Saints vs Sarries

[Puja]

15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Taqele Naiyaravoro
13 Luther Burrell
12 Piers Francis
11 Tom Collins
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach

1 Alex Waller (co-captain)
2 Dylan Hartley (co-captain)
3 Ehren Painter
4 David Ribbans
5 Courtney Lawes
6 James Haskell
7 Heinrich Brüssow
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements:

16 Mike Haywood
17 Francois Van Wyk
18 Ben Franks
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Andrew Symons
23 Harry Mallinder


FORWARDS: Mako Vunipola (146), Jamie George (198), Vincent Koch (41), Maro Itoje (96), Will Skelton (27), Nick Isiekwe (37), Mike Rhodes (71), Billy Vunipola (86).

BACKS: Ben Spencer (133), Alex Goode (263), Alex Lewington (2), Brad Barritt (225), Nick Tompkins (71), David Strettle (139), Liam Williams (17).

REPLACEMENTS: Christopher Tolofua (19), Richard Barrington (138), Titi Lamositele (53), George Kruis (159), Ben Earl (17), Richard Wigglesworth (212), Alex Lozowski (62), Sean Maitland (43).

[Puja]

Good to see Spencer's finally looking like Sarries first choice 9 now.

Puja

[twitchy]

I was reading that Naiyaravoro has lost 2 stone and he is still heavier than any of the forwards at saints bar one.

[TheNomad]

That Sarries pack is absolutely massive! Probably the biggest I've seen

[fivepointer]

Painter starting is a very big call by Saints. Big test for the lad but he is a player of immense promise.

Spencer and Tompkins starting for Saracens is a good thing. Goode at FH with Loz on the bench?

[Adam_P]

Painter has steadied the scrum whenever he has come off the bench - also I believe he is the one player heavier than Naiyaravoro! Looking forward to watching Big T on the wing. Saracens have got a very big pack so hopefully our forwards can front up and then move then around a bit. I think we'll be targeting the breakdown with that back row

[Renniks]

Goode over Loz is strange!

Not sure Saints pack will be able to contain Sarries… Haskell and Lawes will need huge games for them

[Puja]

Christ, I hadn't even spotted Goode at 10!

Puja

[Digby]

If Saints get a result here I'd probably end up having to say something nice about their captain, which would be unusual for a good few years now

[Adam_P]

If Saints get a result here I'd probably end up having to say something nice about their captain, which would be unusual for a good few years now

Which one?!

[Puja]

If Saints get a result here I'd probably end up having to say something nice about their captain, which would be unusual for a good few years now

Hey, lay off Waller! He's a decent prop.

Puja

[Adam_P]

First touch for Naiyaravoro and he busts one tackle and makes a lovely offload. So excited to see more from him. Pretty even contest so far 12 mins in

[Adam_P]

Having said that, Saints are exerting consistent pressure from line out drives and Jamie George takes a team yellow

[Adam_P]

Lovely line from Francis off a scrum sees him score Saints first try under the sticks

[Adam_P]

Naiyaravoro has been missing on his wing in defence a few times now - twice resulting in tries for Lewington

[Adam_P]

Billy Vunipola just got bounced by a winger. It wasn't Collins

[Adam_P]

First quarter all Saints, second quarter all Sarries. All to play for in the 2nd half. Much better showing than last season from us so far.

[Adam_P]

More Saints lineout pressure sees Billy V walk for 10 minutes, and then Hartley in for a try

[Puja]

Looked a fun game from the highlights. Saints definitely look like they're going in the right direction.

Puja

[Adam_P]

His defensive lapses are forgiven for this

[16th man]

Will Wiggy get cited for the knee and punch he threw before the attempted stamp which he got pinged for?

[Timbo]

I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone bounce Billy before. It’s like seeing someone sprint away from Jonny May. Almost unthinkable.

[Raggs]

Billy's positioning is fine for hitting just about anyone else and simply smashing them into touch. Not many big enough boys to bounce him like that. Nadolo probably could

[Digby]

Also with the ball carrier working to the inside shoulder that's a passive position Billy is in, not a criticism it's just how it is, given the alternative is to leave a winger space down the line there's not even much of a choice and certainly not with Billy's speed and footwork

[Digby]

Hmm is the ball carrier working to the inside shoulder or is Billy going all Halfpenny to ensure he can use his right shoulder no matter where his head ends up

Tricky though to use the touchline and left shoulder when you're worried because the other player is much faster