Living Up to the Legacy - Saints v Worcester Prev.

Well, it’s crunch time, the premiership newcomers Worcester challenge the men in Black, Green and Gold at one of the greatest club rugby venues in the world, Franklin’s Gardens. And there is more than just pride at stake. Another Saints’ defeat and the world really will have caved in although, given our recent record, Worcester must fancy their chances.

They travel to Northampton with nine Premiership points in the bag, significantly better than last years promoted side Rotherham. The Worcester faithful go into Saturday’s fixture with only one win, which was against NEC Harlequins back in October. Of course, Saints can only boast one more success than the visiting side having won their opening 2 games to take them to the top of the table in this campaign’s infancy. Saints then crashed down to earth to Gloucester and fell victims to the likes of Leicester, London Wasps, Saracens, Sale and Leeds. Grim reading, indeed. Last week’s very close encounter with London Irish was a typical match for us this season. Like the majority of Saints’ matches this season, we should’ve won. However, forward domination is no good if the backs are unable to use the ball they given.

Many questions have been asked in the last week about the coaching. Should Alan Solomons stay or should we cut our losses and start afresh? The message board has been awash with "hows", "whys" and "whathaveyous" but, to us, no one has really said what, or indeed who, their alternative should be. It's all very well saying AS should go at every opportunity but who would you have replace him? At the end of the day it's all academic anyway, Mr S is with us for the foreseeable future...but how about come 3pm Satdee, let's just not go there.......

The internationals are off the scene for a couple of weeks, giving the likes of Dan Richmond, Andy Vilk and Ed O’Donaghue chance to shine. In the pack, the experienced Corne Krige, Robbie Kempson and Andrew Blowers are all very good and well balanced players with the right attitude.

Much was expected from Northampton from both the supporters and many pundits this term. However, we do seem to be the ever-present "bridemaids". We are well used to falling at the last hurdle, just failing to make major finals, or not becoming successful either against London Irish or Gloucester in the 2001 and the 2002 Powergen Cup Finals. The Heineken Cup looks to be the only thing Saints seem to be contesting in at the moment but what will the mighty Toulouse bring to the table? As things stand ,"Oh! To be a bridesmaid!".

On Wednesday, Alan Solomons gave us the team news:

15 Bruce Reihana
14 Wylie Human
13 Marc Stcherbina
12 Andy Vilk
11 John Clarke
10 Paul Grayson
9 Mark Robinson
1 Robbie Kempson
2 Dan Richmond
3 Chris Budgen
4 Matt Lord
5 Damien Browne
6 Andrew Blowers
7 Corne Krige (captain)
8 Grant Seely

Replacements
16 Johan van Wyk
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Ed O’Donoghue
19 Mark Soden
20 Johnny Howard
21 Shane Drahm
22 John Rudd

It’s good to see Matt Lord back in the first XV. We think the term "journeyman" must be one of the most (seemingly) derogatory in sport but it is one that is constantly trotted out to the likes of the Wookie and Chris Budgen. What we do know is that these two players will, in the words of (former coach) Wayne Smith, "leave a piece of themselves on the paddock" at the end of the eighty minutes. There are others who we wish would do the same. No names, no pack drill. Andy Vilk comes in at centre for the unfortunate Chris Hyndman whilst John Clarke gets his opportunity ahead of John Rudd, lacklustre to say the least against Irish. The half-backs remain unchanged despite Shane’s enterprise following his (almost) game changing introduction against LI. At least everyone is playing in position this week.

So, we welcome Worcester to Franklin’s Gardens.

Since the club was founded in 1871 by the Reverend Francis John Ede, Worcester RFC have come along way moving up as they go through many a league. Gaining experience and loyalty along the way. They have received tremendous publicity, and fair play because they deserve it. Their first recorded match was against the Artillery on November 8th 1871. The club was disbanded several times moving from one ground to another. Between 1914 and 1930 they disbanded again but remained in limbo because of the First World War, and started playing again in the 1930’s. They now find themselves at Sixways, a modern stadium with truly excellent facilities. By all accounts the stadium is first rate and credit must be given to those that hold the purse strings to be so forward thinking.

The Worcester team has done well this season, avoiding the bottom for nine weeks, with a little help from NEC Harlequins not winning a game till last weekend. They have come up against some of the Premiership’s high fliers, and giving it their all and just coming short on several occasions. 22-26 to Bath, 24-19 to Leeds, and 13-18 to Gloucester to mention just three. However, their last away win was way back in April against Coventry back in Division One. This is one record we do not want to be broken.

Worcester glided through to promotion in the 2003/4 season with 25 wins out of 26, with 122 League one points. In the process they scored 1061 pts on the park, conceding just 347. Maybe this could be their year; they might just be able scrape through the relegation zone and shock the Premiership. Being promoted seven times in the last ten years is a great record for any club, but they are new to the elite English league and have found the going tough.

The last time these two clubs met was…well…never.

So both teams and supporters don’t know what to expect. They both know what they are looking for though, the all important win, Worcester need it to try and keep out of the relegation zone, Northampton Saints need it to keep their dreams, along with the fans, of qualifying for Europe next season alive.

Although Worcester don’t have a lot experienced premiership players in the team they have the likes of A.Van Niekerk, the huge South African who has hooked for his country 5 times. Another Springbok who has had a chance to shine for his country 15 times, is the ex Gloucester fullback, Thinus Delport. There is also another player over the horizon that Worcester see as a key player that’s the ex NEC Harlequins flanker Pat Sanderson, he has been capped England 6 times in his career and can be a game breaker if we see him on the park.

The Worcester starting XV is likely to be announced on Friday.

So to the predictions,

Air Ben - My prediction has come to a 30 -15 win for Northampton, although Worcester are a good side. I just feel that its time that the Saints broke the deadlock, with a 5-point hammering. With the likes of Matt Lord, Andy Vilk, and John Clarke wearing the jerseys once more for the club, who knows what will happen.

Maverick - We hear that Uncle Keith called an impromptu squad meeting on Tuesday to let the players know how he felt about the current situation. One can only hope that, as well as firing a rocket up the proverbial, he tried to instil to the players what it means to be a Saint. the Tradition, the Ideals, what we stand for. We are not a bottom three side. We have the talent amongst the ranks of the BG&G to be challenging on all fronts, not scraping around the bottom end of the Zippee. It’s up to the boys on Saturday lunchtime to live up to the legacy of those that have had the privilege to wear the shirt before them and prove to all of us they really are SAINTSMEN! Northampton by ten.

To all the Worcester supporters who are travelling to FG on Saturday. Your magnificent support for the Saints With Heart III walk has not been forgotten. Get yourselves into the Heroes Bar before kick off where a warm welcome awaits!

Note. All the research, content and stats were done by Ben as part of his Sixth Form college work. Mav just tidied up a little, added a few flowery bits and the Kate Bush reference at the top. Thanks to John Phillips at Worcester for his help in guiding us in the right direction for a little Worcester history.