Saints v Saracens Friday 7.45

[Banquo]

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

Their defence was critical- 89% tackles made- Sarries had 54% possession and a whopping 64% territory. Fin was good its true.

[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.

The Steward4IC that proves the rule.

indeed.

[Adam_P]

An interesting point to note towards the end - when Smith was taking a kick from right in front of the posts Luke Pearce didn't allow him to take the whole 90 seconds. Said something about 'the spirit of the game'. First I've ever seen that - surely he can't enforce that? With the time saved, he gave Saracens the time to get their BP try

[Banquo]

An interesting point to note towards the end - when Smith was taking a kick from right in front of the posts Luke Pearce didn't allow him to take the whole 90 seconds. Said something about 'the spirit of the game'. First I've ever seen that - surely he can't enforce that? With the time saved, he gave Saracens the time to get their BP try

sounds like bs I agree.

[Danno]

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

Bwahaha

[Puja]

An interesting point to note towards the end - when Smith was taking a kick from right in front of the posts Luke Pearce didn't allow him to take the whole 90 seconds. Said something about 'the spirit of the game'. First I've ever seen that - surely he can't enforce that? With the time saved, he gave Saracens the time to get their BP try

Wild. I mean, he can enforce it under "9.27 - A player must not do anything that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship", but that is some bullshit to use it for that, especially when I've seen Ford literally waiting patiently by the ball, timing out the clock u til his last second to eke out an advantage.

Puja

[Puja]

Just watched the highlights and surely Sleightholme must be in the England squad in the summer. That break for Ramm's first was incredible - Penaud-esque in his tackle evasion.

Puja

[Adam_P]

Just watched the highlights and surely Sleightholme must be in the England squad in the summer. That break for Ramm's first was incredible - Penaud-esque in his tackle evasion.

Puja

I agree, and think he'd already have been involved if not for injuries previously. How would you make room for him in the current set up? Freeman to 15 with Sleights and Feyi-Waboso on the wings? Freeman to 13?

[fivepointer]

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.

They were a step up from the incredibly ponderous George.

Overall Saints very good value for the win. Smith very good as were the 2 wings. Iyogun is coming along very nicely.

T Willis really should be starting for Saracens.

[TheNomad]

Just watched the highlights and surely Sleightholme must be in the England squad in the summer. That break for Ramm's first was incredible - Penaud-esque in his tackle evasion.

Puja

I put this in the EPS form thread. He looks noticeably stronger, and his running lines and step have improved.

IFW plays on one wing for me, and Freeman’s deserved a run of games (at wing or 13) but Sleightholme’s next on the list for me.

[Banquo]

Just watched the highlights and surely Sleightholme must be in the England squad in the summer. That break for Ramm's first was incredible - Penaud-esque in his tackle evasion.

Puja

yus, he's strung together a run of games and now looks dangerous every time he gets the ball. All the EQP Saints outside backs look good tbh.

[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.

They were a step up from the incredibly ponderous George.

Overall Saints very good value for the win. Smith very good as were the 2 wings. Iyogun is coming along very nicely.

T Willis really should be starting for Saracens.

Actually thought Billy, bar one knock on after an iffy Faz pass looked ok tbh, good shift both sides of the ball. Sarries were really average in Saints 22, great defence notwithstanding.

[Banquo]

Just watched the highlights and surely Sleightholme must be in the England squad in the summer. That break for Ramm's first was incredible - Penaud-esque in his tackle evasion.

Puja

I agree, and think he'd already have been involved if not for injuries previously. How would you make room for him in the current set up? Freeman to 15 with Sleights and Feyi-Waboso on the wings? Freeman to 13?

bloody odd that Freeman didn't play 15 last night, Ramm was pretty pony tbh, despite 2 tries.

[Oakboy]

Just watched the highlights and surely Sleightholme must be in the England squad in the summer. That break for Ramm's first was incredible - Penaud-esque in his tackle evasion.

Puja

I agree, and think he'd already have been involved if not for injuries previously. How would you make room for him in the current set up? Freeman to 15 with Sleights and Feyi-Waboso on the wings? Freeman to 13?

bloody odd that Freeman didn't play 15 last night, Ramm was pretty pony tbh, despite 2 tries.

Banquo, what did you think of James at 9? I don't understand the default box-kicking habit that all SHs seem to inherit, with its dependancy on the caterpillar to avoid charge-downs. In tight defensive situations the SH always used to zip the ball out as quickly as possible with FH and FB offering alternatives for clearances. James, even worse, seems to have inherited the habit of looking up and feinting and can offer no defence against being pinged for exceeding 5 seconds.

[FKAS]

Just watched the highlights and surely Sleightholme must be in the England squad in the summer. That break for Ramm's first was incredible - Penaud-esque in his tackle evasion.

Puja

I agree, and think he'd already have been involved if not for injuries previously. How would you make room for him in the current set up? Freeman to 15 with Sleights and Feyi-Waboso on the wings? Freeman to 13?

Drop Daly and give Sleightholme the impact sub role?

[Which Tyler]

Drop Daly and give Sleightholme the impact sub role?

Yay! sense at last.

[Mikey Brown]

Is Sleightholme any good at missing penalties from 55 metres?

[Banquo]

I agree, and think he'd already have been involved if not for injuries previously. How would you make room for him in the current set up? Freeman to 15 with Sleights and Feyi-Waboso on the wings? Freeman to 13?

bloody odd that Freeman didn't play 15 last night, Ramm was pretty pony tbh, despite 2 tries.

Banquo, what did you think of James at 9? I don't understand the default box-kicking habit that all SHs seem to inherit, with its dependancy on the caterpillar to avoid charge-downs. In tight defensive situations the SH always used to zip the ball out as quickly as possible with FH and FB offering alternatives for clearances. James, even worse, seems to have inherited the habit of looking up and feinting and can offer no defence against being pinged for exceeding 5 seconds.

He’s a bit hit and miss tbh. But looked like theyd decided to kick more as a game plan given last week, and it worked, despite soft tries. to answer the q tho, 10/15 aren’t used for clearing kicks as much, you cede 10/15 metres of ground before the kick even happens, and you often just pass on more pressure to them- the execution was just bad for the charge down. He did do a couple of belters as well.

[Scrumhead]

Just watched the highlights and surely Sleightholme must be in the England squad in the summer. That break for Ramm's first was incredible - Penaud-esque in his tackle evasion.

Puja

I put this in the EPS form thread. He looks noticeably stronger, and his running lines and step have improved.

IFW plays on one wing for me, and Freeman’s deserved a run of games (at wing or 13) but Sleightholme’s next on the list for me.

A little harsh on Murley IMO. He hasn’t played much this season (due to injury) so Sleightholme is definitely the form pick. However, in terms of consistency over a good 3+ seasons and the strength of his all-round game, I’d still have Murley ahead.

I rate Sleightholme highly but his injury record is pretty woeful.

[Banquo]

Just watched the highlights and surely Sleightholme must be in the England squad in the summer. That break for Ramm's first was incredible - Penaud-esque in his tackle evasion.

Puja

I agree, and think he'd already have been involved if not for injuries previously. How would you make room for him in the current set up? Freeman to 15 with Sleights and Feyi-Waboso on the wings? Freeman to 13?

impact sub role?

assuming that's what you want, rather than good cover for injuries; in fairness, if Slade/Freeman are there, you have quite a lot of versatility. But also points to the sense of looking at the whole 23 when thinking about lobbing a player in.

[Banquo]

Just watched the highlights and surely Sleightholme must be in the England squad in the summer. That break for Ramm's first was incredible - Penaud-esque in his tackle evasion.

Puja

I put this in the EPS form thread. He looks noticeably stronger, and his running lines and step have improved.

IFW plays on one wing for me, and Freeman’s deserved a run of games (at wing or 13) but Sleightholme’s next on the list for me.

A little harsh on Murley IMO. He hasn’t played much this season (due to injury) so Sleightholme is definitely the form pick. However, in terms of consistency over a good 3+ seasons and the strength of his all-round game, I’d still have Murley ahead.

I rate Sleightholme highly but his injury record is pretty woeful.

...until this season, to be fair,