News: LV=: Northampton Saints vs Gloucester - Match Preview
By Rob Leach
January 24 2013
After the disappointment of Northampton Saints' exit from European competition last weekend thoughts turn to domestic matters and the LV= Cup. Cup winners in 2010, Saints welcome Gloucester Rugby to Franklin's Gardens in a rare 3pm Saturday afternoon fixture. COYSDC stalwart Bleach looks ahead to the game...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs. GLOUCESTER RUGBY
LV= CUP: Saturday, 26th January 2103 - 3pm
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS, NORTHAMPTON
MATCH PREVIEW
An Introduction
Have you ever had one of those “ Oh my god, what have I done “ moments? Well, this troubled author certainly had one this weekend following the Glasgow horror show. It wasn’t the result that troubled me most it was when I checked the January Authors posting and Phil’s cry in the dark for someone to preview the Gloucester LV game. There, in bold letters for all to see, including myself was my name. I had this vague recollection that I had offered my limited literal capability but needed confirmation. I think it was during or after (more than likely) a mighty fine bottle of Rioja that I volunteered and it was certainly LBG (Life before Glasgow) when optimism had returned and I felt capable of writing such a review. I normally have an ‘angle’ that I can use when writing a review but on this cold, crisp Monday morning I am struggling to know where to begin if Im honest with you. What makes matters worse, is that I have probably lost half my readership with my messages of doom and gloom that I have penned over the past few weeks. Having said that, I attack this review with ever growing numbers that have jumped aboard the disappointment bus. The following typify what is being said at the moment as we prepare ourselves for this epic LV encounter (all extracted from COYS)
- IMO the problem all season is the way we've persevered with the same team even when players were lacking in confidence
- You could argue that replacing the coach is a viable solution but only if you get the right coach.
- Not sure what is going on this year. The difference between this season and last season is vast
- Do we know how we want to play? Sarries know how they want to play, some may not like it but they are winning.
- I cannot remember the last time I got excited by a match I was at. And we have a team of 9 or 10 current internationals.
- The point is, they have a defined style of play, the players understand it, the coaches understand it and it works. As far as I am concerned, we do not have a style of play and our players don't understand a game plan that we have.
- I'd dearly love to know what they are coaching them 'cause i've seen precious little evidence of much this season
- Cut the deadwood, get rid of anyone that isn't going to challenge, and I mean really challenge for a match-day shirt.
- We've been beaten by the top two in the Rabid this year and we've been regularly beaten by 3 of the 4 clubs ahead of us in the Premiership. We aren't a great side by a long shot
Back to my Roots
Lets clear one thing up before we start – ‘new’ posters to this site might be perplexed by the references to me and Gloucester. I am not from Gloucester. You see, it all began when I was curious about my family roots and had believed that they were all from South Wales where I was born. To cut a long story short (I would stretch this out if I was searching for column inches) it transpires that it was only my Dad that was born in Barry, South Wales the rest of my family were all farm labourers from Aldsworth, a small village in Gloucestershire. It transpires that there is also a river in that region called the river Leach. Its useful to understand your roots sometimes.
Setting the Scene
Life Before Glasgow, the LV cup was one of those competitions that in all honesty didn’t mean that much to most of the Franklins Gardens faithful. It was the Mickey Mouse cup that appeared on the fixture list with a strange, but understandable format, it was a competition that most participants use as a means of giving game time to the fringe squad members or those returning from injury. The LV Cup also allowed the Saints coaching team to attack the doubters from the press by reminding them that were still attacking on Three fronts. The LV Cup, in all honesty has ‘overnight’ become the only chance for silverware that the Saints have this year. The weekend saw the Heineken and Amlin adventures come crashing to an end and with the top half of the Premiership being highly competitive this competition might be our only route to join those in the Heineken next year. Not so long ago, we were reasonably confident of a top four finish, more recently the “Top Four” finish is now under threat with a resurgent Wasps team striding ahead. So, the goal becomes a top 6 finish and yet we see an improved Gloucester side making inroads, a Bath team that can not be ignored and a confident Exeter side. My goodness, with a slump in form, diminishing ability, confidence dwindling even a Top 6 finish is looking challenging. All of a sudden, the LV Cup has become a significant priority.
The LV Cup
Perhaps we had better take it seriously. I had to remind myself where we are in this competition, it seems such a long time ago that we played an LV game and at the outset of the competition it was one of those fixtures that I was prepared to miss.
As things stand, the Saints head up the group they are in following a defeat to Quins and an way win down at Newport
- Northampton Saints 30 - 31 Harlequins
- Newport Gwent Dragons 20 - 30 Northampton Saints
Our rivals in this Group are Bath and Ospreys. This week, Bath entertain Exeter whilst Ospreys make the short journey along the M4 to Newport
Gloucester
And so where are Gloucester? Our opponents on Saturday, have also won a game and lost a game and yet see themselves third in there group behind Exeter and Quins. The LV is probably not a main topic of conversation amongst the Shed Faithful – Gloucester find themselves in 6th place in the League following some ‘mixed’ performances and have secured a tasty home Quarter Final against Biarritz in the Amlin – under their new leadership they know the game plan and they regularly execute it. They have one of the most attractive strike forces in the league and when they click they are hard to stop. Of course, this is the LV cup so who knows which Gloucester team will stride out on Saturday but, they know their roots and remain proud of their heritage. Gloucester recently have had a mixed bag of results with only a strange blip against Irish clouding their progress. Back in December they claim close to upsetting the Tigers at Welford Road and since then have enjoyed big victories against mediocre European opposition.
Sat 15 Dec ECC Gloucester Rugby 47 - 3 London Irish
Sat 22 Dec PR Gloucester Rugby 18 - 16 Exeter Chiefs
Sat 29 Dec PR Leicester Tigers 17 – 12 Gloucester Rugby
Sat 5 Jan PR Gloucester Rugby 12 – 18 London Irish
Fri 11 Jan ECC Bordeaux-Begles 26 - 31 Gloucester Rugby
Sat 19 Jan ECC Gloucester Rugby 36 - 16 Mont de Marsan
The Preview
Of course, not that long ago, we were all full of hope – a Saints team went down to Kingsholm and according to the match report at the time, the match had everything “ well taken tries, strong defence and a calmness to shrug off two yellow cards” – yes, I did type that “ well taken tries “. Its hard to remember the last time that a Match Report talked about well taken tries – it’s even harder to remember a time when the fans were excited and as someone recently said “champing at the bit to get down to the gardens”. Mr Robby Richmond’s excellent article summarised a lot of what I was going to write but in order to think about the ‘next game’ I am reminded about what is currently missing.
AT the height of my Saints adoration (late 90’s) I found myself sat in the RELATE office in the town centre listening to some bearded chap just out of Relationship College going on about a whole host of things – there in that office (I remember it well) was a poster – it defined the word ‘communication’
“Good communication can be described as a dance between two people. There's a place for you to dance together, the music sets the scene, you both sense the rhythm, take it in turns 'to do your thing', follow or take the lead, you do it together, it gives you both pleasure and has a purpose. If you are reasonably good at it, it should be a satisfying experience.”
I thought of that sentiment as I prepared this preview “a dance between two people“. It was interesting to listen to the recent Video that featured Westy going on about the fans getting on the Saints back etc. “ there’s a place for you to dance together”. Now, if the Saints want to regain the love and affection of its loyal fan base then its time they started to listen and respect why we turn up every Saturday. Respect Im afraid has to be earnt. Maybe I'm alone in thinking that the players very rarely connect with us – yes they send out random Tweets following defeats etc but, it’s only the likes of Digger for example, that ever tries to connect. I have this vision of Digger standing on his wing orchestrating the C Block masses who always reacted with even louder cheers and song. I remember the likes of Bruce walking along the line following a try – a simple smile on his face and a thumbs up to the crowd. Mutual communication, it gave us pleasure and yes, was a very satisfying experience.
I have no idea which teams will be selected for Saturday – Jim now has selection problems and is in a situation that I would never want to be in. He has to achieve the goals that has been set, goals which have changing priorities as outlined above. Those that represent the Saints would not be playing professional rugby if they were not good enough – yes, we can find the winning touch again and I am confident the Saints will win on Saturday – maybe it wont be as pretty as we would like but a win is achievable and we will march on again.
I started this rambling piece of nonsense explaining my roots – however, for the last 28 years or so it’s the River Nene and Northampton where I live – it was good to know where my family came from but my loyalty is ‘ the now ‘. The players will regain our respect when they realise this and understand where we have all come from.
Saints to win by 15 by the way...
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