Saints very focused on cup success
Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:37
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 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 semifinal and I'm expecting a tough game in Worcester."
Saints: 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 (captain), 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.
Date: Sunday, March 21
Venue: Sixways
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Huckle (England), Roger Baileff (England)
TMO: Ed Morrison (England)