News: AP: Northampton Saints vs London Irish - Match Preview
By St Dom
April 16 2014
Northampton Saints welcome London Irish to Franklin's Gardens on Easter Sunday with the home side looking for a much-needed Aviva Premiership win as they continue to strive for a home Play-Off semi-final. COYSDC stalwart, St Dom, takes a look ahead to the game...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs LONDON IRISH
AP: Sunday, 20th April 2014 - 2pm (BT)
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS, NORTHAMPTON
MATCH PREVIEW
Ah, well now, it's time for the craic, the crack of skull against skull, skill against skill.
Every time I think of the London Irish-ish, I think of the way they annihilated us in the first half of that Powergen Cup at Twickenham in 2002. I remember the 'good' Dr Venter trying to throttle Matt Dawson, and getting away with it. I remember the players walking off at HT, arguing amongst themselves, Budge and Daws having a go at each other. I think of the times Everett kicked us to oblivion and also of the shock among players and supporters when they took us apart last season, 39-17.
So, what can we expect of the LI team that crushed Newcastle Falcons last week, scoring 40 points in the first half?
But note this: Deano said stern words at HT and not one single point was scored by either team in the second half...
The Not-Nots (to give them their more familiar name - not London, not Irish) have got some real stars in their squad. Saints should be a little wary about the likes of Blair Cowan, George Skivington, Tomás O'Leary, Andy Fenby, Topsy Ojo and... Shane Geraghty! Yes, Shane is much developed from the player we knew and loved (too little). He has shown he can defend and kick and - although he still passes to his invisible friend - he creates more than he crashes. Watch him perform, you won't be disappointed.
And let me not forget to mention Sailosi Tagicakibau, Ofisa Treviranus, Marland Yarde and Bedford old boy, Miles Dorrian.
Then there is the Antipodean O'Connor, who went off injured last week. He is the most skilful and threatening player they have, but if he doesn't show, they may bring back the equally prolific scorer Tom Homer, who could match last week's tormentor Bosch. Young Homer can kick from anywhere and his homing device has served the team well. We must not give away penalties. Watch out, Saints - Deeseeppleen, as our Argentinian compadre used to say: discipline is everything.
Penalties can destroy.
Let's have another look at Blair Cowan, because he is the danger man in the LI setup. He is a Kiwi by birth, although qualified for Scotland, and his cousin has played for Australia. What do these little accidents of birth matter, anyway? This guy can play anywhere in the back row, 6, 7 or 8 and he scores tries with impunity. Declan Danaher and the (almost) ageless Bob Casey may have retired, but this fellow can be a real pain in the erse!
To sum up, London Irish can never be underestimated, never patronised. They have some flying wingers, some tough old campaigners and some fierce attacking intent among their squad; and they are never more dangerous than when they have nothing to play for...
Who shall be the Saints on Sunday to repel these marauding Irish? My strategy is to pick the players I believe are nailed-on certainties and simply leave guesses for those who may have something to prove to Jim Malinder and his colleagues.
Christian Day may be injured, also James Craig, so Samu Manoa may be required in the second row. George Pisi also may be injured, or needing a rest, so Luther and JW could be the centres pairing, numbers immaterial.
Not sure of fitness and whereabouts of Collins and Stevenson, and Tom Mercey...
We know Waldouck, Corbisiero and Dylan are recovering from injury.
So, here we go:
15 Ben Foden
14 Ken Pisi / Jamie Elliott
13 James Wilson
12 Luther Burrell
11 George North
10 Smyler - who else?
9 Kahn Fotuali'i
8 Sam Dickinson
7 Ben Nutley
6 Tom Wood (CAPTAIN)
5 Chris Day, James Craig / Samu Manoa
4 Courtney Lawes
3 Salesi Ma'afu / Tom Mercey
2 Mikey Haywood
1 Alex Waller / Alex Corbisiero
REPLACEMENTS
Selection from: Samu Manoa, Calum Clark, G-J van Velze, Ross McMillan, Ethan Waller, Gareth Denman, Phil Dowson, Lee Dickson, George Pisi, Will Hooley, Lee Dickson.
Dominic Newbould
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re Tom Collins - he was warming up with the squad on Sunday pretty full on, but not sure he will get near the squad.
is your back row expectation, or hope or, heaven forbid, playing to the forum crowd
?Fullback is a toughie. Ben isnt playing well. Will playing every game help him rediscover his spark? I'd be tempted to see how Ben goes but if he continues in the same vein to use Wilson v Bath.
Luther is also not at his best. Stephenson at centre. We could have used his creativity against Sarries.
Ken Pisi on the wing for Jamie who looks out of sorts.
Kahn for Lee. Our kick chase improved considerably when Kahn came on against Sarries.
Nutley for Wood because he deserves his chance.
Craig for Lawes so Courtney is raring to go come the semi final.
It sends a message that no player's position is guaranteed and the form and performances of the players mentioned above deserve the chance.
Or we flog the jaded internationals in every game to the semi-final hoping they rediscover their fire and form which may work or just a likely see an knackered team bow out at the semi-finals.
This is where Jim really earns his money. Not an easy call at all.
Saints do have very good replacements in most positions so yes, it would be wise to consider them as starters and see how they go, and if necessary sub them for the big guns later to press home any advantage Saints may gain throughout the match.
That's just my humble opinion and in no way reflects a solution to the dip in form Saints have shown these past few weeks.
I would hate to be a selector and don't envy Jim and Nobby's job at all.
As I've said in another thread, I'll be there on Sunday giving the team all the support I can.
Per Ardua Ad Astra
There are so many variables: form, fitness, injuries, player positions and, of course, Jim's game plan. I'm down in sunny Porthcawl at the moment, thinking more about golf than rugby, but down here people are asking about George North and I've had to say that I don't even know if he will be picked as a starter...
In the back row, my preference would be for Nutters to get a start, because I see him as a traditional and highly effective open side flanker. And he doesn't seem to bleed penalties as often as Calum does. Tom W is an enforcer, not (to my mind) a 7 or 8. Sam D is a genuine 8 and carries the ball as well as anyone in the club.
But Calum and Samu are indispensable, too - both international class back-row bruisers. And, as I've been told many times, traditional roles in the back row are less important than finding a balance, and whatever numbers players carry on their backs, they have to perform all those roles at various times in the game. I don't have any answers - just more questions.
The team seem to be out of sorts at the moment, playing in fits and starts. I think the reasons for that have to do with the interruptions caused by the autumn internationals and the 6N - eventually, they took their toll. But more recently, injuries to Smyler and Dylan have diminished the team effort considerably.
It was never more true than now: this is a team game, and the team has to be more than just the sum of its parts.
Come noon on Friday, I shall be perched on the edge of my stool (in the bar at Royal Porthcawl), waiting for that all-important team selection. In the past, Jim has tended to be relatively conservative, but what will he do this time? We have lost three on the trot, so it's time for drastic action - or to be cool under fire. Who knows?
*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*
It's going to interesting at midday to see the squad announcement and to see if Jim meant what he said in the Chron.
Per Ardua Ad Astra