Saints v Castres - 12th April 2025 - Teams up

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:04:16:17:35:23 by Saint Ted.

[www.northamptonsaints.co.uk]

Furbs back on the bench



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:04:11:12:50:50 by Dave Jackson.

When was the last time that we were able to field an unchanged team?

There can't have been many occasions this season.

How many times have we been able to pick our strongest 23

Anyone have a view on the opposition side? I believe they are light on midfield options due to injury and suspension.

Ramm, Hendy and Freeman are all at least 6 foot 3 and with Odendall that is some serious power coupled with finesse in our back line.

I’d love it if we had that kind of physical advantage in our pack.

COYS!!!!

there appear to be 12 changes from the last time we played them.

Last match's starting front row are now on the bench, and it's an all new starting front row. Reverse situation with the back row, last match's bench back row are starting.

I'm not sure how light their midfield is. All Black (ok, its 1 cap) Jack Goodhue and last match's bench option at 12 & 13.

Sounds like the plan is to run their pack of the field with superior pace and fitness and we certainly should be able to do that - unless the weather turns and/or the officiating stops us.

I'm wondering whether Furbank is there to provide bench cover for 10 if needed but otherwise hopefully not used if he's only done a session or two of contact training by all accounts. It's a big ask to step straight back in for a knock-out game in Europe in a position that isn't his first choice but better than having to play someone out of position again (no offence to Hutch or James who have filled in). Perhaps Furbs has been using his non-contact time to practice place kicking?!

Did their 1 and 3 come from Quins ?

Will Collier, yes
Quentin Walcker, no. From Perpignan apparantly.


Looking at All.Rugby, it looks like tomorrows Castres side looks more like a first choice team.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:04:11:13:38:44 by St Stokey..

Great to have the consistency of selection and to see Furbs back on the bench. Hope we can build on a good performance last week and build some momentum for the remainder of the season. Plenty of players have mentioned the importance of the crowd this week - need to make sure we are on our game too.

Good luck to Glasgow tonight and Saints tomorrow. COYS

The 5/3 bench split is interesting. Personnel based or tactical?

Quote:

Sir Hector
Anyone have a view on the opposition side? I believe they are light on midfield options due to injury and suspension.

2 centres out, injury and suspension, but decent replacements.
Mass of injuries in the second row. No Tyler Ardron in the back row.

I don’t think this game will be a case of the French rolling over in Europe. Showed proper grit to beat Benetton last week. No Ardron for them is a loss.

Referree Italian. Andrea Piardi (I hope I have spelt that correctly )

Saints have a good bench to see off this game hopefully. I suspect the usual Saints style will be in action on Saturday ... rapid passing and running ... hope it works and we don't get pushed around and bullied up front!

Good team….now come on Glasgow!

26 - 0 to Leinster after 33 mins. Now 32-0 so looking like Leinster … if we win.

Deuwch arnoch saint!

Bizarrely none of the squad, bar a couple, were part of the team that turned Saracens over at the StoneX

Hendy off very early, injured!

Test of Furbank’s match fitness!

Not impressed with these officials! Some 'interesting' decisions given / not given, all in one direction....

Piardi has never impressed me yet!

Wow, We have a bonus point!
(yes, I know we don't have bonus points in knock-outs but who cares?)

Don't want to jinx anything, but it is time to start sharpening our teeth for another trip to play erm I mean Leinster (which is better?)

Well done on the win.

Hope Hendy and Furbank injuries aren’t too serious.

Who cares about the officials

Great win by Saints
Castes where no mugs and defended really well in the first half

Leinster here we come
Could have done them last time but nerves got the better of us for 40 minutes

Let’s get the

WHY NOT US

Blasting out again

A bit of HP’s attitude wouldn’t go amiss

Re Kemeny penalty and lack of penalty try & card - see Natavui red for Racing 92 against Connacht… a carbon copy of the Kemeny and two very different results

Nice work, neighbours. Now please, please please let me get what I want and go and rip Leinster a new one.

By the way, Pollock is really making the step up in a way that not so many U20 stars seem to manage. Top player.

A word for Kemeny, goes under the radar but offers so much with how we play in attack.

We could easily have folded at 15v10 but didn’t. Keep this form going and you never know!!!

Quote:

tigersimon
Well done on the win.
Hope Hendy and Furbank injuries aren’t too serious.

Apparently Hendy has a separated shoulder and is done for the rest of the season. According to Dowson pulling Furbank was just precautionary since he is just coming back from injury and likely played more minutes than planned.

Just watched the hightlights, the first try by Furbank and Freeman was a joy to watch, it reminded me of the try scored at MK by Fodes and Ashton (another European game IIRC),

In the short time that Pearson was on the pitch I wondered (again) why we are not making much greater use of him. He carries strongly and at pace and he is the most aggressive tackler we have, often driving opponents backwards. I think there is a strong case for a back row of Pearson, Pollock (at eight) and Kemeny, who grows with every game. Graham will come into the mix at some point and perhaps there will be another Augustus replacement coming in.

Can someone explain how Odedaal seemed to come back on for Furbank?

Quote:

SaintsDuncan
Can someone explain how Odedaal seemed to come back on for Furbank?

I thought Hutch came on for Furbank?

Quote:

SaintsDuncan
Can someone explain how Odedaal seemed to come back on for Furbank?

Burger went off for Blood, so Hutch was a temporary replacement for him, then when Odendaal came back from the blood bin, Hutch replaced Furbank.

Edit: [www.northamptonsaints.co.uk]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:04:13:10:41:55 by tigersimon.

Attendance yesterday down 1800 on match against Clermont.

Largely probably down to the week’s notice!!
When these people attending are what will be the profit for the club. The costs will be the same whether it’s 13.5k attending or 11.7k, the format really does need changing!!

My tickets in Churchs for Clermont game cost £65 x 2. The Castres game they were reduced to £45 x 2 with both having STH discounts.
Many STH neighbours said they had already made other arrangemeents for the Castres game weeks ago and were concerned cost would be at least similar to the Clermont game. Many STHs were missing but overall Churchs was pretty full.

Quote:

gascon saint
In the short time that Pearson was on the pitch I wondered (again) why we are not making much greater use of him. He carries strongly and at pace and he is the most aggressive tackler we have, often driving opponents backwards. I think there is a strong case for a back row of Pearson, Pollock (at eight) and Kemeny, who grows with every game. Graham will come into the mix at some point and perhaps there will be another Augustus replacement coming in.

We haven't seen him for months - he was with England

Quote:

tigersimon

Quote:

SaintsDuncan
Can someone explain how Odedaal seemed to come back on for Furbank?

Burger went off for Blood, so Hutch was a temporary replacement for him, then when Odendaal came back from the blood bin, Hutch replaced Furbank.

Edit: [www.northamptonsaints.co.uk]

Cheers TS, that was the only situation I could rationalise but couldn't say for certain.

TV didn't seem 100% on covering subs and in my defence I was watching it in the wee small hours after a few beers and an excellent concert viewing (I can recommend CODA for any Led Zep fans out there)

Quote:

tigersimon
Attendance yesterday down 1800 on match against Clermont.
Largely probably down to the week’s notice!!
When these people attending are what will be the profit for the club. The costs will be the same whether it’s 13.5k attending or 11.7k, the format really does need changing!!

It is the Easter holiday
The first real break of the year
Many take the opportunity to go on holiday

Davison, Coles, Pollock and Ofendaal in the Heineken (data based) team of the week. I saw the name Tommy at 14 and thought it must be Freeman, but it was O’Brien. 1, 4 and 15 not shown.

Tackle on Kemeny not trying to score a try 3m from the tryline has been cited.

Iyogan gets the nod at 1 as well in the Heineken data based team of the week! So that’s now a third of the team! Not bad with the other French and Irish players around!

Quote:

Matthew
Tackle on Kemeny not trying to score a try 3m from the tryline has been cited.

Quite rightly in my view. I accept that the referee is the final arbiter etc but that was an odd call from the referee and given the direction of guidance to officials to minimise head collisions, he got that wrong in my view. Granted it was a desperate, last ditch effort to stop Kememy, but it was clumsey and sufficiently reckless to warrant a higher sanction. To say it wasn’t in the act of scoring only further undermines the referee’s judgement! It should have been a penalty try and yellow card.

At least. Baget got a yellow in the second half , so even a yellow from the citing will up it to red. He will be facing a ban. Deliberate knock on at the end might have been yellow, although I'll let him off that.
He wasn't the only Castres player to get away with it. Botitu could have been given a yellow for the Hendy incident and a fairly clear head on head with Burger.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:04:16:16:47:24 by twsaint.

Two almost identical plays, same day, two radically different judgements by the Referee:

- First the hit on Kemeny at 1:20 of the first highlight. Only a pen, no card or penalty try.
[youtu.be]

- Second is from Connaught Racing at 2:50. Red card and a penalty try.
[youtu.be]

Funny to see Pollock in a team picked purely on data - I thought he was just a showpony with a good highlights reel?.....

Baget citing on Kemeny dismissed….

Can't grumble with that too much. Didn't see it as a red card on the day. Did, however, think that you can't get a much clearer case for a penalty try and concomitant yellow....