Saints vs Bath (Sunday)

[Puja]

Northampton: Freeman; Proctor, Hutchinson, Francis, Naiyaravoro; Furbank, James; Auterac, S Matavesi, Painter, Ribbans, Ratuniyarawa, Isiekwe, Ludlam (capt), Wood.

Replacements: Marshall, Waller, Hill, Moon, Coles, Taylor, Mallinder, Sleightholme.

Bath: T Schoeman; Rokodoguni, Joseph, J Matavesi, Muir; Priestland, Chudley; J Schoeman, Walker, Judge, Ellis, Stooke, Bayliss (capt), Reid, Mercer.

Replacements: Dunn, Bhatti, Thomas, Richards, Staddon, Spencer, Clark, McConnochie.

[Adam_P]

Good to see Freeman back in at 15, been very impressive on his couple of first team run outs so far. Sticking with Furbank at 10 too - I definitely made the Freeman 15 Furbs 10 case a few weeks back so it's nice to see Boyd reads this board and takes note! Must be hard to take for Grayson though, apparently being usurped at 10 by a 15.

Shame no Adendorff but I believe he picked up a leg injury last week, hopefully minor.

If our pack can front up as they did against Exeter last week, hopefully the weather and a quality pitch will allow the backs to play the rugby they showed at the start of last season.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Point of note on Ethan Staddon possibly making his debut from the bench. The 18 year old can play lock or blindside and is a really good young player. A product of Beechen Cliff school. Got a proper bit of mongrel about him.

[Which Tyler]

Point of note on Ethan Staddon possibly making his debut from the bench. The 18 year old can play lock or blindside and is a really good young player. A product of Beechen Cliff school. Got a proper bit of mongrel about him.

Erm, it's his 5th match, not debut.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Fair point. My bad.

[Banquo]

lots of mistakes but still enjoyable

[Banquo]

brilliant comeback from Bath

[Banquo]

Saints should have gone for goal

[Banquo]

well done Bath, but Saints will regret blown chances; Baths bench did well

[Adam_P]

Taylor was awful when he came on, whereas James looks a very handy find. Can't believe we lost that really, really quite poor for most of the 2nd half and Bath stepped things up, especially with some of their replacements.

[fivepointer]

Cracking game for the neutral. Highly enjoyable, though i can see Saints fans being very disappointed they didnt close it out.
Great pity Mercer is leaving Bath and the Premiership. He's a super player.

[Peej]

well done Bath, but Saints will regret blown chances; Baths bench did well

Yeah, if either Ludlam or Naiyavaro give simple passes rather than give in to white line fever in the first 20 of the second half, Bath are dead and buried. Shame Saints couldn't back up last week's big win

[Banquo]

well done Bath, but Saints will regret blown chances; Baths bench did well

Yeah, if either Ludlam or Naiyavaro give simple passes rather than give in to white line fever in the first 20 of the second half, Bath are dead and buried. Shame Saints couldn't back up last week's big win

yep and iirc a couple held up over the line. And didnt kick a pen

[Adam_P]

Proctor had a couple of instances where he should have given it too.

The decision to take the scrum towards the end was crazy. Yes we had been dominant in that area, but with the potential for things to go against you even just in the set up, surely a quick tap is a safer bet

[Which Tyler]

This thread seems to be saying that it was actually an entertaining match - is it worth trying to catch it on PremPlayer?

[Banquo]

Proctor had a couple of instances where he should have given it too.

The decision to take the scrum towards the end was crazy. Yes we had been dominant in that area, but with the potential for things to go against you even just in the set up, surely a quick tap is a safer bet

Or just take the points.

[Banquo]

This thread seems to be saying that it was actually an entertaining match - is it worth trying to catch it on PremPlayer?

I’d think so, but the spoilers in the thread might detract!

[Which Tyler]

This thread seems to be saying that it was actually an entertaining match - is it worth trying to catch it on PremPlayer?

I’d think so, but the spoilers in the thread might detract!

I've lost interest in the Prem as a competition for this year - Covid and ringfencing will do that - so my interest is in seeing players I'm unfamiliar with, and watching entertaining rugby - not really the sort of thing spoilers will spoil.

[Banquo]

This thread seems to be saying that it was actually an entertaining match - is it worth trying to catch it on PremPlayer?

I’d think so, but the spoilers in the thread might detract!

I've lost interest in the Prem as a competition for this year - Covid and ringfencing will do that - so my interest is in seeing players I'm unfamiliar with, and watching entertaining rugby - not really the sort of thing spoilers will spoil.

watch away then