Bad times for the Saints. Two very different games a week apart, but between them shipping over 90 points. The defensive machine has fallen and no-one is entirely sure why.
The first of these matches was against Munster and it was the last pool game of the Heineken. We had already messed up the Heineken and wouldn't be going through but, as well as pride, there was the chance to drop into the Amlin. So not a dead rubber.
Munster played their best game this season. But that doesn't tell the whole story. The Saints just didn't really get going. Whenever they made progress then they rapidly shipped points from poor restarts. Was it the disruption of playing a home match in Milton Keynes, something that had caused an awful lot of angst amongst the fans. Was it the antics of Flash and his move to Saracens announced during the week leading to him storming off the training pitch a few days earlier. Was it ten players with their eyes on the England shirt. Whatever it was, the end result was ugly. The Saints scored over 30 points, normally enough to win a match but gar away even more. In the last 5 matches the opposition only crossed the try line 3 times, in this match Munster crossed 5 times. A remarkable transformation.
Which brings us to the second match. LV Cup this time. The LV is still a possible route for us to get to the Heineken next season. So some consternation when a young team was picked to play an almost full strength Bath side. And it was as painful as we feared. Lacking Dicko to marshal the forces and all the rest of the Englamd call ups to provide stability, there was a lack of game management that Bath were able to capitalise on.
Still wearing the shirt, still a Saint, but a tough week at the office!
Showing posts with label Bad News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bad News. Show all posts
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Castres 41 - Saints 22
The misery continued with this match. While the new players stood up to be counted, the older ones had some major issues. It's looking as though the World Cup is still taking its toll as mentally some of the players seem completely shot. And its hard to understand how a team can score four tries for the bonus and still lose.
I'm afraid this one will ahve to go in the "least said soonest mended" category. I can't face a write up.
I'm afraid this one will ahve to go in the "least said soonest mended" category. I can't face a write up.
Try
Malonga
2
Conversion
Teulet
3
Penalty
Teulet
17
Penalty
Teulet
30
Penalty
Teulet
34
Try
Martial
40
Conversion
Teulet
40 +1
Penalty
Teulet
48
Penalty
Teulet
63
Try
Martial
68
Conversion
Teulet
69
Try
Diarra
77
Try
M Sorenson
9
Conversion
S Myler
10
Try
Elliott
31
Try
Elliott
44
Try
S Manoa
55
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Tigers 30 - Saints 25
This was a strangely unenjoyable match, despite the close score line. Having Barnes as ref after last years debacle may not have been the best decision in the world, and it soon came home to roost. Quarter of an hour into the match Flash tackled Tuilagi and then tried to pull him into touch. This has become a bit of a thing with Flash, pulling players out, but in this case he grabbed hold of Tuilagis hair. This was probably not sportsmanslike (and later lead to a 4 week ban after he was cited) but, importantly, lead to a full scale brawl which saw Tuilagi and Wood both red carded. What was a potentially exciting match was again spoilt by a ref. In the words of Max Boyce, "it cast a gloom over the whole proceedings".
The game itself seesawed to and fro. At half time it was 15-6 to the Tigers. One of the Tigers tries came from Matt Smith, tackled by Flash well before the line he just kept going and grounded the ball. This possibly showed up a flaw in Flashes tackling technique as really he should never have got there. Second half saw the Saints come back though and with three fine tries they looked set. 5 minutes before the end more controversy however, as Agulla set off on a run, Murphy (who had appeared injured) got up and took out Fodes from behind. Agulla was left unimpeded and scored for the Tigers to take the lead back, and so it ended.
Attendance 24,000
Referee Wayne Barnes
The game itself seesawed to and fro. At half time it was 15-6 to the Tigers. One of the Tigers tries came from Matt Smith, tackled by Flash well before the line he just kept going and grounded the ball. This possibly showed up a flaw in Flashes tackling technique as really he should never have got there. Second half saw the Saints come back though and with three fine tries they looked set. 5 minutes before the end more controversy however, as Agulla set off on a run, Murphy (who had appeared injured) got up and took out Fodes from behind. Agulla was left unimpeded and scored for the Tigers to take the lead back, and so it ended.
Penalty
Flood
11
Try
M Smith
20
Try
S Mafi
32
Conversion
Flood
33
Penalty
Flood
42
Try
Youngs
59
Try
Agulla
75
Conversion
Flood
77
Penalty
R Lamb
4
Penalty
R Lamb
35
Try
Ashton
44
Try
T May
63
Conversion
S Myler
63
Try
P Dowson
65
Conversion
S Myler
66
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Saints 23 - Scarlets 28
It's a while since we've really been able to calim Franklins Gardens as a fortress. And tonight saw another brick fall from the wall. After such a good match last week against Munster the expectations were high. But while the names on the sheet looked the same (baring Fodes dropping out at the last minute still carrying an injury, and Easy taking his position at full back), on the pitch it was a different matter. Nothing was going right for the boys. The number of turnovers and knock ons conceded was shocking. And the Scarlets simply gave a lesson in good strong running rugby. The honesty is that the Saints did not deserve a losing bonus point.
Within two minutes the Scarlets had barrelled over for a try. The warning signs were there, but last week when Munster did the same then the Saints came back with composure. Not tonight though. Scarlets managed to get four tries, some in slightly controversial circumstances, and they dominated everything.
From last years Heineken run, where the only match the Saints lost was the final, to this year and two losses from two meaning it seems unlikely that the Saints will progress beyond the pool stages. A match best forgotten.
Within two minutes the Scarlets had barrelled over for a try. The warning signs were there, but last week when Munster did the same then the Saints came back with composure. Not tonight though. Scarlets managed to get four tries, some in slightly controversial circumstances, and they dominated everything.
From last years Heineken run, where the only match the Saints lost was the final, to this year and two losses from two meaning it seems unlikely that the Saints will progress beyond the pool stages. A match best forgotten.
Match Details
- Half Time 9-21
- Attendance 13,475
- Referee Peter Fitzgibbon
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Munster 21 - Saints 23
Anyone who knows the history of these two teams would have known that this was always going to be close. But Thomond Park is a really tough place to play, I've been there, it epitomises the word "cauldron". The Saints have learnt in the last few years, but had they learnt enough.
Within 3 minutes of kick off Munster had scored a try. And not only had they scored but they had done it by pushing our forwards over the line. It could all have gone wrong then. But instead the Saints lifted their heads and came at Munster. They got ahead with a try and almost went into the half time oranges ahead, but a panicky end to the half gave Munster the chance to get back ahead. Again the Saints came back and took the lead. They held it for all of the second half. The game went past the 80 minute mark, the next time the ball went dead then it was all over. But Munster had the ball and were in the Saints half. The Saints drove them back, but then they came again. Over 40 phases and four and a half minutes neither side gave away a penalty. Munster were left with one choice and one choice only, but they had a sublime player for it, and sure enough Ronan O'Gara took a drop goal and planted the ball between the sticks.
It was all over. The Saints had played one of their best games, but it wasn't enough and they had victory snatched away. A painful painful end. But both teams could be proud of their work on the pitch. A fantastic spectacle and a great advert for the game.
Within 3 minutes of kick off Munster had scored a try. And not only had they scored but they had done it by pushing our forwards over the line. It could all have gone wrong then. But instead the Saints lifted their heads and came at Munster. They got ahead with a try and almost went into the half time oranges ahead, but a panicky end to the half gave Munster the chance to get back ahead. Again the Saints came back and took the lead. They held it for all of the second half. The game went past the 80 minute mark, the next time the ball went dead then it was all over. But Munster had the ball and were in the Saints half. The Saints drove them back, but then they came again. Over 40 phases and four and a half minutes neither side gave away a penalty. Munster were left with one choice and one choice only, but they had a sublime player for it, and sure enough Ronan O'Gara took a drop goal and planted the ball between the sticks.
It was all over. The Saints had played one of their best games, but it wasn't enough and they had victory snatched away. A painful painful end. But both teams could be proud of their work on the pitch. A fantastic spectacle and a great advert for the game.
Match Details
- Half Time 17-13
- Attendance 26,500
- Referee Nigel Owens
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Warriors 12 - Saints 3
It doesn't get better. Worcester fighting to get off the bottom of the league show more determination and more nouse than the Saints. The pre-season warm ups and signings seems to have all been for nothing, confidence is shaky and errors high. Not an inspiring team to watch. How we go from Heineken finalists to resting at the low end of the table is anyone's guess.
Friday, 23 September 2011
Sale Win by a lot Saints lose by not so much!
OK, that was an abject lesson in how to self destruct. At half time the Saints had the game under control. They were dominating in the scrum, their handling was sound (if not threatening) and Smyler was popping them over. A reasonable lead and the upper hand, despite once again not capitalising on a man advantage. Second half just needs to be cool, collected and more of the same.
So how come we end up shipping tries, down to 13 men, and when we could have got to a losing bonus point instead a quick tap penalty with nothing to come from it. Callum Clark getting a yellow card wa silly. But Dowson, supposed to be captain, getting a yellow card for kicking the ball away was farcical. We are loging games, not other teams winning them. Bad discipline is costing us dearly.
Incredibly painful to watch.
So how come we end up shipping tries, down to 13 men, and when we could have got to a losing bonus point instead a quick tap penalty with nothing to come from it. Callum Clark getting a yellow card wa silly. But Dowson, supposed to be captain, getting a yellow card for kicking the ball away was farcical. We are loging games, not other teams winning them. Bad discipline is costing us dearly.
Incredibly painful to watch.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Saints 13 - Irish 14
A very unsatisfactory match which the Saints deserved to lose even though the NotNots didn't deserve to win!
The Saints are demonstrating a worrying lack of learning at the moment. The opportunity was there on more than one occasion but ill discipline (hmm, is there a team in the World Cup with the same problem), repeated handling errors and a continued failure to get points on the board when having a man advantage all took it's toll. The game came down to a penalty in the dying minutes.
Unfortunately it's looking like the plan for deepening the squad has been rather scuppered by injuries. First choice scrum half and No8 are both ouot. Not only is the replacement full back out but his replacement as well so we are now down to playing a centre at full back.
Sale next, who have already won two matches. It's looking tight.
The Saints are demonstrating a worrying lack of learning at the moment. The opportunity was there on more than one occasion but ill discipline (hmm, is there a team in the World Cup with the same problem), repeated handling errors and a continued failure to get points on the board when having a man advantage all took it's toll. The game came down to a penalty in the dying minutes.
Unfortunately it's looking like the plan for deepening the squad has been rather scuppered by injuries. First choice scrum half and No8 are both ouot. Not only is the replacement full back out but his replacement as well so we are now down to playing a centre at full back.
Sale next, who have already won two matches. It's looking tight.
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Round Up - BAD
I realise I haven't done an update of the last matches. To be honest my heart wasn't in it. It wasn't just the fact we were losing, I'm not a fair weather fan, but the manner in which we were losing. The spirit seems to have gone out of the team. Can't help but wonder if that is a lack of Fodes, Flash and Dicko, the true clowns of the Saints. Without them buoying up the lads then the heads seem to have gone down. From a team that before Christmas didn't believe it could lose, we now seem to be watching a group who don't believe that they can win. Even when they did get ahead yesterday they didn't grasp the opportunity.
5 premiership losses in a row. Bad days.
5 premiership losses in a row. Bad days.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
a dissopointing leave
A few weeks ago Joe Ansbro sighned a contract for Londen Irish. It is very dissopointing and it wont feel right playing against him. He will be first choice for the them and thats what he deserves but Jim has two other good people to chose from and this has always limited Joes game time for the Saints. He will be missed alot but hopefully Jim has a plan to bring in some more centres. It's been great having him as a player and seeing him improve and he even got into scotland. It would be very good if he enjoys Londen Irish, but we are not as conserned about him going as we would be because this season we have got alot of new players that have alot to live up to.
Saturday, 5 February 2011
London Irish vs Saints
An interesting game this one. As a result of International and Saxons duties the Saints were severely depleted. Even those that weren't committed elsewhere were being rested so this was effectively a Wanderers team. In fact two of the bench are normally on loan to Cambridge.
Despite this they put on a good show and at times had London Irish worried. They probably showed more running rugby but were unable to break through a resilient Not-Not defence.
A loss but a good run out for the youngsters, some of whom showed promise for the future.
Sent from my iPhone
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)
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Crack
And the bad news is in. Dicko has a broken leg after the match against the Falcons. Expected to be off for at least 8 weeks. I suspect that this is going to have a significant impact on the games over the next couple of months. I believe that Lee is under-appreciated, and doesn't get the recognistion he deserves for everything he does. Ryan Powell will have to step up now, and that is going to be tough.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Saints 17 - Sarries 24
A disappointing match best describes this. While a bonus point from an away match is always worthwhile, you can't help feeling that we could, and should, have won this. Sarries never looked like scoring a try, all their points came from the boot of Derick Hougaard. The Saints scored one try in the dying minute to get the bonus, but looked like scoring many more.
So what went wrong? Too many penalties given away, including two yellow cards. Playing for 20 minutes with only 14 players and not giving away a try is, in some ways, a very positive outcome - but it also makes it almost impossible to win. Discipline has been a problem for the Saints before, and it doesn't look as though they have learnt.
Certainly not the best day for the ref, David Pearson. He was late arriving after getting caught in a traffic jam. This lead to a rather rushed start with the teams not getting a proper briefing. Then he was rather inconsistent with his decisions, and it is easy to think that he favoured the Sarries. However, we have had problems with Pearson before. In reality I suspect that it isn't him favouring the other team, more that he expects the Saints to infringe. This is a problem once you get a reputation. The ref will be looking out more and the 50:50 calls are more likely to go against you.
While Sarries didn't look like scoring a try, it is worth mentioning Hougaards drop goal. Long distance in the rain and it was a beauty.
Scorers:
Saints - Try: Digger; Pen: TinTin (4)
Sarries - Pen: Hougaard (7); Drop Goal: Hougaard
So what went wrong? Too many penalties given away, including two yellow cards. Playing for 20 minutes with only 14 players and not giving away a try is, in some ways, a very positive outcome - but it also makes it almost impossible to win. Discipline has been a problem for the Saints before, and it doesn't look as though they have learnt.
Certainly not the best day for the ref, David Pearson. He was late arriving after getting caught in a traffic jam. This lead to a rather rushed start with the teams not getting a proper briefing. Then he was rather inconsistent with his decisions, and it is easy to think that he favoured the Sarries. However, we have had problems with Pearson before. In reality I suspect that it isn't him favouring the other team, more that he expects the Saints to infringe. This is a problem once you get a reputation. The ref will be looking out more and the 50:50 calls are more likely to go against you.
While Sarries didn't look like scoring a try, it is worth mentioning Hougaards drop goal. Long distance in the rain and it was a beauty.
Scorers:
Saints - Try: Digger; Pen: TinTin (4)
Sarries - Pen: Hougaard (7); Drop Goal: Hougaard
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Saints 27 - Saracens 28
I got the overall number of tries correct, but the wrong way around. Saints only scored two while the on-form Sarries scored three. This running rugby from the Sarries comes from a change of game plan after the Saints had beated them twice at Franklins Gardens earlier in the season during the LV Cup, so in a way we have ourselves to blame.
In fact, the Saints have themselves to blame in a lot of ways for losing this match. For the first 20 minutes of the game the team did not seem to really get going, and overall they were looking tired throughout. A long campaign has started to catch up with them. Then the defence, which earlier in the year was so strong, has begun to show holes. The last few matches have seen us letting in tries, something that wasn't happening before. And finally the restarts are terrible, whether by us or the oppostion, we aren't winning the contest and this keeps us on the back foot.
It was a close match, only ever a point between it. And a score by the Saints in the last two minutes looked as though it might have been another of those last minute get-outs that we have seen so often. Unfortunately Shane couldn't convert, and the end result was that the Franklins fortress was broken.
Scorers
Saints - Tries: Penalty, Foden; Con: Myler; Pens: Myler (5)
Saracens - Tries: Joubert, Powell, Penney; Con: Jackson (2); Pens: Jackson (3)
In fact, the Saints have themselves to blame in a lot of ways for losing this match. For the first 20 minutes of the game the team did not seem to really get going, and overall they were looking tired throughout. A long campaign has started to catch up with them. Then the defence, which earlier in the year was so strong, has begun to show holes. The last few matches have seen us letting in tries, something that wasn't happening before. And finally the restarts are terrible, whether by us or the oppostion, we aren't winning the contest and this keeps us on the back foot.
It was a close match, only ever a point between it. And a score by the Saints in the last two minutes looked as though it might have been another of those last minute get-outs that we have seen so often. Unfortunately Shane couldn't convert, and the end result was that the Franklins fortress was broken.
Scorers
Saints - Tries: Penalty, Foden; Con: Myler; Pens: Myler (5)
Saracens - Tries: Joubert, Powell, Penney; Con: Jackson (2); Pens: Jackson (3)
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
The End of an Era
Rumour has it that Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe is hanging up his his boots at the end of this season. This is very sad. Not just a club player, over his time he has been capped by the Pumas 66 times, and has played in three World Cups.
He joined the Saints in 2008 and has proved himself a force of strength in the scrum. He can certainly play rugby and has captained the team a number of times this year, including last nights game against Bath.
However he is now 35 and it is time for him to retire. He is going to be missed very much.
He joined the Saints in 2008 and has proved himself a force of strength in the scrum. He can certainly play rugby and has captained the team a number of times this year, including last nights game against Bath.
However he is now 35 and it is time for him to retire. He is going to be missed very much.
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Bath 21 - Saints 20 Final Score
So, close at the end. A bonus point which is important, when I expected a bigger gap. One try to the Saints, which was what I expected, but only two for Bath. The penalties and a conversion made the difference in the end. Neil Best getting a yellow card was the killer blow, playing the last 8 minutes down to 14 men. The three points from Olly Barkley took Bath ahead and the Saints just couldn't claw it back, despite what sounded like a valiant effort. In fact, at the end they clearly didn't want to simply settle for the bonus point and were trying to get the lead back. A drop goal attempt by Shane sounded a hope rather than an expected score, but it was worth a go.
Scores
Saints - Try: Digger. Pens: Shane Geraghty x5
Bath - Tries: Mears; Banahan. Cons: Barklay x1. Pens: Barkley x3
Scores
Saints - Try: Digger. Pens: Shane Geraghty x5
Bath - Tries: Mears; Banahan. Cons: Barklay x1. Pens: Barkley x3
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