Well Done Boys

It's great to see the Saints players get a particular mention from the Saxons coach.  It does leave a distinct worry that our players are going to be missing for a significant proportion of the season however.  Difficult call.  I like to see them doing well, but I want to keep them for us!

Saints On The Up

Last weekend was a good one for the Saints.  With Courtney, Flash and Fodes starting in the England vs Australia game and Dicko, Smyler and Clark (plus Tom Wood, a soon to be Saint) starting in the Saxons vs Canada.  And both teams winning with significant input from the boys.

Every write up of the England vs Australia game seems to heap praise on Courtney.  He really made his mark and is likely to be the first choice from now on.  Then Fodes cemented his position as the first choice full back, with beautiful running rugby and counter-attacks.  And finally Flash scores his first try for England, and a nice one it was too, beating a number of the Aussies.

Then to the Saxons game.  Smyler kicked 6 out of 7 (and I reckon if the commentators hadn't decided to start betting he was going to get them all then he wouldn't have missed at all).  Clark scored a try.  And Dicko played out of his skin, hardly a minute went by without his name being mentioned.  I reckon we might see him making the step up to the England squad based on this.  And consider he wasn't originally picked but flew out late as a replacement - talking about taking your opportunity.

Well done to them all.

Saxons 49 vs Russia 17

Not a bad result for Russia and they kept playing until the end.  But I was more interested in how the Saints (and Saints to be) players did.  Jon Clarke and Tom Wood were OK, but nothing special.  Dicko came on for the last 5 minutes and showed his usual terrier self, spoiling Russian ball, stealing where he could.  So a good 5 minutes and he should ahve been allowed more.  Smyler was interesting though.  Started slowly and initially I thought he was out of touch.  But he grew into it.  So much so that he was significant in one try with a lovely off-load, then he scored a try as well that he was involved with at the beginning and end.  And he was given Man of the Match.  Overall not a bad showing by the Saints.

Leaving Do

There's a good showing by the Saints team in the teams announced today.  In the England squad we find Fodes, Flash, Tin Tin, Rabbit and Long Arm - these lads will be touring Australia and New Zealand.  This is seen very much as a warm up for the Rugby World Cup.  In the Saxons squad we find Smyler, Jon Clarke and Dowse.  In addition Tom Wood, who is joining us for next season is also there.

Some questions had been raised when Jim Mallinder signed another fly half, but if we can be expecting both Tin Tin and Smyler to be tied up with country commitments then this might well be a very astute choice.