Gloucester vs Saints

[Puja]

Gloucester Rugby:

15. Jason Woodward; 14. Charlie Sharples, 13. Henry Trinder, 12. Billy Twelvetrees, 11. Matt Banahan; 10. Danny Cipriani, 9. Callum Braley 1. Val Rapava Ruskin, 2. James Hanson, 3. Fraser Balmain; 4. Ed Slater (capt), 5. Mariano Galarza; 6. Ruan Ackermann, 7. Lewis Ludlow, 8. Ben Morgan


Replacements:

16. Franco Marais, 17. Josh Hohneck, 18. Ciaran Knight, 19. Freddie Clarke, 20. Jake Polledri, 21. Ben Vellacott, 22. Tom Hudson, 23. Owen Williams


15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Nafi Tuitavake
13 Luther Burrell
12 Piers Francis
11 Tom Collins
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach

1 Alex Waller (co-captain)
2 James Fish
3 Ben Franks
4 David Ribbans
5 Courtney Lawes
6 James Haskell
7 Heinrich Brüssow
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements:
16 Dylan Hartley (co-captain)
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Ehren Painter
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Lewis Ludlam
21 Alex Mitchell
22 James Grayson
23 Ken Pisi

[Puja]

No Harry Mallinder anywhere in the Saints XXIII and not mentioned in the "Unavailable for Selection" list.

Puja

[fivepointer]

I dont think Mallinder was involved pre season so maybe he is injured?

Game of the round for me. Think this could be very close. Fascinating to see how Cips gets on.

Good to see 2 young TH props on the bench, Knight for Glos and Painter for Saints.

[Renniks]

There is very little to like about that Saints team…

[Adam_P]

Mallinder didn't play at all in pre season, but was involved in training towards the end. I believe he was still getting over glandular fever.

I'm glad to see the new coaches aren't afraid to select in form young players, Fish had a brilliant pre season. Lawes and Ribbans looks to be a very effective lock pairing too, with both having very good performances in pre season games.

I'm surprised Tuitavake has come onto the wing, thought Pisi has looked back to being good this pre season. Hands are pretty much tied with centre selection with the loss of Horne at the end of last season, though I'm hoping to see Dingwall break into the first team.

[Tigersman]

Mallinder played last week came on for Tuala at like 50.

[Adam_P]

Mallinder played last week came on for Tuala at like 50.

So he did, my mistake!

[Timbo]

Mallinder played last week came on for Tuala at like 50.

So he did, my mistake!

Any indication from the new coach as to which position he’s going to settle in?

A few weeks back I watched a rerun of a Saints vs Tigers game from a couple of seasons ago on BT Sport and Mallinder came on at FB after 20mins or so and was incredibly good. Beating players for power and pace, offloading, booming the ball 60 yards...almost forget what a talent he is. Such a brilliant skill set, would be a huge shame if he doesn’t fulfill his potential.

[Epaminondas Pules]

If I were Glaws I'd have Williams at 12 outside of Cipriani. Their backline does look good. Not so sure on the pack right now, though there are signs with incoming players. Saints look a good pack there. Should be a fun game.

[Adam_P]

Mallinder played last week came on for Tuala at like 50.

So he did, my mistake!

Any indication from the new coach as to which position he’s going to settle in?

A few weeks back I watched a rerun of a Saints vs Tigers game from a couple of seasons ago on BT Sport and Mallinder came on at FB after 20mins or so and was incredibly good. Beating players for power and pace, offloading, booming the ball 60 yards...almost forget what a talent he is. Such a brilliant skill set, would be a huge shame if he doesn’t fulfill his potential.

Fairly sure Boyd sees him as a 15, which I think I agree with. I just really hope he can sort out his physicality and technique in defence and he will be a really top quality player

[fivepointer]

Does Harry have the bottle? If he can show he has, he could be a big player for Saints and possibly England.

[Gloskarlos]

Haskell now out, Gibson to the bench, Ludlam starts

[Adam_P]

I would have liked Gibson or Eadie to come into the starting back row. No slight on Ludlam, but a back row of him Harrison and Brussow is pretty small, against a fairly big Glos pack

[twitchy]

lol at those glos player mugshots.

[twitchy]

Not looking forward to having to look at biggar's ugly mug all season.

[twitchy]

Glos battering them early on.

[Adam_P]

Tuala is an incredibly frustrating player. Often a donkey in defence, but then does stuff like that going forwards. An amazing bit of work to set that try up.

[twitchy]

Yellow for slater.

[twitchy]

Really physical encounter, great stuff.

[Adam_P]

I know it's ridiculously soft, but by the letter of the law should Slater not have seen red for the swinging arm into Wallers neck?

[twitchy]

Felt like a yellow to me.

[twitchy]

Lawes nails the ref. I want a gif of that.

[twitchy]

Quality from cips.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Good first half that. If there is a better left to right pass than that from Cips this season then I'll be amazed. Sensational pass.

Enjoyably physical game so far. Saints shooting their own feet at regular intervals. Rapava Ruskin having a ball. Both packs kicking lumps out of each other. Hartley made more than a yard ball in hand (in fact it was a cracking run and great to see him back on the pitch after his concussion issues). Lawes looking good. Saints backline almost look like they need to be introduced to each other, whereas Glaws have gelled better.

[twitchy]

It's being played like a derby game.