Venter Interview

Venter said he wasn't doing any more interviews after getting in to trouble again. So it is difficult to know if this interview after, yesterdays loss to Racing Metro, is irony or if he has cracked.

Up and Down

There has been some talk of expanding the premiership to 14 clubs and then dropping relegation.  These "top" 14 clubs wolld be safe and simply have to compete against themselves.  I am pleased to see that the idea is blocked, at least for now.

The basis of this has come from claims that the Magners League is stronger than the Guiness Premiership, and arguments that this is because the teams in the ML don't have to worry about relegation.  In fact I think it comes a lot more from the fact that they don't have the same wage cap as the English clubs!  That aside however, it is impossible to draw comparisons between the two systems.  Wales, Ireland and Scotland play regional rugby, the teams in the ML are a region and they are able to draw from all the local clubs in their area.  If you look at club level then they still have to compete to avoid relegation.  But at regional level they don't because who would they play against if they were relegated - you couldn't really have the Scarlets playing against Cwmbran now could you!  However in England we still have a club system, the Saints have their own squad to call upon but they aren't then drawing on talent from all around.

So,unless the English system is completely reworked to form regions, then the current system remains the best, and produces some exciting rugby.

EuroTable - European Club Rugby Ranking

The Eurotable provides rankings for 46 teams across the 6 key rugby countries in Europe. It is based on performance over the last 30 games and has been running since 2000 (there is a football equivalent as well). It provides a form guide to compare the teams, with the top team having a rating of 100.

Position - Club - Rating
1 Leinster 100.00
2 Northampton 93.26
3 Munster 86.29
4 Toulon 82.99
5 Toulouse 80.47
6 Leicester 79.82
7 Cardiff Blues 77.99
8 ASM Clermont Auvergne 72.99
9 Biarritz Olympique 72.79
10 Wasps 72.05
11 Perpignan 67.87
12 Edinburgh 67.33
13 Bath 66.32
14 Saracens 66.04
15 Glasgow Warriors 65.88
16 Ospreys 65.82
17 Gloucester 64.95
18 Racing Metro 92 63.69
19 Newport Gwent Dragons 60.55
20 London Irish 60.28

The Saints are doing even better than before!

Come On You Saints!

Standings In The League

In another weekend of rugby the Saints are 2nd in the league with Leicester at the top, with both teams getting bonus points from their matches, but the Saints remain a game in hand.

A surprise at London Irish however saw them going down to Leeds despite the home advantage. That moves Leeds higher up the table and may mean that they are almost safe from relegation but it isn't looking good for Worcester languishing at the bottom after yet another defeat.

Next time Saints are against Leicester may be the very final game at the end of the season, and I hope that they are going to be crushed, but you never know!

Tiny Stays With The Saints

After a prolonged and disruptive disagreement with the Saracens, the two teams have come to an amicable agreement.  This is a relief for all as the name-calling, especially from the Sarries direction, was getting a bit much and casting a cloud over the usual good relations between clubs.  Exactly what the agreement is, nobody knows.  While there have been rumours of the Saints paying off the Sarries, these appear unfounded.

Whatever has gone on, the good news is that one of our best loved players, Tiny, is staying with The Saints.  The end of the season can now continue without lawyers getting in the way, and all can concentrate on the rugby.  We will be sure to welcome the Sarries to Franklins Gardens on the 24th April.