Saracens v Northampton Saints, preview

Champions
By Behind the Bench
November 21 2014

This weekend's visitors need no introduction, but it would be a short preview if I didn't. In the first meeting between the sides since the Premiership final, Saracens will be looking to recover from seeing victory slip from their grasp at Leicester last Sunday, whilst the Saints suffered a surprise home loss to Exeter Chiefs on the Friday night, only their second defeat of the campaign, with home reverses at Franklins Gardens virtually unknown these days.

Much like last season, Northampton have begun the campaign in excellent form, continuing their progress since they were promoted back to the top flight in 2008, Since then, their history has been entwined with Saracens, not only in the Aviva Premiership, but the Anglo-Welsh Cup and Europe too. In their first season back, they finished eighth, only winning one away game in the Premiership all season, losing 26-12 to Saracens at Vicarage Road in September, the hosts' try scorers being Michael Owen and Rodd Penney, whilst Bruce Reihana scored the only try in a return 20-15 win on Valentine's Day. Alex Goode and Brad Barritt are the only members of the latter matchday 22 still with Saracens.This was the first match in the aftermath of the new Director of Rugby, Brendan Venter, being announced for the end of the season, as well as the new investment and major squad changes. However, the sides met again in early May in the Semi-Final of the European Challenge Cup, again at Franklins Gardens, where Northampton edged through 16-13 on their way to beating Bourgoin in the final.

With the new dawn at Saracens now in full swing, Northampton were the first opponents at Wembley, and Saracens held on for a 19-16 win thanks to a Noah Cato try, and a video referee decision denying Soane Tonga'uiha a matchwinning try, the prop later coming close to moving to Saracens, but opting to stay at the Saints until 2013 instead. On their way to the 2010 LV Cup, Saints claimed two wins against Sarries, including one in the semi-final. The theme of late drama, which continues to this day, was seen in the away game in April, as Sarries claimed a 28-27 win, with Shane Geraghty missing a late conversion which meant that the hosts had to wait to seal second place, and objections raised about the visitors' celebrations. Ernst Joubert, Adam Powell and Penney got the visitors' tries that day. And there was even more of the same, as Saracens returned for a Premiership semi-final, and tries from Alex Goode and Chris Wyles had nudged them ahead 14-11 in the second half. The hosts nudged back in front, but Schalk Brits put Sarries into the Premiership final for the first time with just four minutes to go.

September 2010, and after a conveyor belt of matches at Franklins Gardens, it was finally time to return to Vicarage Road, Derick Hougaard claiming seven points and a drop goal as he scored all of the points in a 24-17 win, whilst the following February brought a third successive win at the home of the Saints, 29-15, with Barritt getting the victors' only try, on the way to the historic Premiership win. However, the Champions' next visit to Northampton brought a 30-8 loss, but back at Vicarage Road, a half-dozen Charlie Hodgson penalty goals earnt a 18-12 win, as both sides ended the season beaten away in the play-off semi-finals. "Normal service" was resumed as the next visit to Northampton saw a 16-6 success for the visitors, as Goode collected the only try. This "Sarries On Tour" season saw the home clash moved to stadium:mk, and another frantic finish, as John Smit got the hosts' try and they led 17-16 in the closing stages; Stephen Myler striking the crossbar with an 80th minute kick which would have won the match for the visitors. An unwanted first occurred at Allianz Park, though, as the Saints became the first of only a handful of sides to win at Allianz Park, claiming a 27-13 Premiership semi-final win to earn their place at Twickenham.

Bringing the story up to last season, given their excellent record at Franklins Gardens, it was a shock to the system when Saints collected five tries in a 41-20 Premiership success, and then edged out Saracens 20-16 in the LV= Cup pool stage, as Ben Spencer converted his own try, and collected three penalties, before a more comfortable 26-7 win in the semi-final. Sarries redressed the balance in the return Premiership game at Allianz Park, as they secured a nervy 28-24 win in April as Marcelo Bosch, David Strettle and Kelly Brown scored the tries and the Saints threatened a comeback. The sides were destined to meet in the Premiership final, which as we all know Northampton won 24-20, which will perhaps always be remembered for the vagaries of the TMO system rather than the epic encounter, even in defeat, it possibly deserved to be.

So that's the history, and the motivation for both sides. On their day, Northampton have proved to be unstoppable, but in their three defeats to Wasps, Racing Metro and Exeter, not unbeatable. That didn't seem the case when Gloucester were blown away 53-10 on the opening night, but their second game saw them repelled by some fine Wasps defence in a 20-16 reverse, although a trip to Newcastle Falcons brought a more productive 35-10 win ahead of a powerful 31-24 home success over Bath. Into October, and Saints edged a 19-12 win at London Irish before a comfortable 43-10 home win over Sale Sharks. Late lapses in concentration saw a 20-11 loss at Racing Metro 92 in the opening European match ahead of a blistering four try performance by George North in a 34-6 home win over a previously unbeaten Ospreys side. They are well placed in the LV= Cup again, having lost last season's final, with victories at home to Newcastle and at Falcons, which seemed to suggest that the strength in depth which was seen as an issue during previous Autumn International breaks was not a problem, but the 24-18 home defeat to Exeter saw them repelled by committed defence and some clinical finishing, attributes which are no stranger to Saracens.

Confirmed teams have not been published yet, but given England call ups, the following seem likely. Special congratulations to Richard Wigglesworth for a richly deserved call up to the bench for the Samoa match. Notably, given the movement of Owen Farrell to 12, Luther Burrell is expected to be available for the Saints, along with Calum Clark

Possible line ups

Saracens

15 Alex Goode 14 Chris Ashton 13 Marcelo Bosch 12 Duncan Taylor 11 David Strettle 10 Charlie Hodgson 9 Neil de Kock 1 Rhys Gill 2 Jamie George 3 Juan Figallo 4 Mouritz Botha 5 Alistair Hargreaves 6 Kelly Brown 7 Will Fraser 8 Billy Vunipola

Northampton Saints

15 Ben Foden 14 James Wilson 13 Tom Stephenson 12 Luther Burrell 11 Jamie Elliott 10 Stephen Myler 9 Lee Dickson 1 Alex Waller 2 Mike Haywood 3 Salesi Ma'afu 4 Samu Manoa 5 Christian Day 6 Calum Clark 7 Ben Nutley 8 Phil Dowson

Saracens v Northampton Saints, preview

Posted by: TheSaracens.com (IP Logged)

Date: 21/11/2014 09:46

Another detailed preview from BTB.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2014:11:30:18:00:08 by Darraghgirl.