RugbyRebels

Northampton Saints: Furbank; Freeman, Dingwall, Francis, Sleightholme; Grayson, James; Waller (co-capt), Marshall, Painter, Moon, Coles, Wood, Ludlam (co-capt), Harrison.

Replacements: Haywood, Auteracy, Hill, Ratuniyarawa, Tonks, Taylor, Hutchinson, Mallinder.

Sale Sharks: Hammersley; McGuigan, S James, Hill, Reed; MacGinty, De Klerk; Harrison, Van der Merwe, John, Wiese, De Jager, JL du Preez, Ross (capt), D du Preez.

Replacements: Langdon, Rodd, Oosthuizen, Beaumont, Dugdale, Quirke, R du Preez, Roebuck.

Nice to see a full EQP starting 15 for Saints, with Hutchinson and Ratuniyarawa the only ones in the 23 who aren't. Only Wood, James and Francis in the 15 who aren't academy products too.

Don't know how I feel about this one, I'd expect our pack to get a bit bullied by Sale but they have been really impressive in the last 3 weeks at set piece. That said, I'd have started Auterac over Waller. Looks like we might be expecting a fair bit of kicking with Furbs and Freeman both in the back 3.

Didnt notice Saints starting XV were all EQ. Good on 'em.

fivepointer wrote:Didnt notice Saints starting XV were all EQ. Good on 'em.

12 academy. Boyd has the right view of the long term....should he survive. Therein lies a conundrum.

fivepointer wrote:Northampton Saints: Furbank; Freeman, Dingwall, Francis, Sleightholme; Grayson, James; Waller (co-capt), Marshall, Painter, Moon, Coles, Wood, Ludlam (co-capt), Harrison.

Replacements: Haywood, Auteracy, Hill, Ratuniyarawa, Tonks, Taylor, Hutchinson, Mallinder.

Sale Sharks: Hammersley; McGuigan, S James, Hill, Reed; MacGinty, De Klerk; Harrison, Van der Merwe, John, Wiese, De Jager, JL du Preez, Ross (capt), D du Preez.

Replacements: Langdon, Rodd, Oosthuizen, Beaumont, Dugdale, Quirke, R du Preez, Roebuck.

I’m assuming when Auteracy comes on he will be captain and will make all decisions with no input from anyone else on the team?

Mellsblue wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Northampton Saints: Furbank; Freeman, Dingwall, Francis, Sleightholme; Grayson, James; Waller (co-capt), Marshall, Painter, Moon, Coles, Wood, Ludlam (co-capt), Harrison.

Replacements: Haywood, Auteracy, Hill, Ratuniyarawa, Tonks, Taylor, Hutchinson, Mallinder.

Sale Sharks: Hammersley; McGuigan, S James, Hill, Reed; MacGinty, De Klerk; Harrison, Van der Merwe, John, Wiese, De Jager, JL du Preez, Ross (capt), D du Preez.

Replacements: Langdon, Rodd, Oosthuizen, Beaumont, Dugdale, Quirke, R du Preez, Roebuck.

I’m assuming when Auteracy comes on he will be captain and will make all decisions with no input from anyone else on the team?

Not the most scintillating game but Saints fronted up very well to the big Saffas

Good win for Saints. Did enough in the 1st half to score the points and held on well. Didnt know Grayson could kick goals from the h/w line!
I'm liking Freeman a lot and think they've unearthed a really good SH from the Championship in James.
Quirke looked very sharp when he came on for Sale.

Yeah James has been really impressive, nice all round game and a very solid defender. Agreed on Quirke, he sped things up nicely for Sale when he came on.

This game does make me question the last few weeks with Furbank at 10 - feel like they could have been wins with Grayson in. If nothing else just to take the kicks.

fivepointer wrote:Good win for Saints. Did enough in the 1st half to score the points and held on well. Didnt know Grayson could kick goals from the h/w line!
I'm liking Freeman a lot and think they've unearthed a really good SH from the Championship in James.
Quirke looked very sharp when he came on for Sale.

another Freeman fan, huzza. He's very skilled.

And another. I like him too.

The more promising English fullbacks the better I say ...

Banquo wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Good win for Saints. Did enough in the 1st half to score the points and held on well. Didnt know Grayson could kick goals from the h/w line!
I'm liking Freeman a lot and think they've unearthed a really good SH from the Championship in James.
Quirke looked very sharp when he came on for Sale.

another Freeman fan, huzza. He's very skilled.

Freeman the Great, huzza. James is destined for great things being a graduate of the Goldington Rd Finishing Sch.... etc etc

Mellsblue wrote:

Banquo wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Good win for Saints. Did enough in the 1st half to score the points and held on well. Didnt know Grayson could kick goals from the h/w line!
I'm liking Freeman a lot and think they've unearthed a really good SH from the Championship in James.
Quirke looked very sharp when he came on for Sale.

another Freeman fan, huzza. He's very skilled.

Freeman the Great, huzza. James is destined for great things being a graduate of the Goldington Rd Finishing Sch.... etc etc

Tommy i think...

Scrumhead wrote:And another. I like him too.

The more promising English fullbacks the better I say ...

indeed___

What sort of FB is Freeman? we're getting some good variety in our up and coming options there as well.
De Glanville, Malins, Stewart, Freeman...

Only seen Freeman the once but immediately decided I was far more interested in him than Furbank.

Beasties wrote:Only seen Freeman the once but immediately decided I was far more interested in him than Furbank.

I haven't seen Freeman yet - but I'm more interested in him than in Furbank

And so the legend was born. Holding you responsible Banquo.

Which Tyler wrote:

Beasties wrote:Only seen Freeman the once but immediately decided I was far more interested in him than Furbank.

I haven't seen Freeman yet - but I'm more interested in him than in Furbank

Furbank has looked very good at 10 imo. Wouldn't be writing him off, but I've never thought he looked like an international 15 in all honesty.

Beasties wrote:And so the legend was born. Holding you responsible Banquo.

Happy with that if he gets somewhere. He's a better bet than Mallinder who everyone got excited about.