News: AP: Northampton Saints vs Harlequins - Match Preview
By Simon Robinson
January 3 2012
Northampton Saints welcome Harlequins to Franklin's Gardens this Friday evening for a match which is vital for the Saintly hordes as they seek to consolidate their position in the top four of the Aviva Premiership before the Six Nations strips them of their elite players. COYSDC stalwart, Smurf, looks ahead to an intriguing game...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs. HARLEQUINS
Friday, 6th January 2012 - 7.45pm (ESPN)
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS
MATCH PREVIEW
Saints take on Quins for New Year's Honours
The first game of 2012 sees first v third at the Gardens. A Harlequins side which has only suffered two defeats this season takes on a Saints team who have lost only one of their last seven league matches.
While the home team's form may have been less spectacular than the visitors this season, they have scored at least twenty points in the last thirteen games - including (winless) visits to Thomond Park, Welford Road and Stade JP Antoine. In the process they have scored 46 tries and conceded 20, with many of the games still in the balance in the last quarter.
In fact, that has been Saints problem in some matches - dominating opponents in terms of possession and territory, but not scoring the points to put the game out of reach. Add to that convincing wins over Saracens, Exeter and Bath but only scoring three tries in each, they could be more comfortably ensconced in third place.
Harlequins, however, started the season with a bang having won their first ten games (then again, Saints won nine out of their first ten last season...) before slipping up against Saracens in the "Big Game" at Twickenham last week. That is their only domestic defeat - the home loss against Toulouse was avenged the week after in France - so can Saints add another "L" to Quins results sheet?
Quins struggled at Sandy Park last time out, with Rory Clegg missing five kicks but bagging the last to take the spoils. Having to play on Saturday following a Tuesday afternoon game didn't help, in addition to missing Evans and Easter - who may both be fit again for Friday's match. Mike Brown is definitely a dangerous player - he ranks in the top five for clean breaks, metres gained, defenders beaten and try assists. Then again, he's top of the turnovers conceded...
Saints last minute try through ex-Falcon Tom May secured a first league five pointer since...Tom May scored two of the six tries against Falcons at FG. However I doubt Quins will give Saints so much possession from lineouts (though Christian Day still tops the lineouts stolen table, not bad considering the Newcastle match was only his seventh appearance) and Saints cannot afford to make as many elementary mistakes in both handling and kicking against the league leaders.
My predicted team (depending on whether Lawes, Calum Clark, Wood and Elliott are fit or not):
Tonga'uiha
Hartley
Mujat
Sorenson
Manoa
Dowson
Nutley
Wilson
Dickson
Myler
Ashton
Downey
Pisi
Artemyev
Foden
Subs: Waller, Haywood, Doran Jones, Day, Craig, Roberts, Lamb, May.
However, I wouldn't be surprised to see Armstrong, Cato or Tonks involved somewhere along the line.
My predicted result: Saints, by a few (Quins to get a losing bonus point) in a tight but entertaining game.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
As you say, it's gonna be close, I think!
Great stuff Smurf - game on!
*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*
Best wishes to the three of you.
I won't be going as it's the coaches meal at ONs (arranged when the fixture was on Saturday). We'll have the game on the big screen though.
Nice preview, Smurf. If your prediction of Nutters works out, there's a hell of a test for him. I fear the breakdown may be a difficult area for us without Woody.
Connorman - that team's based on Lawes, Clark and Wood all missing. It was either Nutley or Craig to start, as Nutcase has been in the Saints squad more often I chose him.
Photo Gallery
Why is Wood not playing btw ? I thought he was just rested last week ?
Saint til I die
Think we need to dominate up front, and for that we need either Woody or Calum back in the backrow. Big Sam can do a job filling in for Courtney no problem.
Will be interesting to see if we go for JD or May at 12. Personally I'd start with JD and have May on the bench as we did last week - he's the perfect bench-man, can cover every position outside 9 and can have a real influence on the game.
Need a big performance in this one!
Quote:Bleach
point with QUinns being blown away... ( there, is that positive enough? - its the new me)
Really worried mow
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Good one Smurf
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
Quote:Saint Tub
37hours by Mrs t (and mini T) Elma.. you could prob take in the Sat and Sun early fixture as well...
If you are referring to time in labour St Tub, given those times, she only needs to hold out until 5pm today and I could have the all clear to go to the match
