Saints Under Gaffney

What has happened to Saints in the last two weeks that wasn't happening before?

Last minute win against Gloucester, and a 5-2 try demolition of Clermont.

The only thing that has changed really is due to injuries, the Prince Harry is playing at 10, just like the start of the season, it was when he stopped playing there that we started the losing run.

I still don't think that it his true position, but Saints seem to like it.

Today's result was great but I would wait for a few more games before saying they are back to be in form

I watched the 1st half and they seemed to have stepped up the intensity by a fair amount. Still unsure of Harry at 10 despite all of his attributes but time will tell. I was very surprised with the final scoreline after Clermont controlled the 1st half, great result.

Nathan

I was a long way from saying they are back to where they were, but as Sgt. says, the intensity is back and also some belief.

What I was really trying to get at, is a play nobody, me included thinks is a great 10, plays there at the start of the season and Saints are top, the England international comes back along with an experienced Saxon and the whole team falls apart, largely due to the coaching in my opinion. Harry comes back due to more injuries and we start winning again.

Is there something in his fly half play that we, me included cannot see, or is it just that it suits the Saints style of play better that Francis or Myler.

Bit of a coincidence that they improve when he is at ten, although Gaffney has to be part of the picture.

Good point about Prince Harry.  I also think having Stephenson, a true Inside Centre, playing at 12 helps as well.  I certainly liked the defensive effort, especially in the second half.  On the other hand, play was still sloppy which has to be fixed.  But a nice turn around from the type of Rugby we have seen.  Seems like not a lot of people went to the game. Were you at the Gardens yesterday?

Unfortunately not, when we lived in Milton Keynes I was a regular, even when we were in North London, but now we are S.E.London the journey time is starting to get difficult. Kids still live in MK, so will try and make a weekend out of it some time soon.

Agree with your point about Stephenson, he seems to be back to where he was before he had those successive injuries. Has the ability to take it forward, but is also a good distributor with surprising pace. Horne is also a big help to the other longer backs.

Maybe I haven't seen Stephenson in a while, but it seemed to me he put on some bulk. You think that's right? I thought he played a nice game.

Will be interesting when Francis comes back. He has a high work rate which Eddie Jones has commented on a few times.

But that is for later. For now, we have a slight, ever so slight, reason to believe once again. Not too bad, not too bad at all.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:What has happened to Saints in the last two weeks that wasn't happening before?

Intensity and workrate. He's talked about second involvements, getting back into the game, not lying on the floor. Then the new coach effect and a bit of confidence this week.

Tactically he wont have changed much at all yet, although I do think the kicking has been a bit less frequent, but maybe that's just trusting their teammates a bit more.

Scottrf wrote:

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:What has happened to Saints in the last two weeks that wasn't happening before?

Intensity and workrate. He's talked about second involvements, getting back into the game, not lying on the floor. Then the new coach effect and a bit of confidence this week.

Tactically he wont have changed much at all yet, although I do think the kicking has been a bit less frequent, but maybe that's just trusting their teammates a bit more.

I do think one way to show confidence in players is to kick less and let them play. Especially when the players have some ball in hand skill. I think when teams lose confidence, one of the first things that goes is getting up quick after tackles and rucks.

Spoke too soon, thought we were good for 15 minutes, then our defence allowed them to rip us another hole.

Cripe. 3 games against Saracens and a drubbing each time. I suppose the Gaffney honeymoon is over?

doctor_grey wrote:Cripe.  3 games against Saracens and a drubbing each time.  I suppose the Gaffney honeymoon is over?

We are weak mentally.

New DoR for next season - Chris Boyd, currently head coach of the Hurricanes.

Just need their players...happy with that though.

Saints will be back next season. Congratulations on a great appointment.

Agree - a good, professional, and rather out of the box selection to right the ship.  

Now the problem is to shift and sort personnel.  Especially to get a modern type front row and a Number 8 who looks like Samu Manoa.........

Who was it that turned the cains around, was it Boyd or was he carried by Plumtree?

Either way it will be interesting.

Not really sure.  One of my mates was just asking the same thing.  But it is good to have a guy with a winning track record and has been around.  He even looks like an old style Rugby coach:  A bit weather-beaten and haggard looking.  

I do wonder why we can't find an English (or at least Home Nations) coach.....

There are a lot of questions about personnel which have to be addressed, and I think, we benefit having someone with no connection to the past administration to make those judgments.

I think if it's the Crusaders you can give the credit to the forwards coach, but not the Canes.

Having said that, if West had to go to make way I wouldn't object.

Scottrf wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:Cripe.  3 games against Saracens and a drubbing each time.  I suppose the Gaffney honeymoon is over?

We are weak mentally.

I don't rate Gaffney anyway. You've made a better appointment now.

I don't think Saints are necessarily weak mentally. They just need to re-build the core.

Make Saints difficult to break down defensively. Also work out what you want your strengths to be.

Clubs like Wasps,Exeter and Saracens know how they want to play. It's why they are top 3 in the AP.

I don't think you or Leicester do.

beshocked wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:Cripe.  3 games against Saracens and a drubbing each time.  I suppose the Gaffney honeymoon is over?

We are weak mentally.

I don't rate Gaffney anyway. You've made a better appointment now.

I don't think Saints are necessarily weak mentally. They just need to re-build the core.

Make Saints difficult to break down defensively. Also work out what you want your strengths to be.

Clubs like Wasps,Exeter and Saracens know how they want to play. It's why they are top 3 in the AP.

I don't think you or Leicester do.

We are. We were playing okay vs Sarries, but we go behind and stop doing all of the things we'd improved. Heads down, passion and confidence goes.

Scottrf wrote:

beshocked wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:Cripe.  3 games against Saracens and a drubbing each time.  I suppose the Gaffney honeymoon is over?

We are weak mentally.

I don't rate Gaffney anyway. You've made a better appointment now.

I don't think Saints are necessarily weak mentally. They just need to re-build the core.

Make Saints difficult to break down defensively. Also work out what you want your strengths to be.

Clubs like Wasps,Exeter and Saracens know how they want to play. It's why they are top 3 in the AP.

I don't think you or Leicester do.

We are. We were playing okay vs Sarries, but we go behind and stop doing all of the things we'd improved. Heads down, passion and confidence goes.

I just think it's unfair to call yourself mentally weak when you struggle vs one team (one of the strongest).

Saracens had to respond. Too much experience and they had already turned a corner themselves in form.

Also you had players who could exploit Saints mistakes like piling pressure on lineout and targeting Mallinder's defence.

Saracens aren't mentally weak for being crushed by Clermont - they just had a bad day at the office vs one of the strongest sides.


Whilst no one wants to see their team being rolled over - its is not as if Saints have been hit for 50 by every team - you beat Clermont - something Saracens failed to do.

nathan wrote:Who was it that turned the cains around, was it Boyd or was he carried by Plumtree?

Either way it will be interesting.

Bit of insight on Canes from Jason Holland (former Munster player) and now Backs/Attack coach. Says that Boyd is hands-off DoR.

Boyd is very much a manager-style head coach, not heavily involved in the technical coaching on the pitch, and Holland enjoys those responsibilities.

His relationship with fellow Hurricanes assistant John Plumtree – who controls the forwards and defence – is a major positive for the Super Rugby side.

“He’s quite different but passionate about it and we complement each other quite well because he loves the motivation and puts a bit of ticker into it, whereas I tend to put a bit more into detail and he can come in as the bad cop sometimes,” says Holland.

Some other interesting stuff about upskilling that the Kiwi coaches do.

http://www.the42.ie/jason-holland-hurricanes-lions-interview-3467369-Jun2017/

We had Gaffney in Munster as a coach. Very good man manager and very well respected and liked by players and fans in Ireland in general (he coached Leinster and Ireland as well). He should be good at steadying the ship.

beshocked wrote:I just think it's unfair to call yourself mentally weak when you struggle vs one team (one of the strongest).

Saracens had to respond. Too much experience and they had already turned a corner themselves in form.

Also you had players who could exploit Saints mistakes like piling pressure on lineout and targeting Mallinder's defence.

Saracens aren't mentally weak for being crushed by Clermont - they just had a bad day at the office vs one of the strongest sides.


Whilst no one wants to see their team being rolled over - its is not as if Saints have been hit for 50 by every team - you beat Clermont - something Saracens failed to do.

It's not just Sarries. It's Clermont, Harlequins, Ospreys, we fold. Leinster and Caster last year. If we weren't weak mentally we wouldn't keep talking about low confidence.

Sin é wrote:

nathan wrote:Who was it that turned the cains around, was it Boyd or was he carried by Plumtree?

Either way it will be interesting.

Bit of insight on Canes from Jason Holland (former Munster player) and now Backs/Attack coach. Says that Boyd is hands-off DoR.

Boyd is very much a manager-style head coach, not heavily involved in the technical coaching on the pitch, and Holland enjoys those responsibilities.

His relationship with fellow Hurricanes assistant John Plumtree – who controls the forwards and defence – is a major positive for the Super Rugby side.

“He’s quite different but passionate about it and we complement each other quite well because he loves the motivation and puts a bit of ticker into it, whereas I tend to put a bit more into detail and he can come in as the bad cop sometimes,” says Holland.

Some other interesting stuff about upskilling that the Kiwi coaches do.

http://www.the42.ie/jason-holland-hurricanes-lions-interview-3467369-Jun2017/

We had Gaffney in Munster as a coach. Very good man manager and very well respected and liked by players and fans in Ireland in general (he coached Leinster and Ireland as well). He should be good at steadying the ship.

Interesting, thanks. We definitely need new coaches too.

Hasn't he said he wants to have English assistant coaches?

So he can keep Dorian for the forwards please.

Welly wrote: Hasn't he said he wants to have English assistant coaches?

So he can keep Dorian for the forwards please.

Ones with experience in England. You sure you don't want Dorian? He's a Leicester boy.

Scottrf wrote:

Welly wrote: Hasn't he said he wants to have English assistant coaches?

So he can keep Dorian for the forwards please.

Ones with experience in England. You sure you don't want Dorian? He's a Leicester boy.

Not anymore he is.

We will be willing to take of Lawes from you though and also would take Paul Hill aswell, so you can free up some cap.

Thanks for the offer but we have Lawes another year.

Let's give them Kieran Brookes as a bonus throw in along with Dorian West. Who could refuse an offer like that?

Right, I think most people from the Saints community think the current coaching set up needs a massive re-vamp, so who stays and who goes.

As Boyd appears to be a hands off rather than a hands on DoR, will he appoint a head coach and if so who is available?

I think everybody agrees that West has to go, so again who is available?

Defence has been appalling, so Hopley probably needs to start looking as well.

I think Saints need a complete break, so I would replace the entire coaching staff and start over. Of course, that is easy for me to say because I am not responsible for bringing in the talent. I really don't know who are the experienced coaches still available and who might be the next generation.

Just saw Heinrich Brussow will be on the bench tomorrow.
This is a good sign for the future (I hope).

Well, Brookes will leave at the end of the season. I suppose Saints management must have told him he would not be retained. Cheeseburger consumption in Northampton will likely go down. The question is who is on the docket to replace him.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/43058823

Rumours about Haskell taking a pay cut to play for Saints next season?  I have heard it mentioned, but saw it in writing for the first time.  What do you think?  
To me, wouldn't be bad to add some high quality depth to the back row, especially for one season, and even then only when not with England (if selected).

More poopy Rugby by Saints.  Yes, Saints were playing Exe in their own country down south.  And yes, Saints actually played well (really well according to my older son who was at the match).  But 13 points up with 10 minutes to go is a lead which can't be lost.  The end of Saturday's game had that same - awful - sensation as that Euro match against Muenster when each of Muenster's 41 phases had a feeling of inevitability about them.   Certainly needed more defensive horsepower out of the back row during those last 10.

I think it's a game to focus on the positives. But box kicking with 2 minutes on the clock, braindead. Need leaders on the pitch.

Poop. The word is poop.

Was at the game with a couple of my pals who are saints season ticket holders and came up for the game.

You committed so many free kicks and penalties today that probably cost you.

Your outscored us 3-1 in tries...yet everytime you scored you just gave us penalties straight after to let us re-take the lead, Flood even missed two yet we still got the win...

Not the best game ever...but we have become a side that can win ugly...

It was quirky to note that our disallowed try in the first minute was for the exact same reason that the England try was disallowed v France involving your man Courtney Lawes.

I still think both are harsh decisions even though they do follow the rules.

Excepting against Saints, of course, it's great seeing youse guys winning the games you need to win now. My poor lads seem to be developing a habit of playing well in spurts but clearly not putting it all together. And when opposing teams play composed, fundamental Rugby, we have no clue how to stay in it. The turnover numbers are shocking. And I am not complaining about the calls............

West gone at the end of the season 'by mutual consent'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43522119

lostinwales wrote:West gone at the end of the season 'by mutual consent'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43522119

Enables him to do a full pre-season with Falcons.

LondonTiger wrote:

lostinwales wrote:West gone at the end of the season 'by mutual consent'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43522119

Enables him to do a full pre-season with Falcons.

I'm just relieved that Tigers have a scrum and forwards coach signed up for next season already.

I'm devastated he's coming here...I really am. My saints pals have said that could be a really bad move by Deano.

I can only sit in hope that he just needs a new challenge and fresh environment and he can make the falcons pack one of the most feared in Europe.... whilst we continue to play a cavalier swashbuckling attacking rugby, of the highest calibre...

From the Saints email distribution, April Fools (need a laugh after this season)...................

Northampton Saints have today agreed a landmark sponsorship deal with paint manufacturer AFD Paints, which will see the Club renamed 'Northampton Paints' from the 2018/19 Aviva Premiership season.  

AFD Paints products have been at the forefront of the UK paint market since 1911, offering unrivalled quality and reliability, and have transformed the homes of thousands of customers across Northamptonshire and the rest of the UK.  

The company – which has its UK headquarters just half a mile from Franklin’s Gardens – are launching a new shade of Black in honour of the partnership, to be named ‘Boyd Black’ after Paints’ incoming director of rugby Chris Boyd.

The three-year deal will also see the Northampton-based paint manufacturer rename Paints’ playing colours ‘Boyd Black, Leaf Green and Gold’.

Commenting on the deal Northampton Paints CEO Mark Darbon said, “Professional rugby clubs are facing increased financial pressures year-on-year and as a result are always looking at innovative ways of generating additional revenue.

“We are delighted to welcome AFD Paints to our roster of elite commercial partners in what we believe is the first renaming deal of its kind in UK rugby.

“I am sure many of our supporter-base may take some time to adjust to singing “Come On You Paints”, but will eventually understand the Club’s decision and ultimately welcome the significant financial benefits that this deal will generate.”  

As part of the new deal AFD Paints will receive a host of commercial rights including prominent shirt branding, in-stadia signage, access to match day tickets and hospitality. AFD Paints will also provide the Club with environmentally-friendly Leaf Green paint to transform the interior of the players’ changing rooms.

“We are delighted to have agreed this landmark sponsorship deal,” said Olaf Pirlo, Chief Marketing Officer at AFD Paints who has been a Paints season ticket holder for over a decade.

“AFD Paints founder, Andrew Franklin-Dodds, played scrum-half for Paints from 1903-1908 and would be overwhelmed with pride to see his company’s name emblazoned on Paints famous playing shirt.

“We hope we can bring some extra colour to Franklin’s Gardens in what is set to be an exciting new era for the club.”

What is worse than the pathetic Aprils Fool email, was the follow up that read as if they believed you had actually fallen for it.

If they had said that the Easter Bunny was coming in to replace West, it would have been more believable. Having said that it might have been an improvement.

The funny thing was when I just opened the email they had me going for a minute. It sounded just plausible and daft enough!

Well the Easter Bunny did come and take West away. Is he really going to Newcastle?

doctor_grey wrote:The funny thing was when I just opened the email they had me going for a minute.  It sounded just plausible and daft enough!  

Well the Easter Bunny did come and take West away.  Is he really going to Newcastle?  

So the Geordie boys say; when they can take a break from crying their eyes out.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:The funny thing was when I just opened the email they had me going for a minute.  It sounded just plausible and daft enough!  

Well the Easter Bunny did come and take West away.  Is he really going to Newcastle?  

So the Geordie boys say; when they can take a break from crying their eyes out.

Just when they taste a little success...............

GeordieFalcon wrote:I'm devastated he's coming here...I really am. My saints pals have said that could be a really bad move by Deano.

I can only sit in hope that he just needs a new challenge and fresh environment and he can make the falcons pack one of the most feared in Europe....  whilst we continue to play a cavalier swashbuckling attacking rugby, of the highest calibre...

I really don't think it's a positive thing. Spoke to a couple of Saints players Saturday and he's seen as a very negative influence, a bully and behind the times.

Dowson is very highly rated, but then they did play with him.