Bulls vs Northampton

[Epaminondas Pules]

VODACOM BULLS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Investec Champions Cup, Round 2
Saturday 14 December, 2024
Loftus Versfeld
Kick-off: 3pm local (1pm UK time)

15 George Furbank (c)
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Elliot Millar Mills
4 Temo Mayanavanua
5 Tom Lockett
6 Alex Coles
7 Henry Pollock
8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements:
16 Craig Wright
17 Tarek Haffar
18 Trevor Davison
19 Chunya Munga
20 Angus Scott-Young
21 Tom Pearson
22 Archie McParland
23 George Hendy

Not available for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, Sam Graham, Callum Hunter-Hill, Josh Kemeny, Burger Odendaal, Toby Thame and Robbie Smith.

VODACOM BULLS SIDE TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier; 1 Gerhard Steenekamp, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 3 Wilco Louw, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 5 JF van Heerden, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Elrigh Louw (c), 8 Cameron Hanekom,
Replacements: 16 Jan-hendrik Wessels, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Kuyenzeka Nama Xaba, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Stedman Gans

[Adam_P]

That's not far off the absolute strongest we can go. Would only be strengthened by having Pearson at 6 and Coles for Lockett in the row - though Lockett was strong last week. This will be a good test for Pollock against the big Saffas.

[FKAS]

Against the Bulls Coles at 6 does give you more physicality and lineout presence than Pearson. Good horses for courses selection. As you say, very interesting to see how Pollock goes in this one, could help cement an England spot for the 6N.

[Adam_P]

Maybe more grunt in the tight stuff, but I'd say Pearson is a fair bit more physical in open play in the tackle and carry

[FKAS]

Maybe more grunt in the tight stuff, but I'd say Pearson is a fair bit more physical in open play in the tackle and carry

Pearson's tended to disappear in more physical games before though. Given the Bulls pack I'd not be surprised if they try and drag Saints into an arm wrestle, at least early doors. Definitely go after Saints at set piece where Coles and be invaluable at 6. Survive the fresh Bulls pack and then as the game breaks up turn the screw.

[p/d]

Who has Hendy come on for?

[Captainhaircut]

Who has Hendy come on for?

Furbank. Hurt his arm. Didn’t look great.

[francoisfou]

Allez, Northampton!

[Mikey Brown]

Smith nailing that long-range kick to rapturous boos was fantastic.

[Mikey Brown]

Hutchinson’s timing of the pass is a thing of beauty.

[Mikey Brown]

Love the Saffa commentators too.

[Captainhaircut]

That was very good from saints. Bonus point win, Bulls didn’t get a point. Big win.

[fivepointer]

Didnt see the game but a win away in SA is not to be sniffed at. A very good result for Saints.

[p/d]

Who has Hendy come on for?

Furbank. Hurt his arm. Didn’t look great.

Cheers.

Over the moon for Saints. Put out a strong side and delivered!!

[Puja]

Who has Hendy come on for?

Furbank. Hurt his arm. Didn’t look great.

Cheers.

Over the moon for Saints. Put out a strong side and delivered!!

Great to see them rewarded for putting out the 1st XV, rather than deciding to capitulate and send the reserves to avoid the punishing travel. It'll be a fantastic experience for the England Saints as well - the likes of Haffar, Coles, Pollock, Pearson, Mitchell, FSmith, Sleightholme, Dingwall, Freeman, Hendy, will all be coming back from that game feeling like they can take on anybody if they can beat a South African side in South Africa.

Not entirely sure how well they'll go against Sarries next weekend though - thankfully it is at least a Sunday game so they've got an extra day to recover.

Puja

[Timbo]

Furbank broken forearm apparently. Expect he won’t be back until the latter stages of the 6N’s in that case.

[Mikey Brown]

A big shame for Furbank. He’s become so central to what Northampton do.

Does this put an end (for now) to Steward’s switch to 12, or will we see Marcus Smith get an extended run?

[Banquo]

A big shame for Furbank. He’s become so central to what Northampton do.

Does this put an end (for now) to Steward’s switch to 12, or will we see Marcus Smith get an extended run?

I am hoping the Steward at 12 is just a slow running joke. Shame for Furbs

[Puja]

A big shame for Furbank. He’s become so central to what Northampton do.

Does this put an end (for now) to Steward’s switch to 12, or will we see Marcus Smith get an extended run?

I'm still of the opinion that MSmith at 15 is the way to go. Steward's form is so improved from earlier in the year, but having MSmith as an attacking weapon at 15, who can step into 10 and produce some magic, while still being available as a runner in the outside channels, while also having the game management, structure, and ability to open doors for others of FSmith/Ford at 10, is worth its weight in gold.

Puja

[FKAS]

A big shame for Furbank. He’s become so central to what Northampton do.

Does this put an end (for now) to Steward’s switch to 12, or will we see Marcus Smith get an extended run?

I'm still of the opinion that MSmith at 15 is the way to go. Steward's form is so improved from earlier in the year, but having MSmith as an attacking weapon at 15, who can step into 10 and produce some magic, while still being available as a runner in the outside channels, while also having the game management, structure, and ability to open doors for others of FSmith/Ford at 10, is worth its weight in gold.

Puja

Steward is playing rather well at the minute. Chieka having him defend far more aggressively certainly helps. Basically he takes the ball carrier and hits him as hard as possible when facing an overlap, as opposed to trying to defend traditionally and being picked off. Been more successful and seems to have lifted his confidence. Seeing far more of him in attack.

However, in general I agree with Marcus at fullback offering a lot more. He's got the kicking and attacking game to offer a much bigger threat on the international stage and help evolve our backline. Covering for the stodgy midfield. The only issue might be the new interpretation around guarding the catcher, without that safety blanket he's going to have a tough time under the high ball and be targeted for contestable kicks a lot. There is the option of dropping Freeman back there with him or instead of him but that might not help the counter attacking options.

[TheNomad]

A big shame for Furbank. He’s become so central to what Northampton do.

Does this put an end (for now) to Steward’s switch to 12, or will we see Marcus Smith get an extended run?

I'm still of the opinion that MSmith at 15 is the way to go. Steward's form is so improved from earlier in the year, but having MSmith as an attacking weapon at 15, who can step into 10 and produce some magic, while still being available as a runner in the outside channels, while also having the game management, structure, and ability to open doors for others of FSmith/Ford at 10, is worth its weight in gold.

Puja

I agree with some of that - but it’s a bit of a concern that he doesn’t play there at all at club level isn’t it?

[Mikey Brown]

It feels like when the structures for England and Quins are so different anyway, maybe it doesn’t make that much difference.

What areas will Smith have targeted that Furbank didn’t already? He’s in the backfield so much anyway.

[Puja]

A big shame for Furbank. He’s become so central to what Northampton do.

Does this put an end (for now) to Steward’s switch to 12, or will we see Marcus Smith get an extended run?

I'm still of the opinion that MSmith at 15 is the way to go. Steward's form is so improved from earlier in the year, but having MSmith as an attacking weapon at 15, who can step into 10 and produce some magic, while still being available as a runner in the outside channels, while also having the game management, structure, and ability to open doors for others of FSmith/Ford at 10, is worth its weight in gold.

Puja

I agree with some of that - but it’s a bit of a concern that he doesn’t play there at all at club level isn’t it?

Not especially for me. He might not play there much for Quins, but 10s play so much in the backfield on defence nowadays that they're almost ersatz full-backs anyway and I've yet to see him caught out of position when playing there for England. I also think concerns over his high-ball collection are very overblown - he's a very good catcher of a high ball.

Also, am I the only one to've been underwhelmed by Steward under the high ball over the last year? Seems to be losing quite a few in traffic - feels like the commentators are saying, "Well, there's something we very rarely see!" a couple of times a game, like when Farrell misses kicks at goal.

Puja

[FKAS]

[quote=Puja post_id=334120 time=1734298072 user_id=78]
[quote=TheNomad post_id=334118 time=1734283484 user_id=271]
[quote=Puja post_id=334114 time=1734277555 user_id=78]


I'm still of the opinion that MSmith at 15 is the way to go. Steward's form is so improved from earlier in the year, but having MSmith as an attacking weapon at 15, who can step into 10 and produce some magic, while still being available as a runner in the outside channels, while also having the game management, structure, and ability to open doors for others of FSmith/Ford at 10, is worth its weight in gold.

Puja
[/quote]

I agree with some of that - but it’s a bit of a concern that he doesn’t play there at all at club level isn’t it?
[/quote]

Not especially for me. He might not play there much for Quins, but 10s play so much in the backfield on defence nowadays that they're almost ersatz full-backs anyway and I've yet to see him caught out of position when playing there for England. I also think concerns over his high-ball collection are very overblown - he's a very good catcher of a high ball.

Also, am I the only one to've been underwhelmed by Steward under the high ball over the last year? Seems to be losing quite a few in traffic - feels like the commentators are saying, "Well, there's something we very rarely see!" a couple of times a game, like when Farrell misses kicks at goal.

Puja
[/quote]

Steward, particularly last season, would always lose the first one then seem to wake up and take all their after. This season has been better until the change in the law and now it's really tough. Furbank has normally been decent enough at the back looked fragile without the protection. We saw Sale have adapted brilliantly to the change using Roebuck, who's good in the air anyway, to just look to tap the ball back. It's now way easier for the attacker. No defender can risk tapping the ball back in their own 22 it's got to be a catch.

Standing Marcus and either Ford or Fin in the backfield leaves us open to getting targeted. Especially with the Irish up first. Get one to defend in the line (not Ford) and then drop Freeman into 15 would be an easy option to give us more aerial defence.