Preview: LV= Cup Final
Northampton Saints have been “putting all their emphasis” on Sunday's LV= Cup final, according to Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder.
Northampton Saints have been “putting all their emphasis” on Sunday's LV= Cup final, according to Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder.
The Saints go into Sunday's game against Gloucester knowing that there is the season's first silverware up for grabs, as well as a Heineken Cup spot for 2010/11. So the Saints boss says that the players – those not in Paris anyway – have been concentrating fully all week.
“We've won all our games so far in the LV= Cup and we want to go one step further in Sunday,” Mallinder said.
“We want to do our best and win every game, regardless of the competition and we don't pick and choose. We've entered this competition and we want to lift the silverware.
“We've got to a final and have been putting all our emphasis and focus on a Gloucester team that will be very dangerous.
“They are playing a good style of rugby and have plenty of players who have come back into form over the past few weeks. They also performed well against Cardiff last week in the semi-final and I'm expecting a tough game in Worcester.”
Gloucester Rugby stalwart Peter Buxton will skipper the side with this season's joint club captains, Gareth Delve and Mike Tindall, away with Wales and England respectively on RBS Six Nations duty.
He leads a side which shows four changes to the starting line up from the Cardiff semi-final last weekend.
Tim Molenaar, who has enjoyed such an impressive first season with Gloucester, resumes his partnership in the centre in Tindall's absence with Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu.
Meanwhile, on a weekend where so many Gloucester players are on international duty, Rory Lawson is a welcome returnee from the Scotland camp.
In the pack, Pierre Capdevielle comes in for Paul Doran-Jones who picked up a knee injury in Cardiff and Adam Eustace replaces Jake Boer who also left the Welsh capital with an injury.
Talking to the local media this week, Head Coach Bryan Redpath acknowledged that Northampton are a very good side and that Gloucester will be missing several players but that he's content with the resources at his disposal.
“It's massive for the club. We set ourselves some targets to achieve and the first of those comes up with this final on Sunday.”
“Your next game is your biggest challenge and last week is gone and we've learned from that. You move on and this is a big game for us.”
“Northampton are a quality side. They've been very consistent throughout the season. We've looked at some of the stuff they've achieved this season and admired it. It's been outstanding.”
“It's going to be a tough challenge, we have a fairly hefty injury and absentee list. But that's life. The boys that are here are still good enough to go out and compete at this level. I'm happy with the boys that are around.”
“I'm looking forward to it massively.”
Form: Northampton Saints have won their last three games in all competitions since their 6-13 defeat at Harlequins in the Guinness Premiership on 20 February. The Saints have won all five matches they have played in the LV= Cup this season and have reached their first senior domestic cup final since season 2002/03. Northampton have won on their last two appearances in finals: 24-13 over Exeter Chiefs in the National Trophy at Twickenham in April 2008 and 15-3 against Bourgoin at the Stoop in the European Challenge Cup last May. The Saints have won on their last five visits to Sixways. Gloucester have lost just two of their last ten matches in all competitions. Gloucester also reached the final of this tournament last season but lost out 12-50 to Cardiff Blues at Twickenham. Gloucester's only win in their last six final appearances in all competitions was 36-34 against London Irish in the European Challenge Cup at the Stoop in May 2006. Northampton have won their last two games against Gloucester, but Gloucester were victorious 40-22 on their only previous clash in the final of a competition: at Twickenham on 5 April 2003 in the Powergen Cup final.
The teams:
Northampton:, 15 Shane Geraghty, 14 Bruce Reihana, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Neil Best, 6 Phil Dowson (c), 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Brett Sharman, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Andy Long, 17 Regardt Dreyer, 18 Jon Vickers, 19 Mark Hopley, 20 Mark Easter, 21 Alan Dickens, 22 Barry Everitt, 23 Joe Ansbro.
Gloucester: 15 Freddie Burns, 14 James Simpson-Daniel, 13 Tim Molenaar, 12 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Rory Lawson, 8 Adam Eustace, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Peter Buxton (c), 5 Alex Brown, 4 Will James, 3 Pierre Capdevielle, 2 Olivier Azam, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Darren Dawidiuk, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Rupert Harden, 19 Apo Satala, 20 Andy Hazell, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Tom Voyce, 23 Charlie Sharples.
Date: Sunday, March 21
Venue: Sixways, Worcester
Kick-off: 15.30 GMT
Referee: Alan Lewis