Saints v Cardiff - European Cup Preview
By Chris G
December 6 2002
Well here we go again boys and girls, its back headlong into the Heineken Cup after the monumental efforts of last week when we brought Tigers five year home record to an an end with a bang! Now however we must focus on all things European as we aim to win Pool Six.
The Leicester game is now confined to history however (although we'll go on about it for years) and now we face the threat of Welsh side Cardiff.
With the tightness of the group following Saints narrow loss in Biarritz a win is a must for the the lads who could, (if Ulster pull off a result against Biarritz at Ravenhill on Friday) move to the top of the group and be firm favourites to move into the quarter finals with the French team still having to visit the bearpit of the Gardens.
Cardiff have already suffered two losses in the competition, away to Ulster and home to Biarritz and on paper have it all to do. However cast your mind to the corresponding fixture last season when the roles were reversed and you will remember it was pride that won out that day over possible qualification so i'm sure Wayne Smith will not be taking Cardiff to lightly. The team will also be aware of Cardiffs comeback last week after being all but down and out in their Celtic League quarter final at Edinburgh.
Its all to play for and on last years evidence all the hallmarks of a cracker.
TEAM NEWS
Matt Dawson, stretchered off last week at Tigers is out for a possible six weeks so youngster Ian Vass, who came through with a glowing report despite early nerves last week deputises.
Bruce Reihana is not registered to play in the group stages so Jonny Sleights returns to the wing in the only other change in the backs.
In the forwards Tom Smith is made to warm the bench after accidentally missing a team meeting. England bencher Robbie Morris comes into the front row as Tams replacement.
In the second row Matt Lord misses out for the same reason as Bruce Reihana but Steve Williams has finally shaken off his virus and partner one of the stars of last weeks win, Rob hunter, in the second row.
Saints:
15 NICK BEAL
14 JON SLEIGHTHOLME
13 Chris Hyndman
12 JOHN LESLIE
11 BEN COHEN
10 PAUL GRAYSON
9 Ian Vass
1 Robbie Morris
2 STEVE THOMPSON
2 Chris Budgen
4 Rob Hunter
5 STEVE WILLIAMS
6 ANDREW BLOWERS
7 BUDGE POUNTNEY
8 Mark Soden
Replacements:
16 Dan Richmond
17 TOM SMITH
18 Jon Phillips
19 Simon Hepher
20 Johnny Howard
21 ORIOL RIPOL
22 James Brooks
Cardiff have named the following team which includes ex Gardens lad Matt Allen.
Rhys Williams; Nick Walne, Jamie Robinson, Matt Allen, Craig Morgan; Iestyn Harris, Ryan Powell; Peter Rogers, Andrew Lewis, David Young, Heino Senekal, Adam Jones, Rob Appleyard, Dan Baugh, Martyn Williams
Replacements: Tim Payne, Lewis Collins, Chris Stamatakis, Emyr Lewis, Richard Smith, Nick Robinson, Anthony Sullivan
HISTORY
The clubs first met in the 1925-1926 season with a win each for both clubs, but both in the away fixtures. Cardiff won14-10 at the Gardens before the Saints went and took the spoils at the Arms Parks 8-0. The clubs have met around 60 since with honours almost even, the most recent encounters, apart from last season EC games, being when 'Welsh rebels' Cardiff and Swansea played unofficially in the Allied Dunbar Premiership. As per usual these two games were honours even with a loss at the Arms Park for the Saints but a Boxing Day lesson in wet weather rugby for the Blue n Blacks the following December.
Oddly the two clubs played three draws out in succession in the early sixties including what must have been a riveting encounter in 1963, it ended 0-0.
Last season the clubs met head to head in the first real competive games between the clubs in the group stages of last years Heineken Cup. Cardiff drew first blood (quite literally in the clash of heads between Nick Beal and Matt Allen) in September with a Friday night win at the Arms Park but Saints regained pride in an atmospheric win at the Gardens in January this year. For reports on these two matches see the links at the bottom of the page.
HOW TO GET HERE
Road: From the South: Leave M1 at junction 15A and follow signs towards Sixfields, past the Sixfields Stadium on the right to the major roundabout. Take right turn onto A4500 for the Town Centre. Follow signs to Saints car park.
From the North: Exit M1 at junction 16 and follow the A45 to Northampton and follow signs to Town Centre at major traffic island. Then directions as for the South.
Rail: Turn right out of station. Follow road past the Thomas A Beckett public house, (pop in and buy me one!) Church's shoe factory and the bus station into a shopping area where you will see yellow signs to Saints car park.
Or ask a policeman!
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