HC: Benetton Treviso vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview
By Simon Robinson
December 16 2009
It's Round Four of the group games in the Heineken Cup this weekend and Saints travel to Italy to face the Italian champions Treviso for the second time in a week. Regular ComeOnYouSaints.com contributor Smurf looks ahead to the weekend...
Benetton Treviso v Northampton Saints
Stadio di Monigo, 19th December 2009, 14.30GMT
Live on BBC Radio Northampton and Sky Red Button
Match Preview
After the battling performance at the Gardens last weekend, Saints know they will have to be on top form to get a win over the reigning Italian league champions in their own back yard. A win will put Northampton top of Pool 1, at least until Sunday when Munster travel to Perpignan - a victory for the Catalans would see Saints at least three points clear if Jimmies get the result in Treviso.
I would expect there to be little change to the two sides that appeared on Piggy's Patch on Saturday. Whilst I would like Dickens to get a start, he did play the first half for the Wandies against Newcastle in front of 735 hardy souls on Monday so I doubt it'll happen. Nacho Lobbe was replaced early on in the Wanderers game, perhaps an indication he will be travelling over to Italy to face his half-namesake? No doubt Chris Ashton will want to keep up his impressive scoring rate - 13 tries in as many games, seven in the last three fixtures - he's also scored in all three HC fixtures so far.
As Jon in Bermuda/Maine/wherever covered a lot about the history of the team and the city in last week's preview, it only leaves me to wish all those travellers the best of luck. Enjoy the pre-Christmas trip and bring back five points! Also, don't forget to put your predictions into the Swindle thread before the game...
Possible teams -
SAINTS: Foden; Ashton, Clarke, Downey, Ansbro; Geraghty, Dickson; Tonga'uiha, Hartley (capt), Murray; Lawes, Day; Dowson, Best, Wilson.
TREVISO: McLean; Vilk, Sgarbi, Garcia, Botes; Goosen, Semenzato; Rizzo, Heralding, Fernandez Rouyet; A Pavanello (capt), Van Zyl; Vermaak, Zanni, Kingi.
My prediction - Saints by ten. Hopefully...
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Both sides will have learned a lot from last Saturday's encounter but I back Big Jim to have found more ways to unlock Treviso's defence.
