News: AP: Gloucester vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview

By James Bruce
February 9 2012

After a successful LV= Cup qualifying campaign Northampton Saints return to Aviva Premiership action this weekend with a trip to Kingsholm to face Gloucester. Regular COYSDC contributor Wee Jim looks ahead to the game...

GLOUCESTER RUGBY vs. NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Saturday, 11th February 2012 - 2.15pm (ESPN)

KINGSHOLM, GLOUCESTER

MATCH PREVIEW

Keep your Spirits up Saints

The Aviva Premiership returns this weekend as the Six Nations circus rumbles along. I shall attempt to write this preview without whinging and moaning or even commenting on the absurdity of running international competitions at the same time as domestic ones.

Saints face a tricky return to the Premiership with a trip to Kingsholm where Gloucester will be looking to maintain fine home record. They are a difficult side to beat especially at home and will be looking for a big win to keep them in touch with the top four. Saints equally need a win both to maintain their position in the league and to build on the momentum of last week’s win against London Wasps in the LV= Cup. Lose heavily at Kingsholm and suddenly the euphoria to last week’s win is swept away and the fearsome drubbings handed out by Munster and Bath in the preceding weeks spring back to the fore again and doubt begins to re-surface.

I am a great believer in team spirit, confidence, morale, call it what you will. Which is why the manner of last Saturday’s win was important in more ways than simply securing a home semi-final – it helped restore confidence prior to a difficult away game in Gloucester. We may often debate players, game plans and management, the officials pre and post match while supping a pint or three but often the mental toughness of sides gets overlooked or at least underestimated. Get the team spirit sound and healthy and a team can cope with almost any setback. Team spirit played a big part in keeping Wasps top of the pile a few years ago and a lack of team spirit and its consequences was all there to see last weekend. (Poor Wasps I do feel for them). So what is team spirit and can you distil it?

As a chemist I can honestly say I have no idea! It comes in so many varieties I doubt you could bottle it and sell it. It is that part of a team that gives it cohesion and an instinctive understanding of how all the individuals all work together. It lets a team handle the unexpected and never give up. Top sides need it to win and it’s no surprise that Saracens rise to the top of the Premiership is also driven by a team spirit. Saints have it too, but I am afraid I think it still remains our Achilles heel. It is a little fragile at times, maybe a sign of a young team, a team that has so often gone close but not quite there. When the spirit flags, heads drop and then the mistakes pile up. When the spirit is up, anything is possible, and the unexpected results – like Saints beating Biarritz in the Heineken Quarterfinals in 2007. When Saints get their spirit bottled and cellared then I think we will be onto something. It takes time but in Jim Mallinder there is something of the master brewer. In the meantime, if we enjoy last Saturdays win at home we must accept the result of this weekend’s encounter. If it is a win, bask in the warm glow akin to sipping a fine malt. If it is a loss reflect on how shared adversity helps build spirit too.

All of this neatly gives me the excuse not to pick the individual members of the teams likely to run out on Saturday and hence not fret and worry about who is missing, injured, out of contract, on the bench or starting as I’m often prone to do as match day approaches. Instead I’ll look forward to another game where both sides’ spirits will be tested and the side that keeps it together should come out on top. I have fond memories standing in the Shed watching a Saints side led by Corne Krige win at Kingsholm and have some hopes of a win. It should be a good match – Gloucester have some excellent backs and Saints probably have the edge in the front five but both have a sense of adventure with the ball in hand that should make for an entertaining game.

I’ll leave you with one final thought, or rather call to arms. Don’t for once underestimate the supporters’ contribution to a team’s spirit. We are the 16^th player and our constant support has helped Saints through victory and defeat. So whether you are travelling to the game, watching on TV, listening on the radio or tweeting on twitter, every “Come on You Saints!” adds its bit to that gold, black and green spirit that is Northampton Saints.

COME ON YOU SAINTS!!!

News: AP: Gloucester vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview

Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)

Date: 09/02/2012 16:02

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