Irish 20 - Saints 26

This was set up to be one o the most important matches of the Premiership season for the Saints. A loss would almost surely see the Saints to fail to make it to the top five and hence out of the Heineken next season. A win and fourth place with the play-offs was suddenly an attainable dream. No wonder Jim had rested a lot of the team for the Gloucester match during the week (there is something wrong with a structure that meant 4 matches in 14 days, it is too easy for teams to cancel a match because of weather). Was it going to be enough?

Rather than a game of two halves this was a game of 60 minutes vs 20 minutes. For 60 minutes the Saints were in control. Even though they didn't have the possession it still didn't look as though the NotNots were going to get through. Instead two wonderful break away tries put the Saints in charge.

Then Jim changed the team with 20 minutes to go. An eye on next weeks Heineken semi-final saw a mass of replacements and the game tipped. The notnots got their tries and the Saints were clinging on for their lives. Somehow they managed it and another win was under their belts.

Notable mentions to Dicko, as ever providing quick ball, and to Smyler for controlling the game. Flash was in the right place to get the tries but they were team efforts.

Notorious mention to Delon Armitage. A nasty man with anger management issues, he put in a thump to the face on Smyler while Smyler was on the ground. A chicken hit which will hopefully see a citing.

Saints 23 Ulster 13

Saints got through the pool stages of the Heineken without a defeat. But that felt like an eternity ago. Since then the Saints went off the rails whilst Upster have found form. This was always promising to be a good match. And it delivered, it was epic. It can be hard to understand why Heineken is a step up from premiership but after 10 minutes it felt like we had watched 50. Everything was at pace. Ulster played well and I think they had the first half. But Saints have been learning and came back. In fact the last 20 minutes saw annulling of intensity. Well played

Saints 53 - Sale 24

From the sublime to the ridiculous, or in the Saints case, from the ridiculous to the sublime.  However, I am aware that if I write this up then owing to my recent lack of posting it just looks like I am a bad loser, and only want to write the good things.  It has been more a time thing really, but it still looks wrong.  So enough to say 8 tries.  A magic moment from TinTin kicking the ball back TOWARDS the Saints line but also straight to Brooce to set up an almost try.  And a good match all round.

Now, how does this set us up for the Ulster match next week?