Saints v Saracens Friday 7.45

[fivepointer]

Intriguing match up. Saints will surely be better than last week.

[p/d]

Dingwall v Tompkins! Wow, that’s box office stuff right there

[Oakboy]

No Mitchell, no Itoje? Earl and Willis on bench.

[TheNomad]

That really could be a great game. What will the co Dutton’s be like though?

[p/d]

No Mitchell, no Itoje? Earl and Willis on bench.

Langdon v George is the pick for me.

[Adam_P]

Good to have Pearson and James back - we badly need the experienced head at 9 after last week, and I thought Ludlam was really poor. It's a shame Mitchell is obviously still suffering from his hand injury. Him and Furbank make a big difference to our game.

Two benches stacked with forwards, I expect this will be a physical encounter!

[Puja]

Good to have Pearson and James back - we badly need the experienced head at 9 after last week, and I thought Ludlam was really poor. It's a shame Mitchell is obviously still suffering from his hand injury. Him and Furbank make a big difference to our game.

Two benches stacked with forwards, I expect this will be a physical encounter!

Sucks from a Saints perspective, but from an England one, I am thoroughly in favour of Mitchell getting rest. He is our most important player right now and he came back early from two injuries to rescue England in the 6N, so I'm quite pleased for him to have some proper recuperation.

Puja

[FKAS]

Good to have Pearson and James back - we badly need the experienced head at 9 after last week, and I thought Ludlam was really poor. It's a shame Mitchell is obviously still suffering from his hand injury. Him and Furbank make a big difference to our game.

Two benches stacked with forwards, I expect this will be a physical encounter!

Sucks from a Saints perspective, but from an England one, I am thoroughly in favour of Mitchell getting rest. He is our most important player right now and he came back early from two injuries to rescue England in the 6N, so I'm quite pleased for him to have some proper recuperation.

Puja

I thought the returning England internationals were supposed to get some sort of rest post 6N anyway. Either way Mitchell is probably due a bit of a rest as he'll no doubt be playing again in the summer as long as he's fit enough.

[TheNomad]

Saints playing well

Of those match ups mentioned above, Saints on the right side of basically all of them

[oldbackrow]

Can't get to watch it but hope Fin Smith is playing a blinder.

[Adam_P]

Can't get to watch it but hope Fin Smith is playing a blinder.

MOTM

[Timbo]

Finn Smith might be very special. He makes club rugby look quite easy. Think he should probably get a start in at least one of the NZ tests this summer.

Sleightholme should be touring too. Tbh, most of Saints’ first choice backs should be in the England squad.

[Mellsblue]

#fsmith4thelions

[TheNomad]

Smith, Sleightholme, Freeman - all looked (to varying degrees tonight) really good players

Encouraging

[Mellsblue]

I didn’t watch the match but, going by the score, did the Northampton pack get on top and the Northampton backs look good?

[Puja]

Can't get to watch it but hope Fin Smith is playing a blinder.

MOTM

Given that every rugby newspaper section made comments along the lines of "Farrell outplays MSmith to show England what they will be missing" last week, I'm assuming we will get the reverse this week?

Puja

[TheNomad]

Can't get to watch it but hope Fin Smith is playing a blinder.

MOTM

Given that every rugby newspaper section made comments along the lines of "Farrell outplays MSmith to show England what they will be missing" last week, I'm assuming we will get the reverse this week?

Puja

Not holding my breath. Thought Farrell was generally pretty average - with some bad play thrown in

[Timbo]

Sarries just so inconsistent this season. They were pretty physical, but the difference in focus & intensity compared to last week was massive. Dan & T Willis did a bit off the bench, mind. The George/Dan dynamic will be interesting to watch over the next year or so.

[Banquo]

Smith, Sleightholme, Freeman - all looked (to varying degrees tonight) really good players

Encouraging

Dingwall also excellent, Coles great engine. Langdon and Dan excellent too.

Frankly, Saints gifted sarries 3 tries, and Ramm varied between good and pants minute by minute. Faz passing as mixed as ever.

Saints defence was generally v good but ceded too many big breaks for comfort.

[Adam_P]

I didn’t watch the match but, going by the score, did the Northampton pack get on top and the Northampton backs look good?

Pretty much - frustratingly we let in two late tries in quick succession to gift them a BP. Also two soft charge down tries. Outside of that, Saints defended very solidly for most of the game - with some real strong defensive sets near our own line.

[Banquo]

I didn’t watch the match but, going by the score, did the Northampton pack get on top and the Northampton backs look good?

Pretty much - frustratingly we let in two late tries in quick succession to gift them a BP. Also two soft charge down tries. Outside of that, Saints defended very solidly for most of the game - with some real strong defensive sets near our own line.

Wouldnt say the pack were on top,but Saints did brilliantly considering the possession and territory.

[p/d]

Surely we can’t be far away from Dan & Langdon heading the field. Been banging that drum for over a year now, and I am usually proven right.

[Mellsblue]

I didn’t watch the match but, going by the score, did the Northampton pack get on top and the Northampton backs look good?

Pretty much - frustratingly we let in two late tries in quick succession to gift them a BP. Also two soft charge down tries. Outside of that, Saints defended very solidly for most of the game - with some real strong defensive sets near our own line.

Wouldnt say the pack were on top,but Saints did brilliantly considering the possession and territory.

If the Northampton pack weren’t on top then #fsmith4thelions

[Mellsblue]

Surely we can’t be far away from Dan & Langdon heading the field. Been banging that drum for over a year now, and I am usually proven right.

The Steward4IC that proves the rule.

[Banquo]

Surely we can’t be far away from Dan & Langdon heading the field. Been banging that drum for over a year now, and I am usually proven right.

agreed.