Ben's chance to show he's right
Ben Foden came to Saints for the number nine shirt, well he has finally got it.
After all the carry-on over what position Foden should play in, he has the chance to show his future is as a scrum-half at Welford Road tonight.
The first east midlands derby for nearly two years will present Foden with the perfect opportunity to showcase his talents, especially as he will be up against Harry Ellis, a lot of people's favourite to land the England spot when the Autumn internationals start.
Foden will be particularly keen to show what he can do after spending the first four games of the season on the bench.
And last Saturday he was back on the bench after barely 10 minutes on the field after being sin-binned.
Foden's yellow-card was more for the team than him, but he was still a pretty upset man as he headed back to the Saints bench. But Foden will be able to jog past that bench when he makes his first start for Saints tonight.
The 23-year-old has all the raw ingredients to be a world-class number nine, that much has been known from an early age.
Foden has played at scrum-half through all the England age groups.
But if he is to develop and play on the full international stage he needs Premiership experience in the role.
He needs to play when the pack in front of him is getting shoved back and his passing from the base of a ruck is under pressure.
That, plus reading when and where to kick to, especially with slow ball, and when to run the ball all comes with experience.
And it was experience he wasn't getting at Sale. There, director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre preferred Foden at full-back, where, admittedly he was electric with Saint-Andre predicting an international career at 15.
The arrival of Dwayne Peel was the final nail in Foden's chances of
playing at scrum-half for Sale, so he left to work under Jim Mallinder.
Foden has the strength, speed and awareness of gaps to take advantage of the anarchy around the breakdown that has characterised games this season.
Dickson has quicker hands, but Foden is a potential matchwinner with his running ability. He will be fired up to prove a point against Ellis tonight in a battle that could ignite the game.
Leicester will be desperate to win after losing to arch-rivals Wasps on Friday.
That was a game dominated by the boot and, just like Saints, Leicester have worked out that, playing the game in the opposition's half is the only way under the current epidemic of penalties at the breakdown.
It will no doubt mean plenty of aerial ping-pong tonight.
Despite losing, Saints' pressure defence was excellent at Saracens, forcing several penalties and a couple of try opportunities that they couldn't quite nail.
Leicester lost their discipline in the second half against Wasps as Jeremy Staunton kicked 23 points.
And if Saints keep up that pressure defence and contest the breakdown as they have done, they could squeeze a lot of penalties out of the Tigers.
Scott Gray will be crucial in that aspect of the game.
He has been a superb acquisition in the back row, but they will again be without Neil Best, who is today awaiting the result of his disciplinary hearing, and his ferocious commitment will be sorely missed.
But in Stephen Myler, Saints seem to have solved their kicking problems.
He hasn't missed a shot at the posts out of five attempts so far, including that monstrous 50-metre drop goal on Saturday.
Saints are underdogs tonight, but their form at Welford Road suggests they have more than a chance of upsetting the odds.
They have won on three of their last five visits to the home of the Tigers in the Premiership.
Though one thing they will need to improve is their set-piece.
After starting the season so well, the scrum took a few backwards steps at Saracens.
Sarries have a strong pack and the way they won a vital scrum in their 22 against the head will have set the alarm bells ringing in forwards coach Dorian West's head.
Tom Smith and Barry Stewart were immediately thrown on, but Saints have just one prop on the bench tonight.
Soane Tonga'uiha has played both sides of the scrum, but either Tom Smith or Euan Murray will have to last the full 80 minutes.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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