Thoughts from the Chron 15th October
By Chris Gleadell
October 14 2009
I am sitting here writing this column with a thesaurus open by my side. Quite simply reporting on Saturday's events at the Gardens there is a real danger I will run out of superlatives before the end of the page. Saints v Munster, Heineken Cup, 10th October 2009, it was the game that had everything and then some!
I said in last week’s column that I had a feeling in my water that we were going to squeak this one. But then with the event looming I was probably talking with a touch more heart than head but hats off to the lads for pulling this one out of the bag.
Of course we were always going to be in with a chance but perhaps too much emphasis was put on Munster’s form coming into the game rather than ours. Yes we had been playing in fits and starts but again as mentioned last week, and this time with my head, if we put an hour of the good stuff together we would be a match for anyone, and that is exactly what happened on Saturday.
Munster skipper Paul O’Connell mentioned after the game how opportunities had been gifted Saints way. I tend to disagree, the boys have been building for this moment and rather than any presents being handed their way they went out and snatched the spoils through their own inventiveness, grit and guile.
For that first hour we were the dominant side but then Munster being Munster one little sniff and they are back in the game feeding off their own momentum. They even almost stole it at the end but you would have to search long and hard to find anyone who did not think the best team won on the night.
Shane Geraghty and Courtney Lawes got most of the praise in the press, given who Courtney was up against even more so, but everyone out on the turf in the Gold, Black n Green deserve the plaudits, they all played more than their part. For all that happened the moment that stuck in my mind more than any was James Downey’s shuddering stop in midfield of South African world cup winner Jean de Villiers. Funnily enough when poring over our team selection last week posters on one Munster website looked at Jimmy D as a weakness. After all not so long ago he was on Munster’s books and could not get a start. On Monday the same people were calling for his inclusion in the Ireland squad. That says a lot for the player but it is probably representative of the squad as a whole. Yes folks, Saints are back!
There was talk this week that it was the best ever game at the Gardens. What happened on the pitch was surely up there with some of the momentous battles we have seen over the years but I think what edged it was as the best was the atmosphere on the night.
I now know why that girl is so lonely round the fields of Athenry. On Saturday her Ma, Da, brothers, sisters, cousins, her dog, gerbil and Uncle Seamus from Charleville all seemed to be in Jimmy’s End. There were so many of the Red Army in town I would not have been wholly surprised to see a kitchen sink or two travelling in Munster shirts too.
On arrival in town on Saturday the first thing that greeted me was a sea of red outside the Thomas a Becket and in my ‘local’ the Foundry it was just the same but a great time was had by all in a real party atmosphere both inside the pub and outside in the sunshine.
During the game itself the Munster support gave it their all and were really getting behind their team at every opportunity. After the game they were gracious in defeat and very complimentary about all things Northampton, from the welcome they received, the town, the stadium but most of all our support and the brilliant atmosphere both supporters created between them. I must have talked to a couple of dozen or so after the game and many put their visit at the top of their away trips. Given where they have been over the years, praise indeed. I finally ambled off home at around two in the morning, the Munster lot were still partying away for all I know some probably still are, well done to them. Without doubt the best away support ever to grace the Gardens.
Earlier in the day walking through the red hordes a Munster supporter noticing my Saints shirt asked in jest “Who are the home side mate?”. I said he would know by ten past six and true to form the Saints support gave what surely is our best ever performance to date. Given the number of away supporters there only seemed to add to the challenge and every man, woman and child lived up to it.
I don’t think there was a moments silence from start to finish. From Oh Wendy’s to Jimmies, Jimmies to long drawn out Come on you Saaaaaainnts the cacophony went on and on. As promised I certainly left my voice on the terrace, in fact three days on and i’m still nursing my throat back to health, but half way through the second half I shut up for a couple of minutes to savour the atmosphere.
As Saints mounted another attack a round of Oh Wendy started high in the north end of the Tetley’s Stand and spread like a vocal mexican wave through the Tetleys, South and Churches Stand with just about the whole stadium, bar the bemused Munster support, joining in. At the very end of this wave at the north end of the Churches a whole block of Munster supporters looked on in silence. Right in the middle of this block three Saints supporters, Mark Hazell, his wife Lom and small son Mathew were going potty behind a Saints flag as if to say look you might well have a very well deserved reputation but on our day we can do it too, this is our turf. On the night I think we all did ourselves proud and have set a standard to which we know we can achieve and something we should be trying to recreate whoever the visitor. Yes I know it will be hard on the vocal chords but just think how happy the man from Strepsils will be!
All in all for me it was the best Gardens experience in my years watching the Saints and that game in January in Limerick cannot come soon enough but we have a little engagement down in France to deal with first.
So with four points in the bag we travel south this weekend to Catalonia hoping to continue this high with a good showing in the game against Perpignan on Friday night.
In the shock of the first round of games Perpignan lost to Treviso and must surely be having doubts that the tournaments over for them already. Having looked at our result they must surely be thinking if Treviso can put one over them then surely they are not going to win at either the Gardens or Thomond Park. Quite simply that leaves with just three home wins, not enough to qualify and they may already, subconsciously at least, have eyes back on defending the Top14 trophy they won last season.
Of course I could be totally wrong (nothing new there eh?) and we could be on the end of a backlash but I am sure whatever the circumstances Big Jim will have the lads paying the utmost respect to the French champions. Come away with the spoils and it would make our group realistically a two horse race but even a bonus point of any type would not exactly be the end of the world.
As per usual there are a good number of Saints supporters travelling down to darkest deepest France. I would be surprised if we have anything less than around 1,000 out there. By the time you read this most of us will be already out there or travelling south. It could be a great weekend for Saints both on and off the pitch. If you are going see you there, if you are not then I will have one for you. Allez Saints!
Thoughts from the Chron 15th October
Posted by: ComeOnYouSaints.com (IP Logged)
Date: 16/10/2009 12:56
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Re: Thoughts from the Chron 15th October
Posted by: Paul Flatt (IP Logged)
Date: 16/10/2009 15:46
Quote:Monsewer so-called Gleadell
If you are going see you there, if you are not then I will have one for you. Allez Saints!
Merde! Bastarde!!
Je suis jaloux.//Híbrido. Soy celoso.
"Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it."
-- Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 A.D.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:10:16:15:47:40 by Paul Flatt.
Re: Thoughts from the Chron 15th October
Posted by: Stopsy (IP Logged)
Date: 16/10/2009 20:52
Given your love of all things French Chris, I would have thought you would have appreciated us Tigers' fans noisy support of our team at FG in homage to Marcel Marceau!
Re: Thoughts from the Chron 15th October
Posted by: Wee Jim (IP Logged)
Date: 16/10/2009 22:44
Thoughtful as ever and post match they are undiminished
Re: Thoughts from the Chron 15th October
Posted by: Ben Johnson (IP Logged)
Date: 17/10/2009 10:31
Quote:Mr G
we could be on the end of a backlash
not 'arf!
Come On You Saints
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