Northampton Analysis

By Lawrence Aggleton
August 31 2008

 

Head Coach: Jim Mallinder

EPS Players: 1 (Dylan Hartley)

Last Season GP: N/A (promoted from ND1)

Last Season Europe: N/A

European Group (ECC): Toulon, Bristol, Montpelier

Pre-Season:

@ Clermont Auv. L

Vs Western Force W

Vs Treviso

First Four:

Vs Worcester

@ Newcastle

Vs Wasps

@ Saracens

Big Outs: Mark Robinson (Wasps), Damien Browne (Brive)

Big Ins: Ben Foden (Sale), Neil Best (Ulster)

Key Man: Bruce Reihana

A brief excursion to ND1 for Saints last season where they regained top-flight status without dropping a game. They managed to attract more than 10k average crowds and discovered a new sensation in Chris Ashton who managed an astonishing 41 tries last year. They've recruited well (the Jim Mallinder connection bringing some good signings from Sale) and their first choice backline looks very good. They fall down a bit in the forwards, but if they can give the likes of Foden, Spencer, Ashton, Reihana and Lamont some ball in space they'll score tries.

Premiership: The selection gods must love Saints. Worcester at home and Newcastle away is probably the nicest ease in they could have hoped for. Having said that I think they'll give away a bit too much in muscle to really threaten the top half this season. Prediction: 10^th.

Europe: A pretty mean group to be stuck with, I reckon they'll just pip Bristol for a quarter final spot. Prediction: ECC QF