Northampton vs Bath - 3pm Saturday

[Puja]

Northampton: Furbank; Freeman, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Skosan; Biggar, Mitchell; Waller, Matavesi, Painter, Ribbans, Moon, Wilkins, Ludlam (capt), Augustus.

Replacements: Fish, Auterac, Hill, Ratuniyarawa, Coles, James, Litchfield, Sleightholme.

Bath: De Glanville; Rokoduguni, Butt, Ojomoh, Muir; Cipriani, Spencer; Boyce, Dunn, Stuart, McNally, Ewels (capt), Ellis, Underhill, Bayliss.

Replacements: Du Toit, Vaughan, Rae, Williams, De Carpentier, Richards, Fox, Hamer-Webb.

[Puja]

On the one hand, Bath looked massively improved against Exeter and they'll suit a drier track here more than they would the wet pitch back then. On the other hand, that's a dangerous looking Saints team. Suspect it could be another long day for Bath fans.

The BBC page optimistically says, "The visitors have done the double over the Saints in each of the past four campaigns."

Puja

[Peej]

Simpson carrying the can for last week. I'm surprised Bailey has been dropped - presumably he's injured?

[Adam_P]

I do hope that this isn't the weekend Bath decided they don't want to loose any more.

Good to see Sleightholme back included. If he can string together a decent run without injury and pick up some form it'll be a very tight call as to what our best back 3 is, as Skosan has really impressed me since joining.

Lawes and Proctor must have picked up niggles against Bristol, hopefully nothing serious. With Wilkins in at 6, our back 5 is looking pretty significant in bulk and carrying

[Which Tyler]

Simpson carrying the can for last week. I'm surprised Bailey has been dropped - presumably he's injured?

TBH, Simpson had done nothing to earn putting himself ahead of Fox anyway (possible exception of familiarity with Cipriani from their Wasps days).
Bailey played aobut 20 minutes with 1 arm last week (slight exaggeration, but he was certainly picked up a shoulder injury that was hampering him)

[Which Tyler]

I get my stream working 2 minutes late - and I arrive just in time to see the conversion going over...


And now I see that McNally had to withdraw, so Williams to start, Merrigan to bench

[Danno]

All I can find is Exe v Sar

[Which Tyler]

Oh dear
It had been pretty even in the play, with both teams considering defence an optional extra. But Bath committing more stupid penalties.

Then in the course of 2 minutes, Bath lose both halfbacks. Cups to HIA after being punched by Bayliss, Spencer to an injury of some kind, but I haven't seen what.
Of course, we I oh have Fox on the bench.

Instead of playing ex-FH TdG at 10, we put Onjomoh there.
Game is essentially over after 23 minutes.

[Which Tyler]

And now it looks like Mike Williams wil be leaving the pitch, for his traditional high tackle.
Possibly Yellow for the dip, but I think that's actually slightly lenient there. There was a dip, but it was before he committed - also possible I'm being harsh because it's Williams, and his reputation precedes him

[Adam_P]

Bath weren't looking much cop with both half backs in place

[Adam_P]

Fox has been decent at 9 since he came on, doing more than Spencer was

[Mellsblue]

I do hope that this isn't the weekend Bath decided they don't want to loose any more.

Looks like you had absolutely nothing to worry about.

[SDHoneymonster]

Death, taxes, Tory election victories even if they've been physically proven to be wiping their arses with babies and Mike Williams getting sin-binned every week. All inevitable.

[Scrumhead]

Almost as inevitable as someone needlessly bringing politics in to a thread …

[Adam_P]

Back to the rugby...

Alex Mitchell has been on great from since being back from the England camp, and was playing well beforehand. Read the following in the pre-game write up on Prem Rugby site:

Northampton Saints’ Alex Mitchell has been directly involved in 11 tries in the Premiership this season, scoring four and assisting seven, the most of any player; only Harlequins’ Danny Care has made more assists (8) than Mitchell in the league in 2021/22.

[FKAS]

Yeah Mitchell I think was hampered by the Saints game pre AIs being the one Vs Tigers where Saints just took a battering in the first half. Youngs looked so composed and Mitchell made errors which let's face scrum halfs behind packs going backwards do. Seemed to then leapfrog Quirke over him in Eddie's mind.

Mitchell should be back in the England squad come the 6N but it might well be as third choice unless there's an injury. Having said that there's some big games coming up for him against Racing, Ulster and Quins. If he can put a marker down over those games he'll be attracting the right attention.