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Northampton Saints vs Cardiff Blues
- Thread starter Teh Mite
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A valid point or is Dai Young getting the excuses in early?
Young has identified the Northampton scrum as one of Midlands side's main weapons but he has called on French referee Roman Poite to penalise what he views as the Saints' illegal set-piece tactics.
"They have got a very strong scrum which is a points machine for them," he said.
"They are a quality outfit and have taken their scrum to a high level.
"It has provided about nine points a game for them and on their own ball it is something they take to the opposition.
"Even a strong scrum like Castres was caused a lot of problems by Northampton.
"They normally have penalties awarded to them and we have got to hope the referee sorts out their tight-head because he just turns in all game.
"I have no problems with the referee favouring the dominant scrum as long as they keep straight.
"It is in the laws that you have to scrummage straight.
"If you look at their tight-head, whether it be Brian Mujati or Euan Murray, he tends to just angle in all the time past the loose-head and straight onto the hooker.
Young has identified the Northampton scrum as one of Midlands side's main weapons but he has called on French referee Roman Poite to penalise what he views as the Saints' illegal set-piece tactics.
"They have got a very strong scrum which is a points machine for them," he said.
"They are a quality outfit and have taken their scrum to a high level.
"It has provided about nine points a game for them and on their own ball it is something they take to the opposition.
"Even a strong scrum like Castres was caused a lot of problems by Northampton.
"They normally have penalties awarded to them and we have got to hope the referee sorts out their tight-head because he just turns in all game.
"I have no problems with the referee favouring the dominant scrum as long as they keep straight.
"It is in the laws that you have to scrummage straight.
"If you look at their tight-head, whether it be Brian Mujati or Euan Murray, he tends to just angle in all the time past the loose-head and straight onto the hooker.
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Ha ha Bullitt you think Nigel Owens is fussy wait until ye get used to Poite. He is liable to decide a game
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I imagine Dai would be smirking into his cornflakes if it was Mallinder making the same comments about Gethin Jenkins or whomever
If the ref doesn't ping it, play on!
If the ref doesn't ping it, play on!
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If Neil said the same thing, id probably agree too!
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When you also follow cricket in England well, Neil Mallinder is also a cricket umpire!
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/s...nts_will_be_euro_stars_says_stewart_1_1786082
Northampton Saints: Saints will be Euro stars, says Stewart
Published on Wed Dec 08 10:57:57 GMT 2010
SAINTS favourite Matt Stewart says the current Northampton side will win the Heineken Cup in the next two years.
Stewart was part of Saints' 2000 Heineken Cup winning side and believes forwards coach Dorian West has put together a pack every bit as good as those Euro kings – if not better.
And unlike that 2000 side that broke up soon afterwards, Stewart believes this side is years away from peaking and can go on to achieve even more.
The former Scotland international tighthead has been hugely impressed with Saints' scrum, and he can't see them having any problem in overcoming European Challenge Cup winners Cardiff Blues in the Heineken Cup pool one double-header over the next two weeks.
The 37-year-old, who spent six years at Franklin's Gardens from 1997 to 2003, said: "I saw them against London Irish and they were very impressive. They are going from strength to strength in the pack, Brian Mujati was really putting pressure on the London Irish scrum.
"I bumped into (Irish director of rugby) Toby Booth on the Saturday after the England game and he was very complimentary about the scrummaging. Saints are doing fantastic.
"Wait a couple of years – if that team doesn't win the European Cup I will be amazed."
As an ex-tighthhead Stewart is full of admiration for the way Brian Mujati has been destroying front rows this season but he feels a lot of the Saints' pack's success should go down to performance director Nick Johnston and his conditioning team.
"Brian has been fantastic," said Stewart, who now runs a rugby kit business as well as coaching the Army.
"He had a very quiet start last season, but this season he has gone from strength to strength.
"He is just a machine, in my day he would have put us to shame!
"They are a lot more conditioning orientated now, it was a different game when I played, not as quick.
"I have been so impressed with the team and a lot of it has to come down to Nick Johnston and how fit he has got the guys, especially up front.
"They can win a game in any minute of the match."
Stewart believes Saints fans have not seen a pack as good as this since the 2000 side that beat Munster 9-8 at Twickenham to win the club's first piece of silverware.
"We had a massive pack then and we really dominated that year," said Dartford-born Stewart, who won 34 caps for Scotland.
"But for getting on top and dominating the opposition it is the best Saints pack for a long, long time."
Northampton Saints: Saints will be Euro stars, says Stewart
Published on Wed Dec 08 10:57:57 GMT 2010
SAINTS favourite Matt Stewart says the current Northampton side will win the Heineken Cup in the next two years.
Stewart was part of Saints' 2000 Heineken Cup winning side and believes forwards coach Dorian West has put together a pack every bit as good as those Euro kings – if not better.
And unlike that 2000 side that broke up soon afterwards, Stewart believes this side is years away from peaking and can go on to achieve even more.
The former Scotland international tighthead has been hugely impressed with Saints' scrum, and he can't see them having any problem in overcoming European Challenge Cup winners Cardiff Blues in the Heineken Cup pool one double-header over the next two weeks.
The 37-year-old, who spent six years at Franklin's Gardens from 1997 to 2003, said: "I saw them against London Irish and they were very impressive. They are going from strength to strength in the pack, Brian Mujati was really putting pressure on the London Irish scrum.
"I bumped into (Irish director of rugby) Toby Booth on the Saturday after the England game and he was very complimentary about the scrummaging. Saints are doing fantastic.
"Wait a couple of years – if that team doesn't win the European Cup I will be amazed."
As an ex-tighthhead Stewart is full of admiration for the way Brian Mujati has been destroying front rows this season but he feels a lot of the Saints' pack's success should go down to performance director Nick Johnston and his conditioning team.
"Brian has been fantastic," said Stewart, who now runs a rugby kit business as well as coaching the Army.
"He had a very quiet start last season, but this season he has gone from strength to strength.
"He is just a machine, in my day he would have put us to shame!
"They are a lot more conditioning orientated now, it was a different game when I played, not as quick.
"I have been so impressed with the team and a lot of it has to come down to Nick Johnston and how fit he has got the guys, especially up front.
"They can win a game in any minute of the match."
Stewart believes Saints fans have not seen a pack as good as this since the 2000 side that beat Munster 9-8 at Twickenham to win the club's first piece of silverware.
"We had a massive pack then and we really dominated that year," said Dartford-born Stewart, who won 34 caps for Scotland.
"But for getting on top and dominating the opposition it is the best Saints pack for a long, long time."
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!!!
Northampton Saints; West hits back at Cardiff claims
Saints v Leeds 090926 Linda Dawson
Published on Thu Dec 09 12:36:49 GMT 2010
FORWARDS coach Dorian West has hit back at claims from Cardiff that Saints scrummage illegally.
In the build up to Saturday's Heineken Cup pool one clash at Franklin's Gardens Blues boss Dai Young has accused Saints' in-form scrum of deliberately not pushing straight and called on French referee Romain Poite to get to grips with it.
But West, who has put together the best scrum in the Aviva Premiership, vehemently defended his forwards and pointed out some misdemeanours from the Cardiff pack.
Young called on the referee 'to sort out Saints' tighthead because he just turns in all the time'.
West didn't want to get drawn into a war of words with Young, who won 51 caps for Wales as a prop, but was keen to point out just how legal his scrum, which has been tearing sides apart this season, is.
The former England hooker said: "I am amazed that a man with Dai Young's experience has come out with that.
"We have been complemented on our scrum this year on how legal we are. I speak to the referees' assessors most weeks and they are really pleased with how we are going.
"Our intention is to scrum straight and to dominate the opposition, we want to go forward.
"If you look at any of our games this season that is what you will see, the odd time that we have made a mistake we have been penalised for it."
West is confident referee Poite will not be influenced by Young's outburst and feels he is the best referee to have governing Saturday's scrum battle.
"We have got the role model for refereeing scrummaging this week in Mr Poite," said West.
"I think he has been pretty good over the last couple of years with how he refs the scrum. If anyone will make sure that things are going properly it will be him. I think he is really good in that area."
And West feels Cardiff have some tricks that the referee should be aware of.
"I don't want to get into a slanging match with Dai Young," said West.
"But you can watch scrummages that Cardif are involved with where their 20st tighthead prop is going backwards at a rate of knots. He is not doing that because he is being pushed, but because that is how they spin the scrum round."
West added: "We will see on the day.
"Our mentality will be the same as it always is.
"We want to hit and go straight and dominate the opposition. It will be a challenge and we will see who wins."
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/s...ts_west_hits_back_at_cardiff_claims_1_1808686
What a fetching photograph that is...
Northampton Saints; West hits back at Cardiff claims
Published on Thu Dec 09 12:36:49 GMT 2010
FORWARDS coach Dorian West has hit back at claims from Cardiff that Saints scrummage illegally.
In the build up to Saturday's Heineken Cup pool one clash at Franklin's Gardens Blues boss Dai Young has accused Saints' in-form scrum of deliberately not pushing straight and called on French referee Romain Poite to get to grips with it.
But West, who has put together the best scrum in the Aviva Premiership, vehemently defended his forwards and pointed out some misdemeanours from the Cardiff pack.
Young called on the referee 'to sort out Saints' tighthead because he just turns in all the time'.
West didn't want to get drawn into a war of words with Young, who won 51 caps for Wales as a prop, but was keen to point out just how legal his scrum, which has been tearing sides apart this season, is.
The former England hooker said: "I am amazed that a man with Dai Young's experience has come out with that.
"We have been complemented on our scrum this year on how legal we are. I speak to the referees' assessors most weeks and they are really pleased with how we are going.
"Our intention is to scrum straight and to dominate the opposition, we want to go forward.
"If you look at any of our games this season that is what you will see, the odd time that we have made a mistake we have been penalised for it."
West is confident referee Poite will not be influenced by Young's outburst and feels he is the best referee to have governing Saturday's scrum battle.
"We have got the role model for refereeing scrummaging this week in Mr Poite," said West.
"I think he has been pretty good over the last couple of years with how he refs the scrum. If anyone will make sure that things are going properly it will be him. I think he is really good in that area."
And West feels Cardiff have some tricks that the referee should be aware of.
"I don't want to get into a slanging match with Dai Young," said West.
"But you can watch scrummages that Cardif are involved with where their 20st tighthead prop is going backwards at a rate of knots. He is not doing that because he is being pushed, but because that is how they spin the scrum round."
West added: "We will see on the day.
"Our mentality will be the same as it always is.
"We want to hit and go straight and dominate the opposition. It will be a challenge and we will see who wins."
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/s...ts_west_hits_back_at_cardiff_claims_1_1808686
What a fetching photograph that is...
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY CARDIFF BLUES
Heineken Cup Round 3
Franklin's Gardens
Satuday, December 11th, 2010
Kick off 5:45pm
15 Ben Foden
14 Chris Ashton
13 Jon Clarke
12 James Downey
11 Paul Diggin
10 Stephen Myler
9 Ryan Powell
1 Soane Tonga'uiha
2 Dylan Hartley (capt)
3 Brian Mujati
4 Courtney Lawes
5 Christian Day
6 Phil Dowson
7 Tom Wood
8 Roger Wilson
Replacements
16 Brett Sharman
17 Regardt Dreyer
18 Tom Mercey
19 Mark Sorenson
20 Calum Clark
21 Lee Dickson
22 Shane Geraghty
23 Joe Ansbro
No Reihana?????
Heineken Cup Round 3
Franklin's Gardens
Satuday, December 11th, 2010
Kick off 5:45pm
15 Ben Foden
14 Chris Ashton
13 Jon Clarke
12 James Downey
11 Paul Diggin
10 Stephen Myler
9 Ryan Powell
1 Soane Tonga'uiha
2 Dylan Hartley (capt)
3 Brian Mujati
4 Courtney Lawes
5 Christian Day
6 Phil Dowson
7 Tom Wood
8 Roger Wilson
Replacements
16 Brett Sharman
17 Regardt Dreyer
18 Tom Mercey
19 Mark Sorenson
20 Calum Clark
21 Lee Dickson
22 Shane Geraghty
23 Joe Ansbro
No Reihana?????
And your Welshists for the evening will be:
15 Chris Czekaj
14 Richard Mustoe
13 Casey Laulala
12 Tom Shanklin
11 Tom James
10 Dan Parks
9 Richie Rees
8 Xavier Rush
7 Martyn Williams
6 Maama Molitika
5 Paul ***o (c)
4 Bradley Davies
3 Taufa'ao Filise
2 Gareth Williams
1 Gethin Jenkins
16 Rhys Williams
17 Scott Andrews
18 John Yapp
19 Michael Paterson
20 Sam Warburton
21 Tom Slater
22 Ceri Sweeney
23 Gavin Evans
Tiny v Jenkins will be tasty at the scrum and Williams should keep Wood quiet, but otherwise it's advantage to the home team - I never realised just how weak Cardiff looked on paper without Roberts.
4pts-0pts.
15 Chris Czekaj
14 Richard Mustoe
13 Casey Laulala
12 Tom Shanklin
11 Tom James
10 Dan Parks
9 Richie Rees
8 Xavier Rush
7 Martyn Williams
6 Maama Molitika
5 Paul ***o (c)
4 Bradley Davies
3 Taufa'ao Filise
2 Gareth Williams
1 Gethin Jenkins
16 Rhys Williams
17 Scott Andrews
18 John Yapp
19 Michael Paterson
20 Sam Warburton
21 Tom Slater
22 Ceri Sweeney
23 Gavin Evans
Tiny v Jenkins will be tasty at the scrum and Williams should keep Wood quiet, but otherwise it's advantage to the home team - I never realised just how weak Cardiff looked on paper without Roberts.
4pts-0pts.
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Has to be said that Saints do look a lot stronger from those teams, and home advantage too
I'd say a big win for Saints, but HEC rugby is unpredictable so who knows what'll happen
I'd say a big win for Saints, but HEC rugby is unpredictable so who knows what'll happen
TrueSlawter
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The cardiff team isnt that weak, I only know of 4 of the northampton guys as i dont watch the premiership often so can't really comment on them.. but the cardiff team isnt that weak tbh.
The front 5 looks ok with jenkins, davis and ***o all good players, rush, williams and molatika aint that bad from what i've seen over last season and this season. Parks can kick goals well and rees is good for fast ball.. Centre without roberts aint bad but it aint great, shanklin and laulala are both good so it isn't a huge blow. Mustoe James and Czekaj aint that bad either, Czekaj hasnt played badly this season and james has been on some form in the build up to the NZ game, not to sure on mustoe.
Tbh I think it'll be fairly close not really sure who'll win it but home advantage will help along with the fact (iirc) that northampton are on form in the league right now.
The front 5 looks ok with jenkins, davis and ***o all good players, rush, williams and molatika aint that bad from what i've seen over last season and this season. Parks can kick goals well and rees is good for fast ball.. Centre without roberts aint bad but it aint great, shanklin and laulala are both good so it isn't a huge blow. Mustoe James and Czekaj aint that bad either, Czekaj hasnt played badly this season and james has been on some form in the build up to the NZ game, not to sure on mustoe.
Tbh I think it'll be fairly close not really sure who'll win it but home advantage will help along with the fact (iirc) that northampton are on form in the league right now.
Hold on a second.... I thought he had a broken leg?
A preview from the most unlikely of sources:
An English City Proudly Gets Its Kicks From Rugby
By HUW RICHARDS
Published: December 10, 2010
NORTHHAMPTON, ENGLAND — Nowhere in Europe has better rugby been played, in a season that has offered the best entertainment in years, than Northampton.
The Saints, so called because of their location in the St. James district of the town, hold a comfortable lead in the English Premiership and are atop their pool as they enter round three of the Heineken European Cup on Saturday.
Full-back Ben Foden and wing Chris Ashton have drawn plenty of attention for their contributions, not least because they have also played a starring role in the English national team's resurgence — in both results and style. Yet even greater affection is felt among the fans who will pack the atmospheric Franklin's Gardens stadium to its 13,500 capacity for the visit of Cardiff on Saturday night for the third, less-publicized member of the Saints back three.
Paul Diggin, 25, is playing the best rugby of his life. Diggin, a wing, is the Saints' leading try-scorer, having touched down seven times in nine matches. Most of all, Saints followers recognize one of themselves: Somebody who, if he had not been talented enough as a player, would be sitting among them as a fan.
"I grew up about half a mile from the ground and all my family are from Northampton," Diggin said. "My Dad started bringing me to matches when I was at school, and all I ever wanted to be was a professional rugby player with the Saints."
Rugby usually plays second fiddle in most of the British communities where it coexists with soccer. Northampton's great local rival is Leicester, whose Tigers have been English rugby's dominant club for most of the last 20 years. Yet the Tigers are still outdrawn by the much less successful Leicester City soccer club.
Cardiff can, and often does, lay claim to the greatest history of any rugby club, with numerous cups and championships, a victory over the New Zealand All Blacks and a stream of legendary players. Yet it is heavily outdrawn by Cardiff City soccer club.
In Northampton, that pattern is reversed. Rugby rules, and soccer is not even close. The Saints average crowd of 13,420 for Premiership matches is almost exactly three times Northampton Town's Football League norm of 4,471. "When I was at school, the sports talk wasn't about football," Diggin said. "It was all, 'How did Saints get on ?"'
This passion brings other benefits. In a team of rising stars, none is brighter than Courtney Lawes, a 21-year-old lock forward. He moved to Northampton as a 4-year-old but, true to his London roots, was much more of a soccer fan. Had he stayed in London, he would probably have played soccer at school. In Northampton, it was rugby. "I first played when I was 13 and liked it from the start," he said.
Good judges have taken note of Lawes's speed, power and aggression and drawn comparisons to the England legend, Martin Johnson, now the national team manager. Johnson, whose fearsome looks conceal a self-deprecating sense of humor, has acknowledged the resemblance, while pointing out that Lawes, at 6-foot-7 and 229 pounds, or 2 meters and 104 kilograms, is "bigger, stronger, quicker and better looking than me."
Local passion and talent will, though, only take you so far unless it is properly used. It has been only three years since Northampton was relegated for a season from the Premiership.
Diggin, who joined the Saints when he was 16, credited the resurgence to head coach Jim Mallinder and assistants Dorian West and Paul Grayson.
"There are only four rules," he said. "Right place, right time, right kit, right attitude. You hear about authoritarian coaches at other clubs, but you don't get that here. We're encouraged to think and to take responsibility for ourselves."
Typical of that is the active role players take in preparing video analysis of opponents. "We aren't just spoon-fed," Diggin said. "We work with the analyst and pick out what we think is important. It means we have to think harder and end up understanding better."
Cardiff will have done their homework on Northampton — and Lawes admitted to being aware that his mounting profile means opponents are varying their game against him. The visitors will certainly note the strength of Lawes and the rest of Northampton's forwards.
The Saints' brilliant back play may win headlines, but Diggin emphasized the forward foundation.
"When you are playing behind a dominant pack, everything is much easier," he said.
Weeks 3 and 4, with home and away matches against the same opponent, are the hinge on which the six-match Heineken pool stage pivots.
Cardiff gets its shot at Saints on home soil next week. Before that, under the lights Saturday at Franklin's Gardens, it faces perhaps the greatest current challenge in British club rugby — playing not just a team but also a town.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/11/sports/rugby/11iht-rugby11.html?_r=2&ref=global
The bloody New York Times know [strike]Northampton[/strike] the sport of Rugby exists!!!!!!!
An English City Proudly Gets Its Kicks From Rugby
By HUW RICHARDS
Published: December 10, 2010
NORTHHAMPTON, ENGLAND — Nowhere in Europe has better rugby been played, in a season that has offered the best entertainment in years, than Northampton.
The Saints, so called because of their location in the St. James district of the town, hold a comfortable lead in the English Premiership and are atop their pool as they enter round three of the Heineken European Cup on Saturday.
Full-back Ben Foden and wing Chris Ashton have drawn plenty of attention for their contributions, not least because they have also played a starring role in the English national team's resurgence — in both results and style. Yet even greater affection is felt among the fans who will pack the atmospheric Franklin's Gardens stadium to its 13,500 capacity for the visit of Cardiff on Saturday night for the third, less-publicized member of the Saints back three.
Paul Diggin, 25, is playing the best rugby of his life. Diggin, a wing, is the Saints' leading try-scorer, having touched down seven times in nine matches. Most of all, Saints followers recognize one of themselves: Somebody who, if he had not been talented enough as a player, would be sitting among them as a fan.
"I grew up about half a mile from the ground and all my family are from Northampton," Diggin said. "My Dad started bringing me to matches when I was at school, and all I ever wanted to be was a professional rugby player with the Saints."
Rugby usually plays second fiddle in most of the British communities where it coexists with soccer. Northampton's great local rival is Leicester, whose Tigers have been English rugby's dominant club for most of the last 20 years. Yet the Tigers are still outdrawn by the much less successful Leicester City soccer club.
Cardiff can, and often does, lay claim to the greatest history of any rugby club, with numerous cups and championships, a victory over the New Zealand All Blacks and a stream of legendary players. Yet it is heavily outdrawn by Cardiff City soccer club.
In Northampton, that pattern is reversed. Rugby rules, and soccer is not even close. The Saints average crowd of 13,420 for Premiership matches is almost exactly three times Northampton Town's Football League norm of 4,471. "When I was at school, the sports talk wasn't about football," Diggin said. "It was all, 'How did Saints get on ?"'
This passion brings other benefits. In a team of rising stars, none is brighter than Courtney Lawes, a 21-year-old lock forward. He moved to Northampton as a 4-year-old but, true to his London roots, was much more of a soccer fan. Had he stayed in London, he would probably have played soccer at school. In Northampton, it was rugby. "I first played when I was 13 and liked it from the start," he said.
Good judges have taken note of Lawes's speed, power and aggression and drawn comparisons to the England legend, Martin Johnson, now the national team manager. Johnson, whose fearsome looks conceal a self-deprecating sense of humor, has acknowledged the resemblance, while pointing out that Lawes, at 6-foot-7 and 229 pounds, or 2 meters and 104 kilograms, is "bigger, stronger, quicker and better looking than me."
Local passion and talent will, though, only take you so far unless it is properly used. It has been only three years since Northampton was relegated for a season from the Premiership.
Diggin, who joined the Saints when he was 16, credited the resurgence to head coach Jim Mallinder and assistants Dorian West and Paul Grayson.
"There are only four rules," he said. "Right place, right time, right kit, right attitude. You hear about authoritarian coaches at other clubs, but you don't get that here. We're encouraged to think and to take responsibility for ourselves."
Typical of that is the active role players take in preparing video analysis of opponents. "We aren't just spoon-fed," Diggin said. "We work with the analyst and pick out what we think is important. It means we have to think harder and end up understanding better."
Cardiff will have done their homework on Northampton — and Lawes admitted to being aware that his mounting profile means opponents are varying their game against him. The visitors will certainly note the strength of Lawes and the rest of Northampton's forwards.
The Saints' brilliant back play may win headlines, but Diggin emphasized the forward foundation.
"When you are playing behind a dominant pack, everything is much easier," he said.
Weeks 3 and 4, with home and away matches against the same opponent, are the hinge on which the six-match Heineken pool stage pivots.
Cardiff gets its shot at Saints on home soil next week. Before that, under the lights Saturday at Franklin's Gardens, it faces perhaps the greatest current challenge in British club rugby — playing not just a team but also a town.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/11/sports/rugby/11iht-rugby11.html?_r=2&ref=global
The bloody New York Times know [strike]Northampton[/strike] the sport of Rugby exists!!!!!!!
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