Irish vs Saints

[Puja]

London Irish: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Matt Williams, 12 Theo Brophy Clews, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ben Meehan, 8 Albert Tuisue, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Jack Cooke, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 4 George Nott, 3 Ollie Hoskins, 2 Matt Cornish, 1 Allan Dell
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Ben Donnell, 20 TJ Ioane, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Jacob Atkins, 23 Ross Neal

Northampton: 15 George Furbank, 14 Ryan Olowofela, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Tom Collins, 10 James Grayson, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Shaun Adendorff, 7 Lewis Ludlam (c), 6 Jamie Gibson, 5 Nick Isiekwe, 4 Alex Moon, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Mike Haywood, 1 Francois van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Reece Marshall, 17 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, 18 Ehren Painter, 19 Lewis Bean, 20 Tui Uru, 21 Tom James, 22 Reuben Bird-Tulloch, 23 Ahsee Tuala

[Adam_P]

Very speedy backline for Saints, hopefully some space can be created for them by the pack.Interested to see if Adendorff is a genuine option at 8, we definitely need someone other than relying solely on Teimana.

[fivepointer]

The Irish backline isnt exactly slow. I did wonder where Brophy-Clews had gone to. The 2 wings have real potential. Should be a good match up.
Moon and Isiekwe make an interesting pairing at lock. I'm pleased Isiekwe is playing there rather than at 6.

[Adam_P]

Adendorff is more of a chunk than I thought he was. I remember looking at his stats when we signed him and he was almost identical in height and weight to Harrison, so they were obviously (not surprisingly) inaccurate. Impressed with him in the opening 15 mins, some solid carries and clear outs

[switchskier]

LI have no chance if they don't sort this line out. Seems to be being read quite easily.

First game I've watched where it feels like the new regulations are discouraging adventure. Feels like going wide is too risky as the chance of getting isolated and turned is now too high.

[Mr Mwenda]

Beginning to suspect i'm falling out of love with rugby. I hooe the internationals are better.

[Mikey Brown]

I feel for the winger who just totally biffed that try for Irish.

[Mr Mwenda]

Butchered that 2 v 1. Pitiful. How many times a week would he practice that.

[Mikey Brown]

Paddy Jackson looking rough.

[switchskier]

Beginning to suspect i'm falling out of love with rugby. I hooe the internationals are better.

The number of penalties is making this a tough watch.

[Mr Mwenda]

Errors generally are driving me barmy.

[Adam_P]

The number penalties across the league over the first two weekends has led to very stop start games across the board, but this one is particularly bad because the error rate is also high.

Saints have squandered a huge number of opportunities where we should have been coming away with points. Need to be more clinical, as do Irish.

Been impressed with Isiekwe's efforts so far, shame he extended with the cheats. Shame for Irish that Loader has gone off, he was playing well.

[Mikey Brown]

I really love watching Ludlam. His commitment to those moments where he needs to fling himself straight in to harms way reminds me so much of Lewis Moody.

I think he'll slip out of the England squad fairly soon enough, but just enjoy watching him and thought this was worth a comment given the actual rugby today has been pretty dire.

[Adam_P]

A try! At last!

[switchskier]

I really love watching Ludlam. His commitment to those moments where he needs to fling himself straight in to harms way reminds me so much of Lewis Moody.

I think he'll slip out of the England squad fairly soon enough, but just enjoy watching him and thought this was worth a comment given the actual rugby today has been pretty dire.

He really should have finished that though. Was put into acres of space.

[Adam_P]

The finishing prowess of a forward. Any back would have scored that. Pretty sure the tackles that put him in touch weren't legal though

[Freddo]

Is the commentator a regular fixture on BT or just for this game on Channel 5? He is insufferable.

[Adam_P]

Can't be worse than Dellaglio on BT Sport surely?!

[Adam_P]

Tempest is a ridiculous pedant

[twitchy]

Hassell Collins is fun to watch isn't he.

[Adam_P]

That is a top quality finish from Tuala

[Digby]

Tempest is a ridiculous pedant

I thought he did okay until those late scrums. Not his fault the players on both sides weren't up to much

[fivepointer]

Dire 1st half, improved a bit after h/t. Far too many errors for anyone to be satisfied but a BP win will give Saints a lift. Isiekwe showed up really well.

[Mikey Brown]

Watched rugby solidly since 12:30 and it's all been pretty crap.

[FKAS]

With both Jackson and Brophy Clewes starting today who is going to start on Wednesday? Short turnaround in a key position quite tough.