Cheifs vs Saints - Saturday 1500

[Adam_P]

Northampton Saints Exeter Chiefs
George Furbank (c) 15 Tommy Wyatt
Ollie Sleightholme 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Burger Odendaal. 13 Henry Slade
Rory Hutchinson 12 Joe Hawkins
Tom Litchfield 11 Ben Hammersley
Fin Smith 10 Harvey Skinner
Callum Braley 9 Stu Townsend

Tarek Haffar 1 Nika Abuladze
Sam Matavesi 2 Jack Yeandle
Trevor Davison 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
Alex Moon 4 Lewis Pearson
Chunya Munga 5 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
Alex Coles 6 Ethan Roots
Angus Scott-Young 7 Jacques Vermeulen
Sam Graham 8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:
Curtis Langdon 16 Max Norey
Emmanuel Iyogun 17 Alec Hepburn
Elliot Millar Mills 18 Ehren Painter
Temo Mayanavanua 19 Rusi Tuima
Tom Pearson 20 Ross Vintcent
Alex Mitchell 21 Tom Cairns
Fraser Dingwall 22 Ollie Devoto
Tommy Freeman 23 Zack Wimbush

[Adam_P]

Didn't expect this much rotation for our closest league rivals. Hell of a bench to unleash. Similar game plan to last week I imagine.

Excellent to have Iyogun fit again - let's hope he has a decent injury free run now

[Banquo]

Didn't expect this much rotation for our closest league rivals.

Odd. But yes, could be the old rope a dope kick tennis 1st half to tire their chunky pack.

[Oakboy]

Week on week, I find myself wishing Dafydd Jenkins was English. What a combination we'd have with him and Itoje. Jenkins' all-round play is excellent and he seems to be a good combination of speed and strength. Without being mega-bulky, he is a superb physical presence. He clearly has good leadership qualities too.

[Banquo]

Week on week, I find myself wishing Dafydd Jenkins was English. What a combination we'd have with him and Itoje. Jenkins' all-round play is excellent and he seems to be a good combination of speed and strength. Without being mega-bulky, he is a superb physical presence. He clearly has good leadership qualities too.

I wish Dupont was English, but it doesn't help much

[Oakboy]

Week on week, I find myself wishing Dafydd Jenkins was English. What a combination we'd have with him and Itoje. Jenkins' all-round play is excellent and he seems to be a good combination of speed and strength. Without being mega-bulky, he is a superb physical presence. He clearly has good leadership qualities too.

I wish Dupont was English, but it doesn't help much

Agreed. I wonder how many top players it would take to move us up a plateau. Three years ago, I'd have said 6 or 7. Now, I think it could be 3 or 4. It's all dreamland, of course, but I think it's an indication of where we are at, or, more importantly, where we could get to with inspired management. As usual, the question is whether SB can deliver that.

[p/d]

Week on week, I find myself wishing Dafydd Jenkins was English. What a combination we'd have with him and Itoje. Jenkins' all-round play is excellent and he seems to be a good combination of speed and strength. Without being mega-bulky, he is a superb physical presence. He clearly has good leadership qualities too.

I wish Dupont was English, but it doesn't help much

I wish Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was English

[Banquo]

Week on week, I find myself wishing Dafydd Jenkins was English. What a combination we'd have with him and Itoje. Jenkins' all-round play is excellent and he seems to be a good combination of speed and strength. Without being mega-bulky, he is a superb physical presence. He clearly has good leadership qualities too.

I wish Dupont was English, but it doesn't help much

Agreed. I wonder how many top players it would take to move us up a plateau. Three years ago, I'd have said 6 or 7. Now, I think it could be 3 or 4. It's all dreamland, of course, but I think it's an indication of where we are at, or, more importantly, where we could get to with inspired management. As usual, the question is whether SB can deliver that.

Why are you more confident? Have to say we need a really top player to emerge in every unit, bar possibly second row.

[Oakboy]

I wish Dupont was English, but it doesn't help much

Agreed. I wonder how many top players it would take to move us up a plateau. Three years ago, I'd have said 6 or 7. Now, I think it could be 3 or 4. It's all dreamland, of course, but I think it's an indication of where we are at, or, more importantly, where we could get to with inspired management. As usual, the question is whether SB can deliver that.

Why are you more confident? Have to say we need a really top player to emerge in every unit, bar possibly second row.

I just think the age/quality profile is high. There are more genuine contenders in the under-26 bracket and the overall potential is good. Of course, potential (individual and collective) has to be realised but I think it is there. Risks will need to be taken. Management will need to be positive and imaginative.

I am more confident about player ability than (this) management's prowess.

[Adam_P]

Poor start from Saints - 3 tries down in 17 mins. Some very poor kicking from Braley so far, and butter fingers from Odendaal for the second week running.

[Mellsblue]

Are Northampton hungover?

[Adam_P]

Looks like it. Either that, or we've started all our best players on the bench

[Banquo]

Agreed. I wonder how many top players it would take to move us up a plateau. Three years ago, I'd have said 6 or 7. Now, I think it could be 3 or 4. It's all dreamland, of course, but I think it's an indication of where we are at, or, more importantly, where we could get to with inspired management. As usual, the question is whether SB can deliver that.

Why are you more confident? Have to say we need a really top player to emerge in every unit, bar possibly second row.

I just think /quality profile is high.

on what basis? agreed some decent prem young uns, but we look light in top quality which was the q.

[Adam_P]

I was confused why we signed Braley at the time, and still am. Would rather use McParland.

[Banquo]

its a slaughter. Baffling selection becomes more so

[Adam_P]

First bit of possession and all we're doing is one out runners into contact. Where is our normal attacking game? Rubbish

[Adam_P]

That's more like it!

[Banquo]

decent recovery

[Oakboy]

The ref seems inconsistent with awarding penalties for 'not rolling away'. He pinged the Exeter winger for it and then ignored the next 5 or 6 - mainly by Saints. Could be a different game when the benches empty.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Must say I’ve been very impressed by Haffar that half. The carrying side would always be good, but in a pack going backwards he’s held his body position really well.

[Oakboy]

TNT have found a worse co-commentator than Dallaglio.

[FKAS]

TNT have found a worse co-commentator than Dallaglio.

I dunno I'm listening to Dayglo on the other game and he's yet to rise as high as poor.

[Adam_P]

Mitchell having a great impact

[Banquo]

Mitchell having a great impact

amazing comeback what do i know....dowsn genius

[Mellsblue]

Coles has veered back and forth between the sublime and the ridiculous.