Leicester vs Northampton - Friday night

[FKAS]

How has Carley not seen that tackle in the air right in front of his face

He's jumping for the ball and blocked by the three Saints players forming a wall in front of their jumper.

[Adam_P]

He didn't claim the ball and made contact with Hutch in the air. Clear penalty

[FKAS]

He didn't claim the ball and made contact with Hutch in the air. Clear penalty

Didn't make any attempt to grab Hutchinson in the air and you're perfectly entitled to make contact if you're going for the ball which he was. Soft penalty and was caused entirely by Saints blockers.

[Adam_P]

The tigers scrum has suffered since Cole has gone off

[FKAS]

Jimmy Whitcombe with the skills to notice the deflected kick and then the little step and pass to put Burns into space. He'll need to be careful otherwise the front row club will throw him out for thinking.

Leatigaga's scrummaging coming under scrutiny here, he's not the best he's just a big strong unit.

[FKAS]

The tigers scrum has suffered since Cole has gone off

Best scrummaging tighthead in the league goes off and third choice tighthead comes on.

Leatigaga's a great squad option because he's plays both sides and he's massive but he does tend to make errors and he's not the most technical scrummager.

[FKAS]

That's a lovely little grubber through from Wigglesworth. Well worked try.

[Adam_P]

Well I think this game is as good as gone now. Can't see us worrying the top 4 this season.

We need to add some beef to our pack, look tiny in comparison to other top teams. We also lack a single hard carrier in the backs, Proctor is the closest thing but I think our backline could really use a player like Esterhuizen or van Rensburg

[FKAS]

Hmm I think three of four Tigers tries were scored under advantage, some multiple advantage. No warning and no yellow for Saints.

Ashton was dumb though, offside three times in one set. He's supposed to be an experienced head.

[Adam_P]

Hmm I think three of four Tigers tries were scored under advantage, some multiple advantage. No warning and no yellow for Saints.

Ashton was dumb though, offside three times in one set. He's supposed to be an experienced head.

I think Reffell was lucky not to get a yellow for sacking the previous maul tbh

[FKAS]

How's that no a yellow? Cynical high tackle. Furbank should be in the bin there.

[FKAS]

Hmm I think three of four Tigers tries were scored under advantage, some multiple advantage. No warning and no yellow for Saints.

Ashton was dumb though, offside three times in one set. He's supposed to be an experienced head.

I think Reffell was lucky not to get a yellow for sacking the previous maul tbh

Agreed.

[FKAS]

Job done. TBP wins X 2 Vs Saints. As a Tigers fan that's very satisfactory.

End to end game that felt a bit closer than the scoreboard suggests at the end. Saints discipline and they way they were pulled into competing with Tigers in the kicking game really hurt them.

[Adam_P]

More of the same from Saints really, flashes of brilliance but generally too poor and ill disciplined to do anything consistently.

Thought the ref and TMO generally worked very well with each other tonight - decisions made swiftly on the fly without spending all night over them

[FKAS]

More of the same from Saints really, flashes of brilliance but generally too poor and ill disciplined to do anything consistently.

Thought the ref and TMO generally worked very well with each other tonight - decisions made swiftly on the fly without spending all night over them

They certainly didn't hang around. Probably because it's Baltic outside and sir wanted to keep moving rather than stand there looking at the TV shivering.

[Puja]

That was the best I've seen Burns play since coming back to Leicester. Looked confident and cocky, like a flashback to his early days at Gloucester. Very encouraging to see.

Puja

[FKAS]

That was the best I've seen Burns play since coming back to Leicester. Looked confident and cocky, like a flashback to his early days at Gloucester. Very encouraging to see.

Puja

Burns at his best tempers his flair with pragmatism. When he's undercooked the flair tends to get the better of him. Tonight was one of those rare games where he finds the right balance and the Burns who deservedly got capped by England is on show. He's been unable to do that consistently which is why he ends up playing second fiddle to players like Ford who dominate weekly.

[Banquo]

Well I think this game is as good as gone now. Can't see us worrying the top 4 this season.

We need to add some beef to our pack, look tiny in comparison to other top teams. We also lack a single hard carrier in the backs, Proctor is the closest thing but I think our backline could really use a player like Esterhuizen or van Rensburg

handling, discipline and concentration were the presenting issues today.

Grayson cant be fit to do all that shuffling.

Burns excellent.

[Adam_P]

I think many of the handling issues and penalties stem from not dominating collisions and subsequently being on the back foot a lot

[Banquo]

I think many of the handling issues and penalties stem from nit dominating collisions and subsequently being on the back foot a lot

hmm, possibly, but a lot of unforced ones for me. Early on they were overplaying, and accuracy was poor.

[FKAS]

Well I think this game is as good as gone now. Can't see us worrying the top 4 this season.

We need to add some beef to our pack, look tiny in comparison to other top teams. We also lack a single hard carrier in the backs, Proctor is the closest thing but I think our backline could really use a player like Esterhuizen or van Rensburg

handling, discipline and concentration were the presenting issues today.

Grayson cant be fit to do all that shuffling.

Burns excellent.

I did expect the Saints defence to be more prepared for us second time round but it was actually pretty woeful. A lot of the penalties came from Saints over compensating for a defensive lapse. The Saints attack looked dangerous, the forwards were physical but do maybe lack another big hitter. What was noticeable was how Montoya went round smashing people in defence but I can't recall who started at hooker for Saints. Similar could be said of the other front row options, they were a bit underwhelming.

A big centre would certainly add something to Saints, Dingwall in the direct centre role didn't really work. I expected him and Kelly to kind of go head to head but that face off never really materialised.

[Banquo]

Well I think this game is as good as gone now. Can't see us worrying the top 4 this season.

We need to add some beef to our pack, look tiny in comparison to other top teams. We also lack a single hard carrier in the backs, Proctor is the closest thing but I think our backline could really use a player like Esterhuizen or van Rensburg

handling, discipline and concentration were the presenting issues today.

Grayson cant be fit to do all that shuffling.

Burns excellent.

I did expect the Saints defence to be more prepared for us second time round but it was actually pretty woeful. A lot of the penalties came from Saints over compensating for a defensive lapse. The Saints attack looked dangerous, the forwards were physical but do maybe lack another big hitter. What was noticeable was how Montoya went round smashing people in defence but I can't recall who started at hooker for Saints. Similar could be said of the other front row options, they were a bit underwhelming.

A big centre would certainly add something to Saints, Dingwall in the direct centre role didn't really work. I expected him and Kelly to kind of go head to head but that face off never really materialised.

both Fraser and Kelly made good yards and did good stuff. Saints missed too many tackles, but 11 turnovers and 15 pens make life hard.

[Adam_P]

I don't think there is any doubt that front row is by far our weakest unit. I like Matavesi and Hill, but other than that our options are significantly weaker than other teams in the top half of the Prem.

My shopping list for next season would be 2 big scrummaging props and a hard carrying centre.

[Banquo]

I don't think there is any doubt that front row is by far our weakest unit. I like Matavesi and Hill, but other than that our options are significantly weaker than other teams in the top half of the Prem.

My shopping list for next season would be 2 big scrummaging props and a hard carrying centre.

Is Proctor still about next season? I would think a good no 8 would help.
And whilst I like Boyd, Saints have been maddening to watch.

[FKAS]

To be fair Tigers have been quite lucky in the prop department with Heyes, Cole and Whitcombe all coming through the academy. At hooker Dolly and Clare were acquired very cheaply which freed up funds for the world class Montoya, I thought he'd be a good signing but I didn't think he'd be this good. The man is a monster.

Props do seem to be moving around next summer, Wasps have somehow acquired two good tightheads so presumably must be offloading at least one of theirs. I'm sure Saints can do some good business if they buy clever.

A move away from Boyd might help as well, he's helped develop a brilliant attacking game and comes across as a nice guy but the Saints defence has never flourished under him. Dowson seems a more nuts and bolts kind of guy. I'd have thought he'd want to add a hard edge to Saints next season as DOR.

Banquo, I can't remember Dingwall featuring in attack. He got a really good turnover and made some good defensive reads but the Saints midfield certainly missed a hard running threat.