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Northampton issue injury update, react to Croke Park history talk
Northampton will become the first English club side to play a competitive rugby fixture at iconic Croke Park when they take on four-time European champions Leinster in the Investec Champions Cup semi-final this Saturday.
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Croke Park was the location of the Bloody Sunday massacre in 1920 – when British forces opened fire and killed 14 people at a Gaelic football match – and its place in Irish history transcends sport.
Leinster have only ever played one previous game at the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (against Munster in 2009). England famously played Ireland there two years before that in the Six Nations, and a cauldron-like atmosphere is now expected for the visit of the Saints.
Understanding and respecting the history of the semi-final venue has figured in Saints’ preparations for their biggest match in a decade with their Irish S&C coach Eamonn Hyland giving the squad the lowdown on Croke Park on Monday morning.
“It is absolutely fundamental that we have an appreciation of the history and significance, both culturally and historically in the Irish battle for independence and the psyche and the GAA and where that is held in terms of the Irish culture and how important that it is,” explained Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson.
“We had one of our members of staff, who is Irish, deliver a very brief and succinct history of Croke Park and what that entails and what that means. That is important for two reasons.
“Mainly it is important because we should have an understanding of the history, regardless of whether we are playing rugby or not. And secondly, we have to understand the influence that is going to have both on the playing group and the crowd and the implications of that around the atmosphere.
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“But at the same time, we are not playing against ghosts. We have to get our game on the field and we have got to make sure that we play appropriately and give it the respect it deserves of being in a semi-final at Croke Park, which is hugely exciting.”
Dowson’s try got Northampton off to a flying start when Saints were on the receiving end of a famous Leinster comeback in the 2011 Heineken Cup final in Cardiff. Leinster blitzed Northampton by scoring 27 unanswered points in as many minutes to win 33-22, but 13 years after one of the most painful experiences of his playing days, the now-Saints boss has called it “ancient history.”
He said: “It’s the one trophy in the 10 years that Jim Mallinder was here that we didn’t win. We got pretty close but all that is ancient history. It is long gone and it has not even been mentioned this week. I very rarely think about it.”
The Gallagher Premiership leaders could go into the match without star winger Ollie Sleightholme, while Lewis Ludlam is also a doubt due to a shoulder injury. Sleightholme, the Premiership’s leading try scorer this season, suffered a concussion in his team’s 32-41 defeat to Harlequins at Twickenham last weekend.
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The recently-turned 24-year-old scored his 11th Premiership try of the season before leaving the field in London and his availability is being assessed this week before Dowson names his team on Friday.
“Ollie had a concussion at the weekend. He is going through that return to play (protocol), so he is not definitely ruled out but also not definitely in. Ollie has been fantastic; you can’t defend raw speed and he has got that.
“He has been in good form so, hopefully, he can turn that around. But James Ramm, Tom Seabrook, George Hendy… all these guys have done minutes and been good as well.”
Comments on RugbyPass
100%. Thank you, Andy.
1 Go to commentsFabulous player. Don’t know if people outside of Ireland appreciate his vision and genius. I wish he got more time with the National team. We will never know how high he could have soared. Super season to end with!
1 Go to commentsIf he's playing well enough to be in the top 2 or 3 open sides, then pick him. Essentially nothing else should come into it.
1 Go to commentsBe really surprised if Beale is considered for a WB squad, let alone a match day 23. Feel there are too many younger players in all positions in the backline now who should be developed. These upcoming games this year should be used to develop the players of the future, for building towards next RWC.
2 Go to commentsI think this all came from Fozzie immediately anointing Cane as captain when he became coach, well ahead of when any team was to be named. Then he seemingly felt unable to retract the captaincy as that would have been an admission he was wrong initially. Sam Cane was a good AB and a good captain. Through his injuries and some loss of form he maybe didn't deserve selection but Fozzie couldn't ever make that hard call which led to Cane copping it.
3 Go to commentsThe extra weight that Fraser put on over the off season is really showing. The word is 7/8 kgs heavier than last year. Feel he is now carrying into contact a lot more powerfully, which makes him a bigger threat playing in the sh position at lineout time. I do feel however that he is still too easily moved off the ball at the breakdown unless he is in really early. Comparing him to the top current guys such as Tommy Refell, and past supremos like Pocock and McCaw, I would hope he will develop more in that area. The rest of his game is way out front. His speed around the field as a support player is top notch, and his defence is very sound, apart from the front on tackle on the bigger men sometimes. I also would see him as a future WB captain. He does a lot of quiet encouraging, and for sure can lead from the front. Of the other three NZ lads on the stats. table, would think it may be Papalli’i who gets in. I do like Lakai. Is Blackadder not more a 6/8 player ? Actually really rated Lachlan Boshier, but he was not ever getting anywhere, so now in Japan. Would love to have seen how he went in a AB jersey. Excellent article, Nick…….most thought provoking
44 Go to commentsAhh too many OK 7’s out there at the moment, would have loved to have Harmon (and Boshier from Panasonic) included on that list (although I don’t know what I’m looking at with those stats!). I would love to see another 7 come through like Cane (who VdF has molded off), who was a real attacking machine before his neck injury and inability to turn his head/upper body to pass or catch properly forced his style to change. No sure McReight is it, he looks more like a canny McCaw than the blasters Hooper and Cane were. The real issue is what use can Schmidt mold out of his ability and skills in just two short seasons. I think Cale could do a lot of the more skillful stuff. McReight is probably best to knuckle down and do the core duties a modern day Cane performs for the other two loosies (if he’s the best Schmidt has to play with at 7).
44 Go to commentsI’ve little doubt that England is comfortably the No 1 team and not only beat other teams but beat them easily. Not so sure about France. They should be No 2 after winning 3 of last 4 matches against NZ and only a straightforward missed kick prevented it from being 4 out of 4. However, then they inexplicably lost to Canada and Wallaroos in WXV. I thought the NZ match was their “cup final” and they took the others lightly, but they were not particularly impressive in 6N except in flashes. I think they have stood still whilst Canada and England have moved forward but I don't think Canada has the depth and their team is ageing. I agree NZ not moving forward. What will be interesting is how the Wallaroos fare against NZ and then again in their September match against Ireland and then in WXV2 against other 6N teams. I was surprised they lost to USA.
3 Go to commentsI don't know why peoplenare upset here. If foreign fans think they are poor for their clubs and back it up with stats then it's probably true. Snyman would have been a legend in the NH if he was fit though. He just transforms Munster into a winning machine. Pollard is 100% the most disappointing one and his win rate outside world cups gives a good indicator. For all his clubs his average win rate is around 52%, inbetween world cups for the Boks it's 55%. Compared to other elite flyhalves who have 70%+ win rates for their clubs. If anything Manie is a far better investment if you looking for a flyhalf given that when he is on the pitch teams on average win 76% of games.
70 Go to commentsWhich captains were not human?
3 Go to commentsIt left him open to savage sledging most memorably POMs ‘Sh1t McCaw’ comment which prompted a national NZ meltdown. Cane was later substituted in that game. He had some redemption in the RWC quartfinal against Ireland but unfortunately he will be remembered for torpedo-ing his team with that red card in the final with NZ already 12-3 down.
3 Go to commentsThere should be a smaller number of teams cut off to play finals after the regular season, of course. However, with all due respect, the Crusaders aren’t playing well enough to even make that cut. They may have a late rally, if they can get some key players back from injury, but this is still a speculation as it stands. They will still have to rely on other results going their way too - their season is now entirely out of their control.
10 Go to comments1 week for two cynical and dirty plays? Absolutely pathetic punishment. He should’ve at least received 2 weeks - 1 week per trip. The guy is a cheating moron and liability. He should go back to league.
2 Go to commentsTest rugby is different level Some players are just big time players when the stakes are high they play better. The boks often lost to AUS on tour as they wanted to beat AB. Even at school level this is the case where some guys play better in tough games.
70 Go to commentsLet’s hope he misses more than just the Force game or the Reds won’t get very far in the finals.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick. I’m looking at the other 7 options in Australia and they don’t seem to be close behind Fraser at the moment? Even before reading this I thought he was well ahead. A random one - Slipper and Allalatoa seem to be getting well beaten in the scrum. I can’t remember this happening often before. Is it a technique/teamwork issue or are their bodies finally past it?
44 Go to commentsNZ is now entrenched in Div 2 of womens rugby. Canada would be thrashed by the likes of France or England. Europe are Div 1, with massive competitions, massive money…
3 Go to commentsBlackadder dies not deserve selection. He has not played enough games. Finau is just better. Kaino's replacement at Blindside On form TJ should be the starting 9 .
130 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
6 Go to commentsThey can’t handle the level of comp in the NH. Pollard was a complete waste at Montpellier - and was the backup 12 when he left. Kitschoff was stealing his paycheque every week at Ulster,- getting absolutely rinsed by backup THs in the URC. There is a reason all the Boks go to Japan - they don’t have it in them to be able to compete. And yes, they won the RWC. Where Barnes and O'Keeffe were the direct reason for that tragedy occurring.
70 Go to comments