Northampton Saints v Wasps - Zurich Preview
By Chris Gleadell
September 26 2003
Well boys and girls after two trips out on the road at Sale and Bath we return on Saturday to the hallowed ground ‘Franklins Gardens, home of the Saints’ and what better way to start proceedings than to take on the current ‘champions’ Wasps.
The Saints have not had it all their own way so far this season. Despite early season promise in grabbing a late, late draw at Sale the lads failed to make an impression last week at Bath failing to get out of first gear in a dire performance.
No doubt long hours will have been put in on the training pitches this week with, I would presume, the lineout, which was virtually non existent in the West Country, being the main priority. The pressure is certainly on for a much improved performance as ground must be made up on early season high flyers Bath and Quins.
Last week was viewed by most as just our annual blip and I am sure the boys will be out all guns blazing, anything less and the Zurich campaign might start to look like its over before it has begun.
Wasps have not exactly had things all their own way so far this term either. They lost their opening encounter at Quins. After seeming to be well in control in the early exchanges Quins gradually wore them down to take the game. Last week at home to Leeds their much vaunted pack took their time to wear down a stubborn Yorkshire side in an error strewn performance, not helped we hear by a certain Mr Lander. They did however in the end run out easy winners at 33-10 which goes to prove, as always with any Wasps side, they must be paid the utmost respect.
Saints give a first start to Johnny Clarke on the wing. JC is a product of the Bristol Academy who was snapped up by the Saints on the recommendation of former Bris coach Peter Thorburn. He is obviously well thought of at the Gardens as he keeps veteran John Sleightholme and livewire Oriol Ripol on the sidelines. Lets hope he has a successful debut and a long and prosperous career at the Saints. The last young English winger to force his way in to the Northampton side hasn’t done too bad for himself has he?
Elsewhere in the team another young English youngster Robbie Morris returns to the front row alongside Dan Richmond and Brett Sturgess. With Renaud Pelliard out for a month and Steve Thompson and Tom Smith away its time for these youngsters to step up and make their own claims. Facing them are two wily old warhorses in Craig Dowd and Trevor Leota. Dowds reputation goes before him and for all the focus on Leotas tackling its is often overlooked what a danger he can both in the tight and loose.
At lock the Saints call up Rob Hunter to replace Steve Williams. Rob partners Matt Lord in a new look pairing and they will have to be at the top of their game to outsmart Simon Shaw. For me Shaw should not only be on the plane to Australia but partnering Martin Johnson in the second row. Clive Woodward is obviously a better reader of the game than I but how the one dimensional Grewcock is on the plane before him evades me. Englands loss is however Wasps gain and Shaw will be eager to prove the selectors wrong. He could be the key to the whole game. Saints have a third lineout option in the backrow in Wallaby Mark Connors, and it could well be 'Deso' that is called upon to negate Shaw.
With Budge and Andy Blowers still out Darren Fox and Mark Soden join Connors in a backrow that may edge the Wasps outfit lacking both Joe Worsley and Lol Dallaglio although blindside Paul Volley is one of the most underrated blindsides in the business.
At scrumhalf Wasps surprisingly rest Rob Howley, although his last two visits to the Gardens have not been happy ones with both Wasps last year and Cardiff the year before. Peter Richards deputises and faces All Black Mark Robinson on his competitive Gardens debut.
At ten another competitive debutant Shane Drahm will be eager to carry on where he left off at Sale and make the Saints flyhalf shirt all his own before the return of Paul Grayson from Australia. Mark van Gisbergen replaces the injured Alex King for Wasps.
Chris Hyndman returns to partner John Leslie at centre where they face the workmanlike Fraser Waters alongside Ayoola Erinle.
All Black Bruce Reihana, one of the few to come out of last weeks game with any credit, takes the opposite wing berth to newcomer Clarke. Shane Rosier a long time Wasps servant and John Rudd, one for the future, face up.
At fullback Saints stick with the ever present Nick Beal while Wasps look to Ex Bath man Tom Voyce as their last line of defence. Voyce certainly looked good on the break in the game at Quins and must not be given the room the likes of Ollie Barklay was given last week.
By the same token counters by Bruce Reihana and Nick Beal can be just as devastating.
On paper it looks a very close contest and the old cliché about home advantage counting could well ring true. I take Saints by no more than one score.
TEAMS:
Saints
15 NICK BEAL
14 John Clarke
13 Chris Hyndman
12 JOHN LESLIE
11 BRUCE REIHANA
10 Shane Drahm
9 MARK ROBINSON
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Dan Richmond
3 ROBBIE MORRIS
4 Matt Lord
5 Rob Hunter
6 MARK CONNORS
7 Darren Fox
8 Mark Soden
Replacements
16 Matt Miles
17 Chris Budgen
18 Jon Phillips
19 Grant Seely
20 Johnny Howard
21 James Brooks
22 Mark Tucker
Wasps:
15 Tom Voyce
14 Shane Roiser
13 Fraser Waters
12 Ayoola Erinle
11 John Rudd
10 Mark Van Gisbergen
9 Peter Richards
1 Tim Payne
2 Trevor Leota
3 Craig Dowd (Capt)
4 Simon Shaw
5 Martin Purdy
6 Paul Volley
7 Jonny O’Connor
8 John Hart
16 Rob Howley
17 Jonny Barrett
18 Mark Denney
19 James Haskell
20 George Skivington
21 Ian Clarke
22 Sean Phillips
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