Saints vs Sarries - Sunday 3pm

[Puja]

Northampton: Furbank; Sleightholme, Hutchinson, Francis, Skosan; Biggar, Mitchell; Waller, Matavesi, Hill, Coles, Ratuniyarawa, Lawes, Ludlam (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: Fish, Iyogun, Carey, Ribbans, Wood, James, Dingwall, Tuala

Saracens: Malins; Maitland, Lozowski, Tompkins, Daly; Goode, Davies; Mako Vunipola, George (capt), Beaton, Itoje, Isiekwe, McFarland, Earl, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Woolstencroft, Mawi, Milasinovich, Hunter-Hill, Wray, Van Zyl, Manu Vunipola, Segun.

Referee: Adam Leal

[Adam_P]

Saints well on top in the first half, but too many kickable penalties turned down for scrums and line outs and subsequently lost. 6 all at half time. Saracens pretty lucky to get away without a yellow for repeated infringements near their line.

[Adam_P]

Also, have to feel for Piers Francis. Forced off inured only a few minutes in to his return from a lengthy lay off. He has no luck at all. At least it wasn't another head injury.

[Adam_P]

As per, Saracens defensive line is constantly offside and constantly ignored by all officials. How can teams attack when they're up against this?

[Adam_P]

Saints are so frustrating at the moment - we play really well in small phases but cannot perform for 80 mins. Gash 2nd half from Saints and Saracens are significantly more efficient at converting possession into points. Officials have been gash throughout.

[Peej]

Poor officiating is a worrying theme across the weekend

[Mikey Brown]

I'd be more concerned if I ever read Adam_P say that Saints haven't been screwed over the ref.

[Adam_P]

Pretty sure I said we lost because we were absolute crap for the 2nd half and Saracens were their usual efficient selves. Doesn't change the fact that there are a good number of poor officials in the Prem at the moment - being led from the front by the likes of Tempest and Wigglesworth. It's as much the touch judges as the refs too - frequently ignoring squint line outs and forward passes when they have little else to look for.

[Raggs]

Pretty sure I said we lost because we were absolute crap for the 2nd half and Saracens were their usual efficient selves. Doesn't change the fact that there are a good number of poor officials in the Prem at the moment - being led from the front by the likes of Tempest and Wigglesworth. It's as much the touch judges as the refs too - frequently ignoring squint line outs and forward passes when they have little else to look for.

Of your 3 comments on this match, 2 commented on both Saints performance and poor officiating, and the 3rd was just about poor officiating.

[Gloskarlos]

Jackson Wray fractured his skull in this match near the end apparently!

[Banquo]

I'd be more concerned if I ever read Adam_P say that Saints haven't been screwed over the ref.

Not been the same since he was kicked off Strictly and then 3rd in SPOTY.

[Adam_P]

Pretty sure I said we lost because we were absolute crap for the 2nd half and Saracens were their usual efficient selves. Doesn't change the fact that there are a good number of poor officials in the Prem at the moment - being led from the front by the likes of Tempest and Wigglesworth. It's as much the touch judges as the refs too - frequently ignoring squint line outs and forward passes when they have little else to look for.

Of your 3 comments on this match, 2 commented on both Saints performance and poor officiating, and the 3rd was just about poor officiating.

They really must have been shit then