Sunday, 23 January 2011
6 out of 6
The only team to win six out of six matches in the pool stages of the Heineken. Luckily today Toulouse fell to Wasps, which puts us at the top of the table and thus avoids a match with the Tigers at the moment.
Saturday, 22 January 2011
Castres - Saints
Entering the last match of the Heineken pool stages and the Saints are one of only teams so far unbeaten. This guaraatees that we are through to the quarter finals. But where we end up, and if we get a home game, depends on the match against Castres. It's away, and Castres have an incredibly good record at home, having beaten all the big French sides this season.
What emerges is a match that shows the Saints have got over their New Year blues. Both forwards and backs combine into a strong, instoppable, force. The scrum win the ball repeatedly, and then Fodes and Joe come into the line to give penetration. Smyler once again shows tactical understanding with penetrating kicks as well as fine distribution of the ball when running is the correct option. Smyler introduces more than the crash ball, including delayed passes, scissors, and floating balls. This keeps the opposition guessing and they can't come up with an answer.
The first try for the Saints comes from Joe. A great run from him sees him defeat four defenders before going over the line. The second try is again set up by Joe, who manages a great penetrating run. ALthough he possibly passes too early meaning that the ball ends up going down, it is recycled and Smyler makes the run for the line. Surprisingly at the last minute he passes to Dowse who goes over. Many think that Smyler could have gone over himself, but watching later it is likely he would have been tackled whereas his pass wrong foots the one remainding defender. The thirs try again invovles Joe. Deep in the Saints half Sorenson manages to get a turnover and the ball goes to Joe. He is tackled but manages to off-load. There then follows a juggling act up the field, no-one quite having full control of the ball, and Joe comes in again to take it after a wonderful backhand pass from Rabbit. Joe is tap tackled and can't keep his balance, he goes down, but off-loads to Fodes who then goes over.
Saints win.
What emerges is a match that shows the Saints have got over their New Year blues. Both forwards and backs combine into a strong, instoppable, force. The scrum win the ball repeatedly, and then Fodes and Joe come into the line to give penetration. Smyler once again shows tactical understanding with penetrating kicks as well as fine distribution of the ball when running is the correct option. Smyler introduces more than the crash ball, including delayed passes, scissors, and floating balls. This keeps the opposition guessing and they can't come up with an answer.
The first try for the Saints comes from Joe. A great run from him sees him defeat four defenders before going over the line. The second try is again set up by Joe, who manages a great penetrating run. ALthough he possibly passes too early meaning that the ball ends up going down, it is recycled and Smyler makes the run for the line. Surprisingly at the last minute he passes to Dowse who goes over. Many think that Smyler could have gone over himself, but watching later it is likely he would have been tackled whereas his pass wrong foots the one remainding defender. The thirs try again invovles Joe. Deep in the Saints half Sorenson manages to get a turnover and the ball goes to Joe. He is tackled but manages to off-load. There then follows a juggling act up the field, no-one quite having full control of the ball, and Joe comes in again to take it after a wonderful backhand pass from Rabbit. Joe is tap tackled and can't keep his balance, he goes down, but off-loads to Fodes who then goes over.
Saints win.
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Eurotable Standing
If you were to go on the Saints website at the moment and visit the forum then you could be forgiven for thinking that the Saints were languishing at the bottom of every competition possible. Certainly there is a lot of doom and gloom after losing two matches this season.
However, the Eurotable is back up after a hiatus. And it makes interesting reading. Yes, the Saints have dropped a position in the last two weeks. But this simply means that we are now in second rather than first place, topping all the other European clubs except for Toulouse.
Not a bad place to be!
However, the Eurotable is back up after a hiatus. And it makes interesting reading. Yes, the Saints have dropped a position in the last two weeks. But this simply means that we are now in second rather than first place, topping all the other European clubs except for Toulouse.
Not a bad place to be!
Friday, 14 January 2011
Saints 37 - Edinburgh 0
Not often these days that a team doesn't score anything. Norally there is at least a penalty in there. But this was a complete shut out from the Saints. Discipline was once again back to high standards adn defence was up to anything that Edinburgh could throw at them.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing was the 4 tries scored by Digger. He was helped with the third as Joe Ansbro had already crossed the line when he passed to Digger for Digger to score. That might seem strange but earlier in the match a pass from Joe was so off target that Digger had no chance of collecting it when he was on for an almost certain try, this time Joe is reported to have said "I owed you one". But the other three were well worked and came from good support play and rounded off a fine evening. That the last three tries came in the last 8 minutes of the game was just a bit of gold-dust to rub in the faces of those that leave early!
This result meant that the Saints maintained their 100% record in the Heineken and are the first team to qualify for the quarter finals. While there is now a good chance of a home draw it still depends on next weeks match at Castres as well as what happens in the other pools.
Scorers:
Saints - Tries: Mooj, Digger (4); Cons: Smyler (2), TinTin; Pens: Smyler (2)
Perhaps the most remarkable thing was the 4 tries scored by Digger. He was helped with the third as Joe Ansbro had already crossed the line when he passed to Digger for Digger to score. That might seem strange but earlier in the match a pass from Joe was so off target that Digger had no chance of collecting it when he was on for an almost certain try, this time Joe is reported to have said "I owed you one". But the other three were well worked and came from good support play and rounded off a fine evening. That the last three tries came in the last 8 minutes of the game was just a bit of gold-dust to rub in the faces of those that leave early!
This result meant that the Saints maintained their 100% record in the Heineken and are the first team to qualify for the quarter finals. While there is now a good chance of a home draw it still depends on next weeks match at Castres as well as what happens in the other pools.
Scorers:
Saints - Tries: Mooj, Digger (4); Cons: Smyler (2), TinTin; Pens: Smyler (2)
Saints vs Edinburgh
Two losses in a row. Tonight is therefore a really big match. With injuries to dicko, flash, long arm and TinTin it will also be a test of depth. 35 minutes until kick off. Tension mounting.
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Playing the Sax
Further recognition for the Saints today as Christian Day and Jon Clarke are called up into the Saxons squad ahead of the 6 Nations matches.
This is always a case of mixed emotions. Very pleased for them of course but this even further reduces the Saints squad. Time to see what strength in depth we have.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Tigers 27 - Saints 16
A second loss in a row, and not what the supporters have come to expect this season. However, the reality is that the teamgenerally played a lot better this time than at last weeks match against the Quins. In fact, had the Rabbit not panicked and gone to pieces at the line-out then it would likely have been a different story.
The game started well enough with Fodes scoring a try in the first two minutes. It looked good and the tempo was clearly going to be fast.
Discipline became a problem however, and this can be a real problem for the Saints. Give away penalties and you will be punished. Especially when you are playing against Toby Flood.
The real story was the line-out and Rabbits throw in technique. One of the key strengths of the Saints this seaon has been the line-out. By the end of this match though we had lost 6 off our own throw. That is probably more than we lost in all the other games put together. It is almost impossible to build a platform when you can't win a line out. Add to that Sorenson getting a yellow card in the last ten minutes of the match and that was it, game over.
Overall a game to reflect on and think about how it was thrown away despite some wonderful play.
Injury concerns for Long Arm (knee), Flash (thigh), and TinTin (face).
Scores:
Saints - Try: Fodes; Cons: Smyler; Pens: Smyler (3)
Tigers - Tries: Newby, Ayerza; Cons: Flood; Pens (5)
The game started well enough with Fodes scoring a try in the first two minutes. It looked good and the tempo was clearly going to be fast.
Discipline became a problem however, and this can be a real problem for the Saints. Give away penalties and you will be punished. Especially when you are playing against Toby Flood.
The real story was the line-out and Rabbits throw in technique. One of the key strengths of the Saints this seaon has been the line-out. By the end of this match though we had lost 6 off our own throw. That is probably more than we lost in all the other games put together. It is almost impossible to build a platform when you can't win a line out. Add to that Sorenson getting a yellow card in the last ten minutes of the match and that was it, game over.
Overall a game to reflect on and think about how it was thrown away despite some wonderful play.
Injury concerns for Long Arm (knee), Flash (thigh), and TinTin (face).
Scores:
Saints - Try: Fodes; Cons: Smyler; Pens: Smyler (3)
Tigers - Tries: Newby, Ayerza; Cons: Flood; Pens (5)
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Pizza Time
Still off school because of a teacher training day, Junior and I had to decide what to do to pass the time. After a morning shopping we decided the afternoon would be best spent at the cinema. Rather than go home I suggested that we had lunch at the Sixfields PizzaHut. Imagine our surprise when two Saints players came in, we didn't realise that this was one of their haunts. Then another joined. And gradually over the next 45 minutes the entire team turned up. It was a slice of heaven in the day, and I have to admit we made the pizza drag out a very long time. The manager may not have thought exactly the same thing as he clearly felt 25 rugby players descending on an all you can eat buffet was not exactly fair. With only half a dozen of them having arrived it already looked like a swarm of locusts, and Tiny walking in broke the camels back. The manager insisted that they had their own pizza rather than going up to the buffet. What was all the more intriguing though was that it appeared that Piggy Powell was paying for everyone. As we were settling up I asked the waitress if it was Piggys birthday. Oh no. Transpires that Piggy managed to miss a briefing over the Christmas period and this was his punishment. He did not look a happy bunny!
Saturday, 1 January 2011
Saints 13 - Quins 16
No bones about it, this was a terrible match. I partly blame Gloucester, missing a game may have taken some of the edge off the Saints players. maybe they were able to enjoy Christmas a bit too much. They certainly looked rusty.
The Saints defence was good. In reality the Quins never really looked like crossing the line. Their try was more a fluke from a ricochet off Danny Cares backside. But it came at a crucial time. The Saints had, almost unforgivably, failed to convert a two man advantage into points. The Quins came back to strength and had their tails up. It was enough for them.
Why do I say "almost unforgivably". Well the best play from the Quins came from the ten minutes that they were down to 13 men. They showed a level of tactical nowse that put the Saints to shame. They kept the ball almost the entire ten minutes. When they didn't have the ball they wound up the Saints team so much that we were giving away penalties and free kicks.
And while the Saints defence generally remained good, our attacking game was falling apart. Handling error after handling error saw opportunity after opportunity squandered.
This match should have been sown up at 50 minutes. Instead a home defeat. Painful, and not how I wanted to start the year.
Scorers:
Saints - Tries: Penalty; Cons: Smyler; Pens: Smyler, TinTin
Quins - Tries: Care; Cons: Evans; Pens: Evans (3)
The Saints defence was good. In reality the Quins never really looked like crossing the line. Their try was more a fluke from a ricochet off Danny Cares backside. But it came at a crucial time. The Saints had, almost unforgivably, failed to convert a two man advantage into points. The Quins came back to strength and had their tails up. It was enough for them.
Why do I say "almost unforgivably". Well the best play from the Quins came from the ten minutes that they were down to 13 men. They showed a level of tactical nowse that put the Saints to shame. They kept the ball almost the entire ten minutes. When they didn't have the ball they wound up the Saints team so much that we were giving away penalties and free kicks.
And while the Saints defence generally remained good, our attacking game was falling apart. Handling error after handling error saw opportunity after opportunity squandered.
This match should have been sown up at 50 minutes. Instead a home defeat. Painful, and not how I wanted to start the year.
Scorers:
Saints - Tries: Penalty; Cons: Smyler; Pens: Smyler, TinTin
Quins - Tries: Care; Cons: Evans; Pens: Evans (3)
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