PREVIEW OF LI v SAINTS AT THE MAD JETSKI
By Smurfomatic
December 23 2004
Deck the halls! Saints take a festive jaunt down to Reading to play the jolly Irish lads, but this will be no Christmas friendly. With the London Irish chaps looking to move further up than mid table, and Saints battling to get off the bottom, no quarter will be asked or given - real "hats on wheels" stuff.
According to the song, we should expect two French hens and a partridge in a pear tree. Those approaching the game via Oxford may well spot game fowl over the Park and Ride north of the city, and who knows if Monsieurs Marsh and Betsen may bring their wives to see their new club play the Exiles?
The Saints team has been named as the same XV which played Bedford, but the club awaits late fitness tests on Blowers, Krige, Cohen and Reihana:
15 Jon Clarke
14 John Rudd
13 Mark Tucker
12 Marc Stcherbina
11 Wylie Human
10 PAUL GRAYSON
9 MARK ROBINSON
1 Chris Budgen
2 STEVE THOMPSON (capt)
3 ROBBIE MORRIS
4 Grant Seely
5 Damien Browne
6 ROSS BEATTIE
7 Brett McNamee
8 Mark Soden
16 Dan Richmond
17 Brett Sturgess
18 Simon Emms
19 Johan van Wyk
20 Johnny Howard
21 Shane Drahm
22 Neil Starling
The Irish have named a strong team, including ten internationals, as follows:
15. Michael Horak*
14. Paul Sackey
13. Geoff Appleford*
12. Mike Catt*
11. Scott Staniforth*
10. Mark Mapletoft*
9. Paul Hodgson
1. Doug Wheatley
2. Robbie Russell*
3. Rob Hardwick*
4. Nick Kennedy
5. Bob Casey*
6. Declan Danaher
7. Kieron Dawson* (captain)
8. Roland Reid*.
Replacements:
16. Pierre Durant; 17. David Paice; 18. Ryan Strudwick; 19. Paul Gustard; 20. Nils Mordt; 21.
Darren Edwards; 22. Barry Everitt.
Certainly, as ever, Mark "sneaky try from a penalty" Mapletoft and Mike Catt will be dangerous in the backs, and the Irish have a strong set of forwards which will put the Saints eight under considerable pressure, especially after all the mince pies and sherry has been added to the equation. Hopefully we won't see repeats of the forty man running battle through the streets of
Allegedly
On a final note, the match report will be Mark H's last report for the site (at least until we persuade him otherwise!) so good luck mate, don't be a stranger, and tell me again how you're supposed to write one of these preview thingies?