News AP-SF: Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints - Preview
By lilyg
May 12 2011
Unlike their opponents this Saturday afternoon, Northampton Saints have a Heineken Cup Final to think about in the next week or so. However, first things first. Saints travel to the Leicester Roundabout this weekend seeking a place in the Aviva Premiership Final. Regular COYSDC contributor, Lilyg, looks forward to a potentially bruising encounter...
LEICESTER TIGERS vs. NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
AVIVA PREMIERSHIP SEMI-FINAL
Saturday, 14th May 2011 - 3.15pm (SKY)
WELFORD ROAD
MATCH PREVIEW
The wonderful thing about Tiggers,
Is Tiggers are wonderful things!
Their tops are made out of rubber
Their bottoms are made out of springs!
They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy
Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!
But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is
I'm the only one
So, with one L down
and two to go (Leeds, Leicester & Leinster), the Saints have the pleasure
of travelling up the M1 to challenge our nearest and dearest for a place
against Gloucester or Saracens in the Aviva Premiership Final on Saturday 28th
May (hopefully arriving as Champions of Europe J ).
Last November, the Saints were unstoppable and there was a general air of confidence that a place in the play-offs would be a formality. However, about face in February – it was doom and gloom with mid-table mediocrity looking to be a distinct possibility. But here we are at the sharp end of the season and the Saints are back where they belong – did we really ever doubt……..(just call me Thomas!). This season’s emotional roller coaster of entertainment that we follow so blindly leaving us with even more grey hair and chewed nails has paid us back with interest – two cracking games at Stadium MK, a Heineken Cup final in two weeks and a semi-final match against our bouncy chums up the road.
It wasn’t that straight forward in the end, with the jaws of defeat coming in for a nibble, Tigers produced an astonishing final 10 minutes to steal a dramatic 32-23 victory over London Irish at Welford Road to seal top spot in the table and a home semi-final, whilst the Saints retained fourth place after battling back from a 21 point deficit to overcome a defiant Leeds, 31-24, and to doom them to probable relegation.
I have no doubt that this Saturday both Saints and Tigers squads will be hunting down a much better performance, fuelling the passion of a win with the chance to represent the East Midlands and have one hand on that prized possession – the right to be called Champions! For Tigers, this is their last shot this season at silverware, for the Saints, still in with a chance of the double.
Even with one eye on the day trip to Cardiff, I also have no doubt that both Directors of Rugby will put out the strongest squad they can - the best front row in Europe against a dogged and well coached Tigers three – Westy v Cockers (and I’m not talking about ankle biter hounds) – you can already hear the snarling and growling from here. There are interesting matchup’s all over the pitch; Digger and Tuilagi (the elder), Dickson and Young, Myler and Flood, Downey and Tuilagi (Junior); mouth-watering, all of them
Whatever you what to call them; adversary, bandit, challenger, contender, match opponent, opposite number, peer, corival, enemy, foe, oppugner or rival – Leicester have a proud record, they are a proud club and their constantly vociferous following will not allow you to think any other way. What they do also have is their East Midlands rivals nipping at their heels; nipping, gnawing and waiting to fell the club that built their ground on a roundabout.
This will be nothing less than a full bloodied affair in every sense of the term, wrapped up in pride, passion and belief. The last few weeks have seen the Tigers just scrape through and do enough – the Saints, have got better and better with each outing. Coming into this game, the form sheet goes out of the window – it’s a cup game, a very important cup game and whichever team holds their nerve, whichever team keeps their discipline, whichever team believes they can…………..will.
Can L2 stop the Saints from marching on to another final? I don’t think so, Saints will win by five.
And as Pooh once said “If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.”
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Thanks, Lills!
COME ON YOU SAINTS
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
All I can say is that if you take this from us, at Welford road with our best XV playing you will have deserved it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:05:12:13:55:31 by Purebob.
Our ground was not built on a roundabout, the roundabout was created by the traffic authorities many decades later.
'the Saints, have got better and better with each outing'.
That's either a huge compliment to Leeds or a little wide of the mark.
and 'Tuilangi' is spelt 'Tuilagi'.
But none the less entertaining.
Good luck in the final (of the European Cup).
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:05:12:16:41:11 by TigerR.
