Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron

By Chris Gleadell
April 27 2007

So the European dream is over for another year. The 30-13 defeat semi final defeat at the hands of Wasps at the Ricoh Stadium, Coventry means there is no chance of Twickenham glory in May but in a dismal season I think we can look back at the Heineken campaign as probably the only bright light.

 

At the end of the day twenty other teams that started the competition would have given their all to be in our place. Given that the list of those who fell by the wayside before the semi final stage includes not only the likes of current holders Munster but the powerhouse teams of France , Toulouse , Biarritz and Paris I think you can put our progress down in the success column given how things have gone domestically. For the supporters there have been a few memories along the way too. Perhaps the win in San Sebastian over Biarritz was the highlight but a magical mystery tour of the Scottish borders and capital and a sunny Italian afternoon in Parma where we outnumbered the locals two to one all added to the rich tapestry. It may have been a half full stadium but we played our part too on Sunday.

Outnumbering Wasps maybe two to one there was singing from start to finish. A nice touch was a local neutral who mentioned to a friend of mine at the bar after the game that he had enjoyed the rugby but it was the vociferous Northampton support that had made his day. As for the game itself, hats off to the club for picking the strongest possible side.Surely the aim of any sporting team or individual is to aspire to be the best in the best competition so well done to Paul Grayson and his panel for selecting a side without thought to what might be happening elsewhere in the next seven days. Despite the end result I thought the lads battled well and gave it their all and putting aside the post game posturing by some of the opposition the clock will tell you we led for a good hour of the game and were within a score till the last ten minutes when Wasps class finally shone through and on reflection the best side won on the day. The team though can be proud of their effort, something to take forward to Saturday’s crucial game at the Gardens against London Irish. For Wasps they move on to Twickenham to play Tigers on May the 20th, the first all English final and a testament to Guinness Premiership rugby returning to the top of the tree in Europe . For the Saints well whatever the future may hold, and for the club game itself in this country and Europe , let us hope we will be hitting the road again for more adventures in the not too distant future.

SALOONS AND LAST CHANCES

So here we are at the end of the season and for the Saints it is High Noon, well maybe high tea. By teatime on Saturday our sort term future will have been decided. Is it one more year in the GP, and European rugby if some heads are banged together, or a season in National Division One and trips to Newbury and Esher ? As I mentioned last week, although it is out of our hands I think the advantage lies very slightly with us. However to give us any chance of survival we must first defeat London Irish at the Gardens.

To say we are staring down the barrel of a gun is somewhat of an understatement given our position but everything is far from lost. If you are passing the Gardens this week you will probably hear the kitchen sinks being ripped from the walls in preparation for them being thrown at the Exiles. Matias Cortese said last week he would leave his body on the pitch, this week I’d expect 21 others to join him. The pressure may be on but as it is the last throw of the dice if the lads acquit themselves like they did against Wasps over the previous two weekends I can see us stealing the day. The result at Worcester will tell us if that is enough and no doubt the current score from Sixways will be relayed around the ground during the afternoon by those on mobile phones and others popping into the bars from updates from Sky.

Whilst it might be advantageous to keep an eye on events elsewhere, and as one supporter suggested to all be chanting ‘Sarries, Sarries’ should they do us the mother of all favours, we have to remember we have a job to do ourselves. There is always a danger when there is so much at stake that the crowd becomes nervous and stifled, on Saturday we have to give it all. From start to finish each and every one of us, yes even the posh people that don’t work in shoe factories, have to make the Gardens the old bearpit once more and make it as inhospitable a place for Irish on the pitch as possible while lifting the lads along the way. It’s the last chance saloon, lets all play our part. After the game the Saints Supporters Club are putting on a band post match, in the Rodber Suite. They will also be announcing the winner of the SSC Player of the Season. Let’s hope its one big celebration party, not a wake. I

T'S A FUNNY OLD GAME SAINTS (with apologies to Jimmy Greaves)

Following a team is a funny old thing isn’t it? I know there will be a few out there, maybe the majority, who will be having a restless nights sleep on Friday pre game and the whole of Saturday will be a tense nervous affair. Some will tell you it’s only a game and but it still doesn’t stop you from being on tenterhooks for the duration with gnashing of teeth and wailing the end of the world may be nigh. If things don’t go our way there may even be a few tears. But then would we have it any other way? I mean what else would we do for our PLEASURE of a Saturday afternoon?