News: LV= Final: Northampton Saints vs Leicester - Preview

By propajob
March 15 2012

It's the first major final of the domestic season this weekend and this Sunday sees Northampton Saints travel to Sixways Stadium, Worcester to take on Leicester Tigers in the final of the LV= Cup. Regular COYSDC contributor, propajob, takes a look ahead to an intriguing encounter...

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs. LEICESTER TIGERS

LV= Cup Final: Sunday, 18th March 2012 - 3pm (Sky)

SIXWAYS STADIUM, WORCESTER

MATCH PREVIEW

Thinking ahead to Sunday’s show down with the stripy ones I was trying to think of what sums up a match with our nearest and dearest rivals. What comes to mind, feisty, passionate, rivalry, bragging rights, intense, physical, ding dong, blah blah blah. It will be all of those, and it will be utterly "scrum'tious" ( my newly made up word for Sunday) if all the past encounters are anything to go by. When you google Leicester v Northampton, the predictive text which guesses the next word comes up with fight, rugby and brawl in that order!!

It is not often that you get a cup final, that it also a local derby. This is the first time that Saints and Tigers have met in a domestic cup final. Since both clubs have been around for about 130 years, it has been a seriously long wait. Let's hope it's like buses. Don't get one for ages and then 3 come along at the same time.

No team should ever need motivating for a cup final, but when you add in the bragging rights attached to this game, it is going to be one hell of an occasion. There is so much local pride at stake. Is there an underdog for this game? With Tigers v Saints matches, the “favourites” tag has generally attached itself to home advantage. Since the match will be played on neutral ground, I think it will be very difficult to pick a favourite. The Saints have better recent form in this competition, being recent winners of the cup, and coming through their semi final with a more comfortable score line (although relative strength of teams fielded and home advantage could have been an issue here). The Tigers have won more silverware than Saints and therefore will be assumed to be "used" to winning finals (albeit they lost the last one they were in, as did we). I guess we will have to argue hard about who the underdogs are for this one. A quick check on the bookies site has us both at 5/6.

The big talking point of this fixture is who makes the starting 15, and who warms the bench. This is going to be very interesting. Cockers has generally played a more second string side, with a strong bench. The Saints have done a bit of both, although in the main, put out a reasonably solid team, with power on the bench. I expect both DOR's to put out a strong team. I think the Saints team will be similar to that which played Scarlet’s, although some of the bench may switch to the starting line up. Cockers has intimated he will stick with the team that got them to the final, but we shall see. If this was a league or H/cup game, then we know both clubs would field their strongest team. The nature of the LV cup, coupled with the international call ups does change matters. The LV cup is supposed to be a competition to develop players etc. That is all well and good, but once you get to the final, all bets are off and surely all that matters is bringing home the cup.

There will be much debate about the teams. Both clubs have an abundance of talent throughout the ranks. Big Jim and Cockers are going to have to spend considerable time trying to out think each other and work out tactically how to approach this game. This adds the extra spice, in that none of us supporters can actually predict the team with any certainty. There is no standard Cup Final Team for either Club this time round. Goose bumps? Excited? Can't wait?

Will Cockers keep the splendid young Ford in the starting 15, and keep Flood on the bench. Geordan Murphy did not play in the semi final, but as club captain, will Cockers leave him out? Tigers had Thomas the Tank, Salvi, Matt Smith and Ayerza on the bench against Bath. Mafi, Green, Hamilton, Twelvetrees, and Newby (captain) made the starting 15. Same again? Can any Tigers cup final team be complete without a Tuilagi?

Diggin had an exceptional game against Scarlets and I would expect him to be picked for this game. Tiny, Mooj, Waller, Mercy and Long. Who starts, and who is on the bench? Then there is May or Downey, does Manoa, Day, Craig, Wilson or Sorenson get a start. Calum Clarke to retain the captaincy? I think so. Who will be on the wing, Armstong had a good game, is Cato fit? Elliot or Vasily? Roberts is a very likely starter, along with the immense, if fit, Tom Wood. Myler or Lamb? Decisions, decisions.

So, many will be expecting a tight game, what if it's a draw at the full time whistle?

If this happens, the winner will be determined by:

i. extra-time of 20 minutes (10 minutes each way); then

ii if the scores are tied after extra-time, then the team that has scored the most tries in the match (including extra time) shall be deemed the winner; then

iii if the teams have scored the same number of tries in the match (including extra-time), then the winner will be determined by a placekick competition.

Nerves jangling??

It is not known at the time of writing who the ref will be, let's hope it's a strong competent ref. A ref that takes no nonsense, someone like Poite would be good. I am not sure a French ref will be appointed for such a game. As both teams are English, the nationality of the ref will be of less importance. There has been so much debate this season about the ref's, none more so than in the derby fixtures. All we can hope for is a game where the discussion afterwards does not involve the man in the middle!

As to the weather, the forecast has showers from Saturday afternoon going into Sunday, however, it’s quite a few days away, so that may change.

Moving on to us, the all important supporters. It is often said that Saints and Tigers are two of the best supported clubs in the country, that we have very knowledgeable and passionate fans. These facts are obviously very true. The lovely Saints and Tigers fans will be hard at it all week until 3pm on Sunday. Hard at it you say? Light banter of course. There’s nothing better in a run up to a match than a spot of Tiger baiting (or Saints baiting, depending on your jersey).

The Anglo Welsh cup, would have a fitting conclusion if an English and a Welsh club contested the final. But if it had to be two English clubs, then I think you would be hard pushed to getter a better line up than Tigers v Saints... If Carlsberg did Cup finals....

One thing is for sure, the LV Cup will be residing in the East Midlands. Will it be chilling in the Saintly side or relaxing in the Dark side. Who will leave Worcester with the shiny Pot and the all important bragging rights? It really is too hard to call. However, as I am wearing my journalistic hat (sent to me by our beloved Phil, and knitted by Wilma), I know that I must jump off the fence and make the hard call. I will don my black, green and gold specs, and speculate that the Saints will sneak a win.

By now you must all be buzzing with anticipation, so my Saintly chums, just keep humming our national anthem for this game, and be sure to belt it out at Sixways, it goes something like this:

Big John Leslie went to look at Welford Road, Big John Leslie went to look at Welford Road, Big John Leslie went to look at Welford Road,.....and this is what he said, Gor Blimey, ...........who the hell are Leicester Tigers, who the hell are Leicester Tigers, who the hell are Leicester Tigers, and the Saints go marching ON ON ON

Let the banter begin in earnest and have a truly Scrum'tious time mon amigos

News: LV= Final: Northampton Saints vs Leicester - Preview

Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)

Date: 15/03/2012 13:25

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