Northampton vs Racing - Friday night

[Puja]

Northampton: Furbank; Freeman, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Skosan; Biggar, Mitchell; Waller, Matavesi, Painter, Ribbans, Moon, Wilkins, Ludlam (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: Fish, Auterac, Hill, Ratuniyarawa, Coles, James, Litchfield, Sleightholme.

Racing 92: Beale; Thomas, Vakatawa, Fickou (c), Imhoff; Russell, Machenaud; Gogichashvili, Baubigny, Oz; Jones, Le Roux; Diallo, Lauret, Tanga.

Replacements: Chat, Ben Arous, Gomes Sa, Bresler, Chouzenoux, Gibert, Chavancy, Taofifenua.

[Puja]

That Racing side has a couple of decent players in it, doesn't it?

Puja

[Adam_P]

Where did you get that team sheet from, as the one Saints put out yesterday has Proctor at 13 and I've not seen mention of him pulling out?

I was about to say it's a good job Proctor is back in, as him and Dingwall are our best defensive pairing and they've got quite a lively backline to defend against!

[Adam_P]

15 George Furbank
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Matt Proctor
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Courtnall Skosan
10 Dan Biggar
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Nick Auterac
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Ehren Painter
4 David Ribbans
5 Api Ratuniyarawa
6 Karl Wilkins
7 Lewis Ludlam (c)
8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements:
16 James Fish
17 Alex Waller
18 Conor Carey
19 Alex Coles
20 Tom Wood
21 Frank Lomani
22 Rory Hutchinson
23 Ollie Sleightholme

[fivepointer]

This could be fun. Saints showing some good signs will have to be on their game up against a scary looking Racing side.

This wont end 12-9.

[Puja]

Where did you get that team sheet from, as the one Saints put out yesterday has Proctor at 13 and I've not seen mention of him pulling out?

I was about to say it's a good job Proctor is back in, as him and Dingwall are our best defensive pairing and they've got quite a lively backline to defend against!

It's what the BBC are showing, but the BBC aren't exactly noted for their accuracy in such things, so I'd imagine your one is the correct one.

Puja

[francoisfou]

That Racing side has a couple of decent players in it, doesn't it?

Puja

It does, but their Top14 form is iffy, having won 6 and lost 6. Mid table mediocrity is not what one expects from a side like Racing.

Maybe they'll show us what they can do this evening!

[Croft_No.5]

Where did you get that team sheet from, as the one Saints put out yesterday has Proctor at 13 and I've not seen mention of him pulling out?

I was about to say it's a good job Proctor is back in, as him and Dingwall are our best defensive pairing and they've got quite a lively backline to defend against!

It's what the BBC are showing, but the BBC aren't exactly noted for their accuracy in such things, so I'd imagine your one is the correct one.

Puja

Exactly and this is from the first paragraph of the web article. Lazy

"Former All Black centre Matt Proctor comes into the Northampton starting XV to face Racing 92 in the opening match of the Saints' European campaign."

[Banquo]

Where did you get that team sheet from, as the one Saints put out yesterday has Proctor at 13 and I've not seen mention of him pulling out?

I was about to say it's a good job Proctor is back in, as him and Dingwall are our best defensive pairing and they've got quite a lively backline to defend against!

In fairness, the side the Saints originally put up on their web site was last week's for some reason- that was when I looked at about 6pm last night. But still, then beeb could have checked.

[Adam_P]

Where did you get that team sheet from, as the one Saints put out yesterday has Proctor at 13 and I've not seen mention of him pulling out?

I was about to say it's a good job Proctor is back in, as him and Dingwall are our best defensive pairing and they've got quite a lively backline to defend against!

It's what the BBC are showing, but the BBC aren't exactly noted for their accuracy in such things, so I'd imagine your one is the correct one.

Puja

Exactly and this is from the first paragraph of the web article. Lazy

"Former All Black centre Matt Proctor comes into the Northampton starting XV to face Racing 92 in the opening match of the Saints' European campaign."

Amazing.

Anyway, I think the side we've actually put out must be close to our best starting 15 - just stick Lawes in at 6. As has been said, Racing have a scary looking team but for some reason their recent form hasn't been all that great. Both teams like to play quick though, so hopefully it's an entertaining match.

[Adam_P]

Shambolic first 5 mins from Matavesi

[Adam_P]

The reffing of the rucks this game has been quite crap

[Mellsblue]

This ref is shunt. I’ve never been impressed with him but he’s missed so much so far.

[Mellsblue]

Class from Ludlum and Dingwall.

[Mellsblue]

Class from Russell.

[morepork]

If go around throwing around the "class" word willy nilly, someone will have their eye out.

[Adam_P]

Well that was quite a shit half for Saints. Somehow managing to be both pedestrian and rushed at the same time. Few glimpses of decent rugby, but few and far between.

[FKAS]

Saints will do well to keep this under 50. Some of the Racing attack is pure rugby filth though let's face it with the cost of their side it really should be.

Biggar is off injured again. Is that the third or fourth time we've seen him limp off for either the Lions, Wales and Saints? At some point they are going to have to actually get him sorted. Playing off 9 has allowed Mitchell to up the tempo though, that could be interesting if the big Racing pack tire.

[Mellsblue]

Clarse from Mitchell.

[Mellsblue]

The reffing of the rucks this game has been quite crap

Crap is an understatement.

[FKAS]

Good finish by Ludlum that though it might get ruled off. Yep harshly ruled off, the Racing scrummy has milked that.

Mitchell has been about the only Saints player who's had a good game.

[Adam_P]

Sleightholme doesn't change his line at all there, and the tackler is nowhere fucking near Ludlam. Shocking bit of refereeing

[FKAS]

Sleightholme doesn't change his line at all there, and the tackler is nowhere fucking near Ludlam. Shocking bit of refereeing

He doesn't change his line but he's clearly in front of the ball carrier and he makes no effort to get back onside, quite the reverse. Racing player 100% milks it though, of he's not jumping up and down waving his arms around complaining he's been blocked he gets back and can make a tackle. Harsh call but one of those where if it's your player then it's smart playing the ref but if it's the opposition it's lazy reffing and simulation.

[Adam_P]

If Machenaud continued his line unimpeded by Sleightholme, he still would have been no where near tackling Ludlam. He just chose to run into Sleightholme. Its a shit call, this ref has been awful all game.

[FKAS]

If Machenaud continued his line unimpeded by Sleightholme, he still would have been no where near tackling Ludlam. He just chose to run into Sleightholme. Its a shit call, this ref has been awful all game.

Certainly not going to disagree on the ref. He did not impress.