Video News: Wood reflects on where it has all gone wrong for Saints in Europe
LOOKING back on Saints’ torrid Heineken Cup campaign Tom Wood feels the heartbreaking defeat at Munster had more of a lasting effect than the team realised.
After a valiant display Saints were set to become only the second team in Heineken Cup history to win at Thomond Park.
But Munster put together an amazing 41 phases for Ronan O’Gara to land a huge drop goal with the last kick of the game.
And Wood feels the emotional shock of that last-gasp defeat effected them in the shocking loss at home to Scarlets.
Wood said: “I think that Munster game may have affected us psychologically.
“We didn’t perhaps think that at the time and we set out to win and play well against Scarlets, but something obviously went wrong, because we massively under-achieved that day.
“We put our heart and soul in that Munster game and we felt we deserved more, it was heartbreaking to lose like that.
“Fair play to Munster to win it with a drop goal, that was real quality. We felt we had a rough day that day, a few decisions went against us. That made it difficult.”
Saints feel they were on the rough end of John Lacey’s whistle at Castres last week as well, especially with Wood’s game-turning yellow card.
Wood is still hurting from that decision and expunging some frustration will be one of his and Saints’ motivation’s tomorrow with hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.
“We have had two away games in the first three games,” said Wood. “But there are no excuses against Castres we coughed up a lot of ball and our defensive line speed wasn’t good enough. That is one of the things we have talked about this week and we’re working hard to put it right.”
Castres were on a mission last week to end a run of six games without a win and to register a home victory for the first time since October. With that achieved the reality of their Heineken Cup ambitions are laid bare tomorrow. They have made 13 changes to the side that started last week, with superb goal-kicker Romain Teulet left at home along with impressive winger Romain Martial.
Fourth in the Top 14, they have a tough trip to Bayonne next week. Saints are also looking towards the Premiership.
Soane Tonga’uiha has been given a rare game on the bench, while George Pisi is also rested. James Downey comes in for Tom May and Brian Mujati gives his back another week off as Paul Doran-Jones continues at tighthead. At scrum-half Martin Roberts is handed his first start since the LV= Cup clash with Saracens on October 15.
With resources in the back row stretched that stays the same but Wood admits the new rotation policy is something the players are still getting used to.
Wood said: “During the World Cup our resources were stretched while we were away, and now everybody is back there is a lot competition for places and frustration in the squad because guys come back and play immediately. Through no fault of their own quality players are brushed aside a little bit and nudged out of the squad.
“That is good in a way because it drives competition but it is frustrating for the guys that miss out.
“The squad dynamics have been put under a bit of pressure. Last year the same 15 played most games and we are all adapting to that a little bit.
“I think it means good things going forward. We have not played our hand too early, we are building as opposed to peaking too early. There is still plenty of rugby to be played before the end of the year and we can still come out of this in a positive light.”
Wood is aiming to switch that positive light on tomorrow against Castres. And though the Heineken Cup is over for Saints motivation will be no problem with the Premiership on the horizon.
“We have targeted this game to build some momentum to get our confidence and performance back up and then attack Bath on Christmas Eve, that is definitely a must-win game.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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franco100
Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 11:48 AMIt all went wrong with cheating refs .or shocking desicions from refs .either way saints have been well and truly done over by refs .
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