Premiership Preview - Gloucester v Northampton Saints

 

They say that rugby is a results driven business – which is true, because otherwise you'd have all sorts of nonsense in the Premiership.  The quest for results is driven by a single phrase – Winning is everything. It is that mantra that has led Leicester to 10 separate titles and led the entertaining but ultimately inferior London Welsh side back into the Championship.  And it's a mantra that Nigel Davies will be acutely aware of at the moment.

Despite having a backline so silky it makes Cheryl Cole's hair look like Geoff Capes' beard in comparison, they've been on the end of two disappointing losses in their first two fixtures – firstly against Sale and then a weak later at Saracens, where Nick Wood's attempt to remove a speck of dust from Jacques Burger's face with his boot saw him spend 79 minutes on the bench and condemned his side to face an enormous Saracens side with just 14 men.  Despite this though, there have been flashes – just flashes – of what this backline can do, with the Freddie Burns and Billy Twelvetrees axis looking almost telepathic at times.  But against Northampton, it is the pack that needs to muscle up.

The Saints can strut into the West Country with 2 impressive wins under their belt, earned in entirely different circumstances.  The first, against Exeter, was a free flowing exhibition of running rugby, with Luther Burrell and Sam Dickinson providing serious thrust into the attack, whilst their win at the Stoop against Harlequins was effectively a scrap in a puddle.  With better weather though, the visitors will be looking forward to getting big George North into the game more and setting what is now a ludicrously dangerous back division, with the magnificent Kahn Fotuali'I at the trigger.

Is there a hope for a Gloucester team low on its luck?  There is.  For the first time in a while, that Saints set piece just looks a tad vulnerable, with the rhino-sized holes left by Soane Tongahui'a and Brian Mujati being pretty difficult to replace – especially given that Alex Corbisiero is being rested this weekend.  We know about the Cherry and Whites' pretty boys, but now it's time for the big lads – spurred on by the shed – to take it to their Saints counterparts.  If they can put the visitors under pressure in the tight and force them to play from deep, there's every chance of the Kingsholm faithful witnessing a brilliant victory.

Nigel Davies will be praying for the likes of Qera, Savage, Kvesic and Kalemefomi to stand up this game.  Entertainment is no longer good enough – only results will do.

Gloucester Team News

Elliott Stooke makes his first Premiership start for Gloucester and partners Tom Savage in the second-row. In other changes Dan Murphy starts in place of the suspended Nick Wood at loosehead prop, and Jimmy Cowan get the nod at scrum half replacing Tavis Knoyle. On the bench, Shaun Knight and Jonny May are both named in the matchday squad for the first time this season.

Starting Line up:  Cook; Sharples, Trinder, Twelvetrees, Simpson-Daniel; Burns, Cowan; Murphy, Dawidiuk, Harden, Savage (capt), Stooke, Kvesic, Qera, Kalamafoni.

Subs: Britton, Thomas, Knight, James, Morgan, Robson, Tindall, May.

Key Player

Freddie Burns.  The talented fly half has impressed despite being on the back end of two losses, and he will need to be at his most mature if he is to guide his side to victory against a ferociously physical and fast Northampton side.  Stephen Myler remains the one question mark in Saints' backline – although he is looking more assured all the time – and Burns should take the opportunity to play flat, in Myler's face, and bring the likes of Kalamafomi and Qera into the line off his shoulder.  Saints now have a creative spark edge to them, but Burns has the ability to douse that with a smart kicking game – if he wins the territory, his side pick up their first win of the season.  And he may just pick up an England 10 shirt.

 

Northampton Saints Team News

Northampton rest Alex Corbisiero as part of the EPS agreement with Alex Waller starting. Wing Jamie Elliott makes his first Premiership start of the season, while Ken Pisi and Courtney Lawes start on the bench.

Starting Line up: Foden; Elliott, Wilson, Burrell, North; Myler, Fotuali'i; Alex Waller, Hartley (capt), Mercey, Manoa, Day, Wood, Clark, Dickson.

Subs: Haywood, Ethan Waller, Denman, Lawes, Dowson, Dickson, G. Pisi, K. Pisi.

Key Player

Kahn Fotuali'i.  At some point last year, it was announced that this bloke was the best 9 playing rugby in the northern hemisphere – and it's easy to see why.  The Samoan has the whole package – intelligence, quick feet, lightening pass, abrasive physicality, a smart kicking game and a relatively sensible haircut.  Lee Dickson has long been a sound operator for the East Midlanders but the Islander brings some real flair and X-Factor to an otherwise predictable half-back combination.  Last week, Kahn performed admirably in monsoon-like conditions at the Stoop, but this time around – with a better weather forecast – the Samoan has a real opportunity to dictate play and bring the exciting outside backs into the game.

 

Key Battle

Tom Savage v Samu Manoa.  The young and versatile lock was an interesting selection as skipper by Nigel Davies, but he's had a rough start to his tenure with 2 disappointing defeats.  It will be a test of his resolve to rally his troops and really take it to Northampton from the off, and do his best to disrupt the lineout – the launchpad of the Saints' game.  Most of all though, he will be tasked with keep the human missile Samu Manoa tied up in the breakdown to stop him from causing havoc elsewhere.  If Manoa gets on the rumble and starts getting into the minds – and chests – of Burns and Twelvetrees, it's game over for the hosts.

Prediction

Gloucester have had a difficult start to the season but they are in way, shape or form a bad side.  One poor – make that terrible – day at the office at home to Sale and one moment of madness – make that insanity – from Nick Wood, may have left them without a win, but there is no doubting the quality that oozes from this team – in particular from numbers 6 to 15.  That said, Nigel Davies will be acutely aware that he will be judged on results, and he is facing a Saints side coming in off the back of two impressive wins against quality opposition.  Kingsholm will be fired up for this one, but the area to target Saints now is in the set piece and in the tight – and I don't think the Cherry and Whites have the pack to do that.  Saints by 4.

What else is happening across England in the Premiership this weekend?

Worcester Warriors v Harlequins:  Dean Ryan has been spouting off about how referees hate his side this week, but the fact is that the Warriors are lucky not to have seen more yellow cards this season.  Quins haven't been at their best but should have enough about them to see off the threat of the home side.  Quins by 11.

Sale Sharks v London Wasps:  Salford on a Friday night is never a pleasant evening out for visiting sides and Steve Diamond will have been even more wound up than usual about this fixture.  That said, Wasps have played pretty well in their first 2 matches, despite suffering losses, and they have a good shot at getting their first win tonight.  Wasps by 3.

Leicester Tigers v Newcastle Falcons:  The Tigers welcome back their big guns in the shape of Toby Flood, Ben Youngs and Manu "Bunny" Tuilagi and this alone should be too much for Dean Richards' men.  I expect a pretty big score here.  Tigers by 25.

London Irish v Exeter Chiefs:  London Irish picked up an invaluable win against Worcester last weekend, thanks largely to in-form winger Marland Yarde, who looks like a force of nature at the moment.  Whether he can shine in the face of an ultra-disciplined Chiefs side though, is another matter. Chiefs by 6.
 

Saracens v Bath:  Sarries and Bath have been two very smart recruiters over the summer and there were signs at the weekend that it was all beginning to click.  However, Saracens at home are a mighty proposition and I think they'll have enough to see off this talented Bath side.  Sarries by 8.