Friday 15 September 2000
 |
| 09:00-10:00 |
| The Rugby Club |
|
|
| 14:00-15:00 |
| The Rugby Club |
|
Saturday 16 September 2000
|
| 14:00-16:30 |
| Ford Rugby Union: Zurich Premiership - Harlequins Vs Bristol- Live |
|
 |
| 22:00-23:30 |
| Rugby Union Update: Zurich Premiership Harlequins Vs Bristol |
|
|
| 02:00-03:30 |
| Rugby Union Update: Zurich Premiership - Harlequins Vs Bristol Highlights |
|
Sunday 17 September 2000
 |
| 10:30-12:00 |
| Rugby Union Update: Zurich Premiership Harlequins Vs Bristol |
|
Thursday 21 September 2000
|
| 18:00-19:00 |
| The Rugby Club |
|
|
| 23:00-00:00 |
| The Rugby Club |
|
Friday 22 September 2000
|
| 09:00-10:00 |
| The Rugby Club |
|
|
| 13:00-14:00 |
| The Rugby Club |
|
|
| 16:00-17:00 |
| The Rugby Club |
|
|
|
 Northampton:
Director
of rugby: John Steele
Captain: Pat Lam
Ground: Franklin's Gardens
Last season: 5th.
|
|
In:
|
Olivier
Brouzet (Begles-Bordeaux), Luca Martin (Begles-Bordeaux), Steve Brotherstone
(Brive), Rob Hunter (London Irish), Joe Shaw (Sale) |
|
Out:
|
Federico Mendez (Begles-Bordeaux), Don Mackinnon (Edinburgh), Richard
Metcalfe (Edinburgh), Simon Hepher (Colomiers), Andy Northey (Rotherham),
Chris Johnson (Rotherham), Colin Allan (London Irish), Richard Jackson
(Bedford), Ross Cook (Newcastle), Simon Holmes (retired) |
 |
|
Olivier
Brouzet
|
Fixture congestion
wreaked havoc on Saints title challenge last season - at one stage they were
on for the treble of Premiership, Tetley's Bitter Cup, and European Cup -
but they showed their class and mental toughness to beat Munster in the final
of the Heineken Cup.
The one major
contributing factor to last year's success was their captain Pat Lam. The
Samoan and former All Black was voted player's player of the year, and the
sight of him urging his players on from the in-goal area having already
left the field through injury during a vital match in last year's campaign
underlined his full-bloodied commitment.
Lam is surrounded
by seasoned campaigners - guys who have been in more than a few rugby wars.
Matt Dawson must be one of the best vice-captains in the Premiership. Having
captained England to the Six Nations last season, he too is an inspirational
figure on and off the pitch Add to these two Springbok Gary Pagel, and British
Lions Tim Rober and Alan Bateman and you have a side with decision-makers
all over the pitch.
 |
|
Luca
Martin
|
The arrival
of French powerhouse Brouzet and Italian rock Martin will add even more
steel to a side who are already notoriously resilient. In the pack, openside
Budge Pountney is approaching world class, and looks set to be a Lion next
summer, possibly even claiming a Test place. Richard Metcalfe is another
international. Saints can also boast two England fly-halves in Ali Hepher
and Paul Grayson, and out wide Ben Cohen and Nick Beal are big strong men
who will worry even the best defences.
No surprise
then that Coach John Steele believes his side are well-equipped to go much
closer this time. They
will again challenge strongly in every major competition, having learnt
so much from last season's courageous treble bid. A safe bet for a top four
finish and likely to go the distance in Europe again, Saints will certainly
take some stopping. But they will also be the team that everybody wants
to beat. They have immense forward power and a great kicking game, and after
last year must be mentally the toughest side in the Premiership. Winning
the League is no easy feat and the Saints will have to play even better
than they did last term to do it.
Other Zurich
Premiership teams:
Bath
• Bristol
• Gloucester
• Harlequins
• Leicester
• London
Irish • Newcastle
• Rotherham
• Sale
• Saracens
• Wasps
|
