Exeter v Saints Sun 5.30

[fivepointer]

Exeter Chiefs: Hogg; Nowell, Slade, Whitten, O'Flaherty; J Simmonds (c), Maunder; Hepburn, Cowan-Dickie, Williams; Gray, Hill; Ewers, Vermeulen, S Simmonds.

Replacements: Yeandle, Moon, Francis, S Skinner, Kirsten, Hidalgo-Clyne, Steenson, Devoto.

Saints: Furbank; Proctor, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Tuala; Biggar, Taylor; Iyogun, Haywood, Franks; Ribbans, Ratuniyarawa; Lawes, Ludlam, Harrison (c).

Replacements: Fish, Seville, Hill, Moon, Isiekwe, Adendorff, Mitchell, Naiyaravoro.

[Oakboy]

Those 13 Exeter forwards are a formidable group.

[Puja]

I think it's safe to say that this week is gonna be another great learning experience for Iyogun.

I'd actually be really interested in Eddie bringing him in to train with England as an apprentice after this. Two weeks of getting bent by international props, followed by a week or so of coaching and training with international props to help reinforce the lessons and help him with anything that he's still struggling to learn how to counter. Could be the making of him.

Saints still doing a mix-and-match in places, despite how badly it's gone for them - you wouldn't say Ratuniyarawa, Taylor, and Proctor (on the wing) would be in their 1st XV.

Puja

[Banquo]

Well pleased for Fraser Dingwall, but suspect it will be a long evening for Saints. Devoto not ahead of Whitten is a bit odd.

We have the full Moon experience I see

[Scrumhead]

I think it's safe to say that this week is gonna be another great learning experience for Iyogun.

I'd actually be really interested in Eddie bringing him in to train with England as an apprentice after this. Two weeks of getting bent by international props, followed by a week or so of coaching and training with international props to help reinforce the lessons and help him with anything that he's still struggling to learn how to counter. Could be the making of him.

Saints still doing a mix-and-match in places, despite how badly it's gone for them - you wouldn't say Ratuniyarawa, Taylor, and Proctor (on the wing) would be in their 1st XV.

Puja

That’s not a bad idea re. Iyogun. I know he’s very highly rated by Saints - he’s just too new in his switch to prop to be starting games right now. I know it’s circumstantial, but investing in him early might pay dividends.

Realistically he’s got little to lose and a lot to gain. No-one is expecting him to manage particularly well, so if he does OK and takes it as a learning experience, it could be a good thing.

[Adam_P]

Saints still doing a mix-and-match in places, despite how badly it's gone for them - you wouldn't say Ratuniyarawa, Taylor, and Proctor (on the wing) would be in their 1st XV.

Puja

To be fair, on current form I don't think there's much between Taylor and Mitchell at 9. Taylor has looked good and very sharp coming off the bench recently, bar his brain fart on the quick tap the other day.

I fully expect a cricket score here, but if Saints can at least play with some aggression and accuracy then I'll be happy - because we've managed neither so far since the restart.

[fivepointer]

Close call at 9 for Saints. I like Taylor but i thought Mitchell would get the nod to start.
Iyogun has been thrown in at the deep end. He's going to be severely tested. Williams and Francis have dominated a good number of well established, experienced props so this is the toughest possible gig for a teenager. I wish the lad well.
Exeter should win this comfortably.

[Mellsblue]

Big fan of Taylor. The best ever Sarries loaner/DR at Bedford other than Kruis, imo. If he and Mitchell can spur each other on....

[Beasties]

Is this only available through the BT Sport app then? No sign of it on Sky planner (with BT Sports). So basically watch it live or watch it later when they put it on the replay section?

[Adam_P]

It's on BT Sport 3 and the HD version, so you can record it

[Beasties]

It's on BT Sport 3 and the HD version, so you can record it

Ah, found it, cheers.

[francoisfou]

Allez Northampton! Win and you’ll have a trip to Toulouse in the semis!!

[padprop]

Iyogun causing Francis a bit of trouble at scrum time

[twitchy]

A really good game in the end. Also yeah I need more info on that guy iyogun. His second game at prop? How is that possible?

[fivepointer]

Fair play to Saints. They came to play and gave it a real go. They should be pleased with their overall commitment but a bit disappointed in missing one on one tackles that led to Exeter tries.
Iyogun put in a really good effort. He was given a hard time by Williams but hung in and held his own in the later scrums. Did his bit in the loose too and had a far better game than the guy who started on the tight head side.

[Galfon]

A really good game in the end. Also yeah I need more info on that guy iyogun. His second game at prop? How is that possible?

A recent convert from No.8 apparently, just 19. - sign of the times for sure.

[Scrumhead]

Fair play to Saints. They came to play and gave it a real go. They should be pleased with their overall commitment but a bit disappointed in missing one on one tackles that led to Exeter tries.
Iyogun put in a really good effort. He was given a hard time by Williams but hung in and held his own in the later scrums. Did his bit in the loose too and had a far better game than the guy who started on the tight head side.

That was World Cup winning Owen Franks!

Iyogun did pretty well all things considered.

[Puja]

A really good game in the end. Also yeah I need more info on that guy iyogun. His second game at prop? How is that possible?

A recent convert from No.8 apparently, just 19. - sign of the times for sure.

Saints have had about 4 or 5 injuries at loosehead and he's basically the last one left. Very highly rated, but had to spend 60 minutes getting bent over by Dan Cole last weekend after the penultimate loosehead got injured in the first 20 minutes. Very well done to the lad - clearly learned a lot and took a lot in from that experience and turned in a very creditable performance. Still got marched backwards a few times, but only lost one scrum against the head and very few penalties that I remember.

Eddie was cheering him when he went off in the 72nd minute - I think my suggestion of him as an apprentice might actually be in the cards.

Puja

[Digby]

I wonder if the Exeter lads got it into their heads that Iyogun has almost no experience at prop given how much Boyd has been banging that drum and tried to manage the scrum. Understandable if so. And anyway, Exeter's problems didn't from the scrum, they came from a miserably inept restart setpiece that allowed Saints into the game for no good reason whatsoever.

Furbank continues to make one wonder what people see in him

[Puja]

Furbank continues to make one wonder what people see in him

Agreed. He has absolutely gone backwards since his form got him into England contention. Hopefully it's just youth and development and he'll come out the other end stronger for it.

Is Mallinder still injured? Starting to worry that the next we hear of him will be a notice of his retirement.

Puja

[Digby]

I'm still waiting to see what it was that got people think Furbank looks any more a test player than Tom Homer. There's nothing wrong with only being good enough to play for Saints, it's just why there was ever the assumption there was more I'm struggling with.

Still, Furbank was better than the Exeter restarts unit

[Mr Mwenda]

Does he still have a dapper moustache? That was the mist memorable thing about his England performances.

[Adam_P]

Just watched the game, surprised the TMO didn't pick this up. Looks worse than the one Ashton copped a ban for.

Saints were much better than all other games so far since the restart, so hopefully we can build on that for the last 2 games of the season.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah, doesn't look great does it.

One of those where it's hard to know how much force is on pulling the Saints player's arm versus his head, but you should really realise as soon as your hand is on another player's face like that.

[twitchy]