Saracens v Northampton (Saturday 17:45 - Sky Sports 2)

[Guwuffle]

Saracens

15 Alex Goode (201)
14 Chris Ashton (91)
13 Duncan Taylor (86)
12 Brad Barritt (c) (165)
11 Chris Wyles (200)
10 Owen Farrell (129)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (147)

1 Mako Vunipola (93)
2 Schalk Brits (164)
3 Petrus Du Plessis (124)
4 Maro Itoje (46)
5 George Kruis (117)
6 Jackson Wray (135)
7 Will Fraser (74)
8 Billy Vunipola (54)

Replacements

16 Jared Saunders (32)
17 Richard Barrington (75)
18 Titi Lamositele (17)
19 Alistair Hargreaves (79)
20 Michael Rhodes (20)
21 Neil De Kock (251)
22 Marcelo Bosch (60)
23 Ben Ransom (64)

Northampton

15 Ben Foden (capt)
14 Ken Pisi
13 George Pisi
12 Luther Burrell
11 Jamie Elliott
10 Stephen Myler
9 Kahn Fotuali’i

1 Alex Waller
2 Mikey Haywood
3 Paul Hill
4 James Craig
5 Christian Day
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Ben Nutley
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements

16 Reece Marshall
17 Campese Ma’afu
18 Gareth Denman
19 Victor Matfield
20 Michael Paterson
21 Tom Kessell
22 JJ Hanrahan
23 Harry Mallinder

[Banquo]

If Faz get crocked, sarries will be in a spot of bother imo.....albeit Goode can fill in.

Expect a comfy sarries win else; their defence will hammer the saints backs unless the saints forwards unexpectedly get the upper hand. Lawes could get really exposed at 6, but looks like they've just run out of back row players (assume Wood and Dickinson both crocked, along with Clark), and losing Brooks is a blow- all in all, pack is severely weakened.

[Puja]

If Faz get crocked, sarries will be in a spot of bother imo.....albeit Goode can fill in.

Expect a comfy sarries win else; their defence will hammer the saints backs unless the saints forwards unexpectedly get the upper hand. Lawes could get really exposed at 6, but looks like they've just run out of back row players (assume Wood and Dickinson both crocked, along with Clark), and losing Brooks is a blow- all in all, pack is severely weakened.

I think Goode is currently the full-time Sarries back-up 10 with Hodgson injured.

What has happened to Ben Nutley anyway? He was the next big thing 2-3 seasons ago, but he hasn't seemed able to buy a game at Saints for ages.

Puja

[Banquo]

If Faz get crocked, sarries will be in a spot of bother imo.....albeit Goode can fill in.

Expect a comfy sarries win else; their defence will hammer the saints backs unless the saints forwards unexpectedly get the upper hand. Lawes could get really exposed at 6, but looks like they've just run out of back row players (assume Wood and Dickinson both crocked, along with Clark), and losing Brooks is a blow- all in all, pack is severely weakened.

I think Goode is currently the full-time Sarries back-up 10 with Hodgson injured.

What has happened to Ben Nutley anyway? He was the next big thing 2-3 seasons ago, but he hasn't seemed able to buy a game at Saints for ages.

Puja

Not Mordt? No, I appreciate that, but it's not a great solution is it?

[fivepointer]

Saints back row will be up against it. A lock out position and a player who hasnt played hardly any rugby for ages. Harrison has been very impressive but its asking a lot. Missing Brookes and North doesnt help much either.

Cant see Saracens slipping up.

[padprop]

Northampton's really need to sort out their back row next year. Still think they need a quality 8 and they are short a quality 6, although Gibson can do a job.

Really surprised clubs are raiding Wasps back row. I'm happy we are keeping everyone by the looks of it, but with Sam jones, Guy Thompson, Hughes, Reider, Young, Haskell, Smith and Johnson at a push, there are some great players there not getting as much game time as they deserve.

[Mellsblue]

Northampton's really need to sort out their back row next year. Still think they need a quality 8 and they are short a quality 6, although Gibson can do a job.

Really surprised clubs are raiding Wasps back row. I'm happy we are keeping everyone by the looks of it, but with Sam jones, Guy Thompson, Hughes, Reider, Young, Haskell, Smith and Johnson at a push, there are some great players there not getting as much game time as they deserve.

Gorgodze is joining Northampton next season.

Smith is off at the end of the season isn't he? That leaves 6 people fighting for 3 spots. Sounds about right to me.

[Timbo]

Picamoles is at Saints next year. Theyve really missed Callum Clarke and generally just feel they have been unlucky with injuries. Wood, Picamoles, Clarke, Harrison, Dickson, Gibson etc is a pretty strong group of back rowers to be going on with.

Their pack has been pretty decent overall this season, that's why despite playing crap rugby for 2/3rds of the season they were still grinding out wins and lbp's. They really need to sort their halfbacks though. A new Scrumhalf is a must I would have thought.

[Mellsblue]

Picamoles is at Saints next year. Theyve really missed Callum Clarke and generally just feel they have been unlucky with injuries. Wood, Picamoles, Clarke, Harrison, Dickson, Gibson etc is a pretty strong group of back rowers to be going on with.

Their pack has been pretty decent overall this season, that's why despite playing crap rugby for 2/3rds of the season they were still grinding out wins and lbp's. They really need to sort their halfbacks though. A new Scrumhalf is a must I would have thought.

Ah, yes, it is Picamoles. They've struggled with the loss of big ball carriers and this will really help them. I think a lump in the second row would help as well.

Fotuali'i is a top quality scrumhalf. They just need to use him properly and make him undisputed first choice. Making Dickson capt was a strange choice beyond the fact he's a dick on the pitch.

[Timbo]

Fotuali'i is leaving, I believe. Contract up and rumours he's off to Bath.

[Banquo]

Picamoles is at Saints next year. Theyve really missed Callum Clarke and generally just feel they have been unlucky with injuries. Wood, Picamoles, Clarke, Harrison, Dickson, Gibson etc is a pretty strong group of back rowers to be going on with.

Their pack has been pretty decent overall this season, that's why despite playing crap rugby for 2/3rds of the season they were still grinding out wins and lbp's. They really need to sort their halfbacks though. A new Scrumhalf is a must I would have thought.

Ah, yes, it is Picamoles. They've struggled with the loss of big ball carriers and this will really help them. I think a lump in the second row would help as well.

Fotuali'i is a top quality scrumhalf. They just need to use him properly and make him undisputed first choice. Making Dickson capt was a strange choice beyond the fact he's a dick on the pitch.

He's definitely not looked like one for ages.

[Adam_P]

Northampton's really need to sort out their back row next year. Still think they need a quality 8 and they are short a quality 6, although Gibson can do a job.

Really surprised clubs are raiding Wasps back row. I'm happy we are keeping everyone by the looks of it, but with Sam jones, Guy Thompson, Hughes, Reider, Young, Haskell, Smith and Johnson at a push, there are some great players there not getting as much game time as they deserve.

I think Wood and Gibson are quality 6s, Harrison and Clark are quality 7s. We've been a bit lacking at 8 with Dickinson not having the impact he did in his first season playing for Saints and Fisher has been unlucky with injuries. I do like Fisher when he plays though. Harrison has also done a decent job covering 8, but he lacks a bit of size. Picamoles will be a huge help next season. Interested to see how Nutters does tomorrow, he's been unlucky with injuries but it sounds like he showed up well in the A league this week.

[Mellsblue]

Fotuali'i is leaving, I believe. Contract up and rumours he's off to Bath.

I didn't know that. I might give up with this thread - it's laying bare my limited knowledge. Surely Bath don't need/have room for him, unless Matawalu is leaving after one season.

[Which Tyler]

Fotuali'i is leaving, I believe. Contract up and rumours he's off to Bath.

I didn't know that. I might give up with this thread - it's laying bare my limited knowledge. Surely Bath don't need/have room for him, unless Matawalu is leaving after one season.

Nah, it's Jonathon Evans who's leaving after 1 season; leaving us with 2 SHs and room for another. Kahn should be good IMO - a good mix of talents in the 3 of them, offering different choice, and a chance for rotation (like Ford would ever do more than talk about rotation), and all of decent standard*, which should push the others to improve.

*Mata's not a bad SH, just bad for the way Bath have been playing this season.

[Freks]

As if the handicap of having half our team out injured wasn't enough, I see Marler's forgotten his kicking boots.

[Freks]

Although we have now scored a try. Hmm!

3-5

Sarries have a man in the bin.

[Adam_P]

Decent start from Saints here, Nutley and Harrison looking good together again as they did in the LV for the last few seasons

[Spiffy]

Elliott should really have scored in the corner. He's looking dangerous with ball in hand- seems to have added a few Kg and some new found power to go with the pace.

[Adam_P]

Elliott should really have scored in the corner. He's looking dangerous with ball in hand- seems to have added a few Kg and some new found power to go with the pace.

Real shame he didn't finish that after smashing off Wigglesworth. We should have a comfortable lead really, but it's too close for my liking at the moment!

[Mikey Brown]

Why is jumping in to tackles deemed legal when it's on the try line? Ashton a big culprit there, how on earth was Mallinder supposed to tackle him? Also players diving over the top of rucks to score does not seem fair, you can't defend it.

[Freks]

Well, this is all getting a bit predictable.

[fivepointer]

That was a dogged effort by Saints but they got wore down in the end. 2nd half Saracens took over and finally made possession and territory count. Itoje again very impressive.

If Harrison isnt on one of the England tours in June then the selectors simply havent been paying attention.

Oh and listening to Barnes after Kay and BOD on the Wasps-Exeter match was excruciating.

[Mr Mwenda]

Why is jumping in to tackles deemed legal when it's on the try line? Ashton a big culprit there, how on earth was Mallinder supposed to tackle him? Also players diving over the top of rucks to score does not seem fair, you can't defend it.

I thought so too. It was unnecessary and could have ended badly for either player. His swan diving doesn't normally bother me but that was pretty reckless.

[Mikey Brown]

That was a dogged effort by Saints but they got wore down in the end. 2nd half Saracens took over and finally made possession and territory count. Itoje again very impressive.

If Harrison isnt on one of the England tours in June then the selectors simply havent been paying attention.

Oh and listening to Barnes after Kay and BOD on the Wasps-Exeter match was excruciating.

I thought Harrison was a Kiwi?

Agreed on Barnes. O'Driscoll is as irritatingly good as a pundit, I can't help but like him.

[Mellsblue]

That was a dogged effort by Saints but they got wore down in the end. 2nd half Saracens took over and finally made possession and territory count. Itoje again very impressive.

If Harrison isnt on one of the England tours in June then the selectors simply havent been paying attention.

Oh and listening to Barnes after Kay and BOD on the Wasps-Exeter match was excruciating.

I thought Harrison was a Kiwi?

Agreed on Barnes. O'Driscoll is as irritatingly good as a pundit, I can't help but like him.

Qualifies via parent/grandparent.