Northampton vs Bayonne - Friday night

[Puja]

ETA - Saints team is completely wrong (thanks BBC) - see lower in the thread for the correct one.


Northampton Saints: Furbank (capt); Sleightholme, Freeman, Dingwall, Hendy; Smith, Mitchell; Waller, Langdon, Hill, Lockett, Moon, Lawes, Scott-Young, Graham.

Replacements: Smith, Haffar, Davison, Mayanavanua, Pearson, James, Litchfield, Seabrook.

Bayonne: Callandret; Megdoud, Tiberghien, Buliruarua, Baget; Dolhagaray, Machenaud; Cormenier, Bosch, Tatafu, Marchois (capt), Leindekar, Bourdeau, Heguy, Bruni.

Replacements: Giudicelli, Perchaud, Cotet, Paulos, Cassiem, Labarbe, Spring, Lestrade.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Sco)

[Puja]

Massive game on several fronts. From a team perspective, Northampton ideally need a win here to save themselves from needing anything out of the trip to Thomond Park next week. From individual player perspectives, Furbank, Freeman, Dingwall, and Smith are all auditioning for places in the England 6N squad named next week.

Anyone know enough about Bayonne's regular lineup to know if they're sending a sensible team across or if they've sacked this one off and sent the reserves? Francoisfou?

Puja

[fivepointer]

Pearson on bench seems a bit odd.

Langdon has got to be in with a shout of an England squad call up.

[Banquo]

Hendy has done well to come back that quickly. That Saints backline does look handy. It does seem Freeman is now 1st choice at 13, which is interesting. Whether that helps or hinders him for England is a decent question. Pearson on the bench means that's a pretty stolid backrow, but they've done better with that trio than expected before.

[Puja]

Pearson on bench seems a bit odd.

Langdon has got to be in with a shout of an England squad call up.

Not so much odd - Pearson regularly isn't in Northampton's first choice XV for some reason (and might not be in their first choice XXIII if Ludlam was fit).

Don't know I can say Dowson's making a massive mistake on it, given that he's not banging down the door with performances off the bench. Maybe the massive change of situation, maybe a touch of second season syndrome, or some mental recalibration after getting a reality-check against Wales and subsequently dropping out of the England camp, but he's very definitely not in the same nick he was at LIrish.

Puja

[Banquo]

Pearson on bench seems a bit odd.

Langdon has got to be in with a shout of an England squad call up.

Not so much odd - Pearson regularly isn't in Northampton's first choice XV for some reason (and might not be in their first choice XXIII if Ludlam was fit).

Don't know I can say Dowson's making a massive mistake on it, given that he's not banging down the door with performances off the bench. Maybe the massive change of situation, maybe a touch of second season syndrome, or some mental recalibration after getting a reality-check against Wales and subsequently dropping out of the England camp, but he's very definitely not in the same nick he was at LIrish.

Puja

Pearson's ball retention would be my issue if I were Dowson.

[Spiffy]

Hendy has done well to come back that quickly. That Saints backline does look handy. It does seem Freeman is now 1st choice at 13, which is interesting. Whether that helps or hinders him for England is a decent question. Pearson on the bench means that's a pretty stolid backrow, but they've done better with that trio than expected before.

If Freeman does not start for England, he looks an ideal bencher with speed, strength and a bit of skill, who can cover 13, FB and wing.

[francoisfou]

Massive game on several fronts. From a team perspective, Northampton ideally need a win here to save themselves from needing anything out of the trip to Thomond Park next week. From individual player perspectives, Furbank, Freeman, Dingwall, and Smith are all auditioning for places in the England 6N squad named next week.

Anyone know enough about Bayonne's regular lineup to know if they're sending a sensible team across or if they've sacked this one off and sent the reserves? Francoisfou?

Puja

Don't know the Bayonne players much but it seems to be more or less the same side that lost 23-24 away to Bordeaux/Bègles, the only glaring absentee being Camille Lopez. who's indisputably first choice fly half, and he's not even in the squad, and maybe injured?

[FKAS]

Langdon has got to be in with a shout of an England squad call up.

He's been in great form since joining up with Saints. A really good signing for them. His lineout work will be under the microscope if he wants selection, that probably cost Jamie Blamire a spot at the world cup.

[Adam_P]

Northampton Saints: Furbank (capt); Sleightholme, Freeman, Dingwall, Hendy; Smith, Mitchell; Waller, Langdon, Hill, Lockett, Moon, Lawes, Scott-Young, Graham.

Replacements: Smith, Haffar, Davison, Mayanavanua, Pearson, James, Litchfield, Seabrook.

Bayonne: Callandret; Megdoud, Tiberghien, Buliruarua, Baget; Dolhagaray, Machenaud; Cormenier, Bosch, Tatafu, Marchois (capt), Leindekar, Bourdeau, Heguy, Bruni.

Replacements: Giudicelli, Perchaud, Cotet, Paulos, Cassiem, Labarbe, Spring, Lestrade.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Sco)

That team is wrong - Seabrook and Hendy are both injured. From the ever accurate BBC rugby pages I guess?

Actual team is:

[Adam_P]

This backline is first choice in every position IMO. Could maybe make an arguement between Ramm and Sleights but it's a close one.

[Timbo]

This is not the right Saints team, btw. Maybe this is the team sheet from the Toulon game?

[Puja]

Northampton Saints: Furbank (capt); Sleightholme, Freeman, Dingwall, Hendy; Smith, Mitchell; Waller, Langdon, Hill, Lockett, Moon, Lawes, Scott-Young, Graham.

Replacements: Smith, Haffar, Davison, Mayanavanua, Pearson, James, Litchfield, Seabrook.

Bayonne: Callandret; Megdoud, Tiberghien, Buliruarua, Baget; Dolhagaray, Machenaud; Cormenier, Bosch, Tatafu, Marchois (capt), Leindekar, Bourdeau, Heguy, Bruni.

Replacements: Giudicelli, Perchaud, Cotet, Paulos, Cassiem, Labarbe, Spring, Lestrade.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Sco)

That team is wrong - Seabrook and Hendy are both injured. From the ever accurate BBC rugby pages I guess?

Actual team is:

Fucksake BBC.

Actually really annoyed, because I wanted to see Dingwall/Freeman auditioning for the England centre partnership and it's very upsetting to've been promised that and then have it yanked away in the name of making room for Hutchinson.

Puja

[FKAS]

Northampton Saints: Furbank (capt); Sleightholme, Freeman, Dingwall, Hendy; Smith, Mitchell; Waller, Langdon, Hill, Lockett, Moon, Lawes, Scott-Young, Graham.

Replacements: Smith, Haffar, Davison, Mayanavanua, Pearson, James, Litchfield, Seabrook.

Bayonne: Callandret; Megdoud, Tiberghien, Buliruarua, Baget; Dolhagaray, Machenaud; Cormenier, Bosch, Tatafu, Marchois (capt), Leindekar, Bourdeau, Heguy, Bruni.

Replacements: Giudicelli, Perchaud, Cotet, Paulos, Cassiem, Labarbe, Spring, Lestrade.

Referee: Mike Adamson (Sco)

That team is wrong - Seabrook and Hendy are both injured. From the ever accurate BBC rugby pages I guess?

Actual team is:

Fucksake BBC.

Actually really annoyed, because I wanted to see Dingwall/Freeman auditioning for the England centre partnership and it's very upsetting to've been promised that and then have it yanked away in the name of making room for Hutchinson.

Puja

Agreed. The Dingwall/Freeman combination looked really good as a centre combination. Annoying not to see it getting another run out.

[Timbo]

Centre partnership frustrations aside, that’s a helluva 23.

[francoisfou]

Massive game on several fronts. From a team perspective, Northampton ideally need a win here to save themselves from needing anything out of the trip to Thomond Park next week. From individual player perspectives, Furbank, Freeman, Dingwall, and Smith are all auditioning for places in the England 6N squad named next week.

Anyone know enough about Bayonne's regular lineup to know if they're sending a sensible team across or if they've sacked this one off and sent the reserves? Francoisfou?

Puja

Don't know the Bayonne players much but it seems to be more or less the same side that lost 23-24 away to Bordeaux/Bègles, the only glaring absentee being Camille Lopez. who's indisputably first choice fly half, and he's not even in the squad, and maybe injured?

According to this morning's article in Midi Olympique, there are some first choice players that have been left at home, notably Camille Lopez.
So on paper, it should be a bp victory for Northampton!!

[Banquo]

This backline is first choice in every position IMO. Could maybe make an arguement between Ramm and Sleights but it's a close one.

Be interesting to have see who they'd have gone with had all their back three been fit- wouldn't be a surprise if Freeman was ahead of Hutchinson in the pecking order in midfield.

[Banquo]

Hendy has done well to come back that quickly. That Saints backline does look handy. It does seem Freeman is now 1st choice at 13, which is interesting. Whether that helps or hinders him for England is a decent question. Pearson on the bench means that's a pretty stolid backrow, but they've done better with that trio than expected before.

If Freeman does not start for England, he looks an ideal bencher with speed, strength and a bit of skill, who can cover 13, FB and wing.

....my point being bench utility back isn't the best way to carve out an intl career. Though its better than not being included at all!

[p/d]

Start him on the wing.

Sod this utility bench stuff

[Banquo]

Start him on the wing.

Sod this utility bench stuff

well, quite.

Though its better than being out of the squad for a year.

[p/d]

Start him on the wing.

Sod this utility bench stuff

well, quite.

Though its better than being out of the squad for a year.

There is that.

[Adam_P]

This backline is first choice in every position IMO. Could maybe make an arguement between Ramm and Sleights but it's a close one.

Be interesting to have see who they'd have gone with had all their back three been fit- wouldn't be a surprise if Freeman was ahead of Hutchinson in the pecking order in midfield.

I think Hutchinson is my favourite centre. Granted his defence isn't spectacular, but he's lovely to watch going forward. Running, passing and kicking are all top notch - especially his running game.

[Banquo]

This backline is first choice in every position IMO. Could maybe make an arguement between Ramm and Sleights but it's a close one.

Be interesting to have see who they'd have gone with had all their back three been fit- wouldn't be a surprise if Freeman was ahead of Hutchinson in the pecking order in midfield.

I think Hutchinson is my favourite centre. Granted his defence isn't spectacular, but he's lovely to watch going forward. Running, passing and kicking are all top notch - especially his running game.

We will have to disagree. Even in attack he makes poor decisions

[Adam_P]

Be interesting to have see who they'd have gone with had all their back three been fit- wouldn't be a surprise if Freeman was ahead of Hutchinson in the pecking order in midfield.

I think Hutchinson is my favourite centre. Granted his defence isn't spectacular, but he's lovely to watch going forward. Running, passing and kicking are all top notch - especially his running game.

We will have to disagree. Even in attack he makes poor decisions

My boy Hutch!

[FKAS]

That blindside move was definitely called in advance. Brilliantly worked over a couple of phases that. Really nice kick by Hutchinson.

Freeman's carry off the lineout for the second is impressive. Just sets up the forwards for a one metre pushover.