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Worcester vs Saints Fri 18th November 19:45
Topic Started: Nov 16 2016, 01:10 PM (785 Views)
ElmaFudd
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Sixways, great Stadium, home to Worcester Warrior a rugby team not so dissimilar to our own. A team that has a great following but often under achieves. Last seasons promoted team from the Championship who caused an upset against us when we visited them for our opening match of the season.

This season they have again started poorly picking up just one win and sitting 11th in the league. However Saints season has not exactly been on fire with just 3 wins out of 7 matches played in the Premiership. What is possibly more heartening is that 2 of those wins have been away from home but I cannot help remembering that game last year. Saints were poor for much of the game but with a few minutes remaining were in the lead. However a silly penalty at the death and we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and our season never really recovered. Very similar story to that of this season so far So I think you can forgive me for not feeling particularity optimistic about this encounter.

Saints must start picking up the wins and in order to do that they are going to have to raise their game from recent performances. The lack of King Lewis is the greatest concern as the majority of good things from our season to date have come through his play. We cannot doubt that we will miss the likes of Lawes, Hartley, North and Wood but Picamoles is by far and away our biggest loss this weekend. so who will play instead?

I suspect we will see a starting 15 lineup something like

1. A Waller
2. M Haywood
3. K Brooks
4. C Day
5. J Craig
6. J Gibson
7. C Clark (if fit)
8. S Dickinson
9. L Dickson
10. S Myler
11. J Elliott
12. R Hutchinson
13. L Burrell
14. T Collins
15. B Foden (C)

Only a guess of course and on paper I would fancy a team like this to put in a winning shift against an out of form Worcester but we are lacking confidence and I can see this match deteriorating into a low scoring slug fest which at this moment is too close for me to call. If I had to put my neck on the block I would go for a Saints win by 5 points. but without a BP. Here's hoping the loungsters performances in the AW matches produce a lift and we play some real heads up rugby.....


It's my hope and I'm clinging to it.

Good luck and safe travels all who are making the trip down there on Friday. Keep singing and keep the faith.

COYS
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big mac returns
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We've had a bad start no doubt, but wuss are a bad team, and without their only real threat, ben teo, i expect us to win well. they have some good players no doubt, noticeably dowson who was amazing v us at the beginning of last season.

in terms of the team i think yours is fairly strong.

Wood has been released so i expect him to start. id prefer him to play 8, gibson at 6 and clark at 7. but i ssupect dickinson will start 8, with wood and clake on the flanks, maybe gibson to start as hes been very impressive in the last two games.

I think paterson will start, craig was very good last week but if fit id expect paterson day combo, with craig on the bench,

expect groom to start at 9 and i think k pisi could come back.

I think the team will be:

A waller, hayward, brookes, Day, paterson, Wood, Clark (could see gibson starting with clark on the bench), Dickinson. Groom, Myler, elliot Hutch Luther Pisi foden.

E waller clare Hill craig gibson dickson olver Wilson

however id select.

A Waller, Hayward, Brookes Day Paterson Gibson Clark Wood Dickson myler Elliot Hutch Luther Collins Foden

E Waller Clare Hill Craig Ludlem Groom Olver G Pisi
Edited by big mac returns, Nov 16 2016, 01:54 PM.
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ElmaFudd
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Dodnt know woody had been released so yes he will almost certainly start. I nearly went with Patterson myself but I like Craigs lineout work better. I deliberately didnt do bench choices and I suspect the likes of Ludlam, Olver and Nutley will be included there. Will the Pisi's be back fir Friday do you think?
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big mac returns
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as far as i'm aware the Pisi brothers along with the likes of A Waller, hayward, brookes, groom, smyler were just rested for the LV cup games and therefore will be in contention
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happyclapper
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Samoa don't have any games so I'd expect us to have a full squad available bar England, Wales and France.
So all bar Hartley, Lawes, Harrison, North and Louis available bar injuries.

What I'd like to see:
A Waller, Heywood, Brookes, Day, Patterson, Wood, Clark, Dickinson, Groom/Dicko, Myler, Collins, Hutch, G Pisi, K Pisi, Foden

What I expect to see:
A Waller, Heywood, Brookes, Day, Patterson, Wood, Clark, Dickinson, Groom/Dicko, Myler, Wilson/Ace, Luther, G Pisi, K Pisi, Foden

Whether he starts Dicko or Groom is an irrelevance really they're both on a par at the moment.
I hope he goes with Hutch but suspect Luther will start with either Wilson or Ace on the other wing.
Away game, experience might win out. With some youth and pace on the bench.
Edited by happyclapper, Nov 16 2016, 05:31 PM.
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ElmaFudd
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Latest info on Clark is that he may not be available for the match so could be wood Dickinson gibson
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happyclapper
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Wood at 6 or 7 do you think?
I think Jim prefers Gibson at 7...
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ElmaFudd
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Pick a card, any card....
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big mac returns
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often they just scrumdown on a side of the scrum irrelevant of whether its openside or blindisde. i.e wood will always be on the left regardless
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Wibble
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No idea what to expect. All depends on the team picked but i would prefer to see Groom and hutch starting if i had the choice.

Not that long to wait for a team sheet so i will respond to that rather than speculate too much :-)
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big mac returns
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NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY WORCESTER
Aviva Premiership Round 8
Sixways
Friday, November 18th, 2016
Kick off 7:45pm
15 Ben Foden
14 Jamie Elliott
13 Luther Burrell
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 James Wilson
10 Stephen Myler
9 Lee Dickson
1 Alex Waller
2 Mikey Haywood
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Michael Paterson
5 Christian Day
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Calum Clark
8 Sam Dickinson (capt)

16 Charlie Clare
17 Ethan Waller
18 Paul Hill
19 James Craig
20 Ben Nutley
21 Tom Kessell
22 Sam Olver
23 Tom Collins


great to see clark back! virtually what we expected
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ElmaFudd
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not a bad guess on the team. Feeling quite chuffed with myself :D
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happyclapper
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A good mixture of what I wanted and what I thought he'd do.
Great to see Hutch there.
Not surprised Wilson is in.

I can only assume the Samoans are still away somewhere?

I assume Wood is not in as he didn't train with the squad all week, it would be disruptive and we have plenty of options.
Also, he did do well against SA and maybe Eddie has asked him not to play so he is available for Argentina? Just a thought as Eddie said there would be no cheap caps but he does want to take a look at some players so maybe that's why Wood is released so he can take another look at Hughes and T.
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ElmaFudd
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Well Samoa did play last week but not sure if they have another match or not. Either way integrating returning internationals back into the team immediately has historically proven a bad move for us so I'm not too worried by their absence.
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Wibble
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Looks a good team. Very pleased for Hutch. I know we have a few less options at the moment but he deserves to be there.

Pack looks competitive, should do very well in the Line out. Also pleased to see Olver, kessell and Colins on the bench. Be good to get these guys more prem game time.
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big mac returns
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Looks like there's injury concerns over b vunipola and hughes for england, so maybe wood has been drafted in as cover
the Pisi brothers are with Samoa after all, they are playing Georgia
Edited by big mac returns, Nov 17 2016, 05:22 PM.
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happyclapper
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Some optimistic comments on Wuss forum, one chap saying with the team they've put out this is a match they "could or should expect to win".

Looking at the two sides, I'd say with Dicko/Myler we have the edge in the backs.
And I'd expect our pack to bury theirs into the dirt.

Play the percentages, kick the 3 points, build pressure.
We've been guilty for a couple of seasons now of trying to get bonus points in the first half. Let's get the win and the BPs will take care of themselves.
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big mac returns
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That chap sounds deluded, that Worcester team is terrible!
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happyclapper
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Massive egg our our faces Mac if they win though!!

I agree I'd take our entire pack over theirs, including Doncha - he's old now.
I'd take our 9/10 over theirs.
I'll give them the edge at 13 and one of the wings.
And we'll call it an honourable draw at 15.

But all in all, on paper, we're much the better side. As the bookies think as well:
19:45
Worcester v Northampton
Worcester
7/4
Draw
16/1
Northampton
1/2
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ElmaFudd
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I disagree Mac. Why wouldn't, Worcester fans see this as a winnable game. They are at home against a miss-firing Saints team. We probably have more pressure on us than Worcester this match at worst Worcester are going to finish 11th unless Bristol have a dramatic upturn this would be far less of an ignomy for them than if it would be for Saints if we finish in a similar position. If we loose then we will be looking at even more criticism from pundits and supporters alike and the pressure on the players and coaches will grow still further.

Man for man I agree we are be better but as Saints have demonstrated so well this season a team has to play as a cohesive unit with some sort of game plan and we can hardly claim to have done much of either this season.

I for one won't write of Worcester until the final whistle and we have outscored them and I hope our players will have the same mindset. We can win but we have to earn it with a good team performance.

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happyclapper
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Elms I completely agree. I think the delusion from the Wuss fan was the "should expect" to win. Yes, it's a game they could win. And should probably target given our recent form.
But on paper we are the better side.
Our form is better.
History is on our side.
The bookies are on our side.
But at 7/4, Wuss are not written off.
And nor should they be.

Until the final whistle is over and we're ahead on the scoreboard, I agree.

However, I expect us to win this and anything less will be very disappointing.
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big mac returns
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"should win" is deluded imo. Only team I think they should win against is Bristol. And they should beat falcons at sixways. However wuss are a poor side, without tei they're an abysmal side. If we lose this game ill be very very surprised and annoyed.

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ElmaFudd
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I reat my case Mac. Poor Worcester team which could and should have won. Real issues to address for us I think.
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happyclapper
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I only caught the last 10 mins on Radio Northampton - my first time listening and I was pleasantly impressed by the commentary.
Sounds like we spent most of the second half defending but that Wuss didn't really threaten until that last minute try.
Anyone go or listen to the whole thing?

From what the commentators said we were good for the win but Wuss deserved their LBP.
I have to agree with a last minute kick to win it, it did sound like we dodged a bullet.

The thing that amused me most was one of the commentators saying that Clark and Dickinson were very similar players. I chuckled at the thought of Mac's blood boiling and steam coming from his ears.

A win is a win...
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big mac returns
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Wasn't able to listen cause I'm abroad but phewwweww. By sounds of things we need some form of change. Need an attack coach

Dickinson Clark same players.......regardless of opinion of ability that's just inaccurate ha

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flanker
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I listened on the radio. We were very poor first half and commentators couldn't see how we could win it. Lack of confidence, no imagination, more concerned about not losing to Wuss than winning. Said that Wuss looked like they wanted to win it more and working harder. Second half we were better. Nutley came on and had a good game. Burrell played well. Referee bit inexperienced and intimidated by the crowd. Potential ten point turn round in the last minute!



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ElmaFudd
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Having not seen the match I can only go in what was reported. I find it very worrying that we are not able to score trys. Once again it sounded like our attack was toothess and not creative.

I'll take the win and hope for a massive improvement on Friday night but I have to say I'm not looking forwards to the match.
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Wibble
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On the plus side, we are winning away in winter. The bad side is we seem to lack any invention. Then again we dont have Louis Harry or North playing and they have been the only creative players this year... oh and Groom. So if we get those 4 back plus the England boys we might look better.
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Onward
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Sorry chaps but we have been hoping for a 'massive improvement' every game for about the last two years now. Very depressing to just about scrape a one point win against second bottom club.

Maybe we should look at some Italian players after today?
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ElmaFudd
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I agree Onwards. Very depressed with the way we played and something needs to be done, just what?

We have to look at coaching in my opinion and we can't do much about that during the season so for now we need a new coach to replace Kinga and hope the players can build confidence and somehow finish top 6 for a place in Europe next season. Personally I've written this season off already.
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