News: ERCC: Northampton Saints vs Scarlets - Match Preview
By HRsaints fan
November 12 2015
After a stuttering start to the Premiership season, all eyes turn to European competition as Northampton Saints welcome Scarlets to Franklin's Gardens in round one of the pool fixtures in the 2015/16 European Rugby Champions Cup. HRsaints fan (David to his mates) takes a comprehensive look ahead to the game...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SCARLETS
ERCC: Saturday, 14th November 2015 - 7.45pm (BT)
POOL THREE, MATCH ONE
FRANKLIN'S GARDENS, NORTHAMPTON
MATCH PREVIEW
So after the fun and games of the start of the Aviva Premiership it is back to the second season of the Champions Cup Rugby with a visit from the Scarlets in what will be the second of the Pool 3 games (Racing and Glasgow having kicked off earlier in the day).
However I cannot start this preview without considering the events of last Saturday afternoon (as they undoubtedly impact on this forthcoming game as far as Saints are concerned) and so I trust that the Editors will permit me to post some personal thoughts.
My mate Colin, his son and his son’s best mate (who is a Saracens fan) came to the game on Saturday and were really looking forward to it. Colin got hooked with Saints rugby after ‘borrowing’ mine and the wife’s tickets for a couple of games last season and although he can’t commit to a full season ticket I know that he intends to try to come to more games this season. I haven’t managed to catch up with him after Saturday but, if I were him, I might be rethinking that strategy after the quality of rugby that was served up before us.
I have tried to recognise that conditions underfoot were not good and that this did affect the game. I have tried to be generous in recognising that it is not primarily the away team’s responsibility to produce attacking rugby. I have tried not to be affected by the fact that some delightful human being took exception to me parking my car perfectly legally on the public highway and keyed both the passenger and driver’s doors (that has nothing to do with the rugby but it didn’t help my general mood one bit!). Nevertheless having read the majority, if not all, of the reports from the mainline press there is common agreement that it was Saracen’s suffocating defence that was the major factor in this result coupled with, sadly, Saints inability to break through the blue line that stretched out across the pitch; a blue line which gave Mrs HR Saintsfan the distinct impression that Saracens were fielding three more players than us. As Ryan Lamb – late of this Parish – pointed out in an article in this week’s Rugby Paper, Saracens game plan is to never play out of their own half but to always kick.
If you are an avid admirer of the skill it takes to organise a team to defend like this and for the team to be able to undertake it in the game itself (and let us acknowledge that it does take skill to do both) then fine. And if you believe that the way to win rugby games is to suffocate the life out of the opposition rather than play an attack minded game then – possibly – that is also okay. However, for me, that is simply not what the game is all about. It is a sport that can, as we have all seen at the Rugby World Cup, produce a wonderful spectacle for spectators and fans alike. The Oxford English Dictionary states that sport is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment” and entertainment is “the action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment”.
And therein lies the problem. Saracens have developed a methodology of playing that uses a primary weapon of a superbly well organised defence and a kick and chase game that is very, very effective, and extremely hard to play against. But if anyone out there thinks that it produces any form of amusement and enjoyment for the paying punters then they are living on a different planet to the one that I occupy. I also think that Mark McCall was being a little bit disingenuous by implying that they had to play this way last Saturday because of the conditions; no Mark, this is how you seem to be playing rugby these days. You did it back in the Premiership Final against what was arguably the most attack-minded team in the league (and it worked). You did it against us in the play-off semi final (and it worked) and I think that you will continue to do it because it wins you games. But forgive me in not standing up and applauding the manner in which you achieve the results.
Now before I get shot down by those who would say that this is merely sour grapes because we lost (and, in my opinion, deserved to lose) or a reaction to having to fork out a couple of hundred pounds to get the two offside doors of my car body-worked and resprayed, I would respond by saying that on a number of occasions when we have been beaten at home by a better side I for one have “enjoyed” the attacking skill that has been employed in beating us. The Leinster game a couple of seasons back springs to mind. The speed of foot, thought and handling that went into the tries that won Leinster the game were of such quality that you could only admire it (even with teeth firmly gritted).
I personally long to see rugby served up and down the country that is both entertaining and high on skill. What I witnessed on Saturday will only drive the Colin’s of this world towards using his well earnt money to watch another sport that is actually enjoyable and entertaining. I know that my personal views will matter not one jot to the Saracens coaches, team and fans, but I would like to think that I am not alone in holding them. Surely the English Professional rugby community needs to pick up on where the RWC left off, and realise that what is going to bring people pouring through the gates to watch Premiership Rugby is not teams whose primary objective is to stop the other teams from scoring (and who benefit from a scoring system that relies too much on penalty points) but teams that play exciting, attacking, skilful rugby?
Okay – personal rant over - time to look forward to next Saturday.
As the first round of games in Pool 3 of this season’s European Rugby Champions Cup we welcome to Franklins Gardens the Scarlets who, unlike Saints, are enjoying a good start to their domestic season. They have played seven games (four home and three away) and their winning streak only ended away at Leinster last Friday night. They are playing, according to all accounts, with assurance and confidence and certainly from my clandestine viewing of their fans forum, they believe that they have a very good chance of turning us over.
The last time we hosted Scarlets at Franklins Gardens was on 18 November 2011 in an evening game that was part of the 2011-2012 Heineken Cup. That was the game where, if memory serves, George Pisi played full back and had a mare of a game, and also where another George (North) was involved in two tries for Scarlets that saw them come away with a 28-23 win. Saints did get revenge at their place but it was too little too late and we finished third to Munster and Scarlets in Pool 1 (Scarlets going on to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Challenge Cup but losing in the quarter finals to Brive).
The Scarlets record in the old Heineken Cup is not one to write home about though. In the last season of that particular tournament (2013-2014) they came third in Pool 4 winning only 2 of their 6 games. A similar picture emerged for the ERCC last season when they finished bottom of Pool 3 with, again, only 2 wins (Toulon topping that group).
But their start to this season is impressive and, by all accounts, they probably could have come away with a win against Leinster last Friday but indiscipline allowed Madigan to kick Leinster to victory in a second half dominated by the home team. They will not be an easy opponent for Northampton at the start of the 2015-2016 European season.
So what of Saints?
Well on Saturday as I watched the turgid dross in front of us I was reminded of Albert Einstein’s famous quote about insanity as “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”. On this basis for the duration of the Saracens game the whole of the Saints team (players and coaches alike) were completely barking. I was concerned when I read Tom Vickers comments in the Northampton Chronicle when he stated that in 2015 Saints have lost 10 out of 22 games in all competitions, and that this is more than we lost in the whole of 2014 with seven games of 2015 still remaining. So in my humble little opinion something has got to change. We also seem to have relied on playing in a certain style for some time now and it seems that teams have worked us out. We need variety and some nous on the field to work out when things are working and, perhaps more importantly, when they are not. Again, from our dear mate Albert, “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”. So if A. Einstein is correct our coaches and senior players need to start considering whether our game style needs adaptation and, if so, to what.
There is of course the other side to that argument that the Saints game plan does work but it requires the players to produce a faster, better, and more skilful version of it than the one that has been seen thus far this season.
So regardless of my personal views expressed above I think it unlikely that there will be much change of the Saints game plan either for the forthcoming game against Scarlets or beyond that. Undoubtedly if we play as poorly as we have done recently then we will probably get beaten. In terms of understanding how our opponents may approach the game, there may be some assistance from former Scarlet George North but far more recently JJ Hanrahan has played a part in both of Munster’s games against Scarlets in last Season’s Pro12. He scored 12 points from the boot to record a 17-6 win for Munster in October 2014 followed by a late try to secure a 25-25 draw in February of this year. However I am sure that the primary focus for the team in training this week will not be what Scarlets are going to do, but on doing what Saints need to do (but a lot better).
On a positive note I think that a change of competition could do us no end of good. I certainly think that Scarlets will not present the same problems that we faced against Saracens (although they are a good side defensively as well as in attack). That being said we need to see a marked improvement in delivery and execution from all of the Saints players. One thing that was heartening was the fact that, up front, I thought we competed extremely well against Saracens. However I have fingers and various other extremities crossed that Calum will be available for selection as I think we have sorely missed his breakdown skills and his general ferocity across the park. I am not sure whether Alex Corbisiero or Courtney Lawes will be available for selection. There are others who probably deserve a start, or at least a place on the bench. I would like to see Teimana Harrison given a start at some point rather than just plying his wares for the last 10 to 15 minutes of a game. Tom Stephenson has always impressed me and he seems to have the ability to break the first line of defence (something that was desperately missing on Saturday). I would love to see him link up with JJ at some point. However I think that the coaches will probably stick with the experience of George Pisi for this particular game and so on this basis I think the likely team will be:-
15 Ben Foden
14 Ken Pisi
13 George Pisi
12 Luther Burrell
11 George North
10 Stephen Myler
9 Lee Dickson
1 Waller (A)
2 Dylan Hartley
3 Keiran Brookes
4 Christian Day
5 Michael Paterson
6 Calum Clarke
7 Tom Wood
8 Sam Dickinson
and a bench of Waller (E), Hill, Haywood, Gibson, Harrison, Foutali’i, Hanrahan, and Tuala or Stephenson.
It’s a different competition and a different team we are up against than we would normally face and, based on the current form of both teams, it has the potential to be another difficult night for Saints. Plus there is the obvious fact that to stay in what is an extremely tough competition you must win your home games – something that has caused Saints problems in the past. Nevertheless I am, despite all of my comments above, surprisingly optimistic about this game (no, don’t ask – I have absolutely no idea why...!). I am hopeful that this competition, coming as it does at a time when Saints desperately need to rediscover their mojo, could kick-start a lacklustre season into action. Saints by 5.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:11:12:12:11:20 by Phil..
So sorry to hear about the damage to your car though.
I'd like to share your optimism if I may re the kick start to Saints season. Let's hope so.
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Tetleys Block F E143
We'll just end up with an academy devoloping players for other clubs... not good
Wingers were wasted last week so hopefully George is geed up and on fire.
Re your team, Calum told us on Saturday he's out for 2 months.
Changing too many people won't work. We have to get the lethargy out of Saints, get some confidence and push on. As always the crowd have a big job to do. Full FG, night game, new competition. Bring it on.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:11:12:18:10:25 by tedge.
Tedge, couldn't have put it any better
Play Dickson and Myler we can forget any progress in Europe.
If we are worried about Scarlet's at home we really are likely to struggle in Europe this year with Racing and Glasgow to come.
Scarlets will be a totally different proposition. We will see a game of rugby Saturday. Lets just hope saints are playing most of it. I fear that we still miss the qualities that Calum and Courtney bring to the squad. If, as a result scarlets get enough quality ball, we could see them running wide of our narrow defence. Saints need to rediscover winning ways very soon otherwise this will become a long season.
Saint 'til I die
Quote:SaintMaul
Sorry to hear about your car.
If we are worried about Scarlet's at home we really are likely to struggle in Europe this year with Racing and Glasgow to come.
How much of a threat do you think the Scarlets are? I'm interested to hear what peoples genuine views are? If the Scarlets were in the Aviva, where do you think we would be placed so far this season?
My only comment would be, if experience of your opposition counts for anything then JJ should be in the starting 15 due to his time at Munster.
First time I've ever been right !
As for Scarlets, and their relative prowess as an AP team, who can say? Comparisons are invidious, and we won't get much of a clue from a Champions Cup game, because tactics are different, it's a group contest, not a league contest, and there are probably other variables that I haven't thought of.
What I do know is that David and Albert are dead right in their summation of last week's grim fare. We have to do something different, as well as doing what we should do better than we have been.
I'm thinking particularly of our own defence against the high ball, which we will have to field in a gale tomorrow night, our own ability to CHASE our own garryowens, and our execution of the driving maul - we must do all these things better.
On top of that, we need to be 10 X faster at the breakdown, and much more accurate with our restarts.
These things are basics, and we haven't been doing them consistently well enough.
If we get them right, we will have quicker ball, not just more possession, and the game will open up for us.
Then, all we need, is for Scarlets to have an off day
*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*