Northampton Saints Versus Bath

By Bonso
September 26 2014

Franklins Gardens - Saturday, 27th September 2014 Saturday sees the visit of our friends from Bath, always a match to look forward to and this years is no exception. Regular contributor, Bonso, takes a look at what we have in store.

Firstly Bath will want revenge for that night in Cardiff, secondly they will regard this as a benchmark for their continued development, and last but no means least they will want to prove that their demolition of the darkside last week was no flash in the pan. One thing is for sure this Bath team will not die wondering with a wealth of talent in the forwards and the backs. Any lack of concentration or loose play and Bath on last week’s form will make the Champions suffer (how good did it feel to write that). However starve them of ball and kick intelligently and Bath might start to get edgy.

Of interest will be seeing how Ford handles the attentions of Messrs Lawes and Samoa. He will get hit playing as flat as he does but will he still keep coming and get his midfield moving, Saturday will tell. I do think that Ford at the moment is in a rather special place ball in hand. He also has some weapons outside himself with Joseph and Eastmond looking in fine shape and Rokoduguni looking rather handy as well. The potential match up with Burrell, Pisi x2, and North is looking rather spicy with all units possessing power guile and speed, but when you add the fullbacks into the mix advantage Saints whether Foden or Wilson starts which is not to demean Arscott who is a fine player.

Saints start has been mixed, firstly the joy and wonderment of the demolition of the Cherry and Whites followed by the frustration of the loss at Adams Park to a very smart Wasps team who took their chances well. Thing is the Wasps game was a game that Saints really should have won, impatience and lack of precision really hurting the champions (feels just as good second time). Falcons however encapsulated both Saints with brilliance and waste in equal measure. One thing is for sure I feel Northampton will have to be full on for the full 80 minutes on Saturday any less than that and Bath have the ability to hurt Saints.

As intriguing as the clash in midfield is liable to be the game will as always be decided in the tight. A clash of the Tight Uns you might say. No matter who gets the nod at tighthead and loosehead the meat in the sandwich will be Hartley fronting up to Webber with England selection brownie points at stake. Think this one might be a bit feisty. Moving on from this the lineout will also be intensely competitive with both teams having an impressive set piece and great competence on their own ball, however I think that Saints have more ability to pressure opposition ball. Generally though I think Saints will edge this with a well drilled and settled pack.

At half-back it will be difficult for Saints to rotate for this one with the great showing that Khan had against Falcons. His alert play being a real threat yet with Myler expected to be back the quicker service of Dickson might yet be called for. Now Myler might not be the threat that Ford is at the gain line, but his clever distribution and all-round vision is still superior I feel to the youngsters and tactically gives Saints the edge. This game might well come down to whichever fly-half gets his side in the right part of the pitch and takes the points when on offer.

So how will this end up at no side? Honestly I can’t call this both sides have had periods of sublime form, both sides appear to have no real weakness. Bath I understand have some injuries as do Saints. The breaker might be that Saints have less key injuries than Bath and a more settled squad. Prediction time Saints by 10.

On a sad footnote don’t forget to join in the applause celebrating the wonderfully lived and all too short life of Luis Ghaut prior to kick-off.

Northampton Saints Versus Bath

Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)

Date: 26/09/2014 19:07

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