Aviva Premiership - Round 5

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Table:

Team	Points
Saracens	17
Exeter	15
Harlequins	13
Leicester	12
Bath	10
Worcester	10
Sale Sharks	10
Wasps	9
Gloucester	9
Northampton	8
London Irish	0
Newcastle	0

Fixtures

Fri 27th Nov

19:45 Northampton Saints  v  Gloucester Rugby BT Sport
After a fortnight of European action, the AP returns (for one week two weeks only) with the action kicking off at Franklins Gardens. Saints managed to put some iffy form behind them as they recorded home and away wins against decent opposition. Gloucester meanwhile went largely under the radar as they started their defence of the Challenge Cup. Two decent wins with a largely second string side will have pleased David Humphreys, but perhaps left him a touch worried that his first choice players may be lacking a little match practice. Saints will hope to continue their set-piece form of last weekend and unleash their powerful backs at Gloucester's pacy but often defensively fragile back line. The pace in that backline, especially May and Sharples if both fit, could really scare the home team. However for Glaws to get anything from this game you do feel that their pack will need to perform at a level well above that they have achieved so far this season.


Sat 28th Nov

14:30 Sale Sharks  v   Newcastle Falcons
With both sides returning from Challenge Cup action, it is hard to know what sort of form they will bring into this game. Actually that is not true. I think the win over the Russians last week was Falcons first win since beating London Irish in the LV cup in February. Their results this season have been poor, as have the performances. These sides have met twice already this season in a pre-season tournament with Sale winning both times. A home win really should be nailed on - but sometimes rugby can surprise us.


15:00 Exeter Chiefs  v   Harlequins
Chiefs had mixed results in the Champions Cup with Rob Baxter taking the chance to rotate his squad a little. The often blunt Baxter did not shirk from expressing his disquiet at the performances, especially the defensive laxity. Quins will have been pleased with the style of their two victories but no the trip down to Devon is a massive challenge. connor O'Shea will have been worried by the number of injuries his back rowers picked up in Cardiff and will be hoping some of the walking wounded can play. will Baxter prefer LCD to Yeandle. Where will Slade play? Will Robshaw and Clifford play and impress Eddie Jones against a very good Exeter back row, where Dave Ewers will be keen to continue making his case for international selection.


15:15 Saracens  v   Worcester Warriors BT Sport
The first of the London double headers sees the only top flight unbeaten team in Europe this season face Dean Ryans premiership returnees. Worcester this season seem very similar to Saracens, albeit at a lower level, in that the collective is stronger than the individual combinations. Saracens will again look to rest key players - but even so should be far too strong.


17:30 London Irish  v   Wasps BT Sport
London Irish finally broke their losing streak in the Challenge Cup, but will surely need to raise their game even further against a Wasps team that was on fire in Europe. What may work in Irish's favour will be the temptation for Dai Young to rest a lot of players to concentrate on the Euro double header with Bath. Depending on just how many he rests, Irish could well sneak a win.



Sun 29th Nov

15:00 Leicester Tigers Tigers  v   Bath Rugby Bath Welford Road BT Sport
Both sides will feel they have something to prove after the events of last season. No two ways about it but Leicester were thrashed twice on visits to the Rec. However Bath arrived at Welford Road over the Christmas/New Year period with all the form and skill, yet allowed themselves to get into an armwrestle which they duly lost. Leicester have been a much more attacking side this season, and despite the stuttering backline play this season from Bath we all know how good they can be. It coudl, conditions depending, be an excellent free flowing game. Much will depend on how well the back rows go - especially O'Connor vs Louw.
But really there is only one contest we are interested in this week. After seeing how well Bath's tyro props went against Leinster the match up between Ayerza/Youngs/Cole vs Auterac/Webber/Thomas will be highly illuminating.

Also good to see the Sloan/Lowe partnership resumed, they'll need to be at their best against Slade (thankfully they're benching Hill and have started Steenson).

I guess Botica is either injured or his poor game last week cost him his spot, Swiel has far more potential then him and has looked good so far, we desperately need one of the two to stand up and lay down a marker as Nev's replacement.

yappysnap wrote:I guess Botica is either injured or his poor game last week cost him his spot, Swiel has far more potential then him and has looked good so far, we desperately need one of the two to stand up and lay down a marker as Nev's replacement.

Thought that was Madigan.

In the future hopefully yes, but we still need one of them to stand in for him this season, especially when the inevitable knee injury occurs.

Can't see past a saints win unless glos actually play well

Corbs needs to remember to breath

How are saints not being pinged for pushing early!

Looks like saints forwards are starting to come into form again.

Does anyone know where Hartley is?

Surely they are pushing early?

Gloucester are so poor.

Wind effecting kicking, rain effecting handling and poor discipline mean this isn't much of a spectacle. Saints backs are rumbling a bit out wide, they could come into this game a lot more as tacklers start to tire in the second half.

Fodens hair....

indeed - what would make anyone think that looks good?

I presume he's going to cut it off for charity? Surely!

Knowing him he probably think it looks good. Suits him when singing with his other half

Not sure I've seen anything good from hook tonight

nathan wrote:Not sure I've seen anything good from hook tonight

He is not very good, that's why. Especially at 12.

Windy. Rainy....Gloucester struggling for posession.....so they put up a vertical box kick and lose about 10m. What an awful side they are.

Brooks looking knackered

Saints look low of confidence. Why kick for three points when you are 9 points up, at home and there's less than ten mins left? Kick to the corner and go for the jugular would have bee Saints last season.

Gloucester look rudderless. Billy isn't a ten. Hook looks like a full back covering centre.

Saints scrum is pretty good at the moment, but with Picamoles at 8 as well.......................AWESOME

That was dire. Here's hoping that tomorrow's games provide a bit more entertainment!

Ozzy3213 wrote:That was dire.  Here's hoping that tomorrow's games provide a bit more entertainment!

Ozzy, please allow for the conditions they were dire, a bar of soap to catch, kicks going backwards, not being able to judge where he balls is going to land by 10m it was bound to be a slug fest

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:That was dire.  Here's hoping that tomorrow's games provide a bit more entertainment!

Ozzy, please allow for the conditions they were dire,  a bar of soap to catch, kicks going backwards, not being able to judge where he balls is going to land by 10m it was bound to be a slug fest

As fkas pointed out, kicking at goal when you're 15-3 up at home with less than 10 minutes on the clock rather than going to the corner and driving over, is the reason the game was dire.  It wasn't even a slug fest, it was just pretty crap rugby all round.

I'll spare you all the usual rant, its quite plain to see my expectations were wildly misplaced and we are in fact a Poopie side

LondonTiger wrote:

yappysnap wrote:I guess Botica is either injured or his poor game last week cost him his spot, Swiel has far more potential then him and has looked good so far, we desperately need one of the two to stand up and lay down a marker as Nev's replacement.

Thought that was Madigan.

Apparently.

Well that's 80 mins of my life I'm never getting back!

So many poor passes, poor decisions and dodgy kicks. Gloucester 9, 10, 12 all looked well off the pace. Saints made the wrong call not starting Dickson.

Didn't even realise Morgan was playing until he was subbed!

It was well and truly a game for the fatties and none of them looked like they cared about making the hard yards. I thought this was a game Burrell would of been able to use his bulk

Burrell did have one good moment that kick and chase, unfortunately he then countered that with shovel hands with the try line begging. Something he was guilty of all through the 6Ns too.

Wasn't a pretty game to watch, but must have been worse for the spectators at the game. Was kind of funny watching the wind take the ball in the second half.

The Gloucester pack seemed underpowered against Saints. Even after their looshead who couldn't keep himself upright in the scrums was replaced, Gloucester continued to go backwards. Saints lineouts were significantly better as well - I think Saints lost only one line out, but that was a botched quick throw, if I recall. In poor conditions, the Saints forwards did exactly the job they needed to do: Secure possession, push the Gloucester forwards around, be aggressive at the breakdown.

Saints backs made a decent attempt in the conditions. A few tries were missed due to hands or bad luck, but it is a bit hard tgo judge because I was in the comfort of my family room and they were in the elements. Dickson and Myler had good games. North was better. Foden was excellent in attack and when defending (one blown op, however). Burrell was OK, but needed to ram it up one more level. Only one mess up with the line open, but the rest was good but not great. I wonder how much was the weather and how much was him.

Fotuali'i seems to be losing a step, I saw signs of this last season. As he ages he is becoming Wigglesworth - Kicks too much.

I wonder how much the influence Victor Matfield will have on the team. He made his Saints debut off the bench and is still a good player. He also has a tough go forwards attitude and is a winner. This can only be good for the team.

We're actually winning.......

Well that didn't last long

Very promising start from quins, getting back to our best. Long way to go mind. Sandy Park has to be one of the toughest trips in the league.

Well 20 mins left and we're losing ......I have accepted already that we will be in the championship next season bar any miracles....

And Dean Richards can take his excuses and woeful coaching team and disappear!

mid_gen wrote:Very promising start from quins, getting back to our best. Long way to go mind. Sandy Park has to be one of the toughest trips in the league.

As I said, tough away fixture! Hopefully with the wind with us in the second half we can play some more territory. So frustrating to stick it up the jumper for 5 minutes so well and then cough it up and concede on half time

Quite interesting the audio on the stream is picking up the director.

Now level and Catterick has just missed a penalty.

And now Cipriani has a chance to kick for the win!!!

Falcons are F&&$ing sh1t!!!!

Dean Richards out now!!!!

Kick missed.

15 all...but I still say Dean Out now!!!!

Despite our best efforts to throw it away, that is am important couple of points away from home for Falcons!

I'd have took that before the game.

Much better effort from the lads in poor conditions. Defence looked stronger but some poor calls stopped us getting the win. 2pts is better than 1pt and much better than 0pts!

Ah I'm fed up with the whole thing.

Get John Wells out he's dated and past it.

That was much improved GF, there's hope yet.

Next week we'll be a pile of garbage and penalty machine again,

I have zero confidence in them

Wuss really are poor

Wow Visser is a truly charmed finisher. Grubber from Brown bounces off the corner flag and lodges between Visser's knees and he gets it down.

mid_gen wrote:Wow Visser is a truly charmed finisher. Grubber from Brown bounces off the corner flag and lodges between Visser's knees and he gets it down.

Some players just seem to have that lucky ability to score in weird situations

Ugh lineout is shocking today.

Ward with the turnover 5m out

Timing is messed up, I'm sure an extra minute just appeared...why are they scrummaging on 80 minutes?

GeordieFalcon wrote:Next week we'll be a pile of garbage and penalty machine again,

I have zero confidence in them

Surely 2 points away to Sale can't be that bad GF?

I'll be happy if we come away with 2 points today from our 'home' game.

Bah...shame the weather made it such a scrappy second half. Still, 2 points at sandy park is more than most teams will manage.

Wish Swiel had gotten that kick, and a bit disappointed that we didn't win based on 4 tries plus more chances vs 2 and much better play from the second half I saw, but 2 points from Exeter away not to be sneezed at!