By Saint Tim
July 3 2010

So this was the big one. The one we had all been looking forward to. The return to the main stage and what a return – at home against the darlings of the media and giants of the Heineken Cup Munster! There was only one previous competitive meeting of the two sides and on that occasion Saints ran out 9 – 8 winners. You may recall the game!

So surely this was to be broadcast on tv in South Africa - and a poor soul like me exiled to the southern hemisphere could tune in and watch but NO it wasn't.  I was bereft and could not understand the decision and later having read the reports I think the broadcasters dropped a major clanger.

So it was an evening kick off, under the lights at a packed and rocking Gardens.  The Munster red army were in town and the local pubs certainly knew it.  According to those there as you opened the doors to the TAB or the Foundry people fell out!  Who says that the rugby club does not bring money to the town and just think if we could have fitted 17,000 in there would have been even more or a boost to the local economy!

So to some of the match ups.  Big Jim selected the young tyro Courtney Lawes to go head to head with the old stagers or Munster (and the Lions) and he stood toe to toe with them all evening, disrupting line out ball, carrying the ball strongly and making a general nuisance of himself.  I think this was the point at which he really came to everyones attention.

At half back there was steady Eddy Ronan O'Gara (best known hereabouts for fluffing his relatively easy kick in that previous meeting of the clubs) against another young tyro in Shane Geraghty.  The first half definitely belonged to Shane and the Saints as he drove them forward with some excellent darts, mazy runs and quick hands.  At half time the score was 21 - 14 to the Saints and they may eventually have come to rue some missed opportunities but they were still ahead.

The second half started well for the Saints with Chris Ashton picking up his second try to take the score to 28 - 14 and the Saints supporters were in heaven.  Munster are however cunning old foxes and under the constant proddings of the boot of O'Gara they started to pen the Saints back.  A couple of penalties meant that coming into the last 15 minutes Munster were only 8 behind.  At this point it was all Munster and on 68 mins O'leary scored and suddenly there was only a point in the game - cue much finger nail biting from the locals.  Shane settled the nerves slightly with a penalty but a try would have won it for Munster.  Eventually after what must have seemed an eternity it was over and Saints had returned to the big time with a win.  I am told that everyone partied long and hard into the night.

In the cold light of day I am sure big Jim was a little miffed that Saints hadn't managed to get a bonus point and that they had allowed Munster back into the game.  But, having said that, I am sure he would have taken a win of any sort at the start of the game.

So, who caught the eye?

There were a few contenders this week for the top spot.  James Downey (ex of Munster) had a storming game in the centre, organising the defence and making his trademark crunching tackles and drives at the heart of Munster. James got just over 10% of the votes.

Next up was Courtney who got just under 15% of the votes.  As discussed before this was the coming of age of Courtney on the big stage.  Now we will have to get used to losing him on regular occasions as England demand his services.  Carry on at the rate young man and he will be in his prime at the time of the next Lions tour.

In second place with just over 15% was Soane Tonga'uiha.  Tiny, as he is affectionately known, has developed into a fine player under Jim and Doreen but perhaps most credit should go to the Hood.  Tiny is a totally different shape to the young prop who arrived from Bedford.  He is now one of the best in the land.

The winner, and his second outright win of the season, was Shane Geraghty who garnered over 27% of the votes.  Shane is certainly exciting when on this form, the key however is to consistently produce the goods week in week out.

So we are now 6 games into the new season and we have only three winners of the MoTM.  Is this the shape of things to come with a few key players or shall we see the return of great eye catching performances across the team?  Time will tell!

I suppose it isn't surprising really but this week no new players made their first start of the season so we are still on 24 players used from the squad as starters.

My thanks to the 128 who voted.   

To see the full results and analysis please click through to the following page.