By Louisa
September 22 2006

Three weeks into a new Premiership campaign and all is looking rosy in Northampton. After two home wins from two, and a respectable performance at Edgely Park, it would not be entirely naïve to wonder if the Saints were finally back in business.

 

Gloucester Rugby v Northampton Saints Preview

Saturday 23rd September

Kingsholm 3pm

 

This Saturday, the Saints travel to Kingsholm, home of the mighty Gloucester, a team sitting a single place and point above Northampton in the premiership table. The Cherry and Whites will be feeling confident in the knowledge that they have had a better start to the season thus far, having snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat against the Leicester Tigers last week. However, could this be the weekend that someone bursts their bubble?

 

After Saturday’s bonus point win where both the Saints backline and forwards ran riot against Bath, the men in green, black and gold seem to be on a roll. Traditionally, the Kingsholm encounter is one of Northampton’s toughest fixtures of the season, and I have no doubt that this weekend will be the same, but for the first time in years, a win does not seem beyond the realms of possibility. Although they have come off best in most encounters so far this term, the Saints pack has not yet been truly tested, having only played against weak, below-strength sides in the form of Newcastle and Bath. As has been stated on the message-board, tomorrow’s game will act as a yardstick of the Saints progression, showing both the coaches and supporters just how far our forward play has progressed since the arrival of new forwards coach, Peter Sloane.

 

Another aspect of play that should be severely tested this weekend is our defence. Liable to fall asleep in the minutes after half time, we have found ourselves conceding several soft tries already this season and were ripped apart by Newcastle’s razor sharp centre play on the first day of the season. If the defensive situation has not been sorted out then this Saturday will be no different, with a strong and inventive set of Gloucester backs expected to take to the field.

 

Games between the two sides are traditionally very tight and fiery encounters: of the last 4 games, the Saints have won 2 and Gloucester the same. And hasn’t the fixture produced some memorable moments over the years? Who can forget, for example, the on-pitch mass punch-up that took place at Franklins Gardens in 2003, or the infamous match at Kingsholme last year where 5 players were sent to the sin bin. This weekend’s match promises to be no different with a newly ignited Saints forward pack ready to face the grunt and power of Gloucester’s tight 5.

 

Head coach, Paul Grayson, has announced an unchanged fifteen from the side that beat Bath 33-18 at Franklins Gardens last week:

 

15 Robbie Kydd

14 SEAN LAMONT

13 BRUCE REIHANA (capt)

12 DAVID QUINLAN

11 BEN COHEN

10 CARLOS SPENCER

9 MARK ROBINSON

1 TOM SMITH

2 STEVE THOMPSON

3 Pat Barnard

4 Matt Lord

5 Christian Short

6 PAUL TUPAI

7 Darren Fox

8 Daniel Browne

 

16 Dan Richmond

17 Chris Budgen

18 Damien Browne

19 Mark Easter

20 Sam Harding

21 Ian Vass

22 Luke Myring

 

 

With Gloucester head coach, Dean Ryan, expected to hand starts to aggressive back row pair, Andy Hazel and Jake Boer, the Saints have included Paul Tupai and the on-form, Darren Fox at 6 and 7 respectively. With such uncompromising players named, fireworks at the breakdown are inevitable. Man of the moment, Robbie Kydd, has retained his fullback berth with Bruce Reihana staying at outside centre in place of the injured Jon Clarke.

 

The tight 5 remains unchanged with Steve Thompson joining Tom Smith and Pat Barnard to form a daunting front row, and after a few good weeks in the lineout, newcomer Christian Short will partner Matt Lord in the engine room with Damien Browne available on the bench. Elsewhere, Sam Harding had forced his way back into the 22 after a good couple of performances with the Wanderers, and he will no doubt be looking to prove a point to Messers Grayson and Sloane when he takes to the field on Saturday.

 

Gloucester: Morgan; Bailey, Keil, Allen, Foster; Mercier, Lawson; Wood, Azam, Califano, Eustace, Bortolami (capt), Buxton, Hazell, Forrester.
Replacements: Davies, Forster, James, Boer, Richards, Davies, Adams.

 

 

And now for the customary previewer’s prediction. Well, I’m afraid I have a confession to make: I don’t have a clue (it could be argued that I never do!)! This weekend’s match will no doubt prove just how far the team have come since the end of last season, but can we actually win it? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: it’s sure to be a cracker.