News: LV: Northampton Saints vs Leeds - Match Preview
By Simon Robinson
February 3 2011
Northampton Saints welcome Leeds Carnegie to Franklin's Gardens this Saturday afternoon in the final round of pool games in the LV= Cup. Regular COYSDC contributor Simon Robinson looks forward to the game...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs. LEEDS CARNEGIE
LV= Cup Saturday, 5th February 2011 - 3pm
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS
MATCH PREVIEW
Saints take on Leeds at Franklin’s Gardens this weekend, in that rarest of all things – a Saturday 3pm KO, in the last round of LV Cup pool games. With both teams virtually out of the competition, and also missing players for the first round of the Six Nations, there will be a lot of different faces on the pitch.
The two teams have yet to meet this season, with the game scheduled for December called off as the Headingley area was snow-bound. Leeds have struggled this season, winning only one league match but putting in some good performances in the Amlin, albeit in a relatively weak pool.
Since winning the competition with a strong side last season, Saints have focused elsewhere – a strong start to the league and top seeding in the Heineken quarter finals means they haven’t tried too hard to defend the trophy. Giving several Academy and new squad players debuts (most of the team at the Madejski signed on this season) has shown the depth of the squad.
These teams will no doubt meet again soon – a likely date for the Headingley fixture will be LV semi final weekend (12th March) and Leeds return to Franklin’s Gardens on the last day of the league season (7th May).
Saints will not want to throw away this game, in front of a near-capacity home crowd buoyed by the Saints’ first “Charities Day”. Organisations such as the BHF, NSPCC, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Wooden Spoon have all been given tickets for free. These have then been sold at heavily discounted prices to benefit a wide range of charities.
I would expect a strong Saints XV, as the majority of the “first choice” squad had a rest last week. They won’t want to go into next week’s home game against Saracens too rusty, so I think we’ll see something like:
Tonga’uiha, Sharman, Mujati; Sorensen, Eustace; Clark, Dowson, Wilson; Powell, Ford; Reihana, Downey, Clarke, Diggin; Tonks.
Bench: Waller, Long, Mercey, Hicks, Easter, Commins, Geraghty, Elliott.
No idea what the Leeds team will be, as they have to concentrate on winning at least one more league fixture (still having to play nearest team Newcastle twice) so they may field a weaker side to try and avoid injuries to their best players.
A small note to those reading this: I managed to write this preview in around 10 minutes (I know, it shows…). This site thrives on its articles – previews and match reports – and it is through these articles that ComeOnYouSaints.com gets the majority of its SportNetwork income which helps to cover the cost of running the site. I’m sure most out there could do better, so why not look at the “Previews and Match Reports for February” thread and sign up…
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Point well made at the end and duly noted!
Rich maybe you should think about changing your sig. I keep reading it as if everything you post is taking the p!ss. maybe its just me
Saint til I die
Do you think we have to beat Leeds, to ensure that we play them in the 'spare' weekend (12 March?)?
Your point is well made about the reporting scribes.
Maybe we could pay them - if their reports are voted the best?
Come on Red Saint and all you other literati - get scribbling...
Quote:Big Bucks Dom
Maybe we could pay them
What d'yer mean "we" Jp Morgan?
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously