SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY CLERMONT

[fivepointer]

SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY CLERMONT

Kick off 16:15 local (15:15 UK)
Live on BT Sport

15 Harry Mallinder
14 Ben Foden
13 Nafi Tuitavake
12 Luther Burrell
11 Tom Collins
10 Piers Francis
9 Nic Groom
1 Alex Waller
2 Dylan Hartley (capt)
3 Jamal Ford-Robinson
4 Api Ratuniyarawa
5 Christian Day
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Tom Wood
8 Teimana Harrison

16 Mikey Haywood
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Kieran Brookes
19 Michael Paterson
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Cobus Reinach
22 Tom Stephenson
23 Ken Pisi

[Puja]

Interesting selection. Mallinder at 15, Francis at 10, Myler nowhere to be found, Paterson and Brookes dropped from the pack. Definite reaction, albiet one that smacks of panixked flailing.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Mallinder at 15

Puja

At Eddie Jones' request......

[Puja]

Mallinder at 15

Puja

At Eddie Jones' request......

Is that true or are you mocking my theory?

Puja

[fivepointer]

Something had to happen, last week was utterly dreadful. Clermont away isnt exactly the kind of fixture you would choose to try and regain some credibility but they have to be better.
Francis at 10 and J F-R getting a start sand out for me. Great to see Stephenson on the bench.

[Mellsblue]

Mallinder at 15

Puja

At Eddie Jones' request......

Is that true or are you mocking my theory?

Puja

True. He (the human turnstile) said so in an interview with The Times.

[Puja]

At Eddie Jones' request......

Is that true or are you mocking my theory?

Puja

True. He (the human turnstile) said so in an interview with The Times.

Ooh! I've never been right before. Not quite sure what to do with myself.

Puja

[Adam_P]

Very happy with Francis at 10, JFR starting and Burrell not being played out of position. Horne's injury must be more serious than Saints initially made out, which is worrying as all our losses this season have been the games he has not been involved with. Harry at 15 will be interesting too, hopefully that is the position he will settle on, because he doesn't really cut it at 10 or 12.

I would have started Stephenson at 13, but at least he is back involved in the match day 23, and I would also have given Waller a rest for van Wyk.

[Mellsblue]

Burrell not being played out of position.

I know he's known as a 12 but do you not think he always performs better at 13?

[Timbo]

His defence at 13, imo, is pretty dreadful.

[Adam_P]

Burrell not being played out of position.

I know he's known as a 12 but do you not think he always performs better at 13?

Discounting his England caps at 13, no definitely not. His best form has been in his first couple of seasons at Saints, predominantly at 12, and the first few weeks of this season (ignoring round 1) playing inside Horne.

As above, his defence is really not suited to playing 13, as shown by Trinder the other week. He also spends most of his time running arcs eating up all the wingers space when he plays there. At 12 he can play to his strengths and run straight and hard, and largely defend head on.

[Mellsblue]

His defence at 13, imo, is pretty dreadful.

I'd argue he's pretty dreadful in defence full stop. I just think the little bit of extra time he has at 13 suits him. If you're looking for him to run straight and hard then 12 is best but I think his best is at 13. Not seen too much of him beyond England and 3/4 games a season for Northampton plus I generally think he's rubbish, so I'm pretty bias but that's my thoughts.

[Adam_P]

In just the opening phase of possession it's so refreshing to see a Saints 10, who is a proper 10, not standing 15m back from the gain line.

[Adam_P]

Could be a long day for the Saints front row...

[Mellsblue]

Anyone else of the opinion that Hartley's pass/offload was luck rather than judgement.

[Adam_P]

Ouch

[Mellsblue]

No idea why we had to watch that so much.

[Adam_P]

That is a very poor call to not give that try, clearly went backwards

[Adam_P]

Both Clermont half backs have been broken inside 27 minutes

[Adam_P]

Very poor from Foden trying to score himself and fucking it up

[Mellsblue]

No release for that turnover.

[Mellsblue]

Fritz Lee didn't get the memo about the new breakdown laws.

[Mellsblue]

Yellow for an accidental hand to the face!! I'm off to watch the netball.

[Mellsblue]

I was going to say the ref is having a stinker but I'll give him some leeway as this must be Jason Manford's first match.

[Mellsblue]

So, you're a man down in the scrum and going backwards and the ref threatens a yellow. Going backwards in the scrum isn't a penalty offence, even moreso when you're a man down. Jason is having a shocker.