NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 8

BIARRITZ OLYMPIQUE 17

Heineken Cup Pool 6 Round 6

Franklin's Gardens

Sunday, 21 January, 2007

A match with nothing to play for? Try telling that to the players from Northampton and Biarritz. For even though both clubs had been guaranteed quarter final qualification, within seconds of the first whistle it was clear that the pride of Pool 6 was at stake with Imanol Harinorduquy's high tackle on Sean Lamont. This did not provoke a reaction but the passion on show often threatened to spill over.

Harinordoquay had demonstrated the visitors' intent. Saints also had an objective and within 10 minutes it was clear. Tries were what was needed if the group was to be won and two penalties close to the Biarritz line - albeit out on the touchline - were kicked to touch to try and get the home side off to a flying start.

The first throw missed the man but the second found David Gerard and the home pack formed a maul five metres out. But Biarritz did not get to the 2006 Heineken Cup final on the back of a poor defence and as the first quarter wore on it was apparent that something extraordinary was necessary to break them down.

Saints' backs were certainly trying with numbers 9 to 15 all making breaks and looking to keep the ball alive. Robbie Kydd and Paul Diggin in particular were combining well down the left with Sean Lamont and Ben Cohen doing likewise in midfield. However the French defence stood firm against this tactic as well. And with the match still scoreless after 20 minutes Biarritz set about trying to break the deadlock.

Though they managed a couple of storming drives Biarritz did not look like breaking Saints down either. But their spell of possession ensured that when the hosts were awarded another penalty on the half-hour Carlos Spencer stepped up to give his side a 3-0 lead.

Having now conceded Biarritz proceeded to lose their heads with two yellow cards. Sereli Bobo went first for killing the ball followed four minutes later by David Couzinet for stamping. Saints went looking for that elusive try and with good possession and territory things were looking good.

However Biarritz had brought with them a genius named Dimitri Yachvili and with his side on the rack the scrum-half produced a magic run down the left touchline. Benjamin Noirot was in support and the two ran deep into the Northampton 22. The play should have resulted in a try but for Philippe Bidabe's attack of white-line fever. Still Yachvili ensured that his vision was not in vain with a drop-goal that tied the score at 3-3.

Biarritz began the second half with the bit between their teeth and but for Lamont's tackle on Bobo they would have had a try inside a couple of minutes. Yachvili also hit the post with a penalty but the pressure was relentless and in the 52nd minute Andrea Masi reached over to score the game's first try, converted by Yachvili.

Man-of-the-match Masi also set up Biarritz's second try with a marvellous offload that sent the rampaging Bobo to the goalposts. But the intervening 13 minutes had largely belonged to the Saints, especially with a powerful Steve Thompson break. The boys in black, green and gold were also trying to maintain their gameplan of keeping the ball alive, which was very much to their credit.

Unfortunately the handling in close quarters, while often accurate, was not always so and many of Saints' spells of possession ended with turnovers. With the clock ticking towards the 80-minute mark however the ball remained in the grasp of the home forwards and Soane Tonga'uiha drove over for his first Heineken Cup try, a small consolation for the Saints who now head back to the Basque country in the quarter finals.

Teams:
Northampton Saints - Kydd (Laird 77mins); Lamond, Cohen, Quinlan, Diggin; Spencer, Robinson; Budgen (Easter 85mins), Thompson (capt)(Hartley 69mins), Barnard (Tonga'uiha 40mins), Gerard (Lord 24mins), Short, Tupai, Fox, Browne.

Biarritz Olympique - Dambielle (Marlu 69mins); Bidabe, Gaitan, Masi, Bobo; Peyrelongue, Yachvili (Dupuy 74mins); Balan (Avril 64mins), August (capt)(Noirot 31mins), Avril (Lecouls 54mins), Thion, Couzinet (Dellape 43mins), Betsen, Harinordoquy (Dridi 74mins), Lievremont.

Scorers:
Northampton Saints - Try: Tonga'uiha; Pen: Spencer.

Biarritz Olympique - Tries: Masi, Bobo; Cons: Yachvili (2); Drop-goal: Yachvili.

Yellow cards:
Bobo (33mins)
Couzinet (37mins)

Heineken man of the match:
Andrea Masi

Attendance:
12,541

TIMELINE:
30mins SAINTS Pen Spencer 3-0
33mins BIARRITZ Yellow card Bobo (Killing the ball)
37mins BIARRITZ Yellow card Couzinet (Stamping)
40+5mins BIARRITZ Drop-goal Yachvili 3-3
HALF-TIME SAINTS 3 BIARRITZ 3
52mins BIARRITZ Try Masi Con Yachvili 3-10
65mins BIARRITZ Try Bobo Con Yachvili 3-17
80mins SAINTS Try Tonga'uiha 8-17
FULL-TIME SAINTS 8 BIARRITZ 17