Northampton vs Leicester - Saturday

[Puja]

Saints team

15 Rory Hutchinson
14 Courtnall Skosan
13 Matt Proctor
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Tom Collins
10 Dan Biggar
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Alex Waller (c)
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Ehren Painter
4 David Ribbans
5 Api Ratuniyarawa
6 Tom Wood
7 Teimana Harrison
8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements:
16 Mike Haywood
17 Nick Auterac
18 Paul Hill
19 Alex Moon
20 Alex Coles
21 Frank Lomani
22 James Grayson
23 Tom Litchfield


Leicester

15 Freddie Burns [81]
14 Harry Potter [20]
13 Matías Moroni [19]
12 Dan Kelly [24]
11 Nemani Nadolo [21]
10 George Ford (c) [111]
9 Richard Wigglesworth [18]
1 Francois van Wyk [3]
2 Julián Montoya (vc) [9]
3 Dan Cole [270]
4 Harry Wells [130]
5 Eli Snyman [4]
6 Ollie Chessum [12]
7 Marco van Staden [3]
8 Jasper Wiese [22]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Tom Cowan-Dickie [2]
17 Nephi Leatigaga [47]
18 Joe Heyes [76]
19 Calum Green [65]
20 Tommy Reffell [52]
21 Jack van Poortvliet [25]
22 Bryce Hegarty *
23 Kini Murimurivalu [24]

* denotes Leicester Tigers debut

[Puja]

Pretty strong XV for Leicester, even with international callups. Next week might be more of a challenge with Montoya, Van Staden, Wiese, and Moroni gone as well, but hopefully we should have Dolly and Martin released from England duty to make it easier.

Bit disappointed not to be seeing JVP starting, but Wiggy is still turning in solid performances, even at the age of 87, and he does have a greater control of the game (and a less charge-downable box-kick). Not sure about Van Wyk's ability to dominate at the scrums like Genge does, but hopefully he knows some of Painter's weaknesses.

I didn't know Hutchinson could play full-back. I suspect he'll be seeing a few up-and-unders from Ford to test his credentials there. Could be a turning point for the game.

All things told, should be a very evenly-matched game. From a Leicester perspective, I'm glad Ford's with us, cause it'd be very heavily Saints favourites if we couldn't field him.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Should be a well contested game. Tigers strength at scrum/maul against Saints running game.

[Mikey Brown]

Never heard of Hutchinson playing fullback at all but curious to see it. If Dallaglio is commentating get ready for a dozen incorrect variations of him explaining what a spiral bomb is.

[Adam_P]

It's a real shame we're robbed of seeing Ludlam vs Genge (battle of the young capts) and Freeman vs Steward. The reverse fixture is in the Six Nations period too - awful planning!

Can't say I've ever seen Hutch at 15, was expecting Collins or Tuala in the absence of Furbank and Freeman. Very glad that we have Proctor back, him and Dingwall are a very solid combo. Although Proctor is definitely much better at 13, I'd have probably shifted him out and had Hutch play 13 and Collins 15.

This is the most excited I've been for an East Mids Derby for ages! Both teams playing well and it's very tough to call.

[FKAS]

It's a real shame we're robbed of seeing Ludlam vs Genge (battle of the young capts) and Freeman vs Steward. The reverse fixture is in the Six Nations period too - awful planning!

Whomever is responsible for this fixture planning should be shot. Two of the biggest games in the season. Hopefully there's a third game later in the season.

Shame I was looking forward to seeing Martin Vs Lawes and Steward Vs Freeman.

Two fullbacks who might be targeted by the opposition flyhalf. Two no nonsense midfields (expect some big tackles to rain in). Fairly hefty starting packs are going to be going hard at each other from the whistle. Only advantage could be the Tigers bench which might be a little more dynamic than the Saints one, otherwise it's two closely mathched teams. Looking forward to this one.

[Puja]

Two fullbacks who might be targeted by the opposition flyhalf.

That could potentially spoil the game as a spectacle - Biggar vs Burns and Ford vs Hutchinson might mean that we see the ball belted into the sky more often than not!

Puja

[Scrumhead]

It's a real shame we're robbed of seeing Ludlam vs Genge (battle of the young capts) and Freeman vs Steward. The reverse fixture is in the Six Nations period too - awful planning!

Whomever is responsible for this fixture planning should be shot. Two of the biggest games in the season. Hopefully there's a third game later in the season.

Shame I was looking forward to seeing Martin Vs Lawes and Steward Vs Freeman.

Exactly the same for the Quins vs. Saracens game and reverse fixture. Idiotic.

[Scrumhead]

Pretty strong XV for Leicester, even with international callups. Next week might be more of a challenge with Montoya, Van Staden, Wiese, and Moroni gone as well, but hopefully we should have Dolly and Martin released from England duty to make it easier.

Is that even a possibility with the bubble set-up? I assumed all players would be in camp for the whole of November.

[Puja]

Pretty strong XV for Leicester, even with international callups. Next week might be more of a challenge with Montoya, Van Staden, Wiese, and Moroni gone as well, but hopefully we should have Dolly and Martin released from England duty to make it easier.

Is that even a possibility with the bubble set-up? I assumed all players would be in camp for the whole of November.

As England have reached 85% vaccination, they're allowed to relax some of the COVID restrictions just like the Prem clubs. I had assumed that that meant they weren't in a solid bubble, but I've realised that I haven't seen that written down anywhere. Gods, I hope it's the case - we'll be down to TCD and Vanes at hooker for Bath if it's not.

Puja

[FKAS]

Pretty strong XV for Leicester, even with international callups. Next week might be more of a challenge with Montoya, Van Staden, Wiese, and Moroni gone as well, but hopefully we should have Dolly and Martin released from England duty to make it easier.

Is that even a possibility with the bubble set-up? I assumed all players would be in camp for the whole of November.

As England have reached 85% vaccination, they're allowed to relax some of the COVID restrictions just like the Prem clubs. I had assumed that that meant they weren't in a solid bubble, but I've realised that I haven't seen that written down anywhere. Gods, I hope it's the case - we'll be down to TCD and Vanes at hooker for Bath if it's not.

Puja

Charlie Clare might be back by then.

[Peej]

Pretty strong XV for Leicester, even with international callups. Next week might be more of a challenge with Montoya, Van Staden, Wiese, and Moroni gone as well, but hopefully we should have Dolly and Martin released from England duty to make it easier.

Is that even a possibility with the bubble set-up? I assumed all players would be in camp for the whole of November.

As England have reached 85% vaccination, they're allowed to relax some of the COVID restrictions just like the Prem clubs. I had assumed that that meant they weren't in a solid bubble, but I've realised that I haven't seen that written down anywhere. Gods, I hope it's the case - we'll be down to TCD and Vanes at hooker for Bath if it's not.

Puja

Even with the bubble in the last six nations players were released back to their clubs, so I'm not sure there's much of any kind of bubble-ology thinking anymore

[Mellsblue]

Is that even a possibility with the bubble set-up? I assumed all players would be in camp for the whole of November.

As England have reached 85% vaccination, they're allowed to relax some of the COVID restrictions just like the Prem clubs. I had assumed that that meant they weren't in a solid bubble, but I've realised that I haven't seen that written down anywhere. Gods, I hope it's the case - we'll be down to TCD and Vanes at hooker for Bath if it's not.

Puja

Charlie Clare might be back by then.

He’s a great bloke but when your great hope is Clare coming back from injury you’re in a bad place.

[Adam_P]

Apparently Hutch has played 15 once before for Saints, in a 2019 Prem Rugby Cup defeat against Saracens.

[FKAS]

As England have reached 85% vaccination, they're allowed to relax some of the COVID restrictions just like the Prem clubs. I had assumed that that meant they weren't in a solid bubble, but I've realised that I haven't seen that written down anywhere. Gods, I hope it's the case - we'll be down to TCD and Vanes at hooker for Bath if it's not.

Puja

Charlie Clare might be back by then.

He’s a great bloke but when your great hope is Clare coming back from injury you’re in a bad place.

We need him to cover one game Vs Bath. Not really a great hope. It's just whilst Montoya and Dolly are on international duty.

[Mellsblue]

Charlie Clare might be back by then.

He’s a great bloke but when your great hope is Clare coming back from injury you’re in a bad place.

We need him to cover one game Vs Bath. Not really a great hope. It's just whilst Montoya and Dolly are on international duty.

I’m aware. Having watched him play many times for Bedford, it was tongue in cheek.

[Tigersman]

Charlie Clare is on Dolly level IMO.
What he might not bring round the park like Dolly he makes up for in the scrums.

[chris1850]

Stream here

https://vk.com/video/@rugbyonsofa

[Raggs]

Stream here

https://vk.com/video/@rugbyonsofa

Does this have all the games live? Not just pretending before hand?

[chris1850]

Stream here

https://vk.com/video/@rugbyonsofa

Does this have all the games live? Not just pretending before hand?

Yes. They go live literally a minute before ko. Excellent quality stream as well

[chris1850]

Stream here

https://vk.com/video/@rugbyonsofa

Does this have all the games live? Not just pretending before hand?

Yes. They go live literally a minute before ko. You will have noticed the Wasps match, no doubt! Excellent quality stream as well

[twitchy]

BT are showing this game so I'll watch that but I can confirm it's a top quality stream that chris posted.

[Adam_P]

Would be nice if Foley refereed players staying on their feet at the ruck. Tigers flying in like missiles, haven't seen Nadolo not flop straight in once

[twitchy]

A point a minute for tigers so far.

[Adam_P]

How was that not a tackle off the ball on Skosan?