SARACENS V NORTHAMPTON PC PREVIEW

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:09:29:17:51:36 by Darraghgirl.

Thank you for an excellent preview DG



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:09:15:18:05:32 by saracensfan62.

I fancy taking a shot at the team, I could be completely wrong but hey its worth a go:

1. Rhys Carre
2. James Hadfield
3. Tietie Tuimauga
4. Olamide Sodeke
5. Harry Wilson
6. Max Eke
7. Charlie West
8. Nathan Michelow
9. Charlie Bracken
10. Louis Johnson
11. Noah Caluori
12. Cam Hutchinson
13. Nick Tompkins
14. Jack bracken
15. Max Malins

I'm not gonna try the replacements, too much variability.

I’m intrigued to see who gets minutes here as it’ll be instructive as to who will play Newcastle in the first round. Burke hasn’t had any minutes so far so unless he’s playing then Louie starts against his old club which will be a tough assignment. They will be bouncing on the first league home match so we’ll need some experience around him. Obviously Maro, Daly, Earl and Jamie won’t be seen but what about some of the England boys, Faz and AOC? Mawi, Theo M, JMG, Cinti all away.

Like DG I was also interested by DirtyBerties comment's which would suggest to me more of a change than the continuation of last weeks team that saracensfan62 posits (I also think it's wishful thinking that Tizard won't be in the XV)

I'm torn between wanting the youngsters to continue to get experience and prioritising giving the team the best chance to start the season at home with a win.
Maybe just a little more experience in a few of the "rows" so one of our main backrowers with two of the youngsters and Segun starting on one of the wings.
Might we even see Farrell.

It will certainly be interesting to see who is picked and how we play.

Tizard was decent on Saturday, put in a very solid shift. Sure well give some of the Newcastle team get some minutes. Max definitely needs more minutes, hopefully Tobias is fit and can play. Centre options still very limited unless Hartley or Spink are fit. Hopefully Nick I fit too as we desperately need a lineout option.

The lineout was garbage. Tizard called the lineout so hard to give too much praise there TheBard whilst of course appreciating that it's a set piece with a number of moving parts not just the caller/jumper.

one thing to note for those attending - there are no shuttle buses running

Quote:

The Bard
Tizard was decent on Saturday, put in a very solid shift. Sure well give some of the Newcastle team get some minutes. Max definitely needs more minutes, hopefully Tobias is fit and can play. Centre options still very limited unless Hartley or Spink are fit. Hopefully Nick I fit too as we desperately need a lineout option.

We do have a guy who was recently playing 12 for the Lions who is apparently fit. I don’t particularly want to see him play 12 but needs must at the moment and he has a ready made partnership with Tompkins.

Quote:

darktagnan
one thing to note for those attending - there are no shuttle buses running

That was annoying to see, Friday night kick off, no shuttle bus. They’re not exactly encouraging fans to attend.

Im only finding parking at st mary’s and st john’s school at £17.50 plus a 20 minute walk each way, is this correct? Any other suggestions would be appreciated otherwise no thanks!

Is the game on TV, I can not find it?

Quote:

PaulHerox
The lineout was garbage. Tizard called the lineout so hard to give too much praise there TheBard whilst of course appreciating that it's a set piece with a number of moving parts not just the caller/jumper.

One took place right in front of me. Wilson called it to himself at ‘2’ which surprise surprise Leicester said thank you very much and nicked it.

Quote:

Rolls
Im only finding parking at st mary’s and st john’s school at £17.50 plus a 20 minute walk each way, is this correct? Any other suggestions would be appreciated otherwise no thanks!

Yes, the club are apparently looking forward to welcoming us back to Stonex by not providing shuttle buses!

I think local rugby clubs have some parking or park near a bus stop and get the 221? Just park and parkonmydrive have some cheaper options than official car parks too.

But how did they figure out that code??? That’s genuinely quite funny to call that AND throw to the smallest lock 😂

Quote:

Rolls
Im only finding parking at st mary’s and st john’s school at £17.50 plus a 20 minute walk each way, is this correct? Any other suggestions would be appreciated otherwise no thanks!

Supporter Services have told me that the CPZ isn't in force on Friday so you could take your chances at finding a free space, or there are many "Park on my drive" options that are cheaper and closer than 20 minutes away.

As Roger G and Sully08 says there are plenty of options for parking fairly locally if you look out/online for them. My brain has failed me but I've got parking and had a pint and a nibble at the club at the top of the entry road several times and it was very reasonable just limited too.

I've not been for a while (literally a year) but at that time you could park in Barnet Copthall's new car park. The pay at machine rates were criminal, up to like £50, but the app was very reasonable.
I do know it has changed since then but it might be worth checking out if you can.

I think I'm right in saying that both the Men and Women play this weekend so for any who can make it the potential for a nice Saturday and Sunday at the StoneX.

Quote:

TommyKentish
But how did they figure out that code??? That’s genuinely quite funny to call that AND throw to the smallest lock 😂

Yes it rather ruled bad luck out of the equation!

People obviously have their own opinions, but big Tiz was playing well early season last year - his barnstorming 40 metre giraffe run at Ashton gate was one example - and then the appalling way his ban was dealt with, I think it really dented his confidence. He needs to get it back and I am sure the coaches understand that and are trying to help him. Playing v Falcons away will be a big milestone/challenge for him, personally. But this is just my humble opinion and I personally won’t be getting on his back.

100% agree Strangelove.

Saints:

15 George Hendy
14 James Ramm
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Toby Thame
11 Edoardo Todaro – Saint #2114
10 Anthony Belleau – Saint #2113
9 Archie McParland

1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Craig Wright
3 Trevor Davison
4 Ed Prowse
5 JJ Van Der Mescht – Saint #2111
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Tom Pearson
8 Callum Chick (c) – Saint #2112

Replacements:
16 Henry Walker
17 Danilo Fischetti – Northampton Saints debut
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Fyn Brown
20 Sam Graham
21 Jonny Weimann
22 Amena Caqusau – Northampton Saints debut
23 Tom Litchfield

Your Saracens ...

Saracens Men team to play Northampton Saints:

1 Rhys Carre

2 Theo Dan

3 Marcus Street

4 Nick Isiekwe

5 Olamide Sodeke

6 Harry Wilson

7 Andy Onyeama-Christie (cc)

8 Nathan Michelow

9 Charlie Bracken

10 Louie Johnson

11 Rotimi Segun

12 Cameron Hutchison

13 Sam Spink

14 Jack Bracken

15 Max Malins (cc)

Replacements:

16 Eoghan Clarke

17 Alex O’Driscoll

18 Tietie Tuimauga

19 Kennedy Sylvester

20 Charlie West

21 Gareth Simpson

22 Luke Davidson

23 Brandon Jackson

Good team and great to see both sides treating it as the PRC rather than Prem warm up.
Loving that second row and great to see Onyeama-Christie back and as Captain.
Fascinated to see Spink actually play too.

The team announcement email I got at 12:08pm has Hugh Tizard at 5 and Olamide Sodeke at 19

Nice looking lineups on both sides, looking forward to this!

No sign of Burke or Faz so I presume that means Johnson starts next week. Much prefer Wilson and Sodeke that way round, I know it’s interchangeable on the field but it just makes sense in my head.

Roti and Spink in a backline together, fingers crossed!!

Luke Davidson got called up the the England u20s yesterday and played well for Ampthill by all accounts at the end of last season, very interested to see him play.

Spink might be a really really important player for us this season.

Faz at 12 (which I think is a given) will make us lateral unless we have a very direct runner at 13. Spink could be the man…

The only time I saw him last season he was at 13 with Hartley at 12 and I don’t think he touched the ball all game. Hopefully he’ll get his hands on it tomorrow.

Good to see the Brackens selected.

It’s a good selection for this competition at this stage of pre-season.

Yes they played in the prem cup v Ealing at home I believe. We were very light up front though and Ealing (as we know) are not to be trifled with. I’m pretty sure Hoskins played in the back row.

Quote:

#wolfpack1
Faz at 12 (which I think is a given) will make us lateral unless we have a very direct runner at 13. Spink could be the man…

I really hope it's not a given at least as a starter because as you say it causes other issues.
Of course there's a balance and maybe it's worth it but with a play-maker at 10 and FullBack already I'd much prefer genuine threats at the line in the centres.
The centre I really want to see is Cinti the guys already a proven International.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
ARs: Andrew Jackson & Greg Macdonald

Pleasantly surprised with our team selection. Looking forward to it.

Looking forward to tomorrow. Should be an excellent match.

Question has just been asked on the Saints forum about the game being on a Friday evening!

If I remember correctly, the crowd is restricted if it’s a Friday evening?

Quote:

Uttoxsarie
Is the game on TV, I can not find it?

Unfortunately not.

Quote:

Rolls
Im only finding parking at st mary’s and st john’s school at £17.50 plus a 20 minute walk each way, is this correct? Any other suggestions would be appreciated otherwise no thanks!

It’s not a designated match day so you are good to park on local streets.

With 5? of the 8 in the pack being players we could easily see in a full XV I'd hope to see a bit more from Michelow this game.
I'm interested to see if he makes it as an 8 eventually or migrates to a more general backrow position.

Is Davidson the young SA player.

Quote:

tigersimon
Question has just been asked on the Saints forum about the game being on a Friday evening!
If I remember correctly, the crowd is restricted if it’s a Friday evening?

There's no actual restriction on the crowd numbers.

The planning permission restriction was related to, and I may have the wrong phrase here, major games. Basically games where we wouldn't expect the crowd to be over a certain number, 2,000 IIRC.

LutonS I feel pretty sure I have heard a figure of 3K reference as one that we can use without falling foul of the Council but maybe that's to do with when the parking zone is enforced.
I guess we'll see tonight. Any more than 2-3K and it seems we can play on some Friday nights.

Forgot to say that its good to see Dan back too. I hope he can have a great start to the season. Nice weather so hopefully he'll hit his marks and have some impact in the loose.

Just bought a last minute ticket, where can I park my motorbike on site?

Quote:

PaulHerox
With 5? of the 8 in the pack being players we could easily see in a full XV I'd hope to see a bit more from Michelow this game.
I'm interested to see if he makes it as an 8 eventually or migrates to a more general backrow position.

Is Davidson the young SA player.

Yes Davidson is the young SA fly half. Although he’s in the latest England u20s squad.

Tks TommyKentish.

33-49 Well done to Saints.
It sounds like an entertaining game if not the result we would have wanted at the StoneX.
Slightly concerned to read about their scrum dominance given our Prop choices but heartened to hear about some good attack and Malins seemingly having knocked some of last weeks rust off.

[saracens.com]

As always impressions from any at the match gratefully received.

My impressions from the match:

First half we couldn’t live with their maul, I think 3 out of the four tries that half came fairly easily from there, like last week. Callum Chick and the enormous Saffa particularly, caused us all sorts of problems. A few lineout wobbles too. We did have some nice quick attacking phases, C Bracken looked really lively and set up Malins nice with half snipe. Spink had one big bustling run that showed what he can do for us. Malins set up Roti for two tries.

Second half the wheels fell off a bit. Two tries for J Bracken (who’s an absolute gun) one from an intercept by AOC and the other from J Bracken ripping the ball in contact and sprinting most of the pitch. Our scrum fell to pieces though and when C Bracken and Malins went off our attack went to pot, zero shape and speed. Roti went to 13 when Jackson came on which was a head scratcher for me, hopefully we have some centres for next week. In general though we lost the physical battle up front and you aren’t going to win when that happens.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:09:19:22:08:20 by TommyKentish.

Yeah, I'd say scrum wise that there wasn't an issue on first choice Vs first choice but when replacements came on...

Was a decent game for about 55 mins or so.

Main good points for us:
Some decent defence in the first half - Sodeke prominent. Charlie Bracken did his best to inject a bit of tempo into our play.

Other good points:
ONE carry from Sam Spink showed that if we can get him the ball he can be a handful.
Jack Bracken is quick.

Main bad points:
It doesn’t look like we’ve spent much time finding out how to create space or win gain line collisions. We just bunch up and send whoever happens to be there into contact (at various points we had Max Malins on the crash ball (ie the Saracens TM static carry)), and whoever it is just gets sent backwards. Not sure I saw one tip on, one off load, anything to create a bit of space (other than Charlie’s lovely little delayed pop ball for Max’s try).
I feel our attack is still based on “oh let’s hope they make a mistake and someone can capitalise.”

Other bad points:
Theo Dans lineout is still poor.
Scrum totally disintegrated after half time.

I didn’t see a huge amount that differs from last year. Which isn’t good because we did need to change: we finished in the bottom half of a poor league last year. Saints looked much better than us tonight.

We lost two consecutive lineouts to overthrows, other than that all were good and won despite competition.
But the scrum was a disaster from first to last, but more so in second half. Very harsh baptism for Alex Driscoll who has no senior experience at all, but more concerning was the new Samoan who was eventually carded and looked absolutely out on his feet after 25 minutes.
Malins, Roti and Jack Bracken all looked sharp. One decent run from Spink but he departed soon after half time, hopefully planned.
Back row generally outplayed, Chick looks a fantastic signing for them. The big Saffa only played 30 minutes and we struggled to deal with him.
Maul defence has to improve immediately or we will struggle to win a game.
We defended well outside the 22, but never looked like stopping them from close range.

one more point - out goal line defence was as effective as soggy blotting paper. Saints really didn't have to try too hard to get over the line when they were in range & won the game without having to create very much, just relied on scrum pens/kicks to the corner/easy (almost unopposed) maul tries.
Overall a very disappointing outcome up front which took the gloss off some great work from the backs, with the back 3 in particular looking very dangerous when we had ball to work with.

Hopefully the scrum issue goes away as we have Riccioni to play next week with Street and Hadfield off the bench.Tizard back in at lock but I’m not sure anyone will be back for our back row in time. Tompkins will bolster the midfield, I’d like to see him with Spink but I’d rather we take a longer term approach with the latter.

Quote:

TommyKentish
Hopefully the scrum issue goes away as we have Riccioni to play next week with Street and Hadfield off the bench.Tizard back in at lock but I’m not sure anyone will be back for our back row in time. Tompkins will bolster the midfield, I’d like to see him with Spink but I’d rather we take a longer term approach with the latter.

Willis should be back for next week
If fit Farrell will play aswell
Don’t know about Burkes fitness but potentially 10/12/13 of
Burke
Farrell
Tompkins

Some of the Saints starting pack were huge units and very hard to stop from 5m out, which is where most of their tries came from.

Reasons to be cheerful from my point of view - Max is back, but also very impressive performances from both Brackens, Roti, Spink, Johnson, Michelow and McChristie. Brandon Jackson in particular needs to step up to the plate IMHO - he's had a few years to realise his potential but he didn't show anything spectacular last night IMHO.

The final result was more determined by the fall off in intensity after the benches came on than the starting 15s, and considering who we still have to come back there's every reason to be optimistic about the season.

Quote:

MarkCol7

Quote:

TommyKentish
Hopefully the scrum issue goes away as we have Riccioni to play next week with Street and Hadfield off the bench.Tizard back in at lock but I’m not sure anyone will be back for our back row in time. Tompkins will bolster the midfield, I’d like to see him with Spink but I’d rather we take a longer term approach with the latter.

Willis should be back for next week
If fit Farrell will play aswell
Don’t know about Burkes fitness but potentially 10/12/13 of
Burke
Farrell
Tompkins

It’s would be a risk seeing as Burke and Faz haven’t played at all. I would assume Johnson will continue.

Roger I think a tad harsh on Jackson as he had to play outside Segun who is not a 13 by any stretch but I agree he has a year to step up really, especially considering the talent coming through.

It sounds like there's different ways to look at the games so far.

In attacking terms it sounds like a progression from uninterested jolly (Sharks) kicking away too much and rusty (Tigers) and now beginning to show a little promise (Saints) that feels like positive steps in the right direction.

In terms of the PRC team two losses from two games with lack of physicality, some scrum issues and succumbing to some pretty route one rugby being major causes for the losses is not ideal.
We've been playing similar "level" teams in terms of match day composition so no real excuses there.
It will serve as a good experience for the younger players too so benefits the long term development above stacking the PRC team with available XV/23s if we had any.

In terms of what it means for the start of the Prem season we have started a rotation of what would be our first XV/23 props and it's a good thing that they aren't hitting the first game cold and also that we haven't picked any knocks yet as far as I know.
Bracken has had some good game time and is well poised for extra time from the bench.
Two areas of concern from those PRC performances; lineout and maul defence are areas that have been strengths of our team over the past few seasons so I have fewer concerns there once the bulk of the normal XV/23 returns.
Likewise the traditional collapse/fading away in the last 20 I think will hopefully be less of an issue with the experience we can put on the bench and the added depth and quality at prop.

I'm still a little unclear who we can actually pick for next weeks start of the Prem.
None of the Lions except Farrell who has played very little rugby last season. All of the England tourists to Argentina. None of the Pumas who are still away in the Rugby Championship. Daly and maybe Loz still not back from injury. No way McCall/Shaw don't start Farrell although hopefully not at 10 if Burke is available.

I'd hope to see something like:

Carre, Dan, Riccioni
Isiekwe, Sodeke
McFarland, Anyeama-Chrsitie, Willis
Van-Zyl, Burke
Farrell, Tompkins
Segun, Malins, Elliott

Mawi, Hadfield, Street
Wilson, Knight
Bracken, Spink, Bracken

Any one else with thoughts of what the team might look like for away with the Red Bulls.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:09:20:09:07:30 by PaulHerox.

Would have been a very dispiriting night for the likes of Isiekwe and Christie who would be wanting to push for international rugby. Both part of a well and truly beaten pack.
Sodeke and Michelow still have a lot to do to influence premiership games.
Brandon Jackson has previously looked very good in prem cup games but struggled to make an impact in his two bench appearances.
Eoghan Clarke did well when he came on.
Certainly no Big Theo next week, very likely injured but Samoa playing in any event

I’m sure I’ll get told off for relentless negativity, but I left yesterday with doubts as to our prospects this season.

We scored 5 tries:

1. Segun: a Max cross field kick which was nicely executed, but please don’t let this be a template!
2. Max: Nice ball from C Bracken after a struggling maul.
3. Segun: a run in after a spilled ball from Saints on half time.
4. J Bracken: interception from Christie and he runs in from a distance
5. J Bracken: a weird rip from the Saints player and he runs in from a distance.

Ie.
We didn’t really create anything. No successful plays from a set piece (partly because the ref wouldn’t allow a completed scrum). No link between forwards and backs. No space created. Very 2023-2025 Saracens: “feed off mistakes.” It isn’t enough - there needs to be more.

Saints were not perfect at all, but they showed they could move the ball around and at pace at times yesterday. We didn’t.

Our carries in midfield are also really poor. Theo Dan tries, but guys like Isikwe etc are big men - they need more impact than they give us imo.

Quote:

PaulHerox
It sounds like there's different ways to look at the games so far.
In attacking terms it sounds like a progression from uninterested jolly (Sharks) kicking away too much and rusty (Tigers) and now beginning to show a little promise (Saints) that feels like positive steps in the right direction.

In terms of the PRC team two losses from two games with lack of physicality, some scrum issues and succumbing to some pretty route one rugby being major causes for the losses is not ideal.
We've been playing similar "level" teams in terms of match day composition so no real excuses there.
It will serve as a good experience for the younger players too so benefits the long term development above stacking the PRC team with available XV/23s if we had any.

In terms of what it means for the start of the Prem season we have started a rotation of what would be our first XV/23 props and it's a good thing that they aren't hitting the first game cold and also that we haven't picked any knocks yet as far as I know.
Bracken has had some good game time and is well poised for extra time from the bench.
Two areas of concern from those PRC performances; lineout and maul defence are areas that have been strengths of our team over the past few seasons so I have fewer concerns there once the bulk of the normal XV/23 returns.
Likewise the traditional collapse/fading away in the last 20 I think will hopefully be less of an issue with the experience we can put on the bench and the added depth and quality at prop.

I'm still a little unclear who we can actually pick for next weeks start of the Prem.
None of the Lions except Farrell who has played very little rugby last season. All of the England tourists to Argentina. None of the Pumas who are still away in the Rugby Championship. Daly and maybe Loz still not back from injury. No way McCall/Shaw don't start Farrell although hopefully not at 10 if Burke is available.

I'd hope to see something like:

Carre, Dan, Riccioni
Isiekwe, Sodeke
McFarland, Anyeama-Chrsitie, Willis
Van-Zyl, Burke
Farrell, Tompkins
Segun, Malins, Elliott

Mawi, Hadfield, Street
Wilson, Knight
Bracken, Spink, Bracken

Any one else with thoughts of what the team might look like for away with the Red Bulls.

Mawi and Theo M are still away, Elliott I assume is injured and Knight still working his way back. Burke no idea on.

My guess would be:

Carré Dan Riccioni
Isiekwe Tizard
Wilson AOC Willis
IVZ Johnson
Faz Tompkins
Segun Malins Bracken

Hadfield, Tuimauga, Street, Sodeke, Michelow, Bracken, Burke, Spink (Hutchison and Jackson if they’re not fit)

I think those are fair enough points without being negative #wolfpack1.
Of course sometimes opportunities do come like that from pressure in defence but I agree with you that you need more than that in a gameplan these days.

Elsewhere Toga said "Saracens are a horrible team to play against when they are on it - they suffocate and squeeze the life out of opponents, build their score and they never give up" and that's obviously the thoughts of both some supporters and my feeling is our coaches.
The reality is we haven't been that team for many seasons, with or without Farrell, and our defence and willingness to play "without" the ball has shown in our increased number of trys conceded in recent seasons as the refereeing and game has moved towards favouring attack.

That doesn't mean that approach doesn't work. I'd argue that Bath's success last season was built on the Saracens blueprint of our successful years. Great set piece, squad depth, decent direct carrying options, a great kicking game based on reclaiming possession and quality control at 9 and 10 and the ability to use space when the forwards commit defence.

The question is do we have the squad to play that way now. I'd say not but we certainly have the squad and skills to embrace a quicker more attack orientated game.
I guess both you and I will have to wait and see and hope that our new attack coach pays dividends and as the season progresses we become more comfortable and trust the players with a more expansive game.

Thanks TommyKentish. That still looks a decent side.
Is Brantingham injured. If not then hopefully him to bench.
Tizard, just no from me. Back Sodeke and invest the game time in his development over a player who hasn't done it since he's arrived and shows little sign of improving.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:09:20:09:41:20 by PaulHerox.

If Burke isn't available then 100% Farrell to 10.
This is the actual Prem now and we can't afford a slow start and Johnson might have potential but is at best a bench option for Prem games right now.
Farrell, Tompkins, Spink maybe. Or Hartley & Tompkins as the centres.

To be frank we were bullied up front at times, especially in the maul, but also the breakdown where we regularly failed to get quick ball. I was slightly disappointed with Nick I and Theo as being fringe England internationals they should have stood out but didn’t (the exception being Andy OC who was excellent in the line out and made some telling contributions in the loose). I thought the scrums and line outs were pretty even in the first half but fell away in the 2nd half as replacements came on. Given that analysis I think it is fair to say that I was actually pleasantly surprised we scored 5 tries with some skill and pace shown by the back 3 in particular. I think the 2 Bracken boys showed that they can live with the big boys although Jack will undoubtedly be exposed by some monster wingers at times. My player of the match from Sarries was Max who made a number of very useful contributions - a faster version of Alex Goode!
We need considerably more heft in the pack if we are to go to Newcastle next week and win.

Wolfpack I think that’s fair in the main and matches my thoughts. I think there were glimpses of the direction we want to go in the first half, the second try came after some really nice quick phase play. It was far more pronounced in the second though, firstly with Spink going off and Segun moved to 10 but even more so with Malins and C Bracken off. The end backline of Simpson, Johnson, Hutchison, Segun, Jackson Bracken and Davidson is way off first choice.

Another caveat is a new attack coach, it’ll take a while for his ideas to bed in, especially with so many players away at the moment. I am envious of Saints because they have developed a new attacking culture under Boyd that is reaping dividends and they got a style of play under Vesty ingrained in the club. Something we need to do. They also had more first teamers in the starting pack which helps.

Quote:

#wolfpack1
I’m sure I’ll get told off for relentless negativity, but I left yesterday with doubts as to our prospects this season.
We scored 5 tries:

1. Segun: a Max cross field kick which was nicely executed, but please don’t let this be a template!
2. Max: Nice ball from C Bracken after a struggling maul.
3. Segun: a run in after a spilled ball from Saints on half time.
4. J Bracken: interception from Christie and he runs in from a distance
5. J Bracken: a weird rip from the Saints player and he runs in from a distance.

Ie.
We didn’t really create anything. No successful plays from a set piece (partly because the ref wouldn’t allow a completed scrum). No link between forwards and backs. No space created. Very 2023-2025 Saracens: “feed off mistakes.” It isn’t enough - there needs to be more.

Saints were not perfect at all, but they showed they could move the ball around and at pace at times yesterday. We didn’t.

Our carries in midfield are also really poor. Theo Dan tries, but guys like Isikwe etc are big men - they need more impact than they give us imo.

It's funny how we see different things. I thought our backs (till the bench came on) were far better and more creative than Saints, but we were clearly in second place in the forwards.

Either way I wouldn't read too much into the PRC matches in terms of the coming season. One purpose of these games is getting a bunch of players, many of whom who are new to each other, and the club in some cases, used to playing with each other and working out what they can expect from their teammates. That isn't such an issue with the more established players as they know, from playing together many times and training, what each is capable of, irrespective of the game plan they are given.

[youtu.be] Highlights are up.

Our scrum was a disaster in the second half - a Saints penalty every time .
But then our replacement props were an academy player and someone new to the club whereas Saints had two internationals on the bench in Miller-Mills and Fischetti , so perhaps not surprising …

Based on the highlights only, I think Louis Johnson needs to learn how to tackle. Turnstile.

This team was always going to struggle as Saints team was probably 20% heavier. However. We should have been running around them a little more.

I still don't understand this comp. If is going to be a gap-filler, make it U23 and hopefully more competitive. People aren't attending on a great late-summer evening for a reason.

Big Theo was there at the end, depends whether he has had sufficient rest and then pre-season.

Spink was injured in the second half and went off for that. Jack Bracken is a huge talent, has pace to burn and did not shirk in defence - have not problems with Tobias and Jack as starting wingers - we missed pace out wide last season and at times that cost us tried. Cam Hutchinson was very solid in defence. All but one of their tries were from the forwards and from 5 metres out or from driving mauls. As said, their engine room has huge units and we just couldn’t compete. Their red zone efficiency was excellent. Lovely to see Max back and his creativity was on display.

FFS I was hoping Spink had just been taken off as it was his first match back. Any news on what the injury is?

Samoa are playing a World Cup play-off game over two legs against Chile today and next week. Cannot imagine Big Theo is fit if he was here last night.

I’m posting here, in the hope that someone in the club reads it. Along with travelling down a horrendous M1, it was closing at 9pm overnight, and tha A1 was shut too!!

Parked the car at Edgware to catch the 221, there’s 11-11 residents only parking restrictions that have been introduced over the summer.

After the game, i walked to the bus stop and waited over 25 minutes for the bus. People started walking!! However, a Pioneer in the queue told me that the club had requested more buses to be laid on. TfL must have missed that memo.

As for the game, how come every sloppy Saints pass went to Saints hands, and every sloppy Saracenspass went to Saints hands? Impressed by Jack B’s speed, and some new backs moves, but defence… optional

Sorry to hear that MidlandSarrie. For what it's worth, when the controlled parking zone isn't in operation you can park on the streets a few minutes walk away from the stadium.

As for defence optional, I'd agree in the latter stages, but in the first half there was some pretty good defence....except only in midfield, not from 5 metres out.

💯 with siNBin.

Don’t understand the purpose of the PRC anymore.

- Hate the 5 team pools which means byes in each round!
- Dislike the fact that First XV can be fielded against Academy XV and also is it safe (International props v 21 yr olds!)
- Don’t want to play the same PREM teams 4 or 5 times a season.
- TNT Sports selection and scheduling of games! Why have the only game televised this weekend clash with RWC SF.
- The Championship clubs added something different
- First two rounds interfering with Pre-Season

Spink made a tackle and was then seen with the physio stretching his left leg out to the side - maybe a groin. He carried on for a couple of mins but was then subbed early second half. Shame , he had one barnstorming run and was tackling hard.

Hopefully he isn't our Duncan Taylor for the next decade.
Give me Hartley and Cinti for the future.

The concession of a try straight from a 5-metre tap was unforgivable. No matter how young/inexperienced, our players should be ready to repel the first drive.

It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!