GP: Saracens vs Northampton Saints - Preview
By Louisa
December 26 2006
As the New Year beckons, Saints supporters could be forgiven for feeling a sense of déjà vu. A year ago this weekend, Northampton were languishing in the bottom half of the Guinness Premiership, desperate for a string of league wins.
Their Christmas wishes were duly granted a week later when the men in green, black and gold recorded a New Year’s Day victory over Bristol at Franklins Gardens, and went on to notch up a 5 game winning streak.
SARACENS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
MATCH PREVIEW
12 months on and the Saints’ situation is eerily similar. Whilst the club’s league position is 2 places higher than at the same time last year, Premiership wins are still vital in order to stave off the fears of relegation and perhaps even reignite hopes of a second year back in the Heineken Cup.
Which brings us nicely onto Wednesday’s fixture. In recent years, the prospect of a trip to
The Saints go into Wednesday’s fixture on the back of a morale boosting 8-6 win over former premiership champions, London Wasps, after a mammoth second half forwards effort in foggy conditions. Looking back on Saracens’ recent form, Paul Grayson’s side are likely to fancy their chances against a Saracens side who recorded a scrappy last minute win over Harlequins last weekend, only winning with a last minute try from Ben Skirving.
Ahead of tomorrow’s fixture, Paul Grayson has made 5 changes to the side that beat Wasps earlier in the week:
15
14 SEAN LAMONT
13 Seamus Mallon
12 Robbie Kydd
11 Matthieu Bourret
10 CARLOS SPENCER
9 Ian Vass
1 TOM SMITH
2 STEVE THOMPSON (capt)
3 Pat Barnard
4 Damien Browne
5 Matt Lord
6 Mark Easter
7 SAM HARDING
8 Daniel Browne
16 Dylan Hartley
17 Chris Budgen
18 SOANE TONGA'UIHA
19 Christian Short
20 PAUL TUPAI
21 Paul Diggin
22 Johnny Howard
As the Saints’ injury list grows ever longer, David Quinlan has been forced to enjoy yet another prolonged period of watching from the stands, after fracturing his right hand during last week’s Wasps encounter. In order to accommodate the unlucky centre’s injury, Robbie Kydd has been moved to inside centre whilst Seamus Mallon will wear the number 13 shirt.
Choosing to rest players where possible, Grayson has given Mark Robinson and Darren Fox a chance to watch the game from the sidelines with Ian Vass and the on form flanker Mark Easter, taking their places. He is joined in the backrow by Sam Harding, and elsewhere in the forwards, Matt Lord and Damien Browne replace Christian Short and David Gerard to start in the lock positions.
Speaking earlier today of his team selection, Grayson said: "We are trying to keep the momentum going and to give a chance to some guys who are itching to get on the field as well as give some rest to those who need it."
The Saracens Director of
1 Nick Lloyd Prop
2 Shane Byrne Hooker
3 Cobus Visagie Prop
4 Kris Chesney Second Row
5 Simon Raiwalui Second Row
6 Paul Gustard Flanker
7 David Seymour Flanker
8 Ben Skirving No. 8
9 Neil de Kock Scrum Half
10 Glen
11 Kameli Ratuvou Wing
12 Adam Powell Centre
13 Kevin Sorrell Centre
14 Tevita Vaikona Wing
15 Dan Scarbrough Full Back
16 Matt
17 Census Johnson
18 Tom Ryder
19 Ben Russell
20 Mosese Rauluni
21 Tim Taylor
22 Rodd Penney
England U21’s captain, Adam Powell will make his first start of the season tomorrow night as he partners Kevin Sorrel in the centre. Elsewhere, first starts could also be handed to prop, Census Johnson, and flyhalf, Tim Taylor, both of whom joined the club last week.
As ever, it is the Saracens forwards who will provide the biggest problem for a Saints pack who were bullied in the first half against Wasps on Friday. Featuring the likes of ex-Ireland hooker Shane Byrne and perennial danger man, Cobus Visagie, the Sarries’ pack will take some beating. And the backline looks none too shabby either, with speedsters Kameli Ratuvou and Tevita Vaikona on the wings and the ever solid Glen Jackson coming in at flyhalf.
Now, usually at this point I would make my prediction but this week I will refrain from doing so. Having looked back at my previous track record of awful predictions and my lowly position in this week’s Lou’s Lottery table, it seems that we have lost every time I’d predicted a win, and visa versa, so this week I will stay silent. I think it’s for the best.
(Oh, go on then. Saints by 5.)