News: HC: Castres Olympique vs Northampton Saints - Preview
By sometime lurker
October 10 2013
The Aviva Premiership takes a back seat for the next couple of weeks as Northampton Saints embark on their 2013/4 European adventure, travelling to France to face Castres in the first round of pool matches in this season's Heineken Cup. COYSDC contributor, sometime lurker, takes a look ahead to Saints' trip across the English Channel...
CASTRES OLYMPIQUE vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
HC: Saturday, 12th October 2013 - 3.40pm (UK) (Sky Red Button)
STADE PIERRE-ANTOINE, CASTRES
MATCH PREVIEW
Having volunteered to write this preview (for reasons I shall explain at the end) I realised there was very little that could be said about a Saints-Castres match that hadn’t been said before. Somewhat unbelievably, this is the 4th straight year that we’ve been grouped with the southern French outfit, leaving me wonder exactly what part of the “random draw” is actually random.
So, beyond the usual, what’s changed since last year? Obviously Castres won the T14 championship last season, beating Toulon and little Johnny in the process, but their form this season has been patchy at best, seeing them lying a lowly 11th in the league table with 4 wins from 9. They had a few leavers and joiners in the off season, possibly most notably Richie Gray joining from Sale Sharks, but I’m really struggling to say anything else about them.
By the same token what can I say about Saints that hasn’t already been said? Well……. to be honest I think the media have got well ahead of themselves when it comes to us. I think we’re pretty obviously a work in progress, and there’s a lot still to come, but for my money the most promising thing is how well players are adjusting to having a proper attack coach. There’s obviously a different dynamic to our general play, and you can almost see it evolve match by match. If we could just figure out how to get the ball to George North more we might be a truly terrifying prospect.
My predicted Saints team:
1 – Corbs
2 – Dylan
3 – Mercey
4 – Daisy
5 – Lawes
6 – Wood
7 – Clark
8 – Dickinson
9 – Dickson
10 – Myler
11 – North
12 – Burrell
13 – Pisi
14 – Elliott
15 – Foden
No idea on the French – they played a 3rd XV last weekend apparently, so probably none of that lot.
Finally, a word of caution/warning to all travellers this weekend. I shall be travelling to Toulouse and Castres this weekend for my stag do, in the company of 5 people of uncertain character, so I would very much like to apologise in advance to any and all that we offend, mortally or otherwise. Also, if you happen to see a group of six, including an orange Welshman with very white teeth (my best man), two Cornish Pirates, two blokes who don’t really like rugby, and someone who looks like he desperately wants to be wearing a Saints shirt but has probably been done up like a kipper in a Tiggers shirt, please have pity on me!
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Enjoy SL and safe travels to all I am not in the least jealous.
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