News: Wasps v Saints A Game of Two Halves (Almost!)

By St Dormouse
March 24 2013

The annual sideshow is over and after the humiliation of Cardiff, English Rugby settles into the final stages of a tight and by no means settled season. Saints had a job to do at the seemingly impregnable Adams Park against a resurgent Wasps side full of talent, speed and like us, a top 4 place to play for.

LONDON WASPS V NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Saturday 23 March 2013

KO 15:15

Miserable conditions and a swirling, snow filled wind would surely favour the Saints’ more forward oriented style rather than the Wasps’ more counter attacking running rugby but the Wasps teamsheet looked particularly strong, Palmer, Vunipola, Wade and the impressive Daly looking to impress the England selectors and with Launchbury and Halfwit, sorry Haskell back from their Welsh drubbing, and Masi on the bench the second half could be interesting indeed. The Saints had their part time England pair of Dylan and Lawes starting, with Woody on the bench, all hoping to impress Warren Gatland.

The first scrum penalty went to Wasps however good driving from the lineout turned the ball over and a Dickson break led to Varndell going in offside and Myler put the penalty in the corner. The lineout was cleanly taken and Rees Thomas had no legal option to stop the drive so decided to blatantly haul the maul down. With no hesitation David Rose, who is no fan’s favourite at Adams Park, awarded a penalty try and Thomas 10 minutes rest.

The restart was taken cleanly and Saints clearly showed their game plan by driving the maul 30 yards or more which again Wasps pulled down, however this time Wasps got the penalty from the lineout.

Elliot Daly grabbed a 50 yard penalty for Wasps but soon afterwards Saints were again awarded a penalty inside the Wasps half after Jamie Elliot was taken out without the ball. Again Myler ignored the posts and went for touch and again the Saints pack caught and rumbled, again Wasps collapse but this time Dickson, who played his best game in a long time, nipped off the back of the maul for a try. 12-3 to Saints after 16 minutes and it is clear to all that the catch and drive and rolling maul will be the primary Saints tactic. Unfortunately Wasps have a handy tactic of their own, it’s called chuck the ball to Varndell, who with casual ease skipped past the virtually redundant Wilson to score a converted try.

While the Saints forwards are controlling matters upfront it is painfully obvious that the poor freezing cold backs are not up to the task. Foden was clearly trying to counter attack and often made half breaks and some lovely offloads but more often than not there was no support which resulted in numerous disappointing turnovers, not something one should give away to a side like Wasps and thankfully it wasn’t a day for quick rugby.

Jones kicked another penalty although I think it was Swainston clearly and deliberately stamped on a prone Saints knee which as I understand is a straight red. Rose was on the other side of the ruck but I’m surprised the tmo didn’t call it.

Anyway despite the weather it was turning into an absorbing game and soon afterwards Saints were once again rumbling towards the Wasps line after yet another collapsed maul, line out, collapsed maul, yellow card for Palmer etc etc. You get the picture. Somehow through and under a ruck, Dylan’s head and arms emerged, apparently with the ball, and after deliberation a try was awarded. Cue unhappy Wasps fans and baffled tv pundits. There was no way anybody could see the ball on tv, however Rose seemed happy that the try was scored so asked the “is there any reason why not” question. Try awarded, Myler converted and Saints take a 16-19 lead into half time.

The second half was a bit daunting considering the Wasps bench and the fact that almost half the game had been played against 14 men and only 3 points to the good. If Wasps can stop the Maul legally then the game is as good as lost as there is no other weapon in the Saints armoury. Talk about one trick ponies. How often have we complained about a lack of any sort of plan b? Would it bite us on the bum in the next 40 minutes?

Well it damn nearly did. After a bit of ping pong it looked like business as usual with Saints pinching a line out in their own 22 and rolling 40 yards, with Simpson hanging off Courtney’s arm, swinging fists like a demented marionette. I can see why he was angry at being held by Courts but it was Wasps who were penalized again. The customary boot to the corner failed to achieve the customary results ending in a knock on. The substitutions started on 49 minutes with Saints favourite Moooooj along with England trio Launchbury , Haskell and our Tom, all much better off from the lessons learnt in forward play from a superb and dominant Welsh pack, (Sorry, did I mention that already??) What Tom Mercy did wrong I fail to see and it was obviously the Mallinder game plan, however it backfired as the scrum penalty went to Wasps.

Unfortunately Dickson, who had a storming game, went off with a very dubious looking eye injury. I do not know where or how it happened but knowing the history of this fixture I’m sure Dylan will get blamed and banned for it!!!

Then came the part of the game that as Saints fans we know will always come. You know the bit I mean. The knock ons, the missed tackles, the penalty count rising, the desperate reversal of fortune which can make or break a team. Wasps were soon winning every breakdown and eventually after some solid defence Daly skipped past some woeful tackling to score in the corner. Saints fans will claim he put his foot in touch, I say Wasps deserved the score having seemingly weathered the storm. With 20 minutes to go Wasps were leading 24-19 and when Myler missed a chance to claw back 3 points after a Vunipola shoulder tackle things were looking bleak. A lifeline was thrown on 73 minutes when Myler again kicked to the corner and this time Ashley Johnson was binned for bringing the maul down but Wasps got the penalty after some indifferent attacking lines and it seemed that the game was slipping away. If this was the Gardens I can see the slow stream of fans starting to meander out. Heads begin to drop and StBleach turns his tv off. What we need is some serious leadership and some old fashioned grunt. With mere minutes to go Wasps thwart another attack however Vunipola is caught offside from the box kick, again a decision that infuriates Wasps fans and in a final throw of the dice Myler kicks for the 22. The catch from Dowson and the drive is good but Wasps give a final effort and the maul crabs sideways, in a way good for the Saints as it brings them in line with the posts. A secondary shove, the clock turns red, Hartley through the middle but is stopped 2 yards out, under the posts and all hands to the pumps for Wasps. Did I say we needed leadership? Dylan seems to grab Christian Day who has picked up off the base and in a surge of green like the bursting of the Mohne Dam, pulls him over the line to flop down for the score. Again Wasps fans are incensed as it may be said that Dylan was in effect acting as a block however as a Saints fan I say it was a top notch decision by Rose, a man who I would argue was probably not out on the pop in High Wycombe last night. Myler converts and Saints come away from Adams Park with the win and 5 points. A satisfactory end to thrilling Game and finished off in customary squeaky bottom style.

My thoughts? Well the game was won with one tactic alone. 5 Points is great against a team fighting for 4^th place and unbeaten at home, but that tactic will not beat Tigers next week who know a thing or two about mauling themselves. The backs have to join in the game at some stage and apart from some good tactical work from Myler and great bossing and energy from Dickson, only Pisi stood out for his first up tackling. Dylan got mom but as he said in the interview afterwards it should be for all the forwards.

For now, we are 4^th place with 4 games to go and our destiny still in our own hands. I would have bitten your hand off if you had offered me that after the Gloucester match, another good away win and Tigers at home next week. All yours Serious..

The Man of the Match says:

News Wasps v Saints a game of two halves (almost!)

Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)

Date: 24/03/2013 20:17

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:03:24:20:19:54 by St Marlowe.