Match Preview - Pressure Points
By Ed Scott
February 16 2011
When the Premiership dates were published before the season started a few fixtures jumped out at me as key games for our campaign. Northampton at the Rec during the Six Nations was one of those. At that stage I was of the opinion that we would both be occupying one of the top three slots in the table and therefore the game would have huge ramifications upon the season. Although a touch optimistic, I don't think we are too far away from this still being the case.
A gritty win in Stockport on Friday night meant that we stayed at eighth in the table, but closed the gap between Wasps and Harlequins who both lost. We also have two games in hand which could have a significant impact on our season. These games have been re-arranged for April during Heineken Cup weekends. I know that I would certainly prefer to play both Newcastle and Exeter in dry conditions (especially the latter) rather than in rainy and cold December, but we still need to actually win those games to make the advantage mean anything.
Right now I think we need to realise that we are eighth in the table, five points off a Heineken Cup spot. With the middle of the table so congested, we need to target victories in at least six or seven of our remaining nine games to take fifth place. This must of course start by aiming to win all (five) of our remaining home fixtures.
Northampton were soundly beaten by Saracens last weekend and are without the inspiration and guile of their England contingent. Playing away from home, they must surely be there for the taking this week?? Don't be so sure. Losing the likes of Ashton, Foden, Lawes, Wood and Hartley would cripple most teams, but not Saints. They have highly able deputies in the likes of Diggin, Rehiana and Vickerman, who would probably be regular starters for most Premiership clubs. They will also be reeling after losing a game at home that they could probably have won.
Northampton possess a very dangerous team. They have a highly abrasive and physical midfield, with Clarke and Downey almost always getting over the gainline and ferocious in defence. Dowson and Wilson are top operators in the back row, highly accomplished at both slowing down ball and getting the forwards on the front foot. Lest we also forget the man mountain that is Tonga'uiha, capable of individually turning a game on occasion!
This is still a wonderful opportunity to beat one of the best teams in the Premiership. For me there are two main areas we must target. The first is the set piece. Normally a strength, they were taken to pieces by Sarries in the scrum and could be there for the taking this week. Our front five should be buzzing after the demolition of Sale on Friday night. If we can win the battle in the first few scrums then they lose the ability to win clean ball or penalties. I don't even think we need to dominate, just ensure parity. Without Wood and Lawes they are also susceptible in the lineout, an area we must try and capitalise on.
The second area is in fact a person, Stephen Myler. When he is good he is very good, but when he is rattled, he can be quite poor. The same can be said for the man who will replace him if he's not on song, Shane Geraghty. Both have been inconsistent this season and I think if LAW and Butch (who did a great number on Hodgson last weekend) can get into his face, he may struggle with confidence when both kicking goals and in open play. Class also has a job to do on Ryan Powell at scrum half. He is not their first choice, and although not a weak link, when he is rushed he makes silly mistakes. He certainly didn't look anywhere near as good behind a retreating Worcester pack last season (as many scrum halves don't of course).
We played the percentage game on Friday night to near perfection, but I think we will need to bring far more to the party to come out with a win this weekend. It would certainly be another key result in terms of both our short and longer term goals and would only serve to boost confidence ever further. If we come out of the blocks fast and get them on the back foot, then another four points might well be ours.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:02:19:23:05:28 by Susanne.
Quote:Normally a strength, they were taken to pieces by Sarries in the scrum and could be there for the taking this week.
The reffing of the scrum at the Saints v Sarries game left a lot to be desired. With Waynes Barnes holding th whistle this week I would expect a lot better from that aspect of the Saints game for this Saturday.
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Quote:gaz909
seems a bit unfair if we get banners and wilson back but the saints contingent are not, how does that work?
Ssshh!
Do hope SIM, Meehan and Brad are taking it as seriously!
Will they have a Plan B at half-time?
Perhaps they could read Ed's assessment and pick up a few tips! It would have been enough of a challenge to beat them but having just had a defeat at home, they will be smarting and out to prove they are as good as they think they are.
P.S. If you think its going to be difficult to beat the Saints at home, then what do you think its going to be like beating Exeter away?
Quote:AnnieB
Do hope SIM, Meehan and Brad are taking it as seriously!
Will they have a Plan B at half-time?
They are ahead of you Annie - and Brad made his comments before Ed's preview was up! Although he does read ERE so he knows what we think.
Quote:Me from my report on BRSC meeting
Brad talked about changes in the way we play recently – they want to continue open running style but acknowledge they need more Plan B’s and want a more consistent and threatening pack. It was described as style and stubbornness – the iron fist in the velvet glove. In training they introduced double Tuesdays – double sessions to produce more dogged performance on the pitch when needed. They did this 6 – 8 weeks ago and Brad thinks the results showed at Irish and Sale. This seems to have been one of SIM’s changes.
He said they had specifically changed the game plane at half time against Irish, getting the forwards to pick and drive and force the way up the field.
Quote:Losing the six previous AP games before the win over 11th placed Newcastle plus assorted LV and HC games lost in the same run puts them in the struggling section for me.CoochieCoo
Irish struggling? 5th in the Table?
Keen to see if we have improved as we were well and truly thumped at FG.
Incidentally, although the preview went up after the presentation on Tuesday evening, I wrote it on Monday! Brad must have some sort of access to my email!!
We have a pay off at the end of the season that makes the preceding 22 rounds little more than a entertaining preliminary.
Quote:Simple.gaz909
seems a bit unfair if we get banners and wilson back but the saints contingent are not, how does that work?
Lawes in injured
Hartley, Wood, Ashton and Foden have played approximately 160 minutes each over the last 2 weeks, and will be expected to put in another 80 minutes next week - just like Hape.
Banahan, and Wilson have played approximately 30 minutes each over the last 2 weeks, and will be expected to put in another 15 minutes next week.
Dowson and Bendy haven't had any game time for England this year, and won't be expected to.
Now, you could argue that playing full matches is a little more tiring than playing 15 minutes here and there, and that the one group would benefit more from some R&R, whilst the other group would benefit more by having some rust scraped off. It's pure luck that sees us benefiting from that, and nothing to do with fairness towards the clubs (but is to do with fairness towards the players)
RAEBURN SHIELD
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:02:17:12:56:12 by Which Tyler.
Butch
Taylor
Mears
Nacho
Flats
Banahan
So I think this is a fair rematch - we can then meet them again at the playoffs with both teams at full strength!
I heard every word, and am grateful to Brad for his honesty.
However, I did want to shout out "what took you so long to work it out" but thought I'd better not! Rather like the very strange lack of wits/nouse/ with a drop goal in Biarritz, no accounting for it.
I also appreciate that sitting in the stand observing is rather like watching someone else's relationship, easy from the outside but not so easy to spot the issues when one is involved!