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.