Saints vs Saracens - Friday 1945

[Puja]

Thanks for the rundown.

Is George considerably bigger than the other options? Dan looks like quite a unit. He doesn’t even seem that mobile anymore though I do agree it makes sense to keep him in place and demand another hooker takes the shirt from him.

Good to hear smarty pants Coles is doing well. I guess he’s fighting Ewels for the fourth lock spot at the moment, but obviously the better long term choice.

That Gonzalez tackle was ridiculous, it doesn’t quite make sense how he caught up with Mitchell but maybe he was a bit knackered at that point.

I’ve just realised I was asking how Tom Curry got on, which is obviously a different game only happening now and annoyingly I can’t see that one either.

We weren't gonna comment on your senior moment on Curry.

I think Mitchell did definitely tire towards the second half of the game. Looked to be labouring a bit in that run.

Puja

[Adam_P]

Thanks for the rundown.

Is George considerably bigger than the other options? Dan looks like quite a unit. He doesn’t even seem that mobile anymore though I do agree it makes sense to keep him in place and demand another hooker takes the shirt from him.

Good to hear smarty pants Coles is doing well. I guess he’s fighting Ewels for the fourth lock spot at the moment, but obviously the better long term choice.

That Gonzalez tackle was ridiculous, it doesn’t quite make sense how he caught up with Mitchell but maybe he was a bit knackered at that point.

I’ve just realised I was asking how Tom Curry got on, which is obviously a different game only happening now and annoyingly I can’t see that one either.

We weren't gonna comment on your senior moment on Curry.

I think Mitchell did definitely tire towards the second half of the game. Looked to be labouring a bit in that run.

Puja

Yeah I was a bit confused why we didn't get James on for the last 15 mins or so. James is a good kicker and very solid tackler, which would have made me feel a bit more relaxed than a blowing Mitchell

[FKAS]

Thanks for the rundown.

Is George considerably bigger than the other options? Dan looks like quite a unit. He doesn’t even seem that mobile anymore though I do agree it makes sense to keep him in place and demand another hooker takes the shirt from him.

Good to hear smarty pants Coles is doing well. I guess he’s fighting Ewels for the fourth lock spot at the moment, but obviously the better long term choice.

That Gonzalez tackle was ridiculous, it doesn’t quite make sense how he caught up with Mitchell but maybe he was a bit knackered at that point.

I’ve just realised I was asking how Tom Curry got on, which is obviously a different game only happening now and annoyingly I can’t see that one either.

We weren't gonna comment on your senior moment on Curry.

I think Mitchell did definitely tire towards the second half of the game. Looked to be labouring a bit in that run.

Puja

Yeah I was a bit confused why we didn't get James on for the last 15 mins or so. James is a good kicker and very solid tackler, which would have made me feel a bit more relaxed than a blowing Mitchell

Not the first time Saints haven't wanted to sub their talisman at 9 even when he's flagging. Tom James is a decent player as well.

[Adam_P]

Yeah James is certainly number 2, but I think he's a cracking player and I don't think we lose a huge amount when he's playing 9 instead of Mitch

[Banquo]

Langdon was excellent bar some sloppy throws.

I'll take umbrage with that - none of the stolen lineouts were due to sloppy throws; they were all excellent defence or poor calling. I'd say he was just excellent, without the caveat.

Puja

I'll differ- he underthrew at least once and got away with a stutter/dummy throw. Wasnt solely referring to steals either- therewere a couple of really scrappy/lucky takes from underthrows, plus one poor lift, obvs not on him that one.
he is excellent tho.

[Banquo]

I don't particularly rate Ridley but thought he has decent last night. Stayed consistent at the breakdown where Sarries just didn't adapt. Sarries fans might have a moan about a couple of the scrums though, when Saints got on top they got all the decisions even when some of the angles weren't particularly straight.

It was a good end to end game and sir played a part in enabling that.

Sarries bossed the breakdown first half, but then got frustrated when Saints adapated; Ridley did actually penalise Waller for a bad angle even when they were well on top. He was very quick on the whistle at scrum time, very few re-sets- which was good in terms of game flow I guess and set the scene and disrupted Sarrie awkward at scrum time routine.

Sarries did disrupt really well at times but towards the end of the first half they gave away kickable points from trying their luck at the breakdown and putting hands on the floor. Ridley was hot on that and as the Sarries jacklers started to fatigue the consistent officiating there started to really tell against them.

ok, they bossed the breakdown for 35 mins ...and saints gave I think 6 pens there in that period, they then changed their approach.

[Banquo]

Yeah James is certainly number 2, but I think he's a cracking player and I don't think we lose a huge amount when he's playing 9 instead of Mitch

he is nothing like the running threat, nor as quick. Kicking not quite as good. He is a good back up tho.