News: AP: Northampton Saints vs London Wasps - Match Preview
By Rob Leach
March 22 2012
After the disappointment of the LV= Cup Final on Sunday, Northampton Saints return to Aviva Premiership action this weekend and welcome a struggling Wasps side to Franklin's Gardens. Regular COYSDC contributor Bleach looks ahead to Saturday's early evening encounter...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs LONDON WASPS
AP: Saturday, 24th March 2012 - 5.45pm (Sky)
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS
MATCH PREVIEW
FROM GOLD MEDALIST AT CHELSEA TO GROUNDFORCE FAILURE
“Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer” Geoffrey B. Charlesworth
Boy oh boy, its been a strange, tough old week in Saintsland and if you are reading this expecting tales of broken arms and stories of fingers being eaten then this is not for you. The defeat against Leicester led to much debate – some of it about the rugby but most of it reacting to troll invasions and comments which leave a sour taste in the mouth. For many months, I have followed on Facebook the daily activities of one of our own, St Rich – mostly reading his tales of his brewing activities and then, each Sunday the epic, cult-like announcements of his Ironing activities. If you do not subscribe to Facebook then you have no idea what the hell I’m talking about (nothing new there then). However, putting all that aside, it was St Rich who lifted the spirits this week and brought the focus on what is important "I am a Saints Supporter and it is not results dependent..." I really liked that statement – it’s something I can relate to I am a Gardener and it’s not results dependent".
I don’t know about you but this time of year remains one of my favourites. As a keen amateur gardener, springtime is the time of year when old friends return from their winter slumber whilst those plants that have outlived another winter seem rejuvenated by the abundance of youth and hope that surround them. For me, it’s a busy time of year in the garden, so many decision to make what plants should I retain, do I need an injection of new growth to retain interest, can I really justify spending a fortune in these uncertain times on one plant that will create that ‘wow’ factor as visitors meander around my borders. My biggest project this year is the introduction of a garden pond - I have wanted a pond for a long time and so I have started the build process. To make way for my pond, I have had to remove some old friends who have served me well over the years – they owe me nothing and have caused so much joy each year with an abundance of colour. I could not simply deploy them into the skip and so they have found a new home in a neighbour’s garden. In the middle of the plot where my pond is to be built I have had an old, antique wooden barrel sitting there and it had to be moved. On lifting the barrel, I discovered to my horror the largest Wasps nest I have ever seen. Last summer, I did notice a lot of Wasp activity in the vicinity but never imagined that my barrel would be their home. Of course, this time of year, it was a simple task to destroy the nest and with one swipe of my trusted spade – the Wasps nest was no more. As my spade struck the nest I remembered my commitment to writing a preview and as usual, I struggle to find the motivation to create something worthy of competing with those that have gone before me.
It did make me think of the Wasps, the rugby team and if my humble garden is your typical suburban collection of random plants then Wasps for so long have been Chelsea Gold Medal winners. You only have to consider their trophy cabinet and realise what they achieved in a golden spell where they dominated every event. Success in the garden is dependent upon so many factors and these days, from being Gold Medal Winners at Chelsea, Wasps are more like a failed Groundforce project where the Titchmarsh plan at the outset seemed to make good sense but not knowing who will own the Garden and Tommy Walsh’s tools breaking down mid-project and mature plants deciding enough is enough have left the former Gold medalsts in somewhat disarray. To be honest, head gardener Dai Young is probably right when he refers to “cruel luck".
On the talkingrugbyunion.co.uk website, Alex Shaw writes,
"London Wasps coach Dai Young has described the injury crisis at the club as "cruel luck" and he is not far wrong. Plagued by an abnormal amount of injuries throughout the season, it is difficult to remember a similar situation in recent rugby history. Young went on to state that after analysis of training methods, most of the injuries received by his team were due to impact in game situations, adding to the idea that it really is "cruel luck" that has been inflicted on Wasps this season.
The extent and hard-hitting nature of these injuries has left Wasps stranded at the wrong end of the Aviva Premiership, just six points above Newcastle Falcons at the foot of the table. It’s an unaccustomed position for the club who have enjoyed so much success in the professional era, and certainly signals the beginning of a rebuilding era.
Beyond the almost endless injury list has been the unforeseen retirements of stars such as Joe Worsley and Steve Thompson, as well as the departure of club stalwart Simon Shaw across the Channel. Although each brought considerable ability on the field to the table, it is arguably their leadership which is missed the most, with the club having to resort to fielding younger and younger sides as the season has gone on.
The most debilitating aspect for the club however has not been on the field, but rather in the boardroom. Owner Steve Hayes put the club up for sale following his proposal to build a new stadium for the club being turned down and it has been difficult for the club to attract new players, or even extend the contracts of their current squad, when there is such an air of uncertainty surrounding the long-term future at Adams Park. There is, however, a light beginning to appear at the end of what has seemed like a very long and dark tunnel for Wasps fans. The club announced recently that they are in advanced talks with four different parties about taking over the club from Hayes and should all go to plan then they could well be announcing the identity of their new owner or owners within the next few weeks. Throw into the mix the re-signing of Tim Payne and Hugo Southwell to new deals, the arrival of Rhys Thomas and Lee Thomas, both former protégés of Young at the Cardiff Blues, and the return of England international James Haskell to the club next season and things are looking a little brighter in High Wycombe."
link: http://talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/aviva-premiership/a-bright-future-beckons-for-wasps
Recent League Encounters
6/11/2011 London Wasps 13 v 24 Northampton Saints
27/3/2011 Northampton Saints 39 v 3 London Wasps
24/10/2010 London Wasps 10 v 37 Northampton Saints
27/3/2010 Northampton Saints 14 v 9 London Wasps
4/10/2009 London Wasps 20 v 15 Northampton Saints
22/2/2009 London Wasps 9 v 5 Northampton Saints
20/09/2008 Northampton Saints 24 v 20 London Wasps
15/04/2007 London Wasps 35 v 29 Northampton Saints
22/12/2006 Northampton Saints 8 v 6 London Wasps
12/02/2006 London Wasps 19 v 19 Northampton Saints
12/11/2006 Northampton Saints 13 v 21 London Wasps
Saints Wasps
Games Played 34 34
WINS 15 18
Draws 1 1
Tries 48 76
Penalties 105 84
Points 631 744
Average points per Game 18.5 21.9
And So to the Game
We have entrusted Jim Mallinder to manage our own special haven “Franklin's Gardens” and boy has he had a job on his hands throughout the winter months. Players have announced they are moving on but at least we have the luxury of having our own ‘dormant’ players returning. Sitting here on this Tuesday morning it remains uncertain as to who will be available and who is in the right frame of mind to take the field Saturday tea time. Jim and his team have their work cut out – primarily to get a back line working that can create tries as they once did to great success. The pack has proved itself that it can compete on more than one occasion but our backs have failed to deliver. The reintroduction of Foden at full back should surely ease the burden and moving Digger out onto the wing will give us more options. Whether Jim has any faith left with Ashton remains to be seen I reckon he might find himself on the bench, I cannot call that and do not want to comment. Dicko returning at 9 will have most impact as he simply makes things happen – it reminds me of when we used to play without Dawson.
It's really hard to judge the mood of the Wasps supporters, the stories that had the most readers recently on the Waspies.Net site featured references to Brian Moore, Ferris getting bitten and Stuart Lancaster none of which refer to the Wasps current situation which I find a little strange. They remain at the wrong end of the league and not that far ahead of Newcastle who are not relegated – yet. Perhaps they have given up on this season and are confident that Newcastle will not find a new rich vein of form or that someone like Bedford wins the Championship with nobody getting relegated. Who knows. The last time Wasps played was against London Irish – a game they won
Last game Wasps 18 Irish 13
“Wasps produced a performance of great spirit and determination, to finally end their long losing streak, with a deserved win against a London Irish, which had threatened to steal the points through Sailosi Tagicakibau’s second-half try. But the Men in Black and Gold dug deep, and two late penalties by Nick Robinson secured a precious victory.”
Wasps team
15 Hugo Southwell (capt) 14 Tom Prydie 13 Elliot Daly 12 Dom Waldouck 11 Jack Wallace 10 Nick Robinson 9 Joe Simpson 1 Tim Payne 2 Rob Webber 3 Simon McIntyre 4 James Cannon 5 Richard Birkett 6 Joe Launchbury 7 Jonathan Poff 8 Sam Jones
The Wasps fans seem to think that the team to face the Saints will be similar to the one that saw victory against the Irish. This game is important to the Wasps and Dai Young was recently quoted as saying,
"We are looking at two extremely tough fixtures against two very good sides pushing or aiming to stay in the top four. Getting points from these games is a big challenge but I believe we need to come through these two fixtures having picked up some crucial points."
“The win over London Irish was a very good way to go into a break and we gave all of the players and staff a week off to recharge the batteries both mentally and physically."
"We are mindful going into the Northampton game that we haven't had a game for two weeks so we've done plenty of contact and conditioning work at quite a high intensity."
So, whilst the Wasps have been basking in the late winter sunshine Saints have played a semi-final against Scarlets and a cup final against the Tigers – I think that is better match preparation than “plenty of contact and conditioning work”.
And So to the Prediction
At the outset, I referred to the fact that it’s been a strange old week – it’s good to see that Jim has finally started to introduce some new foreign specimens into Franklin's Gardens and it’s good that our dormant winter plants are set to bloom. If we are to become Chelsea Gold Medal winners then five points has to be the target. I am really looking forward to the game. Happy gardening each and every one of you.
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Wasps have had terrible luck with injuries, add Joe Simpson as injured.
They still have some talent, but our front 5 should see them off.
I agree about the Dicko, Daws comparison. I am also hoping , as Downey says in his online interview, that the returning England players will give the squad a timely boost, now that they have been able to play for England as they play for their clubs. No rehabilitation period, just straight in and at 'em. Let's hit those Wasps with a shovel load of tries.
Saint til I die
Many thanks, fella, it's much appreciated!
By Alex Shaw– March 9, 2012” Link to Talking Rugby along with the link to the Page..
I do not want to be accused of 'copying' what is an excellent article - can you put in the appropriate words please.. thx
Did you also happen to hit Rob Webber when you were clearing your wasps' nest? He too is out injured.
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
On the other hand who ever wrote it has done a good job.
David L
What if there were no hypothetical questions?
- Live wrong and preposterously
Thanks Rob.
Quote:StBleach
Phil - You have left out a signifcant reference to the article which I included - in my Word doc you will notice a reference to
By Alex Shaw– March 9, 2012” Link to Talking Rugby along with the link to the Page..
I do not want to be accused of 'copying' what is an excellent article - can you put in the appropriate words please.. thx
Sorry Rob, must have cocked-up the old copy 'n paste. I'll sort it in the morning...