Massive challenge: Mallinder
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Boss Jim Mallinder has vented his frustration over the fact Northampton have two days less preparation time than Castres ahead of their meeting.
Mallinder, whose side won 24-15 with a bonus-point against Glasgow, face a side that tackled Ulster in Round 1 a couple of days after them.
That has led to talk of the French being fresher when the two outfits run out at Stade Ernest Wallon, with Mallinder questioning the schedule.
"I think it's not quite right that they've got seven days to recover and we've just got five, having to travel to France as well, but that's the way it is," he told the Northampton Chronicle and Echo.
"You don't know what a Castres side will be like. We're playing in Toulouse which will be a different experience for us but it's one we'll really look forward to.
"It's a massive challenge playing in France but if we play at the top of our game we've got a good chance of winning it."
Saints are not alone in having less time to recover, however, as Glasgow Warriors also face the prospect of taking on a side that has had more rest, Ulster, in their Round 2 fixture.
"I'm sure Glasgow will take a lot of positives from that performance (on Sunday) and they deserve to," he said.
"We didn't underestimate them, we looked at the games and we saw they were playing well. They didn't win the previous four games by a fluke.
"They're a good side and hopefully they can win some of the other games and make it easier for us."
Comments
new_j4a says...
@scum sincero, here you are again complaining about complaining....better, I supposed, than your usual misspelled snits about somebody's spelling. Why don't you follow the Scots' lead and STFU till you have something useful to say, if ever? Or at least wait until you have shown that you can do better than create thousands of puffed up little millionaires before turning them back into beggars? You pathetic, snide little excuse for a man.
Posted 07:57 23rd October 2012
GoWalesGo says...
@Sincero
You having a go at the English again and generalising a whole nation is hardly surprising at all.
Posted 09:36 19th October 2012
Sincero says...
Funny... don't hear Glaswegians complaining... they just get on with it... more whinging from the poms... quelle surprise...
Posted 02:19 19th October 2012
Johnny_Guitar says...
I'll stop using this site as it's simply a place to knock the English clubs and not have a decent forum about the actual game. I know NZ are good at the moment but I remember not long ago they were the worlds chokers when it game to the game. Short memories????
Posted 21:35 18th October 2012
GoWalesGo says...
fiwiboy
The new ITM cup schedule has been an utter disaster.
Posted 07:24 18th October 2012
fiwiboy says...
GoWalesGo ... the ITM Cup isn't professional (can't afford it) but the standard is. The new generation of AB players reckon the ITM Cup has become the prefect breeding ground for Super rugby. There are a couple of players back in the ITM Cup who may be blooded on the AB tour of NH and if they can bring their A game to bear, people will be asking ``where did these guys come from''?
Froggy73, NH Saints ... I willingly concede my ignorance on NH geography. I've never up North. But if we are talking about an intercountry regional tournament then I can bring Super rugby into it and travelling 750 miles to play in another country ... well I wish we could do that!! In the context of Australian and South African geography, that is almost next door!
NHSaints ... in every competition, there are mismatches. Some teams not up to it, some teams are having a bad day. Some of the ITM Cup scores are big due to the new laws being trialled (are they being trailled up there?) but mainly because the teams love to attack with ball in hand. The ITM flyhalves generally love to pass, not kick. Winning scores are higher, or margins greater, because teams are going for tries, not penalty goals.
The ITM Cup shows if you have less turnaround time then your training regime must adapt to that reality. Lighten the training workload, don't push the boys so hard. They know what to do. Don't flog them into the ground.
Worth noting England Sevens rep Dan Caprice came to NZ to play for Northland after giving up on his contract with Biarritz. He didn't come to NZ for the money! He came to play running rugby and that's exactly what he got ... he impressed me with his play and fitness (no doubt due to his sevens background) but he was too small against the Islander wingers. He could've made a greater impact (although having Rene Ranger inside him meant Ranger had to take the ball up more).
Posted 00:42 18th October 2012
Jediboy says...
This site gets more and more like a football chat site everyday. Pathetic comments by so many people about other peoples leagues. Drivel!!!
Posted 20:04 17th October 2012
Johnny_Guitar says...
With travel it's the best part of a day to get to Toulouse (where the game is being played) so there isn't much of a turnaround. If it was the same for everyone it wouldn't be so bad. 2 days can be the difference with a niggling injury. Anyway, George and Ken Pisi and manning up quite nicely thank you very much!!
We're not playing great but we are top of the league and have a bonus point win in the bank so quite happy. Jim justs like a little moan now and then, he is from ooop North so you have to expect it ;-)
Posted 19:28 17th October 2012
liam2me says...
Bitch and moan, bitch and moan. It's all English clubs are good for these days
Posted 18:43 17th October 2012
Kent says...
Stop bloody whinging
Posted 18:34 17th October 2012
J_HDK says...
It's like the holocaust :P
Posted 18:19 17th October 2012
jontheref says...
Bit of a no brainer for the fixture scheduling really.
Paly each group games on the same day.
Would it be that hard?
Leicester are not complaining, and they have the same turn around as Northampton, whilst Ospreys had the extra 42 hours.
Must be a low point for journos if that is all they could get out of him!
Posted 17:38 17th October 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
LOL 7ton. I was thinking the exact same thing!
To be honest I think England dodged a bullet when Mallender ruled himself out of the running to suceed Johnno. Not sure is the Pisi Brothers are england qualified so not sure what else Jim (and saints) have to offer. I wonder how many other england fans were watching bemused as the Kiwis saved Northamptons ass. I enjoyed their style but if only they were English... talk about papering over the cracks.
Posted 17:30 17th October 2012
jimbosim says...
Typical English Prem team, always complaining, always moaning!!
Posted 17:20 17th October 2012
NHsaints says...
@fiwiboy ...I take it you're not big on geography. Last I checked Northampton wasn't on the southeast coast... secondly the ITM cup is a standard well below that of the Heineken Cup, even with teams like Canterbury there are weak links all over the pitch and it's easy for a half decent side to run in 60+ points a game...in the Heineken almost every team are competetive in every game. Take Connacht's draw with Quinns last year...it knocked the soon to be English champs out of the Cup...
Posted 16:48 17th October 2012
papachinzo says...
Wow... this guy loves to be in the press I can't wait to hear what he'll be complaining about in round 3 !
Posted 16:37 17th October 2012
froggy73 says...
@fiwiboy: mate, not arguing with the first part of your post but you obviously have no idea where Castres is. Probably 750 miles between Castres and Northampton...Not the village next door isn't it ?
Posted 15:51 17th October 2012
melkdave says...
Oh my why is he complaining,its not as if clubs arnt used to 5 day turn arounds from their league campaigns already.
Posted 15:21 17th October 2012
GoWalesGo says...
fiwiboy
The ITM cup isn't a professional competition
Posted 15:19 17th October 2012
Houston_11 says...
I used to like Mallinder but of late, he always has something to complain on.
Posted 12:50 17th October 2012