News: LV: Northampton Saints vs London Wasps - Preview
By Eddie P
February 2 2012
Northampton Saints welcome London Wasps to Franklin's Gardens this Saturday afternoon knowing that a bonus point victory would secure a place in the last four of the LV= Cup. In his first article for COYSDC, Eddie P looks ahead to the game...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs LONDON WASPS
LV= CUP: Saturday, 4th February 2012 - 3pm
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS
MATCH PREVIEW
In the final game of the pool stage of this years LV= Cup Northampton play host to a Wasps side who find themselves in a fairly desperate situation both on and off the pitch. Three losses from three in the Anglo-Welsh Cup see them bottom of their group but a precarious league position, uncertainty over future ownership and a horrific injury list will be more of a concern to the Adams Park faithful. With no hope of qualification for the semi-final of this competition, and only two wins on the road all season, we can probably expect to see a Wasp team similar in experience to our own which started at The Rec last Saturday.
Enough on the Waspies. With Heineken Cup qualification on offer for the eventual winners of the competition we are now at the stage where teams start to take things a little more seriously, ourselves very much included in that group. A gaggle of internationals made up numbers 16 to 23 on last week's team sheet. A well deserved rest should see them in good stead for this week. With Clark being returned from England duty we can expect to see a slightly stronger and more experienced back row. It is testament to Clark that he is adding experience at only 22 years old as he approaches his 50th appearance in Green, Black and Gold (this week would be his 49th). Our real selection headache comes at hooker. Just a few short Months ago we guffawed over having England's Dylan Hartley and the future of England hooking, young Mikey Haywood. Now we will be without third choice Brett Sharman who will be devastated to be injured at his first chance to shine this season. Andy Long must start this week but I wouldn't be surprised to see Alex Waller throwing in by the end of the match.
This competition is important to us so I expect to see the following names being read out at ten to three on Saturday:
15 Digger
14 Elliott
13 Pisi
12 May
11 Cato
10 Myler
9 Roberts
1 Tonga'uiha
2 Long
3 Mujati
4 Sorenson
5 Day (Captain)
6 Clark
7 Nutley
8 Wilson
Yes I think Samu deserves a break, for the first half at least! His shoulders must be hurting.
So the permutations for Saturday:
Forget points, bonus points, Exeter Chiefs and tries scored. We need to win and win big. Not only for points, or for semi-final qualification, but for the boost that everyone involved with the club really needs!
Come on you Saints!!
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Tetleys Block F E143
It's a really good read and much appreciated!
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You're probably right about our team though - LV Cup is not top of our priorities especially with a home league game against a weakened Sarries side next week.
Id expect something like this from Wasps:
1. Zak Talaufo
2. Tom Lindsay
3. Simon McIntyre
4. Heinz Koll
5. Ed O'Donoghue
6. Joe Burton
7. James Harris
8. Victor Gresev
9. Charlie Davies
10. Will Robinson
11. Charlie Ingall
12. Alex Cheeseman
13. Chris Mayor
14. Lee RObinson
15. Jack Wallace
But if he's on bench as reserve hooker, who's replacement loose-head? Altho I recall a game where McMillan was on bench but Alex still went to hooker and they brought on the replacement prop - or am I dreaming?
if those are the teams, I think you might be needing those calculators you had to use during the promotion season!
good preview by the way
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:02:02:14:25:20 by Nigel Scott.
Does anyone know who is the whistler?