News: AP: London Welsh vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview

By PelerinStJames
April 11 2013

Northampton saints travel to Oxford this weekend to face a London Welsh side hanging on by their finger-nails to their premiership status. A full-bloodied encounter awaits and regular COYSDC contributor, PelereinStJames, looks ahead to the game...

LONDON WELSH vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

AP: Sunday, 14th April 2013 - 3pm

KASSAM STADIUM, OXFORD

MATCH PREVIEW

Onwards to Oxford

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the passing of another season sans silverware in St James, and one in which the legend that is St Paul fell from Grayce. It has been a time that began with such great hope and success, yet faded in the dark winter months, before the green, black and gold shoots of recovery sprang forth in the New Year, only to be trampled into the ground by the Tigers who came to tea. For many, it would seem that the season died with this defeat on Easter Saturday, and with it any hope of success.

Much has been made (quite rightly) of the plans for next year, yet, dear friends, spring is the season of rebirth, of new growth and of the renewal of faith and whilst I can appreciate that much of the news and development coming out of the club is focussing on next year, please do not let us write of this season just yet. I am sure the players haven’t. Despite everything, opportunity still exists, and our destiny still lies very much in our own hands. As someone once said, #whynotus?

It is true that the GBG machine has kind of coughed and spluttered its way to this point, but with 3 games to go, we are lying in 4^th place, with a play off place beckoning should we win the remaining fixtures. It is certainly not yet time to write off this campaign, and perhaps given the extra rest periods of no European rugby, the boys will be in far better shape than previous years for the resurrection of the Saints season, and the march to glory. Indeed, There is a very recent precedent for a team finishing fourth to win the play offs and seal success with a Tonga’uiha try…..just ask this week’s opponents, London Welsh.

Looking in from the outside at London Welsh, one cannot help but admire them for their recent achievements, and also their proud history. No club has produced more British and Irish Lions than Welsh, while they have also provided 126 players for Wales. However, since the glory days of the 1960’s and 1970’s, and the advent of the league system, they have found themselves playing as low as Division 5 South, before returning back up the ladder to the second tier all as an amateur club, in administration in 2009, and then embroiled in a legal battle with the RFU to seal their place in the Premiership last year…..and we think we have had a roller coaster ride over the years!

So far this season, they have beaten Sale, Exeter, Bath and London Irish, and run several other clubs (including Saints) close as they endeavour to survive in the top flight. Sadly the loss of 5 points for fielding an ineligible player has now left them 8 points behind Sale and safety, but what we can expect is a highly motivated and desperate London Welsh side to take the field in Oxford, as nothing other than a victory in their penultimate home game will suffice in their survival bid. I think we can expect to see former Saint Daniel Browne to be in their side, along with former internationals Gordon Ross and Sonny Parker in the back line.

As for the Saints, well, your guess is as good as mine! With the players all rested, and seemingly few injuries other than Calum Clark and Dom Waldouck, I would expect the team not to be changed much and to be as follows.

15 Foden

14 Wilson

13 G Pisi

12 May

11 Elliott

10 Myler

9 Dickson

1 Tiny

2 Hartley

3 Mercey

4 Day

5 Lawes

6 Manoa

7 Wood

8 van Velze

With only 3 games to go, and still everything to play for, a win this weekend is paramount to maintain any title ambitions and also to regain the confidence lost last time out. Naturally, playing any side under the threat of relegation at this time of year is going to be difficult, but I would like to think that this Saints side has enough in it to win fairly comfortably. That said, London Welsh are full of surprises, passion and fight, so I am going with Northampton to be kept in check for the first half by a spirited Welsh display, a post half time wobble before Saints pull away in the last quarter to win 26 – 19.

So onwards to Oxford it is, and if Saints are to mount a challenge for the title, it means us having to continue to win away from the Gardens. For whatever reason, this may be a blessing in disguise, and where better to start than at The Kassam Stadium on Sunday.

Come on you Saints.

News: AP: London Welsh vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview

Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)

Date: 11/04/2013 14:16

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