Review of the Season 2005 Part one
By Rob Richmond
May 28 2006
Here we go again, another season of ups, downs and crabbing sideways. Weird isn’t it rugby, last year we were pitiful and hanging on by a thread. This season, we were pitiful and hanging on by a thread. Thank God everyone asked for the same thing for Christmas - wins and lots of them.
COYSDC END OF SEASON POLL PART ONE
Here we go again, another season of ups, downs and crabbing sideways. Weird isn’t it rugby, last year we were pitiful and hanging on by a thread. This season, we were pitiful and hanging on by a thread. Thank God everyone asked for the same thing for Christmas - wins and lots of them. The turnaround was terrific and spellbinding in equal measures, from bravery at Glaws, Wuss and at home to Brizzle, to class displays against the bully boys of Barf and the fez boys…
Budge and Grays did the business with the boys but there were still plenty of bumps in the road, but let’s be honest, we were never going to win every game. The games that we did win just got tighter and tighter as the season continued. As a supporter I personally believe I got my money's worth, but hey, I get my tickets for free!!!
Anyway enough of my prittle prattle, to the results already!!!
1. Saint of the Season?
His royal Lossy-ness of Levin
Whilst Carlos looks like a cast off hobbit to some, and let's face it we’ve all lain in bed at night wondering if he had spectacularly hairy feet, well, some of us have, (mainly those who have wild and uncontrollable insomnia perhaps i.e. me!) his magical powers have certainly not been left on the plane as he made the bold move in uprooting his family from the shire, sorry, Auckland, and starting afresh in the Green Black and Gold of Northampton.
Here’s a little bit of what regulars thought...
‘Genius!’
‘Spectacular!’
‘He’s lovely too look at too,’
‘Worth every penny…’
To be honest it just went on and on like that. I got rather bored near the end.
Big Damo showed us all what he can do; in the end he pushed Los pretty close….
'Damien Browne....has made massive strides, is a sight to behold when he is on the gallop. Gets through a lot of work and obviously loves the club.'
I had him down as a potential liability before the season and he just grew and grew- though hopefully not literally.
DB1, improved beyond measure, very much deserved the captaincy against the "Irish"
And Bruce did what he does best, impress people isn’t it?
‘Bruce Reihana. Every time he gets hold of the ball, you feel something special could be about to happen.’
Meanwhile Clarkie showed us what he could really do….
’I could say Carlos but playing-wise, Jon Clarke was our most consistent performer, & from the whole club, Larry for showing that he has quite some talent as a coach.’
2. Most underrated player?
Everyone loves Q, except Jacka of course, the great big Guinness slurping chuffing misery….
'David Quinlan...amongst our all singing, all dancing backline he is the glue that holds it all together.' 'Big Dave Quinlan - much like JL its his unseen work i.e. tackle rates, work on the deck, taking the ball up - obviously he still has a bit to learn i.e. staying on his feet for longer in the tackle.'
And my personal favourite...
'I don’t give a toss what Ajack thinks, he's a tackling machine from the depths of hell, raised on a diet of evil Irish stew mixed with generous handful of 6 inch nails...'
And a few more….
’
As a three-time Lion & all round Scottish legend, I don’t suppose you could really say that Tom Smith is underrated but his play in the loose, link play & general positional sense are perhaps not commented on as much as they should be. If you’re looking beyond that then David Quinlan, who is John Leslie with a bit more bulk & an honourable mention too to Dan Browne who has improved markedly as the season has gone on.’
Pleasant respect for the club captain…
‘I am willing to bet that I am virtually the only person to offer this name and I do it for good reason. He receives an almost entirely poor press and rafts of undeserved criticism from Saints and opposition fans alike. He suffers abuse for his weight, his positional play and all the technical aspects of his game.
From reading published media articles and comments on multitudinous unofficial media outlets, you would be surprised that the man can even earn a living at the game let alone have around 50 international caps and an RWC winner’s medal. Steve Thompson’
Big Pat is well liked, though not by Wiggy Roundtree…
‘Pat Barnard, has worked so hard at the scrum and his effort is only just being recognised by the pundits and fans alike, the man absolutely destroyed the Leicester front row, definitely a man for the future...’
But the more E-mails I opened the more read like this….
Tom Smith. He is a complete marvel, and most people out of the 13,500 in the ground have absolutely no idea that they are in the presence of greatness. Funny how the penny dropped for Martin Johnson and Keith Wood though.
Tom Smith, still one of the finest players around and surely the most silky-skilled prop to have played the game, better scrum-half skills than anyone in the
Your winner ladies and gentlemen is Wee Tam. (Anyone thinking this may have been a preconceived plan by the sweaties may well have a point)
3. Game of the Season?
One day we could all agree on…
'I felt genuinely privileged to be watching a guy as awesome as Carlos that day’
Sarries getting battered at home
4. Best Home Game of the Season?
An honourable mention for the home game against
‘Five times the lead changed hands, Keira Knightly appeared in her nightie and
Again the plaudits eventually fell to the Sarries home game, tragically nothing remotely quotable though.
5. Best Away Game of the Season?
Ten minutes of magic says it all…
‘
‘
6. Best Away Trip of the Season?
Those who went to Viadana had a lovely time…
’Viadana away - I know the game was called off, it was cold, there was snow etc. but quite often these away Euro trips are to do with what you do outside of the game rather than the game. In one weekend we managed to cram in a night out in Viadana, a day/evening in Parma, a day at Lake Garda on the way to a night out at Bergamo and being pulled over by Carabinieri for speeding in a Fiesta!!!’
‘Against normal practice, I went to only three away games this season: Saracens,
But everyone loves the trip to
7. Best Opposition?
London Irish impressed many,
‘Irish, superb lineout, superb back three, superb old man at the helm.’
‘Irish, spectacularly well organised team’
Whilst many Saints’ supporters begrudgingly respected them there tigers…
‘I hate them, but by god I respect them’
8. Academy player of the season?
Mark Easter by a long way, the best comments …
‘Mark Easter – he has some real talent which I really hope we make the most of. We don’t need Jordan Crane.’
‘Mark Easter looks the business, great hands, strong tackles, keep and eye on that one…’
’After so many years of underachievement we finally look to have one or two who could go and do things at the highest level. Mark Easter looks the best of them as for as I can see, can he put pressure on Toops and Bluey and sustain his growth? It’s down to him….’
9. Marks out of ten for the season?
Overall it seems we all thought it was 7 out of ten…
'9/10 excellent entertainment if not all the right results.'
‘Before Christmas 2, after 10 - so average down to 7 - too many mistakes throughout’
‘POO TO BEGIN WITH, THEN FAB, THEN A BIT POO AS IT ALL TAILED OFF AT THE END. BUT WE'RE IN THE HEINEKEN CUP NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS NICE.’
10. Marks out of ten for the players?
Working out the mean total for this question is hard work, especially when some nit wit gives the players 110 out of 10. Honestly!
'6/10 - qualified for Heineken is the plus along with two or three games when things have clicked, the downer has been our ability to make mistakes from good quality ball and our defensive lapses.'
8 – Yes, some mistakes still need ironing out but the joy at seeing that spirit and score them highly.
Overall the supporters gave the players a mean score of 7.369; oh balls to it, 7 it is. No one said there would be maths involved….
11. Marks Out Of Ten For The Coaching Setup?
'5/10 but improving. I will never be convinced about Budge, and I can't see the point of Ponissi. We don't appear to have a defence anymore (mind you, with the scores being run in recently, we're hardly alone)’
'I'm massively impressed. Always been a Budge n Grays fan, even when we looked like being relegation strugglers. Signing of Tupai was inspired...'
'They have integrated a new style of play and ethos to the club which has been embraced by all, however, on the other side of the coin there are still questions over our forward play especially set pieces and also over our defence. The summer months are crucial for the coaching set up as the second year is always more difficult.'
'Passion is the reason I give them 10 – they’ve delivered and kept their nerve when the season seemed to wobble. They get the 10 for signing Slugga. It’s smart to get the help and support you need to develop the vision.’
A respectable 7.
12. Best Opposing Player?
No outright winner this year, though Lol comes closest….
'Dayglo. Single-handedly changed the game at FG when he came on...a massive presence.'
'Andre Snyman - always a handful especially when attacking - we've never managed to stop him from causing havoc to us, I’m glad he's going home...'
‘Let me answer this way: player I'd like to transfer to FG tomorrow - Varndell (and it hurts me to say it, another
‘Probably Jason White but Dave Walder played superbly for Newcastle at our place – he was then spotted on the same train south as me after the game: the suggestion was made that he should have caught one about 3 hours earlier! Pat Sanderson was also very good for
‘The man that afforded Tigers time to get their defence in order – Lewis Moody’
13. Best Ref?
Everyone respects Spreaders, but ‘he knows he knows’
Spreaders - even though he's susceptible to a few errors, he's still the most consistent and communicates well with all.'
'Spreaders, he knows he knows'
'Still Spreaders in my opinion, with Ash and Rosey not far behind. Where is the worst ref question, or has it been awarded to Wayne Barnes without the need for a vote? George Clancy's not a whole heap better...'
‘The bloke who took charge of the
Overall the supporters remember the greatest favour ever….
‘Chris White, if only for denying Worcester a try that would have been given 9 times out of 10’