Saints Under Gaffney

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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.

Scottrf wrote:

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.

I hear the same things from Saints players.  I was back home last weekend and was told almost to a man they are happy West is going (and hopefully to a rival!).  But after the shambles (politely said) of the second half of today's match against Saracens, I have to wonder which players will actually be back (to be happy West is gone).

Now, to be fair, I did not see - yet - the utter misery, the post-digested food, which comprised the 2nd half of today's match.    David Ribbans emerges with some lustre only because he was forced off in the first half when the match was still competitive before everything turned to merde.  .  

With the potential for ring-fencing the Premiership, this is not the time for Saints to be mucking around the bottom of the table, clueless in most things.  

Saints are 10 points ahead of London Irish and only 1 point ahead of Worcester, with 3 games to play for each club.  Unlikely London Irish can catch Worcester or Northampton, but Saints had opportunities to win recent matches they led late against Newcastle, Bath, and Exeter and couldn't find the juice, smarts, effort to close them out.  And looking down the rifle barrel to the end of the season, Saints are at Leicester, at Wasps, and home to Worcester.  It is not inconceivable (though relatively improbable) that last game would have relegation impact.  London Irish host Exe and Saracens before ending the season at Bath.    The major problem is Saints are even in this discussion, when they should be in a comfortable enough position at this point to be playing their younger guys to give them top level playing time.  They should also be giving Stevie Myler a last go as a send off to a respected player hanging it up.  The new coach had better come in ready to perform major surgery, and no one is safe.

It's easy enough to blame West which seems to be the case.
BUT he was responsible for turning the saints relegated pack into Prem winners and European champs. I mean the players are hardly going to blame themselves and on current form can hardly point the finger at someone else.

We will see how Boyd style works, but Farrell snr was very much the west of the england camp after that world cup and he has gone on to show everyone how good he is with ireland.

Richards is the type of character that could handle West as opposed to Mallinder type.

It's not that people can't handle him. If he's behind the times and unable to accept outside input how can he improve?

Well I guess that is the debate.

Is he really behind the times or has he been allowed to get into a comfort zone, a bit like Cockers at Tigers when a coach is in the same position for 11+ years or whatever it is then things can geta  bit too comfortable. Right move by Saints to get rid of him BUT I don't trust players that are under performing themselves to give a full story.

I wouldn't eve have him at tigers but that is mainly due to me being a pro cockers fan and West v Cockers has been a age long story.

OK, Gaffney was less than advertised. But we weren't relegated. And won't finish 11th either. Still the team couldn't hold leads after Gaffney joined, except once or twice. The new coaching staff has work to do.

it's a shame to see good Saints players like Foden, Myler, and even George North (who was a bit of a disappointment, but still liked the lad), play their last game for us.  Myler, especially:  Came over from League at a very young age and played over a decade for Saints.  Made himself into a very good player.  I still think he was forced to play too much Rugby and he ended up playing hurt as much as any athlete I have ever seen.  Which ended up limiting his effectiveness.  And he did this with class and no complaints.

I am assuming that Saints see Mallinder as a 15 and with North going Tuala on the wing. Elliot is also going along with Paterson, so we are very short on wingers as Estelles is also out.

That is three wingers with only one coming in, Naiyaravoro.

The list of outs compared to Ins is very worrying.


Players In

Wales Dan Biggar from Wales Ospreys[96]
Australia Taqele Naiyaravoro from Australia NSW Waratahs[97]
England Will Davis from England Ealing Trailfinders[98]
New Zealand Ben Franks from England London Irish[99]
England Dominic Barrow from England Leicester Tigers[80]
England Andy Symons from England Gloucester[63]

Players Out

England Sam Dickinson to England Ealing Trailfinders[100]
England Jordan Onojaife to England Ealing Trailfinders[101]
South Africa Nic Groom to South Africa Lions[102]
England Charlie Clare to England Bedford Blues[103]
England Matt Beesley to England Ealing Trailfinders[104]
England Christian Day retiring[105]
Australia Rob Horne retired[106]
Wales George North to Wales Ospreys[107]
Fiji Campese Ma'afu to England Ealing Trailfinders[108]
England Ben Nutley to England Coventry[109]
England Kieran Brookes released[110]
Argentina Juan Pablo Estelles released[111]
England Stephen Myler released[112]
England Tom Stephenson released[113]
England Ben Foden released[114]
England Jamie Elliott released[115]
England Michael Paterson released[116]

Is it worrying?
How many would get into the first or even second choice Saints XV?

Boyd getting a clean slate basically, Guess the worry is how long it takes for things to come together for him.

Interesting, though, many of the Outs are going down to the Championship and not to other Premiership squads.

I think starting wings might be Collins and Naiyaravoro. Tuala covering wing and fullback. Ken Pisi is still with the squad, right? But that is only 4 wings. Assuming Harry is starting 15. There must be a few more signings over the summer. Hopefully.

Going to miss Foden and Myler. Was great to see Foden play so well. Also to see Myler end the match.

Will also miss Jamie Elliott: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTuYbbZyaIc

Patrick Osbourne is apparently signed.

I am guessing Boyd might bring in some boys from down south to bolster the roster. Super Rugby is not over yet, so some things might still happen. Taking a couple of people from a successful team like Wellington can't hurt.

So now we know the coaching team for next season:

Chis Boyd  -  DoR
Alan Dickens - Defence Coach
Phil Dowson  -  Forwards Coach
Sam Vesty – Backs & Attack Coach
Matt Ferguson – Assistant Coach (Scrum)

On paper it looks good:
Dickens was DC when we had a defence a few years back
Dowson is highly regarded by the players at least and presumably Boyd
Vesty is good enough to be brought into the England set up now and again
Ferguson is a unknown to m at least