Saints vs Sale Preview : Saints to end on Cloud 9?

By Calum Spires
May 6 2006

With Heineken Cup qualification in the bag after a last gasp win away at Bristol, Northampton Saints approach May 6th with one eye on next season and an ambition to shake the very foundations of the Premiership, by overcoming the leaders Sale Sharks.

 

SAINTS TO FINISH ON CLOUD NINE?

 

 

Sale Sharks:

JASON ROBINSON, ORIOL RIPOL, Chris Mayor, MARK CUETO, STEVE HANLEY, CHARLIE HODGSON, Ben Foden, Lionel Faure, ANDY TITTERALL, BARRY STEWART, Chris Day, IGNACIO FERNANDEZ LOBBE, JASON WHITE, CHRIS JONES, SEBASTIAN CHABAL

Replacements from: Eiffion Roberts, Michael Hills, Sean Cox, David Tait, Ben Lloyd, Valentin Courrent, Richard Wigglesworth, Matt Riley, David Blair

 

Northampton Saints:

BRUCE REIHANA (capt),  John Rudd, Jon Clarke,  DAVID QUINLAN, BEN COHEN, CARLOS SPENCER, Johnny Howard, TOM SMITH, STEVE THOMPSON, Simon Emms, Damien Browne, Matt Lord, PAUL TUPAI, SAM HARDING, Daniel Browne

Replacements: Matt Grove, Brett Sturgess, DAVID GERARD, Darren Fox, MARK ROBINSON, Robbie Kydd, SEAN LAMONT

 

 

On what promises to be one of the most entertaining games of rugby witnessed in the Premiership this year, Northampton Saints lock horns with a table topping Sale Sharks team who are looking to end their league campaign on a high before progressing to a home semi-final against either London Wasps, Gloucester or in-form London Irish. The two teams have faced each other only once in this year’s competition, north at Edgeley Park, with Saints coming out on the losing end of a 34-14 score-line. However, since that defeat, Northampton have been on a massive roll, only losing 3 out of 13 games played, the most recent win coming at Bristol’s Memorial Ground last Saturday. Meanwhile, Sale have been keeping up their winning ways before finally securing top spot in the league, and a certain home semi-final against an opponent that is yet to be determined.

 

The two sides have had contrasting seasons, with Sale having a better first half and a slightly poorer second half, whereas Northampton had a dismal start to the season, and a sensational post-Christmas run, highlighted in the astounding 58-17 thrashing of Saracens in mid-February. Both teams however, have secured spots in next year’s Heineken Cup Tournament, to which both teams will have aspirations of winning.

 

The starting line-ups of each team suggest that there is likely to be a try fest at the Gardens, with a lot of open, free running rugby that will especially suit the opposing fly-halves, Charlie Hodgson and Carlos Spencer. King Carlos in particular, has shone for the Saints this season, and is a hot pick for their fan-voted ‘Player of the Year’ award. Meanwhile, Charlie Hodgson has began making a name for himself on the international scene, being a leading light in England’s disappointing Six Nations campaign, in which they lost out to France for the competition win. The two elusive half backs will do battle and will hope to bring out the best in their backs on Saturday.

 

The changes to Saints starting line up from last week consist of the inclusion of John Rudd in place of Sean Lamont, in which he may well make his final appearance in a Saints shirt, as his two year contract is up at the end of the game. Also, Saints give tight head prop Simon Emms his first start of the season, due to the injury to Pat Barnard and Chris Budgen’s inclusion in the Army’s squad to face the Navy at Twickenham on Sunday, Emms gets a chance to prove he has what it takes to deal with the likes of Lionel Faure. Johnny Howard gets a starting chance after the impact he made on the Bristol game last week, as Mark Robinson is rested and drops to the bench. Also, Steve Thompson replaces injured Dan Richmond in the starting line-up and resumes his role as co-captain with Bruce Reihana. Nevertheless, one of the more interesting inclusions in the Saints squad, is academy produced and departing hooker, Matt Grove. Matt has been at the club for 2 seasons, but has yet to make a first team appearance due to injuries and the consistency of Steve Thompson, Dan Richmond and Dylan Hartley. Grove has the chance to earn his players tie before he departs for Exeter Chiefs in the summer to pursue a regular first fifteen starting place. Grove is known to have immense strength and fantastic pace that will undoubtedly aid him in his quest for first team rugby.

 

Expect fireworks, flair and undoubtedly a lot of skill to be shown off at the Gardens on Saturday, and hopefully we may see a Saints victory, to end the season on cloud nine.

 

Kickoff: 3:00PM.