Northampton vs Sale

Post by **Puja** » Fri Feb 15, 2019 1:08 pm

Northampton: Furbank; Tuala, Hutchinson, Francis, Naiyaravoro; Biggar, Reinach; Van Wyk, Fish, Painter, Ratuniyarawa, Moon, Gibson, Ludlam, Wood (capt)

Replacements: Marshall, Waller, Hill, Coles, Brussow, Mitchell, Burrell, Collins

Sale: James; Solomona, O'Connor, van Rensburg, McGuigan; MacGinty, de Klerk; Harrison, Webber, John, Evans, Phillips, Ross (capt), Curry, Beaumont.

Replacements: Neild, Bristow, Jones, Ostrikov, Strauss, Cliff, James, Reed

BenHK · Post by **BenHK** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 8:57 am

This could be a really good game. If this was at the AJB I would say this would be a definite Sale win. At FG this is anybody’s game. Going to say Sale by 3 with no TB for either side.

Bigger & Reinach vs De Klerk & AJ should be an interesting competition and be the major factor in who wins

Adam_P · Post by **Adam_P** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 9:01 am

Concerned about the defence of both our wingers. We need to work on getting Naiyaravoro involved on the ball more so he can at least create more tries than he leaks down his wing. Hopefully having two centres who can distribute well will help in this regard.

BenHK · Post by **BenHK** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 9:03 am

Adam_P wrote:Concerned about the defence of both our wingers. We need to work on getting Naiyaravoro involved on the ball more so he can at least create more tries than he leaks down his wing. Hopefully having two centres who can distribute well will help in this regard.

Denny and McGuigan aren’t exactly known for their defensive qualities so may be a fair match up

fivepointer · Post by **fivepointer** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 9:03 am

Furbank and Hutchinson looked really good last week for Saints. Good to see them starting in the Premiership.

BenHK · Post by **BenHK** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 9:04 am

Is this game being televised/streamed anywhere?

Adam_P · Post by **Adam_P** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 10:14 am

BenHK wrote:Is this game being televised/streamed anywhere?

Not televised but you should be able to find a stream somewhere...

BenHK · Post by **BenHK** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 2:47 pm

Looks like I was wrong about no TBP. And before half time as well. F*ck

Buggaluggs · Post by **Buggaluggs** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 2:50 pm

What happened to Biggar?

Timbo · Post by **Timbo** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 3:11 pm

I don’t think people have fully cottoned on to how good Saints have been at times this season. They look an incredibly well coached team already, just 5 months after Boyd arrived. They have an outstanding coaching team throughout tbh.

Banquo · Post by **Banquo** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 3:13 pm

Timbo wrote:I don’t think people have fully cottoned on to how good Saints have been at times this season. They look an incredibly well coached team already, just 5 months after Boyd arrived. They have an outstanding coaching team throughout tbh.

especially as they seem to have a lot of imports/newish combos. Nice to see Painter and Coles involved too,

Adam_P · Post by **Adam_P** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 4:06 pm

9 tries for Saints, 67-17 is a huge score against Sale in what I expected to be a bit of a close game. Biggar went off early and Furbank filled in at 10, and sounds like he did a great job. Long may this continue!

Which Tyler · Post by **Which Tyler** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 4:12 pm

Adam_P wrote:9 tries for Saints, 67-17 is a huge score against Sale in what I expected to be a bit of a close game. Biggar went off early and Furbank filled in at 10, and sounds like he did a great job. Long may this continue!

Yikes!
Just hope that makes you arrogant rather than confident for next weekend.

twitchy · Post by **twitchy** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 4:42 pm

Why was biggar even playing? I'd be mad if I was a welsh fan.

Banquo · Post by **Banquo** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 4:42 pm

twitchy wrote:Why was biggar even playing? I'd be mad if I was a welsh fan.

They all are

fivepointer · Post by **fivepointer** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 4:52 pm

Good things happening at Saints. Some very fine young players being given opportunities and signs that Boyd is crafting a very useful side.

Banquo · Post by **Banquo** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 5:00 pm

fivepointer wrote:Good things happening at Saints. Some very fine young players being given opportunities and signs that Boyd is crafting a very useful side.

I'm struck by what an odd mix of players they have there- good young uns, grizzled old english pros and a fair sprinkling of o/s pension chasers. I guess its a microcosm of a lot of AP teams. Its hard work to knit that together and he's doing well

fivepointer · Post by **fivepointer** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 5:14 pm

Banquo wrote:
fivepointer wrote:Good things happening at Saints. Some very fine young players being given opportunities and signs that Boyd is crafting a very useful side.
I'm struck by what an odd mix of players they have there- good young uns, grizzled old english pros and a fair sprinkling of o/s pension chasers. I guess its a microcosm of a lot of AP teams. Its hard work to knit that together and he's doing well

I've thought that Saints had a good enough squad to challenge top 4. It is a bit of a mix but there is enough quality there to seriously take on the big teams.
Boyd appears to be combining young and old very effectively.

Adam_P · Post by **Adam_P** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 5:20 pm

It's great having Hutchinson back from injury. Such an intelligent player, and has really performed since coming back into the side. Forgot how fast he was too. Sounds like Ludlam had a great game too and outperformed Curry quite comfortably.

I am very happy with the recent signing of our young core group of players. If we have the bulk of the team made up of academy graduates who have been Saints fans since their childhood then I think it only bodes well for the future.

Banquo · Post by **Banquo** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 5:21 pm

fivepointer wrote:
Banquo wrote:
fivepointer wrote:Good things happening at Saints. Some very fine young players being given opportunities and signs that Boyd is crafting a very useful side.
I'm struck by what an odd mix of players they have there- good young uns, grizzled old english pros and a fair sprinkling of o/s pension chasers. I guess its a microcosm of a lot of AP teams. Its hard work to knit that together and he's doing well
I've thought that Saints had a good enough squad to challenge top 4. It is a bit of a mix but there is enough quality there to seriously take on the big teams.
Boyd appears to be combining young and old very effectively.

....I think the issue within that is that beyond (full strength) Sarries and Exeter, there are then 8 teams much of a muchness; and I attribute a lot of that to the revolving door of pro rugby.

Banquo · Post by **Banquo** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 5:23 pm

Adam_P wrote:It's great having Hutchinson back from injury. Such an intelligent player, and has really performed since coming back into the side. Forgot how fast he was too. Sounds like Ludlam had a great game too and outperformed Curry quite comfortably.

I am very happy with the recent signing of our young core group of players. If we have the bulk of the team made up of academy graduates who have been Saints fans since their childhood then I think it only bodes well for the future.

Not sure that academy graduates will necessarily have been Saints fans since childhood, but I take your general point, and I'd hope other sides would do the same. There seem to be huge numbers of non eqp this weekend across the teams, though obviously a lot are shorn of England squad players

Adam_P · Post by **Adam_P** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 6:00 pm

Obviously not all will be, but I know quite a few are

Banquo · Post by **Banquo** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 6:03 pm

Adam_P wrote:Obviously not all will be, but I know quite a few are

and I know quite a few who aren't; all good, but its inevitable given how well the Saints have linked with local clubs. Its a proper feeder system, as used to happen pre pro rugby in areas like Gloucester.

switchskier · Post by **switchskier** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 7:17 pm

Adam_P wrote:It's great having Hutchinson back from injury. Such an intelligent player, and has really performed since coming back into the side. Forgot how fast he was too. Sounds like Ludlam had a great game too and outperformed Curry quite comfortably.

I am very happy with the recent signing of our young core group of players. If we have the bulk of the team made up of academy graduates who have been Saints fans since their childhood then I think it only bodes well for the future.

As a scot I had really high hopes for him at the start of last season and it never happened. Thought he had fallen behind dingwall but seems to have gotten the start today and Andy Goode was impressed on his rugby podcast with a recent performance. So what's happened?

Adam_P · Post by **Adam_P** » Sat Feb 16, 2019 7:34 pm

He's only just come back from a nasty leg injury he picked up (I think) during pre season.

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