Northampton v Perpignan

[An Tarbh]

So 5 days that could make or break Northampton's season, well European anyway.

Win here and we'll get the showdown at Thomond we all wanted at the start of the season, but slip up and it's all a damp squib.

Can't see them losing though and it's hard to see Perpignan being up for it either.

 

[Olyy]

Teams:


Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Bruce Reihana, 10 Shane Geraghty, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Phil Dowson, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Jon Vickers, 19 Christian Day, 20 Neil Best, 21 Alan Dickens, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Chris Mayor.

Perpignan: 15 Philip Burger, 14 Adrien Plante, 13 Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, 12 Gavin Hume, 11 Christophe Manas, 10 Steve Meyer, 9 Florian Cazenave, 8 Grégory Le Corvec, 7 Jean-Pierre Perez, 6 Guilhem Guirado, 5 Rimas Alvarez Kairelis, 4 Yoann Vivalda, 3 Benoit Bourrust, 2 Marius Tincu, 1 Sebastien Chobet.
Replacements: 16 Charles Geli, 17 Jérôme Schuster, 18 Kisi Pulu, 19 Robins Tchale Watchou, 20 David Mele, 21 Joffrey Michel, 22 Nicolas Laharrague, 23 Yannick Parent.





Looking forward to this match almost as much as Sale/Blues tomorrow,
Always had a soft spot for Saints, and USAP are the team i follow en Francais
Can't see anything other than a Saints win though, perp seem to be in a bit of a poor-form-rut

 

[MunsterMan]

Should be a 5 pointer for Saints

 

[Bullitt]

How strong is that USAP side? Anywhere near a 1st team?

Also, nice to see Reohana back to fitness, he's been missed in recent weeks. 3 or 4 try BPs missed in the Premiership is testament to this.

 

[shtove]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bullitt @ Jan 16 2010, 11:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

How strong is that USAP side? Anywhere near a 1st team?

Also, nice to see Reohana back to fitness, he's been missed in recent weeks. 3 or 4 try BPs missed in the Premiership is testament to this.[/b]

Saints don't do BPs.

 

[Gavin]

Does anyone have a stream for the match? I hope it will be a good contest.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Try myP2P.eu, otherwise maybe here:

http://tv-cheveyo-hd.e-monsite.com/categor...ve,4158087.html

clic on "canal+ live" link

 

[Bullitt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gavin @ Jan 17 2010, 11:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Does anyone have a stream for the match? I hope it will be a good contest.[/b]

Much as I'd normally agree, I want to see a demolition job and carry some momentum into next week!

 

[Gavin]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bullitt @ Jan 18 2010, 01:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gavin @ Jan 17 2010, 11:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does anyone have a stream for the match? I hope it will be a good contest.[/b]

Much as I'd normally agree, I want to see a demolition job and carry some momentum into next week!
[/b][/quote]
I could see Northampton smashing Perpignan. After Munster's bonus point win yesterday, Northampton need to win, and win well.

 

[An Tarbh]

bonus points aren't really relevant, cause 4 points today and again next week coupled with a losing bp for Munster will see Saints through on the head to head. There's also a pretty good chance of getting a home draw even with 21 points, granted they need a few things to go their way but we're not talking about major upsets here.

However given the look of that Perpignan side you'd be hard pushed to bet against Saints getting the bp.

 

[Bullitt]

Theory goes that if Saints get the BP win today (and Quins upset Toulouse or the O's do a number on Leicester) that Munster will only need a LBP next week.

A scenario I could live with.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Jan 17 2010, 01:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

However given the look of that Perpignan side you'd be hard pushed to bet against Saints getting the bp.[/b]

I know f-all about the USAP squad... What is this one like compared to full strength?

 

[Bullitt]

The Saints return to European action this afternoon with the visit of Perpignan to Franklin's Gardens.
Following Munster's bonus point win in Treviso yesterday, it is vital that the Saints keep pace with the Pool One leaders, however the French Top 14 champions are formidable opponents.

Perpignan will be looking for the double over the Saints after victory in round 2 at the Stade Aime Giral but Jim Mallinder's side iwll no doubt be fired up, on a run of nine straight wins.

If you can't make it this afternoon you can follow live updates via the club's Twitter feed:

www.twitter.com/SaintsRugby

Confirmed Teams:

Northampton Saints - Foden; Ashton, Clarke, Downey, Reihana; Geraghty, Dickson; Tonga'uiha, Hartley (capt), Mujati; F Lobbe, Kruger; Dowson, Best, Wilson

Reps - Sharman, Waller, Vickers, Day, S Gray, Dickens, Myler, Mayor

USA Perpignan - Burger; Plante, Grandclaude, Hume, Michel; Meyer, Cazenave; Chobet, Guirado, Bourrust; Vivalda, Kairelis; Guiry, Perez (capt), Le Corvec

Reps - Geli, Schuster, Pulu, Watchou, Mele, Sid, Laharrague, Parent

---------------------------------

I would prefer Bonorino in the scrum and Myler at standoff, but otherwise I like the looks!

 

[An Tarbh]

only half the squad that were involved in the first game against the Saints are included today and only 3 of them start, but when you look at the players who started that night who are not in the match 23, the likes of Mermoz, Marty, Poricol, Durand, Freshwater, Mas, Britz, Tuilagi. You take those players out of any side and you're gonna be struggling.

I don't know a huge amount about this team, seen Cazenave play for the French under-20s and he didn't impress, more flash than substance.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bullitt @ Jan 17 2010, 01:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Theory goes that if Saints get the BP win today (and Quins upset Toulouse or the O's do a number on Leicester) that Munster will only need a LBP next week.[/b]

but that's surely only for a runner up spot as in that scenario Saints would have 22 and Munster 21. The result between Quins and Toulouse and what happens in pool 3 isn't relevant as 1 side looks guaranteed to get a runner-up spot out of that group. For Munster to get a best runner-up they're depending on Leinster to beat London Irish and preferably deny them a bonus point, if they don't it's down to tries scored and at the moment Munster have the edge on that front, there's only 1 between Leinster and Munster, so that could all change next week.

 

[Olyy]

From what i've heard, this is pretty much a 2nds team for Perp, as they're concentrating on the Top14 now, so resting big players etc. as they've not exactly got of to a flying start

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Olyy @ Jan 17 2010, 02:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

From what i've heard, this is pretty much a 2nds team for Perp, as they're concentrating on the Top14 now, so resting big players etc. as they've not exactly got of to a flying start[/b]

I'd imagine they're not too keen on this one as a win would more than likely see them coming second in the group if things go to form and then they've the extra burden of the Challenge Cup.

Lawes has been ruled out and Neil Best comes, just announced now on Sky.

 

[An Tarbh]

first glance you'd say that's not a try but great effort from Geraghty to get the boot in.

 

[An Tarbh]

quality from Foden and good support line from Ashton to finish it off.

13-0 Saints.

 

[Olyy]

Superb run by foden to put ashton in for a try

 

[gingergenius]

Great try. f*** me, Foden and Ashton look **** hot in attack. Great straighten from Clarke too.