NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Not what we want to see
By Saint Ted
January 19 2018
SARACENS V SAINTS TEAM NEWSEuropean Champions Cup, Round 6Allianz ParkSaturday 20 January, 2018Kick-off: 3.15pm
Northampton Saints have made five changes to their starting line-up for this weekend’s final Pool 2 clash in the European Champions Cup.
Two-time defending champions Saracens lie in wait at Allianz Park, but Saints come into the fixture off the back of two straight victories – beating Gloucester Rugby in the Aviva Premiership before downing ASM Clermont Auvergne for the first time in the Club’s history.
And they have a point to prove again this weekend despite being unable to progress to the knockout stages, having been beaten twice already this season by their London rivals.
Technical coaching consultant Alan Gaffney and interim head coach Alan Dickens have rung the changes following last weekend’s triumph, with several players rested.
All three Saints called up for England duty on Thursday retain their place in the side, with the uncapped Harry Mallinder keeping the No.10 jersey again after impressing at fly-half in recent weeks.
Nafi Tuitavake – who scored with his first touch against Clermont – replaces Ahsee Tuala in the starting XV, with last weekend’s man-of-the-match Ben Foden switching to full-back as a result.
The only other change to the back-line sees scrum-half Cobus Reinach given the opportunity to impress on his first start since early December, but the front row is unchanged.
Christian Day is given a new second-row partner in Michael Paterson, while Jamie Gibson and Mitch Eadie also come in to join Courtney Lawes at the base of the scrum.
And Francois van Wyk is the only player retained among the replacements from last weekend with seven fresh players set to make an impact from the bench – including Stephen Myler and George North who have recovered from rib and knee injuries respectively.
SAINTS
15 Ben Foden
14 Ken Pisi
13 Rob Horne
12 Tom Stephenson
11 Nafi Tuitavake
10 Harry Mallinder
9 Cobus Reinach
1 Campese Ma’afu
2 Dylan Hartley (capt)
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Michael Paterson
5 Christian Day
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Jamie Gibson
8 Mitch Eadie
Replacements:
16 Reece Marshall
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Paul Hill
19 David Ribbans
20 Lewis Ludlam
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Stephen Myler
23 George North
For more info, comment, tickets and injury news please head over to T'Offy
NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Marching On (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 11:54
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Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: herbie85 (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 12:04
Seems a good use of rest and some rotation for me.
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: andysaint (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 12:28
Looks like everyone is being a fair crack of the whip. Good for them and it’s good to see.
Not sure how the game is going to go. Sarries need to win and get 5 points. They were playing within themselves against Ospreys so will they go for the jugular again or come out conservative? I fancy if we can contain them and be in with a sniff in the last 20 we can nick it.
Not sure how the game is going to go. Sarries need to win and get 5 points. They were playing within themselves against Ospreys so will they go for the jugular again or come out conservative? I fancy if we can contain them and be in with a sniff in the last 20 we can nick it.
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Saint Ted (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 12:36
And the Sarries team...
Saracens side to face Northampton Saints (Saracens appearances)
15 Alex Goode (250)
14 Liam Williams (8)
13 Marcelo Bosch (110)
12 Brad Barritt © (210)
11 Chris Wyles (242)
10 Owen Farrell (166)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (201)
1 Mako Vunipola (135)
2 Jamie George (187)
3 Vincent Koch (33)
4 Nick Isiekwe (22)
5 George Kruis (150)
6 Maro Itoje (86)
7 Calum Clark (14)
8 Schalk Burger (41)
16 Christopher Tolofua (14)
17 Hayden Thompson-Stringer (18)
18 Juan Figallo (76)
19 Will Skelton (19)
20 Sione Vailanu (0)
21 Ben Spencer (119)
22 Alex Lozowski (47)
23 Sean Maitland (33)
Saracens side to face Northampton Saints (Saracens appearances)
15 Alex Goode (250)
14 Liam Williams (8)
13 Marcelo Bosch (110)
12 Brad Barritt © (210)
11 Chris Wyles (242)
10 Owen Farrell (166)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (201)
1 Mako Vunipola (135)
2 Jamie George (187)
3 Vincent Koch (33)
4 Nick Isiekwe (22)
5 George Kruis (150)
6 Maro Itoje (86)
7 Calum Clark (14)
8 Schalk Burger (41)
16 Christopher Tolofua (14)
17 Hayden Thompson-Stringer (18)
18 Juan Figallo (76)
19 Will Skelton (19)
20 Sione Vailanu (0)
21 Ben Spencer (119)
22 Alex Lozowski (47)
23 Sean Maitland (33)
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Saint Maul (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 12:55
As a dead rubber aeay from home I'd have preferred we rested a few frequent players like Gibson, Horne and Foden so they are fit and raring to go for Premiership games.
Good to see Ludlum on the bench.
Judging by the earlier thread not everyone will be pleased to see North on the bench. But I'm pleased for him.
Good luck lads
Good to see Ludlum on the bench.
Judging by the earlier thread not everyone will be pleased to see North on the bench. But I'm pleased for him.
Good luck lads
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: alwayshopeful (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 13:00
Interesting that Lawes and Itoje - who could be the starting locks for England, are both playing at 6 for their clubs..
I think this is a reall good selection (not sure it we'll win) and actually looks pretty balanced.. Foden at full back i like more than Foden on the wing, Mitch in at 8 (hurrah!!!), Paterson and Day at lock..
Good to see Myler and George North on the bench - would be nice to see George have a good run out and score a couple!
One question.. not picked and not injured - is Tom Wood just rotated out, do we think?
(Oh and one thing - I was a bit disparaging to Brookes before last week end (I actually said I exepcted him to end every scrum face down in the mud).. I was really proved massively wrong so look forward, now, to seeing him continue his climb in form!!)
Come on You Saints.. win everything!
I think this is a reall good selection (not sure it we'll win) and actually looks pretty balanced.. Foden at full back i like more than Foden on the wing, Mitch in at 8 (hurrah!!!), Paterson and Day at lock..
Good to see Myler and George North on the bench - would be nice to see George have a good run out and score a couple!
One question.. not picked and not injured - is Tom Wood just rotated out, do we think?
(Oh and one thing - I was a bit disparaging to Brookes before last week end (I actually said I exepcted him to end every scrum face down in the mud).. I was really proved massively wrong so look forward, now, to seeing him continue his climb in form!!)
Come on You Saints.. win everything!
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Saint Stokey (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 13:04
i think the one player we'll miss most is Tei.
he has consitantly shown the drive and refusal to stay tackled. hope his influence rubs off on everyone else
he has consitantly shown the drive and refusal to stay tackled. hope his influence rubs off on everyone else
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: alwayshopeful (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 13:16
Quote:Saint Stokey
i think the one player we'll miss most is Tei.
he has consitantly shown the drive and refusal to stay tackled. hope his influence rubs off on everyone else
In the nicest possible way, wouldn't it be great if Mitch can have an absolute blinder, T then moves to 7 and Gibson to 6... Lawes + Ribbans or Day slug it out for the locks..
Pressure exerted everywhere, and people playing in the "right position" (of course, we'd need to accept that T's best position is 7 not 8.. which many don't.. so the above may be pointless!)
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Saint Stokey (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 13:22
then we can sit back and see how Brussow gets on
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Robby Richmond (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 13:23
I'm disgusted that Brussow, the best openside in the world isn't playing in a competition he's not registered in. This is BS.
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: St Saltaire (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 13:34
Robby - take 5 voluntarily on the naughty step* #itk
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: HRsaints fan (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 13:45
Glad to see that Sarries are going easy on us by fielding an understrength side...............
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Deesaint (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 13:50
I think both Corbus and Eadie will have points to prove.Good to see both Ribbans and North back in the mix.
A must win for Saracens and dare I say for us, not to progress in the league but to take some pride back from the two hammerings Sarries have subjected us too. Lets see how much of the corner has been turned !
I might invest £5 on a saints win
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018:01:19:13:51:39 by Deesaint.
A must win for Saracens and dare I say for us, not to progress in the league but to take some pride back from the two hammerings Sarries have subjected us too. Lets see how much of the corner has been turned !
I might invest £5 on a saints win
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018:01:19:13:51:39 by Deesaint.
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Saint Stokey (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 13:51
Not sure anyone has suggested that Brussow should be selected to play against Sarries, Robbie.
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Casual Saint (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 13:55
A decent looking team but its going to be a hard fixture. After this one we know just how green the green shoots of recovery are.
Once a scrum half .... always a scrum half
Once a scrum half .... always a scrum half
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: MarchingIn (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 13:59
With the exception of Lawes we haven't picked a forward with much hope of carrying into contact and breaking through their back row.
With Clark at 7 and Itoje at 6 there isn't a team in the world that would find it easy to maintain fast ball without several big ball carriers breaking the line - and once they've started knocking you back over the gain line in the tackle you're toast
Sorry if that seems negative but that's my honest reaction. I suspect the way each side plays and the relative strengths and weaknesses mean they are going to be a bogey side for us for a while yet.
The best I hope for looking at the team sheets is that we can deny them their 4 tries and keep the losing margin down under 14 points.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018:01:19:14:05:24 by MarchingIn.
With Clark at 7 and Itoje at 6 there isn't a team in the world that would find it easy to maintain fast ball without several big ball carriers breaking the line - and once they've started knocking you back over the gain line in the tackle you're toast
Sorry if that seems negative but that's my honest reaction. I suspect the way each side plays and the relative strengths and weaknesses mean they are going to be a bogey side for us for a while yet.
The best I hope for looking at the team sheets is that we can deny them their 4 tries and keep the losing margin down under 14 points.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018:01:19:14:05:24 by MarchingIn.
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: saintsfella (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 14:22
Yes- we will desperately miss Api and Teimana tomorrow.
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Robby Richmond (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 14:24
People don't get my joke.
This is BS.
This is BS.
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Stockers (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 15:32
Quote:Robby Richmond
People don't get my joke.
This is BS.
I got it Robster!
Is BS a bit like fake news?
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Wilson Pickett (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 16:16
Hope Mitch does really well
Looking forward to Alex Mitchell adding some buzz around the place
Looking forward to Alex Mitchell adding some buzz around the place
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Deesaint (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 16:29
Quote:Robby Richmond
People don't get my joke.
This is BS.
No Asterix mate
You know the rules - its only funny, sarcastic, humerus if it is followed by ************
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Le marseillais (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 16:45
Good luck for tomorrow.
Some help to us will be much appreciated.
Thank you
ASM Clermont Auvergne supporter
Some help to us will be much appreciated.
Thank you
ASM Clermont Auvergne supporter
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Eif Jones (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 17:36
So Saracens played within themselves against the Ospreys, strange observation as I'm pretty sure that their front five didn't enjoy their struggle against a better opponent.
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: St Marcus (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 18:11
A bit like the strange observation you made Eif when you said that Foden only had a couple of not too pacey forwards to beat to score his try last week?
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: oldtoastersaint (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 18:24
Still, better then playing with themselves wouldn't you say Eif?
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: St Saltaire (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 18:39
Robby - I thought that I had got it and it amused me - no BS.
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Robby Richmond (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 19:38
Are we doing asterisks again? I thought there had been a moratorium...
...there was a poll and everything... *
...there was a poll and everything... *
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Deesaint (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 19:51
Quote:Robby Richmond
Are we doing asterisks again? I thought there had been a moratorium...
...there was a poll and everything... *
I know
The Gaul of it *
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: riverlodge (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2018 22:20
Can't we have 'like' buttons and emojis a la fb?
Is this forum 21st C? 😘
Is this forum 21st C? 😘
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: Wilson Pickett (IP Logged)
Date: 20/01/2018 09:55
Quote:DeesaintQuote:Robby Richmond
People don't get my joke.
This is BS.
No Asterix mate
You know the rules - its only funny, sarcastic, humerus if it is followed by ************
Obelix was the funny one
Re: NEWS: Teams Up ECC Saracens vs Saints
Posted by: rugbymel (IP Logged)
Date: 20/01/2018 14:42
Lawes replaced by Ribbans at 6 and Williams replaced by Maitland.
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