ulster fans - and their singing - and they can rest assured that off the pitch there's nothing to fear - we don't bite, honest.
Best guess for the Ulster team:
1 Black
2-Best
3-Afoa
4-Muller
5-Touhy
6-Henderson
7-Henry
8-Wilson
9-Pienaar
10-Jackson
11-Trimble
12-Wallace
13-Cave
14-Bowe
15-Payne
Subs
Herring, Court, D.Fitzpatrick, Diack, Williams, Marshall, Marshall, Gilroy
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Still we have got what we have got and we must cheer them on to the end.
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David L
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Well done Ugly,Ulster take the Munster kicking style of O'Gara in their stride and that's closest to Myler's style too - their mopping up of kicks is exceptional. Lamb's place kicking is top notch right now, so that may have swung it.
On paper I'd have gone for Dicko first though, ergo Myler as the stronger partnership to weather the first 60.
Either way - someone on the back row simply has to get to Pienaar - when Fingers is around - you have to start there - when he's not - its Pienaar you have to stop.
Just seen their 1st 15 choice now - and thankfully I called pretty much all the slots with the prop Black/Court choice one where they've gone for experience over form. Nothing too startling on the bench either - with 2 youngsters up front instead of the old warrior Brady - nothing Waller and Haywood can't handle. Nice to see Gilroy on the sheet though.
Can't wait...
Just because you're born in a stable - it doesn't make you a horse...
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2012:12:06:16:56:41 by Ugly.
But I know nowt, so will be supportively howling my head off in the Church's, as always, even if it does frighten the old ladies and the bairns...
*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
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