News: LV= Cup: London Irish vs Northampton Saints - Preview
By SAINT_aitch
November 14 2013
Saints fans are currently pinching themselves at their teams run of form this season with only two losses and one draw from ten games (and we all know the controversy behind the Gloucester loss) and this with so many of our first choice team being called up for international duty recently too. It has been a real joy to see so many of our supporting players and academy youngsters getting a run out, showing real pride in the shirt and even a cocky wink to our International stars suggesting that they will need to impress to get their automatic place back in the starting line-up after their sabbatical.
LONDON IRISH vs. NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
LV= Cup: Sunday, 17th November 2013 - 3pm
MADEJSKI STADIUM, READING
MATCH PREVIEW
Saints have played all of the big boys in the Aviva Premiership this season and given a very good account of themselves with a bloody nose to Harlequins, Saracens and scaring Tiggers on their own turf too. Away in the Lager Cup we had a tough run in with the reigning Top 14 Champs, coming away second best but still in a good position for the return leg I feel. Yes, we appear to have a steam roller effect on all in our path, don’t we? This week we go back to the Madejski to play London Irish and frankly, so far this season, they are the only domestic team who have made a real fist of challenging the mighty Saints steamroller this season. London Irish got the better of us last season. Was that complacency, some team in-fighting was rumoured, perhaps lack of preparation allowed Irish to gain a much needed home win, or was it the exiles own bloody minded, strong willed determination that said ‘We shall not simply roll over and let you pass’? Either way, London Irish are proving to be a bogey team for Saints in recent seasons. Two weeks ago we only just came away with four points in the away league fixture, or the James O’Conner show as it has been referred to.
So, LV= Cup action continues and frankly with the current league positions and recent results for the two respective teams, I would expect London Irish to want the win this weekend more than we only because they need to boost their morale, and the LV= Cup is always a route into Europe for next season. That and the fact that their ‘pool mates’ in the LV= championship, Gloucester, and Dragons both lost last weekend, with Saracens getting a win (no surprise there) and leading the way in pool one. That said there are plenty of young Saints players enjoying their game at the moment who will make it hard for the exiles
Irish’ overall form has left a lot to be desired and their fans frustrated by any kind of momentum being gained. Their Amlin Challenge Cup campaign has provided two bountiful wins, but frankly this was to opposition teams that one would expect easy wins against. They will be up against Stade Francais in January with back-to-back home and away fixtures which will really define their European campaign for this season. Come through that with a home win and maybe an away LBP and who knows how far they could go in that campaign.
Of the ten games Irish have played this season, they have just four wins, two in the Aviva Premiership one of which was a very decent but close home win to Quins, and the other an away win to the current whipping boys, Wuss. Last weekend’s LV= Cup first round match saw Irish lose away to Newcastle for the second time in three weeks and whilst their team is depleted with some injury and well deserved England call up for Marland Yarde (who is now also crook) and other international call ups these results are indicative of Irish’ campaign this season although the mercurial Mr O’Connor didn’t make the team sheet for their trip to Newcastle. Perhaps he was still travelling around France chatting to club chairman and treasurers.
With the absence of some of their regular or high profile players, a number of new or younger players have stepped up. Tom Fowlie from the Irish academy on the wing seems to be stepping up to the plate with Yarde injured and the big Samoan centre Setaimata Sa making just his second appearance also looks an imposing figure. Ex Tigers academy Alex Lewington is also providing some points scoring options for them at the moment at full back whilst Mike Mayhew at hooker is doing some good scrimmaging and drive, with the experienced Matt Parr and Irish tight head Jamie Hagan giving their scrum a good bit of power supported by old stalwarts of the club such as Leo Halavatau, Declan Danaher and Blair Cowan in the forwards, and Shane Geraghty guiding his team sharing some of the captaincy duties.
Saints, on the other hand, have found a new drive, impetus, character, determination maybe a combination of all of these elements and should go into this Sunday’s game expecting a tough game, but one they have the ability and skills to win, especially if young Mr O’Connor is unavailable for selection for the home team as he definitely had an impact on the game two weeks ago. Some outstanding contributions in the last few weeks from the likes of The Waller Brothers, James Wilson, Dom Waldouck making a nice comeback, Glenn Dickson, Mikey Haywood, G.J. van Velze…frankly the list seems endless. They are all putting in excellent performances and rightly deserve the opportunity to start and it’s great to see that Jim has the difficult decision of who to start.
I will simply base the team on the guys that ran out last week as I haven’t heard of any injuries:
15. Wilson
14. Pisi (K)
13. Stephenson
12. Dom
11. Packman
10 G. Dickson
9. Glynn
1. A. Waller
2. Mikey
3. Mercey
4. Verbakel
5. Craig
6. Nutley
7. Harrison
8. G.J.
With the same substitute’s bench of:
McMillan, E Waller, Denman, Woolford, Williams, A Day, Olver, Artemyev
As for a score prediction, well I will go two ways here:
If James O’Connor plays for London Irish, then Saints will win by five.
If James O’Connor is not available, then Saints will win by fifteen.
There you go.
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Ken Pisi with Samoa, Vasily with Russia, hard to see Craig being fit.
I could see Collins/Elliott if fit, Digger and Calum Clark coming into that squad. If no Collins and Elliott, then Luther on the bench.
It's hard to predict our actual team but now we have a squad of players who are all capable of stepping into a 1st XV (unlike the last few years) so the fringe/younger players that get the nod will be pushing hard to get the coaches attention.
Given your strength in depth & sky high confidence, I'd expect a result similar to that of two weeks ago.
Hopefully the weather won't wash out the spectacle as our backs will be our relative strong point - no change there then!
Day for Glynn?
Waller for Waller?
Woolford for Craig?
Those would be my guesses as to the changes. 2 enforced. 1 rested. 1 promoted for an excellent performance.