Northampton Saints - Thoughts from the Chron

By Chris Gleadell
September 16 2006

So here we are two weeks into the season and already the proverbial emotional rollercoaster that is a Saints season is already building up a head of steam. The game against Newcastle did not exactly go to plan but at the end of the day a win is a win is a win.

And better still they say if you can win when not on the top of your form then you might be onto something.

Saints did all the work in the first half against the Falcons and dominated possession and territory but we were very poor in execution only going in seven points up at the break with most of the problems of our own making. I’m sure the lads were kicking themselves knowing that a bonus point win could in all probability been sewn up by half time.

To some extent the jitters set in early in the second half and with the Falcons scoring first in the it looked like turning into another of those days but the lads pulled the game round and secured the win. Of some concern was the fact that Newcastle only got a whiff of our line four times in those last 40 minutes and three of those times they bagged points, luckily for us Jonny Wilkinson had a rarity in missing somewhat of a sitter that just about everyone would have put their mortgage on. Had he got the points we may well have lost and I’m sure like a few more I traipsed away from the Gardens none too happy with a little voice in the back of my mind saying “oh no, here we go again”.

Six days later though with the game away at Sale most of those doubts proved groundless as despite the squad being hit by a virus you could argue that we were not that far away from pulling off at victory at the current champions. Having clawed ourselves back to within a score deep into the second half a somewhat controversial score by the Sharks allowed them some breathing space that Saints were unable to recover. On another day we might just have pulled it off but it was not to be. There was however no disgrace in the defeat and I think we saw glimpses of what could be a very good season for the Saints, lets hope we continue to that improvement in Saturdays game against Bath .

LOOKING FORWARD

Saturday see the visit of our friends from the West Country, Bath . There have been some classic encounters between the two clubs over the years and the last two season clashes lived up to that billing. Two seasons ago the Saints were under the cosh for most of match but turned things around to hit back with four bonus point winning tries including the end to end score voted the Zurich Premiership try of the season. In April we saw a good old blood and thunder end of season encounter with Saints just edging the visitors in a pulsating game, one of the best seen at the gardens all year. More of the same please.

Saints are having a good run over Bath at the moment winning five out of the last six games and despite the visitors demolition of Leicester last week I’m taking us to carry on where we left off towards the end of last weeks game and secure the win, just.

PRUNES

Now I am not wishing to laugh at anyone else’s misfortune but I had to smile at Sean Lamont’s comments in the Chron about the virus currently doing the rounds at the club. Monty said that “"Steve Thompson went straight into the bathroom when he came off. When we were in at half-time you wouldn't think so much fluid could come out of one man without him becoming a prune.”

In a week where it was suggested in Rugby Times that Wally was to be the transfer target of French giants Toulouse perhaps Agen might be a more suitable destination given the locals love of pruneaux d’Agen which they eat with just about anything from rabbit to dark chocolate.

Joking apart given Wally’s performance on Saturday I am sure no one wants to see him leave these shores too soon. Despite being struck by the dreaded bug he put in a sound performance and gave it his all for as long as he could last. Furthermore once Carlos has helped him to perfect that crossfield kick he’ll be a danger to everyone.



PEACE IN OUR TIME? WHO ARE YOU KIDDING?

So, just as the season opened, came the shock news from Twickenham that there was indeed, peace in our time. It seems that for once the clubs and RFU have put their differences aside and agreed on something. So all is good with the world and people can start sending each other Xmas cards again but the old cynic in me tells me that in the long run it will be a phoney peace. As with the Long Form Agreement I can see the hawks at the RFU pushing for more, taking that mile (extra international games anyone?) when an inch has been offered.

Of course the man viewed to calm the waters is the new RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew. Championed by most as the ideal person for the job given his long reign running one of the top clubs personally I cannot forget how wholeheartedly the former England flyhalf backed Fran Cotton’s vision of a regional franchised English club structure knowing full well that his current employers Newcastle were sure of the a place at the top table whilst others may have had to merge or cease to exist. I could be wrong but the phrase ‘poacher turned gamekeeper’ comes to mind. I hope for the good of the game I’m wrong but I suspect the saga may run and run.

SAINTS WITH HEART V

A date for your diaries. On Saturday 28th October, before the Borders Heineken Cup game, the Saints With Heart charity walk will be taking place. Now in its fifth year, and so far having raised over £60,000 for the British Heart Foundation this years event will be bigger than ever with not only the traditional walk from Wolverton and Blisworth taking place but several other walks from local rugby clubs all converging on the Gardens. Next week I will have more details on how you can take part or donate.