Tigers v Saints (H) - Saturday 28th January 2023 - KO 14:00

[sam16111986]

On the Saints unoffy they said both were clear reds

Well if their forum says it's red then it won't be overturned!

I saw the 2nd. Definite red under current ref guidelines. Leading with non ball carrying elbow away from the body straight into opponents neck / head area.

Absolutely no chance they will be overturned. A head on head tackle that forced the carrier off the pitch and then a leading elbow to the throat. Removes a lock and centre from their list of options. Unless they've got some players coming back in they are going to be pretty stretched in the backrow and maybe at lock. Mitchell won't be to big a miss with Braley and James available. Proctor or Litchfield likely to come in at centre and Ramm for Freeman on the wing. They'll have Smith and Furbank in tandem as the dual playmakers though so our defence will have to turn up.

[ay2oh]

Smith is with England

[Ian Cant]

Trouble is our problems will be the front row and scrum half!
Agree with others about taking points that are on offer!
Not building a score bemused myself and other fans around me on Friday night.

[sam16111986]

Smith is with England

Good point. Given Freeman is also called up then you'd assume Grayson will come in at 10 and Furbank will be at 15.

At a guess;

Waller, Smith, Painter
Ribbans, Moon
Scott-Young, Hinckley, Coles
Braley, Grayson
Hutchinson, Proctor
Ramm, Furbank, Skosan

That'll be a tough challenge for our youthful props but if we've got some reinforcements in the backrow a pack we might be able to go after physically. Might be tougher for us if they've got their South African number 8 back but if not then the normal second half surge from Saints could be sapped from their legs before they can launch it.

Our lineout will need to be a lot better than it was on Friday and our scrum a lot tighter.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Trouble is our problems will be the front row and scrum half!
Agree with others about taking points that are on offer!
Not building a score bemused myself and other fans around me on Friday night.

Wolstenholme is a quality player, plus think Edwards has shown he's ready for his opportunity.

Front row.

With West & Whitcombe, Montoya & Clare we have two postions tied up with some real quality players. Hurd & Leatigaga aren't slouches either and I don't think many consider the front row Saints key strength.

Lets look at their absences:

Salakaia-Loto
Courtney Lawes
Lewis Ludlam
Alex Mitchell
Fin Smith
Fraser Dingwall
Tommy Freeman

That is pretty much a key spine of their team.


Plus these were all on their "unavailable for selection list" for La Rochelle
Juarno Augustus, James Fish, James Grayson, Emmanuel Iyogun, Joel Matavesi and Sam Matavesi.

Unless they have suspensions those are their injury list.

So that means if those are still injured, their 2nd choice 10 is gone (along with their 1st choice 10), their 1st choice 8 is gone along with their first choice 6 & 7.
Iyogun is 1st l/2nd choice Loosehead. Is Sam Matavesi their first choice hooker these days?

Seriously think their absences may be more significant than ours. Certainly on a par.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Smith is with England

Good point. Given Freeman is also called up then you'd assume Grayson will come in at 10 and Furbank will be at 15.

At a guess;

Waller, Smith, Painter
Ribbans, Moon
Scott-Young, Hinckley, Coles
Braley, Grayson
Hutchinson, Proctor
Ramm, Furbank, Skosan

That'll be a tough challenge for our youthful props but if we've got some reinforcements in the backrow a pack we might be able to go after physically. Might be tougher for us if they've got their South African number 8 back but if not then the normal second half surge from Saints could be sapped from their legs before they can launch it.

Our lineout will need to be a lot better than it was on Friday and our scrum a lot tighter.

Grayson listed as unavailable for selection this weekend so may well be injured, you'd think Furbank may have to go 10

https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/new ... -rochelais

[TigerFeetSteve]

Plus a reasonable chance Ribbans may end up called up for Lawes injury

[TigerFeetSteve]

Plus a reasonable chance Ribbans may end up called up for Lawes injury

Called it...

https://twitter.com/SaintsRugby/status/ ... lOBPw&s=19

[sam16111986]

Plus a reasonable chance Ribbans may end up called up for Lawes injury

Called it...

https://twitter.com/SaintsRugby/status/ ... lOBPw&s=19

Good news for us and for England. Ribbans looked good in the AIs as a potential lock partner with Itoje. Another lock out the picture for Saints.

[TigerFeetSteve]

With it likely being King Freddie's last game.

1. Becomes even more of a must win!
2. I'd start him at 15
3. I'd probably let him kick from the tee (Certainly at least once in the game)
4. If the game's won and TBP gained I'd try and set up a drop goal for him!

[TigerXV]

With it likely being King Freddie's last game.

1. Becomes even more of a must win!
2. I'd start him at 15
3. I'd probably let him kick from the tee (Certainly at least once in the game)
4. If the game's won and TBP gained I'd try and set up a drop goal for him!

This (especially number 4)!

[Chobbsy]

Smith is with England

Good point. Given Freeman is also called up then you'd assume Grayson will come in at 10 and Furbank will be at 15.

At a guess;

Waller, Smith, Painter
Ribbans, Moon
Scott-Young, Hinckley, Coles
Braley, Grayson
Hutchinson, Proctor
Ramm, Furbank, Skosan

That'll be a tough challenge for our youthful props but if we've got some reinforcements in the backrow a pack we might be able to go after physically. Might be tougher for us if they've got their South African number 8 back but if not then the normal second half surge from Saints could be sapped from their legs before they can launch it.

Our lineout will need to be a lot better than it was on Friday and our scrum a lot tighter.

No David Ribbans he has been called up to replace the injured Lawes

[sam16111986]

Smith is with England

Good point. Given Freeman is also called up then you'd assume Grayson will come in at 10 and Furbank will be at 15.

At a guess;

Waller, Smith, Painter
Ribbans, Moon
Scott-Young, Hinckley, Coles
Braley, Grayson
Hutchinson, Proctor
Ramm, Furbank, Skosan

That'll be a tough challenge for our youthful props but if we've got some reinforcements in the backrow a pack we might be able to go after physically. Might be tougher for us if they've got their South African number 8 back but if not then the normal second half surge from Saints could be sapped from their legs before they can launch it.

Our lineout will need to be a lot better than it was on Friday and our scrum a lot tighter.

No David Ribbans he has been called up to replace the injured Lawes

Aye but I did post that a day or two back. Leaves Saints short at lock which hopefully benefits us.

[Chobbsy]

Good point. Given Freeman is also called up then you'd assume Grayson will come in at 10 and Furbank will be at 15.

At a guess;

Waller, Smith, Painter
Ribbans, Moon
Scott-Young, Hinckley, Coles
Braley, Grayson
Hutchinson, Proctor
Ramm, Furbank, Skosan

That'll be a tough challenge for our youthful props but if we've got some reinforcements in the backrow a pack we might be able to go after physically. Might be tougher for us if they've got their South African number 8 back but if not then the normal second half surge from Saints could be sapped from their legs before they can launch it.

Our lineout will need to be a lot better than it was on Friday and our scrum a lot tighter.

No David Ribbans he has been called up to replace the injured Lawes

Aye but I did post that a day or two back. Leaves Saints short at lock which hopefully benefits us.

Both their starting locks now unavailable, that's a shame

[TigerFeetSteve]

No David Ribbans he has been called up to replace the injured Lawes

Aye but I did post that a day or two back. Leaves Saints short at lock which hopefully benefits us.

Both their starting locks now unavailable, that's a shame

Along with their starting hooker, entire starting back row, starting 9, starting 10, backup 10 (unless Grayson is back from injury this week), starting 13 & starting wing/fullback & their other option for starting fullback (Furbank) may have to cover 10 for them.