News: CC: Ospreys vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview

By PelerinStJames
January 15 2015

The Aviva Premiership takes a back seat for a few weeks as this weekend attention turns to the last two rounds of the pool stage of this season's European Rugby Champions Cup. Northampton Saints travel to South West Wales in Round Five to take on Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday and esteemed COYSDC contributor PelerinStJames takes a look ahead to the match...

OSPREYS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

CC: Sunday, 18th January 2015 - 5.30pm (BT)

LIBERTY STADIUM, SWANSEA

MATCH PREVIEW

At The Drop of a Hat

“The English, The English are best, so up with the English and down with rest” A Song of Patriotic Prejudice, Michael Flanders & Donald Swann

As a child growing up in the late 70’s / early 80’s, I would normally watch the 5 nations with my father. Obviously, the Welsh always beat the English, and the room would fill the harmonious hymns and arias emanating from the Television Set in the corner. Of course we could acknowledge the Welsh skills and talents as we poked fun back at Max Boyce and the numerous giant Leeks and Daffodils interspersed in the crowd, however Dad would also regularly remind me in my boyhood despair of my Nations defeat of the above lyric, written, as the esteemed duo themselves would point out in prior to singing it, “for every true and right minded Englishman because The Welsh, Scots and Irish all have their own songs, and what do the English have….. Jerusalem”.*

(* For the uninitiated of you and for any avoidance of doubt, F&S were a comedy double act in the 1950’s-60’s writing humorous songs and, gently poking fun at most things in the modern world as they saw it. Inevitably, times have changed and not all their lyrics resonate in the 21st century, however, it should be noted that the Saracens play book in Dr Venters’ early years was based in its entirety on another of their songs “In the Desert”).

However back to this weekend and with Saints travelling down to Swansea as English Champions and top of the English Premiership, to meet the Ospreys currently flying high at the top of the Pro12, we once again have the perfect opportunity to see who is better: The Best of the English or the Best of the Welsh. As it happens, in the respective domestic leagues, each side has a near identical record of P13 W10 L3, although the Saints have managed 4 more bonus points, but Europe has told a different story. Saints again, sit on at the top of the group with 15 points (P4 W3 L1), just ahead of the Parisians, Racing Metro on 14. Ospreys come slightly further behind on 8, with only the slimmest hopes of qualification, following a home draw with Metro, and losses away in Paris, and also at Northampton in Round 2.

Now, it should be noted that on that day at FG, 26 of the 40 points scored were scored by Welshmen, which in turn does lend significant weight to the argument that the English are not, in fact, best. Fortunately for the Saints nation, 20 of those points were scored by one George North, Northampton’s very own boyo. One can only wonder what sort of welcome there will be for George in the Valleys this weekend.

There are really too many permutations to consider given the complexity of the 3 best runners up qualification rules, however, 2 wins in the remaining 2 games will most definitely ensure Saints go through as group winners and a very strong chance of a Home Quarter Final. And this is why getting a result down at the Liberty Stadium is of so much importance. Of course, that is easier said than done. As we witnessed last week, shorn of our stock of locks, our set pieces become de-powered and we start to struggle. At time of writing I have no idea which if any of Lawes, Daisy, and Craig will be fit, but if I have translated one of Samu’s tweets correctly he is back in the country following his compassionate leave. Of course, whether he is willing/able to play is another matter, and the man deserves as much time as he needs before returning to the team. In the front row, Salesi Ma’afu is due an (enforced) break on the naughty step only just vacated by Dylan who is available for action once more.

My best guestimate for our pack would be (but what do I know!)...

1. Corbisiero

2. Hartley ©

3. Denman

4. Lawes (fingers crossed)

5. Dickinson or Day (fingers crossed again)

6. Clark

7. Wood

8. Manoa (everything else crossed)

Behind them, I would then expect to see

9. Dickson

10. Myler

11. North

12. Burrell

13. Pisi G

14. Pisi K

15. Foden

Now, as I understand it, Ospreys too have many injury problems in their pack with a number of props out injured and recent signing Dan Lydiate not registered to play. That said, number 8 Morgan Allen is reporting fit again to bolster the ranks. Of course, what won’t be lacking in the Ospreys XV is the desperate desire to beat the English, that added impetus that always seems to fire up the Dragon as whenever it meets the Rose. Red against White always seems to bring the best out of our celtic cousins, (or in this case Black against Green, presumably) and it is for this reason that I am anticipating a pretty ferocious game on Sunday; The Best of the Pro 12 v the Best of the Premiership.

The question remains to be seen as to which pack will be most depleted, and it is on the set pieces that this game hinges for me. If Saints have some locks available, then I would expect us to win enough ball and territory to win the game; otherwise, Stephen Myler and his fellow backs need to be at their sharpest and most clinical to take whatever chances come their way and build the score that way.

To be honest, I have no idea which way this will go, heart says Saints, head says not! Never write off the Welsh, my memories tell me that, despite Michael and Donalds’ protestations, us English are not always the best, particularly where Rugby is concerned. All I can do is wish for a great game of rugby and hope that the best team does, indeed, win.

News: CC: Ospreys vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview

Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)

Date: 15/01/2015 13:11

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