Aviva Premiership - Round 7

Table

Team	--P--	--W--	--D--	--BP--	Points
Saracens	6	6	0	3	27
Exeter	6	5	0	4	24
Leicester	6	5	0	1	21
Harlequins	6	4	0	4	20
Northampton	6	3	0	4	16
Wasps	6	3	0	2	14
Gloucester	6	3	0	1	13
Sale Sharks	6	2	1	3	13
Bath	6	2	0	3	11
Worcester	6	2	0	2	10
Newcastle	6	0	1	0	2
London Irish	6	0	0	0	0

Fixtures

SATURDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2015
14:30 London Irish v Northampton
15:00 Exeter v Sale
15:00 Leicester v Newcastle

SUNDAY 27TH DECEMBER 2015
14:00 Wasps v Saracens
14:30 Bath v Worcester
16:30 Harlequins v Gloucester

Match write-ups to follow, if I find time.

Saturday's fixtures look pretty likely to go in the Saints', Chiefs' and Tigers' favour.

Sunday is more interesting. I'd be very disappointed if Quins lose, but a well-organised Worcester should feel that Bath are vulnerable.

Wasps are probably Saracens' toughest test so far this season - should make for a very good game and will give the rest of us an indication of whether Sarries are beatable or will just run away with the AP this season.

I expect a big win by Quins. Judging by their Euro form Glos are average at best this season with a weak pack and a lack of organisation in the backs.

Looking at our squad we should be challenging for the play offs this season and that means getting the try bp in these home games.

I suspect Wuss provided sterner opposition in the recent back to back games than Calvisano did.

As the two only unbeaten teams in the challenge Cup, Quins and Glaws could well be seeded to meet in the final of that competition following rounds 5 and 6

Yes so doubly important we start getting the wins in over them.

Here's the team I expect:

Marler
Ward
Jones
Horwill
Mathews
Robshaw
Clifford
Easter
Care (c)
Evans
Visser
Roberts
Lowe
Yarde
Brown

Buchanan, lambert, Synckler, Twomey, Wallace, Dickson, Botica, Walker

Is it just my quarters coloured glasses or is that a brilliant looking Quins team? #whatsalarycapmovealongpeople...

And a falcons win in the bag I think...

Definitely a Falcons win, how could they lose?

Exactly....pointless the tigers even turning up...

Tigers will field a lot of second string players, so Falcons should come with their strongest line-up and try and run the ball.

It will be the strongest team...but there will be a few surprises. The likes of Robinson at lock is on fire this season and will definitely start.

Socino finally looked back to his best last weekend.

I just hope we continue the performance from the weekend against Connacht where we actually played very well...especially in the second half.

When's sinoti sinoti back?

Who knows...getting info from Dean is like getting blood from a stone.

But in all fairness Marcus Watson is coming along nicely since his switch from the 7's. Been a very interesting signing.

With the exception of Saints it'll be home wins for the rest. Glaws will have the lion share of possession but be completely inept with the ball and will lose by at least 10.

On a far cheerier note, happy Christmas all and best wishes to you and yours

Happy Xmas HKC

HongKongCherry wrote:With the exception of Saints it'll be home wins for the rest. Glaws will have the lion share of possession but be completely inept with the ball and will lose by at least 10.

On a far cheerier note, happy Christmas all and best wishes to you and yours

Your probably right about the home team snagging the wins, excepting Saints. Saints are ready to explode on someone but do seem off their game so far this season. The Wasps-Saracens match would be the headliner this weekend?

With you wishing everyone a happy Christmas and a good ruck.

I'm not sure Gloucester will have the lion's share of possession. They may as well just get given the ball off of any of our lineouts though

GeordieFalcon wrote:And a falcons win in the bag I think...

Too many changes and Falcons could nab the win tbh.

As fans we're understandably much happier this year than the last but it's important to remember that Tigers are actually 4 points worse off this year than they were in the same fixtures last season. The biggest test was Exeter away which resulted in a fairly comfortable win for the featherheads. Ever the underdogs.

If OTY plays I'm definitely sending him a printed screenshot of Pooly's post history just for a proper MOTM performance

I really don't expect much down at Welford Road. As Sgt said a LBP would be a bonus.

We played well last run out v Connacht and if Tigers completely underestimate us and we continue that form then possibly...but I just don't see it at all.

A comfortable win for the Tigers.

Part of me fancies us to upset a misfiring Saints outfit, however, we have got some big players missing. Skivs is definitely out, Symons I also believe is not fit, and Sheriff injured himself against Edinburgh. That leaves Nic Rouse as our only fit senior lock, and he is just back from 8 months out with just the Edinburgh game under his belt. So partnering Nic will likely be Jebb Sinclair, who is a back row who can play lock, with either Sisi (another back row) backing up from the bench, or Will Lloyd who is a youngster just arrived from Auckland (He was pulled from the A league game on Monday night due to the injury issues we have!)

The other question mark is at hooker, where Gerard Ellis has been playing well in David Paice's absence, but went off injured on Friday night and we don't know if he's fit. behind him, Jimmy Stevens (who isn't that great) has overtaken Tom Cruse as the latter has been a card magnet (card in every appearance so far I believe)!

Fingers crossed for a line up of

Court Ellis Franks
Rouse Sinclair
Gilsenan Treviranus Cowan

McKibbin Geraghty
Williams Tokoirotuma
Fenby Maitland Lewington

Stevens Smallbone Aulika Sisi Trayfoot Steele Noakes Fowlie

Line up however could be absolutely anything, as TC has rotated at least 5 players in every game so far, so we have no idea as to what he sees as his best side at the moment.

London Irish will be bolstered for their Boxing Day Aviva Premiership fixture against Northampton Saints with the return of lock Matt Symons to captain the side (kick-off 2 30pm).

Tom Court and Ben Franks start in the front row alongside David Paice, who returns after missing the last two European Challenge Cup fixtures. Nic Rouse partners Matt Symons in the second row with Luke Narraway, Blair Cowan and Ofisa Treviranus in the back row.

Brendan McKibbin and Chris Noakes form the half back pairing with Johnny Williams and Canadian international, Ciaran Hearn in the midfield. Aseli Tikoirotuma, Alex Lewington and Sean Maitland make up the back three.

London Irish Head Coach Tom Coventry said: “On behalf of the Club, I would firstly like to wish all of our supporters a very Merry Christmas. We hope you enjoy the festivities with family and friends. The squad have worked hard this week and responded well to the result in Edinburgh last Friday. Northampton are a top side and we know the challenge we face on Saturday but we have prepared well and will go out and put in a passionate performance in front of our families and supporters.”

London Irish team to face Northampton Saints

15. Sean Maitland*; 14. Alex Lewington; 13. Ciaran Hearn*; 12.Johnny Williams; 11. Aseli Tikoirotuma*; 10. Chris Noakes; 9. Brendan McKibbin; 1. Tom Court*; 2. David Paice* 3. Ben Franks*; 4. Matt Symons (Captain); 5. Nic Rouse; 6. Luke Narraway*; 7. Blair Cowan*; 8. Ofisa Treviranus*

Replacements: 16. Jimmy Stevens; 17. Tom Smallbone; 18. Halani Aulika*; 19. Jebb Sinclair*; 20. Joe Trayfoot; 21. Scott Steele; 22. Shane Geraghty*; 23. Fergus Mulchrone

*Denotes Internationals

Injury Update

George Skivington - George injured his shoulder at the start of the season and unfortunately has failed to respond to conservative treatment, so after further consultations with the appropriate specialists, the decision has been made to operate on George’s shoulder. His rehabilitation post-surgery is likely to take about four months.

Long Term
George Skivington - Shoulder
Eoin Sheriff - Shoulder
Richard Palframan - Hamstring
Eoin Giffin - Bicep

Short Term
Topsy Ojo - Shoulder
Tom Guest - Hamstring
Rob McCusker - Calf
Andrew Fenby - Shoulder

Harlequins has announced the squad to play Gloucester Rugby during Big Game 8 at Twickenham Stadium in Round 7 of the Aviva Premiership on Sunday, kick-off 16:30 (live on BT Sport).

Returning to the Premiership following back to back victories over Calvisano in the European Rugby Challenge Cup, there are 12 changes to the matchday squad.

Mike Brown, George Lowe, Tim Visser, Nick Evans and captain Danny Care return to the backline as Jamie Roberts makes his Premiership debut.

In the forwards, Joe Marler, Will Collier, James Horwill, Chris Robshaw and Nick Easter are named, with Dave Ward starting at hooker.

Care, Brown and Easter have played in every Big Game to date.

Harlequins squad
15 Mike Brown
14 Marland Yarde
13 George Lowe
12 Jamie Roberts
11 Tim Visser
10 Nick Evans
9 Danny Care �

1 Joe Marler
2 Dave Ward
3 Will Collier
4 James Horwill
5 Charlie Matthews
6 Chris Robshaw
7 Jack Clifford
8 Nick Easter

16 Rob Buchanan
17 Mark Lambert
18 Kyle Sinckler
19 George Merrick
20 Luke Wallace
21 Karl Dickson
22 Ben Botica
23 Ross Chisholm

Tigers:

Leicester Tigers (v Newcastle Falcons, Welford Road, Saturday 3pm)
15 Mathew Tait
14 Telusa Veainu
13 Peter Betham
12 Matt Smith
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Freddie Burns
9 Jono Kitto
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Harry Thacker
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Dom Barrow
5 Ed Slater (c)
6 Tom Croft
7 Lachlan McCaffrey
8 Laurence Pearce

Replacements
16 Tom Youngs
17 Matias Aguero
18 Dan Cole
19 Sebastian De Chaves
20 Opeti Fonua
21 Ben Youngs
22 Tommy Bell
23 Seremaia Bai

Pretty much Harlequins first choice team there, only absentees are Jones, Twomey and Luamanu.

Still looks a cracking side though. And am really excited to see them play.

Saints team news for London Irish trip

Thursday, December 24, 2015



The Saints team has been named for Saturday’s Boxing Day Aviva Premiership Round 7 trip to London Irish.

There are seven changes in all from the team which ran out against Racing-92 last weekend, with Ken Pisi and Kahn Fotuali’i coming into the back line and Ethan Waller, Dylan Hartley, Paul Hill, Michael Paterson and Christian Day making up a new front five in the pack.

With Lee Dickson among the replacements Hartley has been chosen to lead the team out at the Madesjki Stadium.

There is a full preview of Saturday’s game in this week’s podcast, which includes extended interviews with Ben Foden, Kahn Fotuali’i, Stephen Myler and defence coach Alan Dickens. Download for free onto any device at www.soundcloud.com/official-saints-rugby or subscribe via iTunes.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LONDON IRISH
Aviva Premiership Round 7
Madejski Stadium
Saturday, December 26th, 2015
Kick off 2:30pm
15 Ben FODEN
14 Ken PISI
13 George PISI
12 Luther BURRELL
11 George NORTH
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Kahn FOTUALI’I
1 Ethan WALLER
2 Dylan HARTLEY (capt)
3 Paul HILL
4 Michael PATERSON
5 Christian DAY
6 Courtney LAWES
7 Jamie GIBSON
8 Teimana HARRISON

16 Mikey HAYWOOD
17 Alex WALLER
18 Gareth DENMAN
19 Victor MATFIELD
20 Sam DICKINSON
21 Lee DICKSON
22 JJ HANRAHAN
23 Tom COLLINS

Interesting that the side still features 19 EQ players. The only NEQ players being Nev, Horwill, Roberts and Visser not a bad choice of foreigners to have!

Ozzy3213 wrote:Saints team news for London Irish trip

Thursday, December 24, 2015



The Saints team has been named for Saturday’s Boxing Day Aviva Premiership Round 7 trip to London Irish.

There are seven changes in all from the team which ran out against Racing-92 last weekend, with Ken Pisi and Kahn Fotuali’i coming into the back line and Ethan Waller, Dylan Hartley, Paul Hill, Michael Paterson and Christian Day making up a new front five in the pack.

With Lee Dickson among the replacements Hartley has been chosen to lead the team out at the Madesjki Stadium.

There is a full preview of Saturday’s game in this week’s podcast, which includes extended interviews with Ben Foden, Kahn Fotuali’i, Stephen Myler and defence coach Alan Dickens. Download for free onto any device at www.soundcloud.com/official-saints-rugby or subscribe via iTunes.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LONDON IRISH
Aviva Premiership Round 7
Madejski Stadium
Saturday, December 26th, 2015
Kick off 2:30pm
15 Ben FODEN
14 Ken PISI
13 George PISI
12 Luther BURRELL
11 George NORTH
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Kahn FOTUALI’I
1 Ethan WALLER
2 Dylan HARTLEY (capt)
3 Paul HILL
4 Michael PATERSON
5 Christian DAY
6 Courtney LAWES
7 Jamie GIBSON
8 Teimana HARRISON

16 Mikey HAYWOOD
17 Alex WALLER
18 Gareth DENMAN
19 Victor MATFIELD
20 Sam DICKINSON
21 Lee DICKSON
22 JJ HANRAHAN
23 Tom COLLINS

Good back line, though I am hoping Fotuali'i can give Stevie some quick ball.  His delivery has been glacial at times this season.  Plus his passes have been off target as well.  Hoping Tom Collins gets some quality minutes.  

It's an interesting pack.  I presume Hartley is only scheduled to go 50 or 60, which I would concur with.  Nice to see Ethan and Paul Hill getting the start together.  But I wonder if the pack is a little under powered - hopefully they prove me wrong.  I didn't know Harrison had played 8, which is another concern about an under powered pack.  The lad can run, so will be interesting.  There are a lot of line out options.

Leicester Tigers (v Newcastle Falcons, Welford Road, Saturday 3pm)
15 Mathew Tait 
14 Telusa Veainu 
13 Peter Betham 
12 Matt Smith
11 Vereniki Goneva 
10 Freddie Burns 
9 Jono Kitto
1 Logovi'i Mulipola 
2 Harry Thacker
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Dom Barrow
5 Ed Slater (c)
6 Tom Croft 
7 Lachlan McCaffrey
8 Laurence Pearce

Replacements
16 Tom Youngs 
17 Matias Aguero 
18 Dan Cole 
19 Sebastian De Chaves
20 Opeti Fonua 
21 Ben Youngs 
22 Tommy Bell
23 Seremaia Bai 

Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Belisario Agulla, 12 Chris Harris, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Craig Willis, 9 Michael Young, 1 Rob Vickers, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Jon Welsh, 4 Mark Wilson, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Ally Hogg, 7 Will Welch (c), 8 Nili Latu
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alex Rogers, 18 Taione Vea, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 Todd Clever, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Juan Pablo Socino

Both sides rotate. Tigers welcome back Mulipola and Fonua whilst Kitto makes his first AP start. Harry Thacker will be looking to make a statement against the hooker Tigers are interested in recruiting for next season.

Wilson at second row is an interesting call.

Saracens pick what is probably their strongest team for the visit to Coventry:



15 Alex Goode (193*)
14 Chris Ashton (86)
13 Duncan Taylor (76)
12 Brad Barritt (153)
11 Chris Wyles (187)
10 Owen Farrell (122)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (136)
1 Mako Vunipola (86)
2 Jamie George (139)
3 Petrus Du Plessis (110)
4 Maro Itoje (38)
5 George Kruis (110)
6 Michael Rhodes (8)
7 Will Fraser (65)
8 Billy Vunipola (47)

Replacements
16 Schalk Brits (155)
17 Richard Barrington (62)
18 Juan Figallo (22)
19 Jim Hamilton (29)
20 Kelly Brown (118)
21 Ben Spencer (61)
22 Charlie Hodgson (115)
23 Marcelo Bosch (49)

Wasps meanwhile have injury issues in the back row:

Wasps team to play Saracens

15. Rob Miller
14. Frank Halai
13. Elliot Daly
12. Alapati Leiua
11. Charles Piutau
10. Jimmy Gopperth
9. Dan Robson
1. Matt Mullan
2. Ashley Johnson
3. Lorenzo Cittadini
4. Joe Launchbury
5. James Gaskell
6. James Haskell (c)
7. Thomas Young
8. Guy Thompson

16. Edd Shervington
17. Simon McIntyre
18. Phil Swainston
19. Bradley Davies
20. Sam Jones
21. Joe Simpson
22. Ruaridh Jackson
23. Sailosi Tagicakibau

Unavailable for selection due to injury:
Alex Lozowski, Andrea Masi, Carlo Festuccia, Christian Wade, James Johnston, George Smith, Jake Cooper-Woolley, Nathan Hughes.

Based on those line-ups I do not foresee Wasps ending Saries winning streak.

LondonTiger wrote:Saracens pick what is probably their strongest team for the visit to Coventry:



15 Alex Goode (193*)
14 Chris Ashton (86)
13 Duncan Taylor (76)
12 Brad Barritt (153)
11 Chris Wyles (187)
10 Owen Farrell (122)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (136)
1 Mako Vunipola (86)
2 Jamie George (139)
3 Petrus Du Plessis (110)
4 Maro Itoje (38)
5 George Kruis (110)
6 Michael Rhodes (8)
7 Will Fraser (65)
8 Billy Vunipola (47)

Replacements
16 Schalk Brits (155)
17 Richard Barrington (62)
18 Juan Figallo (22)
19 Jim Hamilton (29)
20 Kelly Brown (118)
21 Ben Spencer (61)
22 Charlie Hodgson (115)
23 Marcelo Bosch (49)

Do you think Duncan Taylor is their best option at 13?

LondonTiger wrote:Based on those line-ups I do not foresee Wasps ending Saries winning streak.

That's a lot of quality out injured for Wasps!

doctor_grey wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Saracens pick what is probably their strongest team for the visit to Coventry:




13 Duncan Taylor (76)

Do you think Duncan Taylor is their best option at 13?  

He is playing better than Bosch.

Bath Rugby team to face Worcester Warriors

15. Tom Homer
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Ollie Devoto
11. Horacio Agulla
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Chris Cook
1. Max Lahiff
2. Ross Batty
3. Henry Thomas
4. Matt Garvey
5. Charlie Ewels
6. Leroy Houston
7. Guy Mercer ( c )
8. David Denton

Replacements

16. Tom Dunn
17. Nick Auterac
18. David Wilson
19. Dave Attwood
20. Francois Louw
21. Niko Matawalu
22. George Ford
23. Anthony Watson


Starting XV looks really weak to me, and nothing like a team capable of making the Premiership final as Bath managed last season.

That Saracens bench is ridiculous!

Good Quins side

doctor_grey wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:Saints team news for London Irish trip

Thursday, December 24, 2015



The Saints team has been named for Saturday’s Boxing Day Aviva Premiership Round 7 trip to London Irish.

There are seven changes in all from the team which ran out against Racing-92 last weekend, with Ken Pisi and Kahn Fotuali’i coming into the back line and Ethan Waller, Dylan Hartley, Paul Hill, Michael Paterson and Christian Day making up a new front five in the pack.

With Lee Dickson among the replacements Hartley has been chosen to lead the team out at the Madesjki Stadium.

There is a full preview of Saturday’s game in this week’s podcast, which includes extended interviews with Ben Foden, Kahn Fotuali’i, Stephen Myler and defence coach Alan Dickens. Download for free onto any device at www.soundcloud.com/official-saints-rugby or subscribe via iTunes.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LONDON IRISH
Aviva Premiership Round 7
Madejski Stadium
Saturday, December 26th, 2015
Kick off 2:30pm
15 Ben FODEN
14 Ken PISI
13 George PISI
12 Luther BURRELL
11 George NORTH
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Kahn FOTUALI’I
1 Ethan WALLER
2 Dylan HARTLEY (capt)
3 Paul HILL
4 Michael PATERSON
5 Christian DAY
6 Courtney LAWES
7 Jamie GIBSON
8 Teimana HARRISON

16 Mikey HAYWOOD
17 Alex WALLER
18 Gareth DENMAN
19 Victor MATFIELD
20 Sam DICKINSON
21 Lee DICKSON
22 JJ HANRAHAN
23 Tom COLLINS

Good back line, though I am hoping Fotuali'i can give Stevie some quick ball.  His delivery has been glacial at times this season.  Plus his passes have been off target as well.  Hoping Tom Collins gets some quality minutes.  

It's an interesting pack.  I presume Hartley is only scheduled to go 50 or 60, which I would concur with.  Nice to see Ethan and Paul Hill getting the start together.  But I wonder if the pack is a little under powered - hopefully they prove me wrong.  I didn't know Harrison had played 8, which is another concern about an under powered pack.  The lad can run, so will be interesting.  There are a lot of line out options.

I'd anticipate you guys completely dominating at the lineout. it has been an area of weakness for us this season, and none of our back row for this one are great lineout jumpers, in complete contrast to yours. Interestingly, our scrum has gone pretty well, so it will be fascinating to see how your two young props go against what is an experienced pairing for us.

That Saracens 23 is crazy good though

Ozzy3213 wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:Saints team news for London Irish trip

Thursday, December 24, 2015



The Saints team has been named for Saturday’s Boxing Day Aviva Premiership Round 7 trip to London Irish.

There are seven changes in all from the team which ran out against Racing-92 last weekend, with Ken Pisi and Kahn Fotuali’i coming into the back line and Ethan Waller, Dylan Hartley, Paul Hill, Michael Paterson and Christian Day making up a new front five in the pack.

With Lee Dickson among the replacements Hartley has been chosen to lead the team out at the Madesjki Stadium.

There is a full preview of Saturday’s game in this week’s podcast, which includes extended interviews with Ben Foden, Kahn Fotuali’i, Stephen Myler and defence coach Alan Dickens. Download for free onto any device at www.soundcloud.com/official-saints-rugby or subscribe via iTunes.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LONDON IRISH
Aviva Premiership Round 7
Madejski Stadium
Saturday, December 26th, 2015
Kick off 2:30pm
15 Ben FODEN
14 Ken PISI
13 George PISI
12 Luther BURRELL
11 George NORTH
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Kahn FOTUALI’I
1 Ethan WALLER
2 Dylan HARTLEY (capt)
3 Paul HILL
4 Michael PATERSON
5 Christian DAY
6 Courtney LAWES
7 Jamie GIBSON
8 Teimana HARRISON

16 Mikey HAYWOOD
17 Alex WALLER
18 Gareth DENMAN
19 Victor MATFIELD
20 Sam DICKINSON
21 Lee DICKSON
22 JJ HANRAHAN
23 Tom COLLINS

Good back line, though I am hoping Fotuali'i can give Stevie some quick ball.  His delivery has been glacial at times this season.  Plus his passes have been off target as well.  Hoping Tom Collins gets some quality minutes.  

It's an interesting pack.  I presume Hartley is only scheduled to go 50 or 60, which I would concur with.  Nice to see Ethan and Paul Hill getting the start together.  But I wonder if the pack is a little under powered - hopefully they prove me wrong.  I didn't know Harrison had played 8, which is another concern about an under powered pack.  The lad can run, so will be interesting.  There are a lot of line out options.

I'd anticipate you guys completely dominating at the lineout.  it has been an area of weakness for us this season, and none of our back row for this one are great lineout jumpers, in complete contrast to yours.  Interestingly, our scrum has gone pretty well, so it will be fascinating to see how your two young props go against what is an experienced pairing for us.

At the lineout, Saints are playing 3 locks plus Gibson who can manage his way in the line out as well.  Seems almost unfair to be able to bring Matfield off the bench.  The scrum will be something to watch, especially how the Saints scrum fares with Hartley out there, and also with Hill getting some real extended playing time.  Funny, but I am hoping for enough knock-ons so I can see how my boys get on.

LondonTiger wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Saracens pick what is probably their strongest team for the visit to Coventry:




13 Duncan Taylor (76)

Do you think Duncan Taylor is their best option at 13?  

He is playing better than Bosch.

OK, that was more or less my question. I have seen Saracens only a few times this season and wasn't sure.

LondonTiger wrote:Tigers:

Leicester Tigers (v Newcastle Falcons, Welford Road, Saturday 3pm)
15 Mathew Tait
14 Telusa Veainu
13 Peter Betham
12 Matt Smith
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Freddie Burns
9 Jono Kitto
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Harry Thacker
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Dom Barrow
5 Ed Slater (c)
6 Tom Croft
7 Lachlan McCaffrey
8 Laurence Pearce

Replacements
16 Tom Youngs
17 Matias Aguero
18 Dan Cole
19 Sebastian De Chaves
20 Opeti Fonua
21 Ben Youngs
22 Tommy Bell
23 Seremaia Bai

I was hoping to see one of the young centres get a chance with Betham moved to the wing and Niki rested. I guess that Cockers isn't as concerned about burnout for Smith/Betham with JDV and Manu due to return. Other than that it's an exciting squad though.

Kitto's a signing that many were excited about so it will be interesting to see him get a start. Veainu on the wing will be great to see as well, hopefully he's given a license to roam and get the ball in his hands as much as possible. It's much deserved start for Balmain.

McCaffery has been fantastic but will need a rest soon. Given how poorly we started against Worcester without him and O'Connor I can understand Cockers starting him though. Hopefully Pearce and/or Fonau show something to give us another option at 8 to rotate him more.

Ozzy3213 wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:Saints team news for London Irish trip

Thursday, December 24, 2015



The Saints team has been named for Saturday’s Boxing Day Aviva Premiership Round 7 trip to London Irish.

There are seven changes in all from the team which ran out against Racing-92 last weekend, with Ken Pisi and Kahn Fotuali’i coming into the back line and Ethan Waller, Dylan Hartley, Paul Hill, Michael Paterson and Christian Day making up a new front five in the pack.

With Lee Dickson among the replacements Hartley has been chosen to lead the team out at the Madesjki Stadium.

There is a full preview of Saturday’s game in this week’s podcast, which includes extended interviews with Ben Foden, Kahn Fotuali’i, Stephen Myler and defence coach Alan Dickens. Download for free onto any device at www.soundcloud.com/official-saints-rugby or subscribe via iTunes.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LONDON IRISH
Aviva Premiership Round 7
Madejski Stadium
Saturday, December 26th, 2015
Kick off 2:30pm
15 Ben FODEN
14 Ken PISI
13 George PISI
12 Luther BURRELL
11 George NORTH
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Kahn FOTUALI’I
1 Ethan WALLER
2 Dylan HARTLEY (capt)
3 Paul HILL
4 Michael PATERSON
5 Christian DAY
6 Courtney LAWES
7 Jamie GIBSON
8 Teimana HARRISON

16 Mikey HAYWOOD
17 Alex WALLER
18 Gareth DENMAN
19 Victor MATFIELD
20 Sam DICKINSON
21 Lee DICKSON
22 JJ HANRAHAN
23 Tom COLLINS

Good back line, though I am hoping Fotuali'i can give Stevie some quick ball.  His delivery has been glacial at times this season.  Plus his passes have been off target as well.  Hoping Tom Collins gets some quality minutes.  

It's an interesting pack.  I presume Hartley is only scheduled to go 50 or 60, which I would concur with.  Nice to see Ethan and Paul Hill getting the start together.  But I wonder if the pack is a little under powered - hopefully they prove me wrong.  I didn't know Harrison had played 8, which is another concern about an under powered pack.  The lad can run, so will be interesting.  There are a lot of line out options.

I'd anticipate you guys completely dominating at the lineout.  it has been an area of weakness for us this season, and none of our back row for this one are great lineout jumpers, in complete contrast to yours.  Interestingly, our scrum has gone pretty well, so it will be fascinating to see how your two young props go against what is an experienced pairing for us.

The mismatch in the line-out is almost criminal! Hoping that Blair has his best game for us at the breakdown as otherwise I think it could be a long day at the office in terms of securing ball and stopping them getting a free ride.

doctor_grey wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:Saints team news for London Irish trip

Thursday, December 24, 2015



The Saints team has been named for Saturday’s Boxing Day Aviva Premiership Round 7 trip to London Irish.

There are seven changes in all from the team which ran out against Racing-92 last weekend, with Ken Pisi and Kahn Fotuali’i coming into the back line and Ethan Waller, Dylan Hartley, Paul Hill, Michael Paterson and Christian Day making up a new front five in the pack.

With Lee Dickson among the replacements Hartley has been chosen to lead the team out at the Madesjki Stadium.

There is a full preview of Saturday’s game in this week’s podcast, which includes extended interviews with Ben Foden, Kahn Fotuali’i, Stephen Myler and defence coach Alan Dickens. Download for free onto any device at www.soundcloud.com/official-saints-rugby or subscribe via iTunes.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY LONDON IRISH
Aviva Premiership Round 7
Madejski Stadium
Saturday, December 26th, 2015
Kick off 2:30pm
15 Ben FODEN
14 Ken PISI
13 George PISI
12 Luther BURRELL
11 George NORTH
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Kahn FOTUALI’I
1 Ethan WALLER
2 Dylan HARTLEY (capt)
3 Paul HILL
4 Michael PATERSON
5 Christian DAY
6 Courtney LAWES
7 Jamie GIBSON
8 Teimana HARRISON

16 Mikey HAYWOOD
17 Alex WALLER
18 Gareth DENMAN
19 Victor MATFIELD
20 Sam DICKINSON
21 Lee DICKSON
22 JJ HANRAHAN
23 Tom COLLINS

Good back line, though I am hoping Fotuali'i can give Stevie some quick ball.  His delivery has been glacial at times this season.  Plus his passes have been off target as well.  Hoping Tom Collins gets some quality minutes.  

It's an interesting pack.  I presume Hartley is only scheduled to go 50 or 60, which I would concur with.  Nice to see Ethan and Paul Hill getting the start together.  But I wonder if the pack is a little under powered - hopefully they prove me wrong.  I didn't know Harrison had played 8, which is another concern about an under powered pack.  The lad can run, so will be interesting.  There are a lot of line out options.

Doc, Harrison has been moving to 8 for the last 20 minutes most of the games he has started, he doesn't look lightweight at all despite being a couple of stones short of Dickinson, plays very much in the style of Pockock in that he is very quick off the back of the scrum both offensively and defensively. It will be interesting to see how Lawes goes at 6, he was okay a couple of weeks ago, not outstanding but solid. Saints now have him down as being 18st plus, that makes him the heaviest player in the back 5 and explains why he has been making the harder yards since his come back where as last season he was being stopped dead. I can see Lawes moving to lock after about 60 or if the pack is struggling and Dickinson coming on at 8, Gibson to 6 and Harrison to 7. THat still leaves a certain Victor Matfield to have a run out as well.

Good for Englandwith Hartley back playing after his concussion issues. Both Ethan Waller and Paul Hill have shown they can mix it with just about anyone, Hartley should add a bit more muscle in the front row. Ethan looks to have bulked up a bit this season which has helped him both in the tight and the loose where has looked like a cannon ball in running through players.

Away for Christmas so I need to get back early tomorrow to catch the game.

I hope everyone on here has a terrific Christmas, joy to you all.

Good info about Harrison, mate. This is the problem with not getting home enough and seeing matches this season. Missing everything more and more.

Hoping we hit our stride.

LI lose another lock with Rouse out late with a knock

Bizarre looking Falcons side with Wilson at lock, Tait on the wing, no Socino and Youngs starting.

Deans continues to confuse with his odd selections and constant changes.

I can't see anything but a 20+ defeat today unfortunately.

Clear block and trip by Saints and they get the penalty - nice officiating ...

Not sure why when the scrum wheels or goes up on LI put-in it's reset but when it's Saints put-in it's a penalty to Saints ...