RugbyRebels

Northampton: Furbank; Tuala, Hutchinson, Francis, Naiyaravoro; Biggar, Reinach; Van Wyk, Fish, Painter, Ratuniyarawa, Moon, Gibson, Ludlam, Wood (capt)

Replacements: Marshall, Waller, Hill, Coles, Brussow, Mitchell, Burrell, Collins

Sale: James; Solomona, O'Connor, van Rensburg, McGuigan; MacGinty, de Klerk; Harrison, Webber, John, Evans, Phillips, Ross (capt), Curry, Beaumont.

Replacements: Neild, Bristow, Jones, Ostrikov, Strauss, Cliff, James, Reed

This could be a really good game. If this was at the AJB I would say this would be a definite Sale win. At FG this is anybody’s game. Going to say Sale by 3 with no TB for either side.

Bigger & Reinach vs De Klerk & AJ should be an interesting competition and be the major factor in who wins

Concerned about the defence of both our wingers. We need to work on getting Naiyaravoro involved on the ball more so he can at least create more tries than he leaks down his wing. Hopefully having two centres who can distribute well will help in this regard.

Adam_P wrote:Concerned about the defence of both our wingers. We need to work on getting Naiyaravoro involved on the ball more so he can at least create more tries than he leaks down his wing. Hopefully having two centres who can distribute well will help in this regard.

Denny and McGuigan aren’t exactly known for their defensive qualities so may be a fair match up

Furbank and Hutchinson looked really good last week for Saints. Good to see them starting in the Premiership.

Is this game being televised/streamed anywhere?

BenHK wrote:Is this game being televised/streamed anywhere?

Not televised but you should be able to find a stream somewhere...

Looks like I was wrong about no TBP. And before half time as well. F*ck

What happened to Biggar?

I don’t think people have fully cottoned on to how good Saints have been at times this season. They look an incredibly well coached team already, just 5 months after Boyd arrived. They have an outstanding coaching team throughout tbh.

Timbo wrote:I don’t think people have fully cottoned on to how good Saints have been at times this season. They look an incredibly well coached team already, just 5 months after Boyd arrived. They have an outstanding coaching team throughout tbh.

especially as they seem to have a lot of imports/newish combos. Nice to see Painter and Coles involved too,

9 tries for Saints, 67-17 is a huge score against Sale in what I expected to be a bit of a close game. Biggar went off early and Furbank filled in at 10, and sounds like he did a great job. Long may this continue!

Adam_P wrote:9 tries for Saints, 67-17 is a huge score against Sale in what I expected to be a bit of a close game. Biggar went off early and Furbank filled in at 10, and sounds like he did a great job. Long may this continue!

Yikes!
Just hope that makes you arrogant rather than confident for next weekend.

Why was biggar even playing? I'd be mad if I was a welsh fan.

twitchy wrote:Why was biggar even playing? I'd be mad if I was a welsh fan.

They all are

Good things happening at Saints. Some very fine young players being given opportunities and signs that Boyd is crafting a very useful side.

fivepointer wrote:Good things happening at Saints. Some very fine young players being given opportunities and signs that Boyd is crafting a very useful side.

I'm struck by what an odd mix of players they have there- good young uns, grizzled old english pros and a fair sprinkling of o/s pension chasers. I guess its a microcosm of a lot of AP teams. Its hard work to knit that together and he's doing well

Banquo wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Good things happening at Saints. Some very fine young players being given opportunities and signs that Boyd is crafting a very useful side.

I'm struck by what an odd mix of players they have there- good young uns, grizzled old english pros and a fair sprinkling of o/s pension chasers. I guess its a microcosm of a lot of AP teams. Its hard work to knit that together and he's doing well

I've thought that Saints had a good enough squad to challenge top 4. It is a bit of a mix but there is enough quality there to seriously take on the big teams.
Boyd appears to be combining young and old very effectively.

It's great having Hutchinson back from injury. Such an intelligent player, and has really performed since coming back into the side. Forgot how fast he was too. Sounds like Ludlam had a great game too and outperformed Curry quite comfortably.

I am very happy with the recent signing of our young core group of players. If we have the bulk of the team made up of academy graduates who have been Saints fans since their childhood then I think it only bodes well for the future.

fivepointer wrote:

Banquo wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Good things happening at Saints. Some very fine young players being given opportunities and signs that Boyd is crafting a very useful side.

I'm struck by what an odd mix of players they have there- good young uns, grizzled old english pros and a fair sprinkling of o/s pension chasers. I guess its a microcosm of a lot of AP teams. Its hard work to knit that together and he's doing well

I've thought that Saints had a good enough squad to challenge top 4. It is a bit of a mix but there is enough quality there to seriously take on the big teams.
Boyd appears to be combining young and old very effectively.

....I think the issue within that is that beyond (full strength) Sarries and Exeter, there are then 8 teams much of a muchness; and I attribute a lot of that to the revolving door of pro rugby.

Adam_P wrote:It's great having Hutchinson back from injury. Such an intelligent player, and has really performed since coming back into the side. Forgot how fast he was too. Sounds like Ludlam had a great game too and outperformed Curry quite comfortably.

I am very happy with the recent signing of our young core group of players. If we have the bulk of the team made up of academy graduates who have been Saints fans since their childhood then I think it only bodes well for the future.

Not sure that academy graduates will necessarily have been Saints fans since childhood, but I take your general point, and I'd hope other sides would do the same. There seem to be huge numbers of non eqp this weekend across the teams, though obviously a lot are shorn of England squad players

Obviously not all will be, but I know quite a few are

Adam_P wrote:Obviously not all will be, but I know quite a few are

and I know quite a few who aren't; all good, but its inevitable given how well the Saints have linked with local clubs. Its a proper feeder system, as used to happen pre pro rugby in areas like Gloucester.

Adam_P wrote:It's great having Hutchinson back from injury. Such an intelligent player, and has really performed since coming back into the side. Forgot how fast he was too. Sounds like Ludlam had a great game too and outperformed Curry quite comfortably.

I am very happy with the recent signing of our young core group of players. If we have the bulk of the team made up of academy graduates who have been Saints fans since their childhood then I think it only bodes well for the future.

As a scot I had really high hopes for him at the start of last season and it never happened. Thought he had fallen behind dingwall but seems to have gotten the start today and Andy Goode was impressed on his rugby podcast with a recent performance. So what's happened?

He's only just come back from a nasty leg injury he picked up (I think) during pre season.