Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints

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TV Coverage

Channel 450 TNT Sports 5 SD
Channel 458 TNT Sports 5 HD

Match Officials
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant Referees: George Selwood and Neil Chivers
TMO: David Rose

Weather Forecast as at midday Friday

Sunny and a gentle breeze from the north northwest
Temperature 8 degrees but will feel like 5 degrees.
Precipitation is not expected

Exeter Chiefs

15 Tommy Wyatt
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Henry Slade
12 Joe Hawkins
11 Ben Hammersley
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Stu Townsend
1 Nika Abuladze
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
4 Lewis Pearson
5 Dafydd Jenkins (c)
6 Ethan Roots
7 Jacques Vermeulen
8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Max Norey
17 Alec Hepburn
18 Ehren Painter
19 Rusi Tuima
20 Ross Vintcent
21 Tom Cairns
22 Ollie Devoto
23 Zack Wimbush

Northampton Saints

15 George Furbank (c)
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Burger Odendaal
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tom Litchfield
10 Fin Smith
9 Callum Braley
1 Tarek Haffar
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Trevor Davison
4 Alex Moon
5 Chunya Munga
6 Alex Coles
7 Angus Scott-Young
8 Sam Graham

Replacements:

16 Curtis Langdon
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Temo Mayanavanua
20 Tom Pearson
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Fraser Dingwall
23 Tommy Freeman

Both benches are very strong, so using replacements correctly could be the key.

I think home advantage gives us the edge.

Chiefs 30 Saints 26

Chiefs 30 - 24 Saints

As NM says, both very strong benches. For us, no Sio, Woodbury or Frost, hopefully all just rested and not injured.
I’m hoping for our 24th win to continue our amazing home run. Apparently Mr Borthwick will be in attendance, so extra motivation for some players, if a top of the table clash is not already motivation enough.

Chiefs 33 Saints 24

Another very tough game, really could go either way.
Hopefully home advantage will help, Chiefs 32 - Saints 27.

Top of table clash. Borthwick present. Both teams will be fully charged so hope we have a big crowd and the weather has relented. Slight worry is TMO Rose who I think is too interventionis.. Should be a great game. I think the team that starts best is likely to win as chasing the game will be very difficult as both benches very strong. Expecting lots of points Chiefs 38 Saints 34.

I think this will be hard fought, low scoring and nail biting with, maybe, Henry the hero again:
Exeter 22 - 20 Northampton

Here goes! Exe 28 - 26 Saints but I could be wrong.

30-25 Chiefs.

Chiefs 34: Saints 27

In Rob we trust.
By the way - cream on first. There's nothing to debate.

Weather set fair so hopefully a strong running game, home advantage swaying me to a 31 - 21 Chiefs win!
Thought Josh might have been back and sorry to see Frost missing. Hopefully Jack and Max have been watching the darts this week!

Has Josh's recovery gone better than expected? He was set to be out until March wasn't he?

Quote:

Waltham_Chief
Has Josh's recovery gone better than expected? He was set to be out until March wasn't he?

He’s in the shop tomorrow, someone can ask him. I read somewhere he was hoping to be back this month.

No reason we can't dominate this match so going bold : Chiefs 38 Saints 21

Chiefs 29 Saints 26

We're as close to full strength as we can be.
Saints have some serious talent on the bench.
Hoping good weather brings a fast free-flowing game.
Chiefs 32 Saints 26

Looking forward to the game and yes would like to see Frost in for his mobility, fingers crossed Hodge, Gray, Capstick and Sio not too far away from fit again. Chiefs 34 Saints 18

Chiefs 28 - Saints 24

Almost 24 hours to kick-off at Sandy Park, and already two posters on the Northampton fans forum match thread are criticising the referee. You have to laff.

A large home crowd could sway it Chiefs way! Chiefs 29 Saints 24

Quote:

cricketjerry-mouse
Almost 24 hours to kick-off at Sandy Park, and already two posters on the Northampton fans forum match thread are criticising the referee. You have to laff.

I see no criticism of tomorrow's referee.

Are you talking about this?

Quote:

St Marcus
The set piece went very well last week - hope for more of the same against what will be a physical Exeter pack. And I hope for better policing of the offside line than we saw last week, if Chiefs are up to their usual tricks.

Or is there another Saints forum somewhere?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:01:05:18:26:53 by Osmium.

Sticking with the plan, a home win again 😀
Chiefs 29 - 24 Saints

I predict both teams to get a TBP and the looses a LBP. Very entertaining game.

A tight one!
Chiefs 33, Saints 30

Have no idea depends on how they unload their bench, Im sure RB has done his homework.

Chiefs 31 Saints 26

Fancy our chances tomorrow. However I can’t change my prediction policy just in case. So…..
Chiefs 27 Saints 29

Chiefs win 27-19

Saints are looking very good at present but home advantage to make a difference.

Top v second.

Who gets to referee?

Surely Pearce or Carley?

No, Woodthorpe.

No disrespect but just as players have to earn the right to play in these games, so offiicials should be appointed, on merit and experience, to referee them.

BTW Carley got Newcastle Quins, scarecly a nail bitingly close top two encounter.

Relieved to see Lawes is missing from the Saints line up.....
While I respect his replacement Saints always seem to be a much better side with Courtney playing and our line out doesn't function as well when we are throwing past him at the front!
His maul defence is massive too so with him missing I am hopeful we can take advantage although they are obviously a very decent side with or without him.
🤞

Quote:

Zyder head
Relieved to see Lawes is missing from the Saints line up.....
While I respect his replacement Saints always seem to be a much better side with Courtney playing and our line out doesn't function as well when we are throwing past him at the front!
His maul defence is massive too so with him missing I am hopeful we can take advantage although they are obviously a very decent side with or without him.
🤞

Echo this ZH. Also no Ludlum who I also rate. If we can build up a decent lead early I think Saints may not empty the bench, and fully rest those players. I really think we are improving with every game and fancy us to win this one and keep that home record going.

Chiefs 32 Saints 21.
I could be hopelessly wrong though!!

Got to go for a Chiefs win again out of loyalty, but head says Saints could easily be the ones to bring the home winning run to an end. They have really become a good side this year.

Chiefs 25 Saints 22

Quote:

Rowancroft73
Fancy our chances tomorrow. However I can’t change my prediction policy just in case. So…..
Chiefs 27 Saints 29

Thanks Rowancroft, that’s really ‘taking one for the team’. The times we lose seem to be when everyone unanimously predicts a win!

So now it’s safe for me to go :

Chiefs 26 - 21 Saints

Hoping for a fast start and home advantage getting the better of them - Chiefs 28 Saints 24

Hammersley to score his first prem try for us

Chiefs 26 saints 24

Quote:

dwhite805
I predict both teams to get a TBP and the looses a LBP. Very entertaining game.

well called that man

A disappointing result on the field and a miserable showing by us this week with only 3 of us scoring any points