Saints vs Saracens: The View From Worcester

By John Phillips
February 21 2006

How JP, John Phillips a Worcester stalwart, saw the Saints performance against Saracens last weekend...

JP compares what Worcester have been doing recently to the Northampton Saints performance on Saturday...

 

We supporters have had a great time with some wonderful Saints supporters.

We have been well looked after on our away trips and I hope we have been as hospitable on their visits to Sixways.

Lets look at yesterday and the rugby.

Up until yesterday their was only 2 possible 3 clubs who were playing a more open exciting style of rugby. They were Wasps, sale and possibly Tigers.

Now there is a 4th and that is Northampton. They may have started slowly this season but they have taken on this open style and worked hard at it and it HAS paid off.

Their ability to offload, not just in the tackle but more importantly in the committment of the opposition. If you off load in the tackle it becomes tighter and more concentrated. What they did was off load once the opposition were committed to tackle. It may only be half a second but it gives you that edge.

They have definately moved the secondary point of contact out wider and they had forwards who new where that was going to be who ran a straighter line to taht point giving them again split seconds more than the opposition. There backrow were excellent along with a scrum half who recycled quickly but also posed the threat of nipping through close in. This forced Sarries back row to stay tighter again giving them another split second.

With two big fast wingers both tenacious in attack and looking for work on either flank it gave them some great attacking opportunities. The frailties of Sarries first up defence was exposed, (as ours is at the moment).

Northampton were very fast onto the breakdown and turned over many balls and IMEDIATELY attacked. the intensity shown from the forwards was awesome something we had but has faded away quite dramatically.

There is no doubt that they have expanded their game to produce some fantastically fast expansive rugby. This was not done on the back of a successful pack at the time. They were struggling up front especially in the lineouts and set pieces. But they concentrated on developing their WHOLE rugby and they have done it very well indeed.

Whereas we seemed to have gone backwards. We seem to be trying to produce expansive rugby but are being held back by simple basics, catching, tackling, positional confidence and attacking intensity. In defence at close quarters on our own line we are massively committed. Come forward 30 meters and we turn into a Gyuere cheese.

Sarries did not play well but it was the sheer enthusiasm and concentrated effort that swept them away. Saints thought they could score from anywhere and were capable of playing heads up rugby and thinking for themselves. It was great stuff.

Saints in the playoffs is a distinct possibility. Over the last 6 games they have acquired 24 points. If they continue and there is no reason to doubt they will, they should get another 28 points taking them to 60 points and that will get them 3rd place.

Well done Saints.

 

And thank you, JP, for your thoughts.