News: So Where Do Saints Go From Here?
By Howlin
March 14 2011
Saints win Woohoo. Everything is back on track. Get the internationals back and enjoy the ride! But is it? At the beginning of the season many were lamenting the loss of Kruge and the wise old head of Nacho. Some of us were not as concerned quoting the recovery of Day as sufficient replacement and a raft of signings that surely gave the Saints squad a more robust feel than many of us had ever seen before.
Along with Old Pete my main concern was how we would manage the periods
during the internationals as it was evident that we would have several
players away either with the main squad or the Saxons.
Well the season started better than any of us would have predicted. All
comers were vanquished at FG and away wins came thick and fast too. At
one stage I believe we were clear at the top of the league with two
games in hand. We managed to achieve good results during the Autumn
internationals too. Perhaps Bruce's comment that this was the strongest
squad he had ever played in was not simply media hype.
But then came the loss to Quins at home. I am usually one to appreciate
the efforts of the opposition where some simply blame poor Saints
performance, but that loss was a hard one to stomach. Yes give Quins
credit, but they came with a simple game plan. Much like Scotland
against England this weekend, it was built on robust and passionate
defence and spoiling. Keep the pressure on and feed off mistakes. Sadly
for Saints they were not as successful as England in overcoming this and
the first home defeat was the result. They still came within a gnat's
whisker of winning but, I thought, maybe it was a good thing that they
didn't. Maybe it was the kick up the backside they needed after the
sweeping success (the Heineken pool included) to keep their feet on the
ground. If they had won playing so listlessly then surely over
confidence would have resulted and pride would herald an almighty fall.
And at first it appeared to have the desired result. A stonking
performance away at Tigers had many pundits drooling. Apparently "these
two teams are streets ahead" of all other premiership sides. These will
be the top two in the league, the only question will be who makes up the
numbers in the play offs.
So at this stage despite two league losses on the bounce, things were
still looking pretty good. Still in the top two, still two games in hand
and qualification for the HC quarter finals beckoned. The Saints
mindsets shifted to Europe and they soon got back to winning ways.
Qualification for a home quarter final for the first time since 2000,
comparisons were being made, all in the garden was rosy. Ah, but was it ?
Still in the back of my mind was the loss to Tigers. It was a great
Saints performance, but what if they believed it was the best they
could do? What if they had just given it everything, played their
hearts out, produced the best rugby their best team could come up
with......and still lost. Was there now doubt in the minds that the
championship dream that had seemed an almost certainty earlier in the
season was now beyond them? What they needed was a home match against a
middle of the table side for a good steady win to get the season back on
track. What they got was half the players whisked away to play for
their country or sit in the injury suite and a match against last
season's second best premiership side and their most recent nemesis.
Possibly the only team other than Leicester that you would not wish to
be playing in these circumstances. Oh yes, did I mention they have the
best away record too! It was written in the stars. As much as many on
this board do not like the Sarries, they are a very good side.
Oh well, hard to take but not the end of the world who's next? Oh
B'gger. Many other people's tip for the title at the beginning of the
season, Bath. After a shaky start they were now surging up the table. We
hadn't won there for years with our strongest team. Yep, we were
stuffed. This loss was again on the cards but the manner of it was very
worrying. It appeared as if the team believed they were going to lose
this one and as soon as things started to go against them, they
capitulated. Worrying signs indeed.
And next up the other side that was surging up the table, also with two
games in hand, also one of the form teams in the prem, Gloss. Still,
although invincible at home, their away form was inconsistent. If we
could sneak something against them then we would at last have two
matches against "lower" teams coming up.
It appeared that this may well have been the squad's mindset too. They
set about Gloucester in a more organised fashion and were always in the
match. Not pretty (but being played in the mud remember) but gutsy. But
not to be. Another loss. This was now panic time. All of a sudden Exeter
away was looking like a mountain to climb rather than simply a
difficult fixture to overcome.
You all know the story. Played well, if basic rugby, and controlled the
first half, but again as soon as things started to go badly,
capitulated. Could things get any worse? Next up Leeds. Bottom club only
won once all season, surely we could stop the rot.
Ah, but it's away. They just won their second match today beating London
Irish, another high flying team at the beginning of the season who are
now on a losing streak. Omens. Time to worry.
But with Dicko back calling the shots, Wilson back, rested from his time
on the naughty step, and Day challenging a Wally free lineout, Saints
were victorious. Back hanging onto fourth place by their finger nails
and now a rest before the internationals return. All is well with the
world.
But I ask again, is it?
The losing streak has been halted. The internationals will now not
return to a disaster area. Realistically, I was hoping for around eight
more points in this period so there is ground to make up. But who will
we make it up on?
We have Gloss away. Will we get anything here? It will take a massive
turn about in form. Also it is a midweek match; big strain on resources.
For me Bath and Gloss have really staked a claim. With Tigers and
Sarries already in very strong positions. We are going to have to string
a lot of wins together to establish ourselves in that top four again.
But the sun is shining outside here in Northampton. The pitches,
hopefully will become firmer. This will suit Saints. But I can see it
also suiting the other teams at the top too. There's some cracking rugby
to come this season but will it be the Saints playing it?
So much, is I believe, in the head. What is the current mindset? Will
the returning internationals re-ignite the spark? Or have others "worked us out"? Are Saints "knackered"? We shall see. I didn't see much
in the rugby played against Leeds to inspire confidence. But they did
the job that needed to be done. The pressure on them to get a result
must have been immense. They will have learned some harsh lessons over
the past few weeks. Let's hope these lessons coupled with the experience
of being a member of (probably) a Six Nations championship winning team
will provide the impetus needed to reach at least one final this
season.
I said at the beginning of the season that I thought we could win the
championship, but we will need luck along the way. I didn't think we
were good enough yet to win the HC. Right now I just want to see Saints
start winning again at FG starting with Wasps. Then who knows.
Nothing is certain in sport!
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Nice post mate, I think we have to concentrate on winning our games, Gloucester away is a huge one, if we can't win there a bonus point and stop Gloucester getting extras is a must.
Then as said win our games firstly and hope the results of our competitors go the right way for us, as they all have to play each other, so they could do us some favours.
Top of the League 2014-2015 Season
Apart from the fact I thought this was going to be some bazaar Haircut 100 metaphor i feel an empathy with many of your points.
True, this is easily the best Saints side I have ever seen (12 years and counting). But along with that this is also the toughest league we have played in and in the case of Tigers we are up against a team that is arguably 2-3 seasons ahead of us in assembling true strength in depth. Unless we get permission to write cheques to solve the problem a la Toulon, Racing etc and bring in legions of talent and skill (not necessarily a good idea as it will destroy the balance of the premiership) we need to be able to absorb these international call ups better.
Patience is the key. As in 1998 Geech had a 3 year plan which came to fruition ahead of schedule in 2000. Jim et al. Would have had a similar plan for this period. How many people were tipping this season to be our triumphant year? Not many if you look at the opinions on this board at the end of last year. Top 4 and Heineken ¼’s as a minimum i think you’ll find; and go for a major trophy in 2001/12.
For me I am comforted by the following:
Saints are now a team that can turn it on and beat anyone, that’s anyone in Europe on their day.
They no longer get white line fever and have the patience and maturity to grind out wins and not throw them away as much.
We clearly have a selection policy firmly looking to the future and yes it is still a work in progress.
We have a magnificent stadium, superb management and backing and support that is the envy of most clubs.
Bu please bear in mind – rugby players are on the whole young men who are passionate, dedicated, sometimes driven, sometimes egotistical and very much in the public eye. The mental side of this game is huge and their every success( and failure) is often that of public debate...whether they like it or not.
Given time all of this may come true – we just need to play our part and keep the faith.
"sup·port·er"
Noun:
1.A person who approves of and encourages someone or something (typically a public figure, a movement or party, or a policy).
2.A person who is actively interested in and wishes success for a particular sports team.
Anyone who thinks a practically full strength Saracens, Bath or Exeter were easy games to be won doesn't realise the standards that those teams bring. I'd agree though that the Harlequins game was a big loss.
The loss of Dixon, Lawes and Wilson at a time when reserves were already low tested our squad to the limit.
Overall all is not lost, which a loss to Leeds at the weekend could well have signalled the end of the Domestic season. The strong showing during the AI's helps to gloss over the recent bad run.
Gloucester have a horiffic run in including Leicester (A), Saints(H) and Saracens(A) inside 7 days. We can still turn this around.
Last night the Mrs and I watched our recording of Saints v Irish when we were 1 72 in the prem. I struggled to work ot what was differnt about that team and the shadows ( no pun intended ) that have haunted Fg for the last few games.
I watched the much maligned Ryan Powell play really quite well - oh and a young bloke called Tonks with another ypungster called Elliot stood out.I thnk Woody was still with us too.
So apart from some minor personnel shifts what was the difference. Confidence - determination and discipline - in the sense of keeping focussed and playing to win. There was also a lot of energy about .
Headingly is a step in the right direction but only one step. Personally i am prepared to be pleasantly surprised by the trip to Glaws - but it will be a surprise if we pull that one off.
Even if we dont fulfil the promise of the seasons start - at least we know what to expect next time club rugby and this clubs success is mortgaged to the RFU.
Saint til I die
Basically said if we win 4 from the last 6 then we should be fine as Bath / Glos have to play Tiggers and Sarries and everyone behind us would need to win all their games just to tie with us on points
Winning and losing can both be habits and sometimes the difference between the two can be caused by little, almost intangible, reasons.
Therefore to break the habit clubs/teams sometimes instigate small changes of their own or hope to take advantage of some fortuitous ones - such as a week off, or returning players, or a decent bittter in the Rodber (well we can dream).
Lets hope Leeds was the start of a new winning habit - right through to the end of the season would be nice!
We love sport because of its uncertainties, but the fear, uncertainty and doubt of 2011 so far has been a torment. Even so, a win changes everything (although I was horrified by the ease with which Danny Paul stole a try for Leeds at the death). So I will trot out my latest banality which emanates, I think, from Winston Churchill:
"Success is going from failure to failure with enthusiasm."
I interpret that as never give up, never admit defeat, never stop going for broke and never give way to fear.
Which way now? Onwards and upwards!
I noticed in the Guardian today that Lievremont was saying that his players came back from the club weekend last weekend and trained very poorly for him last Wednesday. It seems the opposite of the problem we suspected lay behind our Saxon players. Perhaps in France the club culture is stronger than the National one and players find it difficult to assimilate into the National coaches plans.
From here on in Jim will have to get the internationals back on song with our ways of playing very quickly and we cannot afford many if any slips. HC qualification is a minimum aspiration and Glaws this weekend at FG may give us a helping hand. My Glaws connections will influence my favouritism in the LV final.