Northampton vs. Leicester

[St Helens RLFC]

Well, I'm making my (competetive) rugby union debut on saturday afternoon, live on Sky. I won't have a clue whats going on but you don't need to know the rules to know a royster doyster of a rivalry when you see one.

Can't wait!

 

[Bullitt]

With the ban for Mr. Reliable Roger Wilson for the next 5 weeks, Saints have a weakened backrow going into the fixture. On the flipside, the backline is starting to gel together rather nicely.

My predicted Saints lineup;

1. Tonga'huia
2. Hartley
3. Murray
4. Kruger/Day
5. Lobbe
6. Easter
7. Gray
8. Hopley
9. Dickson
10. Myler
11. Lamont
12. Downey
13. (HRH) Jon Clarke
14. Diggin
15. Foden

16. Shields
17. Smith
18. Day/Kruger
19. Lewitt
20. Spencer
21. Reihana
22. Ashton

And for Leicester

1. Bully
2. Thug
3. Can't prop
4. England reject
5. Retard
6. Croft
7. Cheat
8. Cheat
9. Plays second fiddle to a banned & over rated SH
10. Over-rated pet of Rob Andrew
11. Decent young winger
12. Over-rated All Blacks reject
13. Islander
14. Islander
15. Ireland Reject

16. Don't care
17. Don't care
18. Don't care
19. Don't care
20. Don't care
21. Don't care
22. Don't care



Oh, shut up. It's the derby. Like I give a monkeys about being friendly.


Saints to win by a million.

 

[St Helens RLFC]

Whats all this bonus points business about?

 

[Bullitt]

The Rugby union bonus points system is a method of deciding table points from a rugby union match. It was implemented in order to encourage attacking play throughout a match, to discourage repetitive goal-kicking, and to reward teams for "coming close" in losing efforts.

* No points are awarded for losing, unless bonus points are involved.
* As few as 4 points, but as many as 7 points (6 points in Franceâ€"see below), can be awarded to the two teams combined. No team can get more than 5 points in a match.

Under the standard system, points are awarded as follows:

* 4 points for a win.
* 2 points for a draw.
* 1 "bonus" point for scoring 4 tries (or more).
* 1 "bonus" point for losing by 7 points (or fewer).

 

[St Helens RLFC]

So in theory Saints could be well back in the playoff hunt with a good win?

 

[redunderthebed]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (St Helens RLFC @ Jan 8 2009, 07:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Well, I'm making my (competetive) rugby union debut on saturday afternoon, live on Sky. I won't have a clue whats going on but you don't need to know the rules to know a royster doyster of a rivalry when you see one.

Can't wait![/b]

You'll find as a RL fan daniel that you'll get 70-80% its the other 20% that you wont get and if you keep on following it you will.

C'mon Leicester. :bleh!:

 

[Bullitt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (St Helens RLFC @ Jan 7 2009, 09:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

So in theory Saints could be well back in the playoff hunt with a good win?[/b]

Plausable, but unless they do something about their away form, unlikely.

With Saracens likely to get a big win over Bristol, a Northampton win this week will only get them a leapfrog against Wasps (who will struggle against Bath looking for retrebution after Welford Road). Saints first priority this year is survival, then maybe (just maybe) HEC qualification. A top 4 finish is mathematically possible, but realistically out the question.

 

[Vambo]

Is Crane fit for this? If so then Croft, Moody & Crane are gonna walk all over Stains.
I'll be at home jeering and whistling every time 'Oh when the stains....' starts up. Old habits die hard

 

[Vambo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ Jan 7 2009, 09:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

And for Leicester

1. Bully
2. Thug
3. Can't prop
4. England reject
5. Retard
6. Croft
7. Cheat
8. Cheat
9. Plays second fiddle to a banned & over rated SH
10. Over-rated pet of Rob Andrew
11. Decent young winger
12. Over-rated All Blacks reject
13. Islander
14. Islander
15. Ireland Reject[/b]

Quality post :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[getofmeland]

Well I will be at work all day Saturday, whilst you do this... FUN!!!

 

[Bullitt]

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LEICESTER
Guinness Premiership Round 12
Franklin's Gardens
Saturday, January 10th, 2009
Kick off 5pm
15 Ben Foden
14 Paul Diggin
13 Jon Clarke
12 James Downey
11 Sean Lamont
10 Stephen Myler
9 Lee Dickson
1 Tom Smith
2 Dylan Hartley
3 Euan Murray
4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe (capt)
5 Juandre Kruger
6 Mark Easter
7 Scott Gray
8 Mark Hopley

Replacements
16 Paul Shields
17 Soane Tonga'uiha
18 Christian Day
19 Courtney Lawes
20 Bruce Reihana
21 Carlos Spencer
22 Chris Mayor

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ Jan 9 2009, 12:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LEICESTER
Guinness Premiership Round 12
Franklin's Gardens
Saturday, January 10th, 2009

12 James Downey[/b]

How has James Downey done at Northampton? I always liked him as a player during his stints with Leinster, Munster and especially Connacht. He was far from a star player but got about his job with a minimum amount of fuss and rarely if ever let his team down.

 

[Bullitt]

Generally a sucess, he's been the defencive rock in the backline for a good while and makes a few useful linebreaks every game. He's been a good link man between Spencer/Myler and Clarke.

 

[St Helens RLFC]

Quid on Myler first try I think.

 

[Bullitt]

A quid the other way says Diggin.

 

[Sir Speedy]

Agreed with Mite. Northampton have been poor away from home in this comp, so I think the most they could hope for is Heineken Cup qualification, and at the very least, avoiding relegation.
Saying that, Leicester will do well to win this game...

 

[danny]

The Saints are unbeaten at home this season but there pack is a bit underpowered (like my own team) so ive heard. Ill go for a narrow Leicester win by less than 7. Moody to return for 6N is looking more likely with every game!

 

[Bullitt]

Moody for England you say? Liability for England.... Hoooooooooooooooooooooo!


As for the Underpowered pack, Murray,Hartly and Smith in the front row to me is solid as a rock. Kruger and Lobbe will provide more then enough grunt.

 

[danny]

I think perhaps Moody gives a few too many penalties away but there is no doubting hes a good open side. As for the underpowered pack I was going on the games I have watched on TV and when The Saints got stuffed by Gloucesters underpowered pack. You are a NHampton fan so I bow to your superior judgement on your team but from what ive seen its a weakness.

 

[Bullitt]

That Gloucester trip had 3 features which would make Saints pack look poor; Joe Grey, Christian Day and Kingsholm...

-Grey is only 18 years old (or thereabouts) and not ready for top flight rugby just yet; An outstanding prospect but far too green.
-Day is a superb lineout specialist but doesn't have the presence on the pitch of Kruger.
-Away from Franklins Gardens, Saints have an uncanny ability to not play as a team. When at Pooh Corner, Saints pack fronted up and the side defended well, but a few normally forgivable errors (and a late, late intercept try) let the game slip away. At home they're a very different prospect; Quins will be testament to this.