News: GP: Worcester vs Saints - Match Preview

Woss'sis - a wabbit?
By norfolksaint
March 4 2009

So a home record goes at last, is it time for the same to be repeated for the Saints current poor away record in the Guinness Premiership? Well, I guess that we will know in good time...

Worcester Warriors v Northampton Saints

Saturday, 7th March 2009 - 3pm

Sixways, Worcester

Match Preview

So a home record goes at last, is it time for the same to be repeated for the Saints current poor away record in the Guinness Premiership? Well, I guess that we will know in good time. Since Worcester joined the elite of English rugby in the top division, the Saints and Warriors have been close to each other in the table at the end of the season.

This year as we move closer to the sharp end of the season, neither side has a great deal to play for in the league. It is unlikely that either will be close to relegation (unless Bristol change their fortunes significantly) or indeed be looking at a Heineken Cup place for next season. For this to happen, either side will need to win most of the rest of their matches and at least one above them to have a nightmare run in. Even then it is likely that they will keeping fingers crossed that an English club goes further than the remaining French club in this seasons Heineken Cup so that seven English teams qualify. Both sides do have at least one another route to the promised land of Europe for next year through the European Challenge Cup and in the case of the Saints through the EDF Energy Anglo Welsh Cup.

Are they likely to do so? In the eyes of your correspondent then this is unlikely although as in all knockout competitions anything is possible. It is perhaps more pertinent to ponder the question as to is either club in a position to perform strongly in the world’s premier club competition? I would venture not. Saints are still rebuilding under Jim Mallinder and his team of coaches and Worcester are still in the process of feeling comfortable in the top division.

Current table positions and recent results suggest that it will be a close game, although if either side bring their top game to the table then they could do very well indeed. Mind you the opposite is true if they bring their ‘option’ game along. All reports suggest that these teams are like the girl with a curl right in the middle of her forehead – when they are good they are very very good, but when they are bad they are horrid!

The two clubs have played 7 times in the league with Worcester winning 4 and Saints winning 3. Of these games 5 have been won by 5 point or less, so I suspect that we are in for a close game. Interestingly of the 7 games, 5 have been won by the away team, with the most recent being earlier this season when the Saints won 21-13 at Franklins Gardens on the first game of the season.

These two clubs are very similar in a number of other areas as well. They are Midland clubs, one East and one West, with their own grounds with a capacity that is growing through sensible redevelopment and extension. They have relatively new coaching teams who have arrived with big reputations and both have charismatic chairmen who see themselves as supporters first and foremost. Rugby needs the likes of Cecil Duckworth and Keith Barwell, especially in turbulent times in the game and in the wider economy. The club’s enjoy a loyal, knowledgeable and passionate fan base that can often make a difference on match day, and right now they are both struggling in the league with Saints in 9^th place having won 6 out of 16 and Worcester in 11^th having won 4 of 14. With the way that the fixtures and weather have been this year, Worcester are currently 7 point behind with 2 games in hand. Interestingly, neither has registered a try bonus this year and they have the smallest number of bonus points (2 for Worcester and 3 for Saints).

In terms of teams, both have strong squads and teams on paper but have struggled to put it together where it matters – on grass. Worcester have invested in a number of key individuals to add to a squad containing a mix of elder statesmen and young guns. Again the similarity with the Saints is striking although it feels to me like the Saints are slightly further through the curve than Worcester, highlighted by the departure of Carlos Spencer and the arrival of Chris Latham.

For Worcester the key players will be well known names in the main, with the likes of Greg Rawlinson, Chris Latham and Pat Sanderson to the fore. Other well known names will not let them down either, Rico Gear seems to be coming back to some kind of form and the likes of Willie Walker on loan from Gloucester playing a key part of their win over Wasps last week. There are a number of up and coming players to look out for as well. Miles Benjamin has been impressing for a couple of years in England age groups and there are very good reports of Alex Grove in the centre.

My predicted Worcester team (based on recent teams and the discussion on the ComeOnYouWarriors unofficial site)

15 Chris Latham

14 Miles Benjamin

13 Hal Luscombe

12 Alex Grove

11 Rico Gear

10 Willie Walker

9 Ryan Powell

8 Kai Horstmann

7 Pat Sanderson

6 James Collins

5 Greg Rawlinson

4 Will Bowley

3 Tevita Taumoepeau

2 Aleki Lutui

1 Matt Mullan

From a Saints point of view the selection will be affected by the return of Ben Foden, Dylan Hartley and Euan Murray from international duty. I expect that all of these will play some part in the game on Saturday, but many eyes will be on Stephen Myler as he establishes his place in the team. Ironically his earlier season form led to Carlos Spencer moving to Gloucester with the indirect result of Willie Walkers loan to Worcester. As a consequence young Myler needs to have a good game to prove to be the Saints number 1 standoff. Bruce Reihana is still looking to get back to the high standards that he sets himself and the likes of Best, Wilson, Lawes and Kruger will all be looking to have big games.

My predicted Saints team...

15 Bruce Reihana

14 Paul Diggin

13 Jon Clarke

12 James Downey

11 Chris Ashton

10 Stephen Myler

9 Ben Foden

8 Roger Wilson

7 Neil Best

6 Courtney Lawes

5 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe

4 Juandre Kruger

3 Euan Murray

2 Dylan Hartley

1 Soane Tongahuia

JP Doyle will be officiating on Saturday and although he is fairly new to the elite level becoming full time on 1^st September 2008, the Saints have previous experience of him in ND1 last year as well as the EDF National Trophy Final. Good luck to him and as it is his first I am sure that he will appreciate as much advice as possible from the home and away supporters. To all of the travellers, have a safe and happy journey. I think that this is one of the best way trips due to a combination of the ground, the home fans and the fact that the Saints win more away against Worcester than they do at home.

So to the prediction. The teams are coming off of the back of very different results, Worcester managing to hold off Wasps with a sterling display of defending after an interception try and Saints failing to catch up with Newcastle after gifting them 19 points in the first few minutes. Neither side currently looks like scoring a hatful of points so it will be a close low scoring game. One team will increase their bonus points because it will be close, very close. I will go for a Saints win by 4 points with not much hope of a try scoring bonus.

News: GP: Worcester vs Saints - Match Preview

Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)

Date: 04/03/2009 23:48

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:08:00:56:28 by St Marlowe.