Saints v Saracens - 24th October 2025 - Teams Up

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:10:31:09:22:31 by Saint Ted.

Just 3 (or 2) injured of our first 15 is a massive improvement, no excuses for this one

Will be interesting to see how they approach Caluori. They’ll need to be careful that Saracens use him as some sort of decoy.

There are a number of kids, albeit very promising kids, in the Sarries backline so we need to put as much pressure on them as possible and not let them settle. They have a very good back row bench which looks a little tactical to bring pace against a tiring Saints defence. So we can’t afford to switch off.

I’m really hoping we’ve identified tactics to counter Caluori in the air. He is quite incredible so if we just do our usual aerial game tactics, which hasn’t been great anyway, we are going to be in trouble.

I’m relieved Hendy is back. A bit like Leicester it feels like if we can gain forward parity then our backs have the edge. Though it’ll be fascinating to see how Caluori goes after a ridiculously amazing 5 try debut and call up to train with England.

Win and we are top of the pile over the autumn internationals. Lose and we could be 5th if results go against us. So it is a huge game we need to be up for.

What goes up, must come down. If Caluori continues to be imperious in the air, turning 50/50s into 80/20s, then stop competing and smoke him when he lands. Good turnover opportunity if we double up. Just gotta watch those tap backs and offloads.

Two strong sides, could be a humdinger!

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Sir Hector
Two strong sides, could be a humdinger!

Agreed makings of a cracker
What a fantastic way to finish the work week

I see that Nick I is struggling to get a start for Sarries
Wonder if he would return to a proper club 😎

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Deesaint

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Sir Hector
Two strong sides, could be a humdinger!

Agreed makings of a cracker
What a fantastic way to finish the work week

I see that Nick I is struggling to get a start for Sarries
Wonder if he would return to a proper club 😎

So who would he displace for Saints?

Is Haffar injured. The game changed completely when he came on the last time we met.
We simply couldn't deal with him either in the scrum or loose and whilst your bench were generally superior he was the difference in my view.

Two really good looking sides and a load of head to heads to whet the appetite.

Saint Maul rightly pointing out how tight things are. Either side winning puts them top whilst no points could drop them to mid table. Makes for a roller-coaster of emotion.

You’ll have to check Tigers board as to Haffar’s injury status.

Sorry Saint James that was dumb of me.

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Deesaint

I see that Nick I is struggling to get a start for Sarries
Wonder if he would return to a proper club 😎

How many home grown Saints academy players in your team tomorrow?

12

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Saint Ted
1 or 2

FTFY

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Saint Ted
12

I make it 14 who were in our academy - though Mitchell started in the Sale academy before joining our academy and similarly Freeman was in Tigers academy before being released and joining our academy.

You are missing something here

The Saracens ‘Special’ academy doesn’t just sit in north London it has branches in Italy all Pacific islands as well as the four corners of the UK

Did I mention SA

However good to see one of their well known academics products Chris Ashton has moved into a successful role in TV

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Saint Maul

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Saint Ted
12

I make it 14 who were in our academy - though Mitchell started in the Sale academy before joining our academy and similarly Freeman was in Tigers academy before being released and joining our academy.

I didn’t include Mitchell, the new bios on the Saints offy are rubbish so it wasn’t clear. I did include Freeman though so missing another one somewhere.

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Toga

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Saint Ted
1 or 2

FTFY

Aw, did the answer not fit whatever you wanted to have a pop at?

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Saint Maul

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Saint Ted
12

I make it 14 who were in our academy - though Mitchell started in the Sale academy before joining our academy and similarly Freeman was in Tigers academy before being released and joining our academy.

14 😂

For context, Toga posted this on the Sarries’ forum

Quote:

Toga
The Bracken brothers both starting is a fantastic reflection on their parents and the quality of the Saracens academy, and also the superb club leadership that feel confident enough to select players this young for tough away league fixtures. I count there are 12 (52%) ex/current academy Saracens in the match squad and 9 (60%) in the starting XV. Outstanding.

Saints have more academy products compared to Sarries, with 14 of the matchday 23 compared to 12 for Sarries.

Whilst the Sarries academy representation appears virtuous, the interesting question is whether Sarries would have had so much academy representation if they hadn’t been caught cheating. Their academy record at the height of their cheating was pretty poor. For their final season prior to getting caught cheating when they won the double, their Premiership winning final team only had 5 academy products starting and 8 overall in the matchday 23.

Saracens First teamers N/A (as they haven’t published😤)

George
IVZ
Loz
Cinti
Segan
Elliott
Daly
Brantingham (debatable if ahead of Mawi & Carre)

Michelow (banned)

Quote:

Saint Maul
For their final season prior to getting caught cheating when they won the double, their Premiership winning final team only had 5 academy products starting and 8 overall in the matchday 23.

Based on the eligibility criteria that you used to come up with the number 14 in the Saints squad for tonight, Saracens had 9 academy starting and 11 in the matchday squad.

I am not sure how what happened in the past is relevant to what is happening now? When money was more easily available most clubs have gone with bringing in more signings and there seems little doubt even now a few carefully chosen ones add greatly to any side.

While the salary cap may make it harder to hold on to some better more experienced players it does mean many clubs are developing talent from within which has to be a good thing in my opinion.

Never been a big fan of the my dad is bigger than your dad mentality. I expect and hope this will be a good game of rugby between two well coached sides with a good amount of home developed talent involved. Maybe I am easily pleased.

I do love that reply, ajack

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Toga

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Saint Maul
For their final season prior to getting caught cheating when they won the double, their Premiership winning final team only had 5 academy products starting and 8 overall in the matchday 23.

Based on the eligibility criteria that you used to come up with the number 14 in the Saints squad for tonight, Saracens had 9 academy starting and 11 in the matchday squad.

Does it matter? The original comment that you reacted to was not to be taken 100% seriously. Hence the smiley face emoji with sunglasses. Anyone who genuinely thinks Sarries are not a proper club is an idiot and anyone who gets offended by a comment like that needs to lighten up a bit. Sarries cheated and got punished. It’s right to forgive, but a little bit of taking the mick here and there is or for the course.

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Im

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Toga

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Saint Maul
For their final season prior to getting caught cheating when they won the double, their Premiership winning final team only had 5 academy products starting and 8 overall in the matchday 23.

Based on the eligibility criteria that you used to come up with the number 14 in the Saints squad for tonight, Saracens had 9 academy starting and 11 in the matchday squad.

Does it matter? The original comment that you reacted to was not to be taken 100% seriously. Hence the smiley face emoji with sunglasses. Anyone who genuinely thinks Sarries are not a proper club is an idiot and anyone who gets offended by a comment like that needs to lighten up a bit. Sarries cheated and got punished. It’s right to forgive, but a little bit of taking the mick here and there is or for the course.

No offence was taken.

The work the Saracens academy does always deserves respect though. Their catchment area is dominated by football clubs, football scouts, football agents and football academies. I don't know how many other Prem clubs have formed their own multi-academy trust to take on and manage schools in their catchment area to provide education (and an introduction to rugby) as part of their commitment to social development in the local community. Saracens currently have three primaries and one high school in their MAT.

Sarries have money and it is good that they invest in the community. They also produce good players, they have my respect.

Their fan base is catching up with their on field success, which can only bee good for the league. Newcastle selling out is also good for the league.

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Toga
No offence was taken.

The work the Saracens academy does always deserves respect though. Their catchment area is dominated by football clubs, football scouts, football agents and football academies. I don't know how many other Prem clubs have formed their own multi-academy trust to take on and manage schools in their catchment area to provide education (and an introduction to rugby) as part of their commitment to social development in the local community. Saracens currently have three primaries and one high school in their MAT.

Cool story bro.

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Toga

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Saint Maul
For their final season prior to getting caught cheating when they won the double, their Premiership winning final team only had 5 academy products starting and 8 overall in the matchday 23.

Based on the eligibility criteria that you used to come up with the number 14 in the Saints squad for tonight, Saracens had 9 academy starting and 11 in the matchday squad.

Re 9 academy starting sure for:
Goode
Farrell
Wray
Itoje
George

Who were the other 4 academy products from the remaining starters?

Williams
Lozowski (poached from Wasps aged 23)
Barritt
Maitland
Spencer (signed as a 19 year old from Cambridge)
B Vunipola (had played 41 times for Wasps before being poached)
Kruis (signed having finished school at 18 having not been part of any academy - probably the closest to Freeman and Mitchell for Saints who joined Saints academy both aged 17 having been at other academies)
Skelton
Koch
Barrington (signed from Jersey)

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Saint Maul

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Toga

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Saint Maul
For their final season prior to getting caught cheating when they won the double, their Premiership winning final team only had 5 academy products starting and 8 overall in the matchday 23.

Based on the eligibility criteria that you used to come up with the number 14 in the Saints squad for tonight, Saracens had 9 academy starting and 11 in the matchday squad.

Re 9 academy starting sure for:
Goode
Farrell
Wray
Itoje
George

Who were the other 4 academy products from the remaining starters?

Williams
Lozowski (poached from Wasps aged 23)
Barritt
Maitland
Spencer (signed as a 19 year old from Cambridge)
B Vunipola (had played 41 times for Wasps before being poached)
Kruis (signed having finished school at 18 having not been part of any academy - probably the closest to Freeman and Mitchell for Saints who joined Saints academy both aged 17 having been at other academies)
Skelton
Koch
Barrington (signed from Jersey)

Kruis and Spencer joined Saracens as academy players. So did both Vunipolas btw and their cousin Manu. In the 2018-19 season, Tompkins, Isiekwe, Christie and Kpoku also made their debuts. Adams-Hale and Judge were both Sarries academy as well.

I'm interested in the Saints academy 14 playing tonight, some of those are a stretch to describe as home grown aren't they? You'll be claiming Isiekwe as one of yours next.

No not a stretch. If we said anyone joining the academy at 15 years and younger as genuine pathway and development products that is 12 for Saints accepting Freeman and Mitchell joined at 17.

The ones described for Sarries aren’t pathway and academy products in any real sense: Vunipola, Spencer and Kruis. So it really was 5 starters. Plus who is this 9th one anyway?

Mako and Billy were poached from Bristol and Wasps respectively. Soon you’ll be telling us Strettle and Ashton were pathway players when part of Sarries strategy was poaching top players from other teams. I’m sure Saints fans remember Calum Clark leaving Saints as a Premiership winner starter to sit on Sarries bench because it’s such a special place. Or trying to lure Tiny away and him turning down big Sarries money to stay. Poaching is not developing, particularly when it’s done using money outside of the rules. That’s the opposite of player development. That’s letting others develop gems and stealing them. Remember the spin of no one leaves Sarries because it’s such a special place. Those same Vunipola brothers, Spencer and Kruis couldn’t leave fast enough once the level spending playing field was enforced. 😂



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:10:24:17:47:34 by Saint Maul.

Yawn

I thought it was interesting that Dowson said we know abou Caluori as we've met him in the u18's.

These kind of 'my dad is bigger than your dad' arguments can get very boring but I'll bite.
Vunipolas didn't leave Saracens until the end of 23-24 season which is hardly a sprint out of the gates from 2019. Spencer left because he was on the fringe of the England team and couldn't afford a season in the Championship to scupper his chances. George Kruis left for Japan, partly to bolster profile of his new CBD business, and retired at the relatively early age of 32 to concentrate on that. After the financial shenanigans we obviously couldn't keep the same squad and other players left, but the core of the team based on the academy stuck it out, or returned after a year like Tompkins and Earl.

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Saint Maul
Spencer and Kruis.

Yes, I'm certain that these two would have played for England had they remained at Cambridge and Guildford in their teens.

😂

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Eric Browett
but the core of the team based on the academy stuck it out, or returned after a year like Tompkins and Earl.

Kind of makes my point. The real academy pathway kids stuck around. The ones I mentioned (Vunipola brothers, Spencer and Kruis) who aren’t academy pathway players all left.

P.S. my dad is definitely bigger than your dad 😉

Feels a bit like Saints 17 Woodrhorpe 19. I think the turning point was when we were zinging and Pollock wins an obvious turnover, which was not given and Sarries got into the game from there. We had hands on the ball loads of times on their attack with nothing given.

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SaintsAsh
Feels a bit like Saints 17 Woodrhorpe 19. I think the turning point was when we were zinging and Pollock wins an obvious turnover, which was not given and Sarries got into the game from there. We had hands on the ball loads of times on their attack with nothing given.

Nothing to do with 8 pens in a row from Saints then!

SUPPORT Help for Heroes:
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1876-Fez

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SaintsAsh
Feels a bit like Saints 17 Woodrhorpe 19. I think the turning point was when we were zinging and Pollock wins an obvious turnover, which was not given and Sarries got into the game from there. We had hands on the ball loads of times on their attack with nothing given.

Nothing to do with 8 pens in a row from Saints then!

Heck no.

And we were playing the wrong way!

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Saint Maul

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Eric Browett
but the core of the team based on the academy stuck it out, or returned after a year like Tompkins and Earl.

Kind of makes my point. The real academy pathway kids stuck around. The ones I mentioned (Vunipola brothers, Spencer and Kruis) who aren’t academy pathway players all left.

P.S. my dad is definitely bigger than your dad 😉

Explain Alex Lozowski then.

Quote:

1876-Fez

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SaintsAsh
Feels a bit like Saints 17 Woodrhorpe 19. I think the turning point was when we were zinging and Pollock wins an obvious turnover, which was not given and Sarries got into the game from there. We had hands on the ball loads of times on their attack with nothing given.

Nothing to do with 8 pens in a row from Saints then!

I have never seen such one sided stats resulting in the opposition being in the lead. The difference was indeed the 8 pens in a row. I dont think they were all pens, when we were on the attack getting over the gainline sarries were doing everything to slow it down and conceding no pens. In defence we were knocking Sarries back and getting hands on ball and getting nothing.

Only listened on radio noddy

Sounded a crazy game but 5 points puts us bang top as we go into the Autumn break

It’s always sweet beating Sarries. Well played lads. Thoroughly enjoyed that. COYS!!!

Well done Saints. Great win.
We just couldn't deal with the speed of your ruck in the first half and having worked hard to get back into the game made some awful decisions.
Willis the best 8 on the field for me but Pollock the best backrow. His interception and then brilliant turnover at the end were key moments.

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Dave Jackson
Only listened on radio noddy
Sounded a crazy game but 5 points puts us bang top as we go into the Autumn break

Bloody good game to watch, and why we seem to expect to just walk over Sarries, I don't know. We played them well. We coralled Willis (for most of the time!) we found Itoje little jobs to do so he couldn't go marauding.

Calouri was brought down to earth - metaphorically - and did little.

Henry played well. Pearson was awesome.

I was worried coming into the game. I like it when they prove me wrong!

They were smashed in every area but pens and scrums.

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Toga

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Saint Maul

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Eric Browett
but the core of the team based on the academy stuck it out, or returned after a year like Tompkins and Earl.

Kind of makes my point. The real academy pathway kids stuck around. The ones I mentioned (Vunipola brothers, Spencer and Kruis) who aren’t academy pathway players all left.

P.S. my dad is definitely bigger than your dad 😉

Explain Alex Lozowski then.

You mean the Alex Lozowski who played for Leeds and was playing first team rugby for Wasps and again Sarries using money beyond the cap to attract players you poached yet another player from another team. He was 19 and again not part of your academy pathway. It’s been fun Sarries fans keeping on making my own points for me! I suppose you get points for not knowing when you’re beaten. Do you think Sarries just won that match for example?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:10:24:21:49:52 by Saint Maul.

A word for Pearson who I thought should have been MotM. He smashed them time and time again. 2 tries. Huge performance.

Anyone see how Hutch looked when he came off? Looked horrible when he went down holding his wrist...

Has anyone seen a worse decision than the one against Todibo when he was blocked and then given against him.

Great win Saints. We just need to not become a penalty machine as soon as we are defending our line.

Quote:

Push Over
Has anyone seen a worse decision than the one against Todibo when he was blocked and then given against him.
Great win Saints. We just need to not become a penalty machine as soon as we are defending our line.

I cannot recall a worst decision. But that is what you get with a Nat 1 quality ref.

God that was emotional
Either that or typical Friday night at Franklins
No wonder we sell out

Pick it apart as much as you like
But that was a hard fought game
Credit to Sarries
But a great win

JJ is huge such an asset
Freeman is amazing
But Pearson just gets better and better

Quote:

TimperleySaint
Anyone see how Hutch looked when he came off? Looked horrible when he went down holding his wrist...

Was it definitely his wrist? On the (long camera shot) TV it looked like he launched into a tackle and possibly picked up a stinger

Pearson amazing
JJ is a mountain
Freeman world class
Back play causing sarries havoc
Imagine how hard we would be to beat if we were similar to rest of the league with pens given away.
Shout out to the bracken brothers who i also thought were brilliant.

Quote:

Saint dolph
Pearson amazing
JJ is a mountain
Freeman world class
Back play causing sarries havoc
Imagine how hard we would be to beat if we were similar to rest of the league with pens given away.
Shout out to the bracken brothers who i also thought were brilliant.

It is hard to put a finger on why we give so many pens away. Is it the picture we are painting? We had possession the second half, after they gave away 5 pens, their players were no where near onside. I rewound the footage and they were not even close to onside. When the opposite happened in first half marginal offsides were given. I refuse to think it is the ref trying to be against us, it must be a picture we are painting or something?

Great win. 2 questions about Saints. Can Hendy catch a high ball which is a requirement for a full back Great going forward. Was it a tactic for Fin at every restart but one to kick to Ioje and tie him up?

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TimperleySaint
A word for Pearson who I thought should have been MotM. He smashed them time and time again. 2 tries. Huge performance.
Anyone see how Hutch looked when he came off? Looked horrible when he went down holding his wrist...

I thought it was his shoulder that was causing the grief

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SaintsAsh

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Push Over
Has anyone seen a worse decision than the one against Todibo when he was blocked and then given against him.
Great win Saints. We just need to not become a penalty machine as soon as we are defending our line.

I cannot recall a worst decision. But that is what you get with a Nat 1 quality ref.

Sarries were chasing their restarts hard all game. By the middle of the second half they had pushed their runners a good 5 metres plus offside on each restart and were never penalised. Those metres inhibited our ability to exit. It happens too often, but tonight was egregious

Rugby is about momentum

Pollock motm simply for his intercept. It completely changed the game

Quote:

Toga

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Im

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Toga

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Saint Maul
For their final season prior to getting caught cheating when they won the double, their Premiership winning final team only had 5 academy products starting and 8 overall in the matchday 23.

Based on the eligibility criteria that you used to come up with the number 14 in the Saints squad for tonight, Saracens had 9 academy starting and 11 in the matchday squad.

Does it matter? The original comment that you reacted to was not to be taken 100% seriously. Hence the smiley face emoji with sunglasses. Anyone who genuinely thinks Sarries are not a proper club is an idiot and anyone who gets offended by a comment like that needs to lighten up a bit. Sarries cheated and got punished. It’s right to forgive, but a little bit of taking the mick here and there is or for the course.

No offence was taken.

The work the Saracens academy does always deserves respect though. Their catchment area is dominated by football clubs, football scouts, football agents and football academies. I don't know how many other Prem clubs have formed their own multi-academy trust to take on and manage schools in their catchment area to provide education (and an introduction to rugby) as part of their commitment to social development in the local community. Saracens currently have three primaries and one high school in their MAT.

I think the lady doth protest too much

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SaintsAsh

Quote:

Saint dolph
Pearson amazing
JJ is a mountain
Freeman world class
Back play causing sarries havoc
Imagine how hard we would be to beat if we were similar to rest of the league with pens given away.
Shout out to the bracken brothers who i also thought were brilliant.

It is hard to put a finger on why we give so many pens away. Is it the picture we are painting? We had possession the second half, after they gave away 5 pens, their players were no where near onside. I rewound the footage and they were not even close to onside. When the opposite happened in first half marginal offsides were given. I refuse to think it is the ref trying to be against us, it must be a picture we are painting or something?

I may be wrong on this but I thought the ref relied on the linesman to mark the offside line and notify the ref if players had offended

Is that the ase ?

If so bit harsh blaming the referee

After scoring (I can't remember which) a try heard Sarries asking the ref to look at something, he said the TMO had checked. As Faz was about to take the restart he said to the ref "of course we're the away team". I guess he forgot the 8 penalties against us in the first half.

I'm freakin exausted.

Loved JJvdM going a full Richter scale 5 into Tom Willis, Dinger and Hutch (looked like he injured his hand right at the end) dominating the midfield, Todaro showing who is the best back in the game (excepting some bloke named Freeman), and so on.

Mr. Dowson, please take a bow...

What a game … heart stopped for the last 10 mins of the fordt half - but that kinda the new normal!!

Big shout out for hendy and Pearson. Both coming back from injury and looking good. All the Lions are really firing and then there is JJ Van Der Mountain. He is such a weapon!!

Slightly ropey scrum today … there, something to work on!!

Interesting point from today's game, only four reserves were really used. Archie McP and Litchfield came on at the 79 minute mark and Belleau not used.

As a ‘Neutral’ great game to watch.

Tommy Freeman rightly showing his class and making some comments from ‘Journalists’ look ridiculous about the England Wing positions.
Not sure how Ramm or Sleightholme get back in the Matchday squad with the way Todaro is playing on the other wing!

Officiating was v. poor, Saracens deliberately trying to slow the game down at times but never picked up on!!
Surely if Benny can spot it then so can one of the officials!

Pearson, Pollock, Fin or FREEMAN could have been PoM.
And I don’t need reminding Tigers released TF!!

JJ after a November conditioning break is going to be awesome not that he wasn’t good yesterday evening!

I watched from my quiet hotel room in Gallipoli, Italy. No refreshments or snacks, after my meal out with beer, Campari and a glass of wine! But what a fantastic performance.
I got my celebrations in early. But did predict a Sarries win. Perhaps it was just a case of it’s the hope that kills you! Definitely need Furbank back at fullback. Hendy can coveri and full back from the bench. Very good player but does make a few mistakes. JJ has surprised me, having seen him in Paris when apart from the breakaway try, he looked a bit lumbering. Before Pollock arrived on the scene, Pearson was always touted as the next great thing for England. he’s certainly showing that promise again. Just stop giving away the penalties, and we really will be unbeatable.

Thought Pearson was v. unlucky to be the recipient of the 🟨.
It was a team yellow and live he did seem to be trying to roll away.

Definitely justified MY selection of him on the flank for England A this Autumn earlier in the week!

Tom Pearson is playing this season like the player we thought we’d signed!

Maybe last year he had a niggle n because of injuries he played through it, but what a start to the season he’s having a new signing that’s strengthened us even more!

For those of you that don’t cross to the ‘dark’ side and visit the Tigers forum, this was my A team.

“As a bit of fun I also did an England A Matchday squad

Iyogun
Jibulu
Fasigbon
Bamber
Batley
Ilione
Pearson
Fisilau

Quirke
Atkinson

Radwan
Joseph
RMW
Murley
Malins

Tuipolotu
Haffar
Kloska
Lockett
Kenningham
Englefield
Coen
Woodward

Think the two young hookers are fantastic prospects and if SB intends to stick with JG & LCD through to RWC27 then they should be getting exposure at A level.
Similarly Coen, England are currently blessed with 3 very talented FHs (4 if you include OF) but where’s the next one!”

Mitch, Fin, Freeman, M1, Pollock, Coles with main squad and I was assuming Chick would be in the main squad.

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tigersimon
Thought Pearson was v. unlucky to be the recipient of the 🟨.
It was a team yellow and live he did seem to be trying to roll away.

Especially, when earlier, we were attacking their line and a player was on the left of the ruck but chose to wiggle his way across the ball and out the right side without sanction

It was a terrific win last night. Our attack is great to watch but the work of the forwards made the space to allow them to play. This team (and the strength of bench players) is a big step up from last year.

Please can we sort our discipline out though. Yes there were some soft penalties but you could make a case for them all. We just keep gifting teams the chance to get field position and an attacking platform.

Now I won’t profess to be an expert on the nuances of the laws of the game but…. I’m still utterly perplexed how the ref gave a penalty against Todaro when he was chasing the high ball before Mallins’ try! When the whistle went I was sure it was a penalty to us!

Quick word on Sarries… the Bracken brothers look fantastic talents. With Caluori’s emergence they’ve gone under the radar but both looked very good last night.

Theres a comment on the saracens board saying thats the best saints can play. Could not be further from the truth. Dont get me wrong we looked good and played at high speeds but our disciplin was awful, our scrum did not function that well and apart from freeman we was very poor under the high ball. Ive said it before and i will say it again if saints brought the pens conceded down to the average of the league i think only bath would live with us from what ive seen so far.

I thought last night summed up the season so far perfectly.

For 20 minutes or so we were simply superb, but then we went back to the same old errors and somehow went in down at half time despite having the lions share of pretty much everything. We then went into our concede penalties and poor game management mode. That is perhaps a little unfair on Sarries who are a good team and you are never going to be on top for minutes against a side of that quality.

To our credit we did sort things out and actually finished much the stronger of the two teams and in reality it was only really close because of a truly awful refereeing decision for their last try, albeit a very well taken try by them.

Still far more positives than negatives and we really do look something very special when we get it all together. Very enjoyable to watch.

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ajack
I thought last night summed up the season so far perfectly.
For 20 minutes or so we were simply superb, but then we went back to the same old errors and somehow went in down at half time despite having the lions share of pretty much everything. We then went into our concede penalties and poor game management mode. That is perhaps a little unfair on Sarries who are a good team and you are never going to be on top for minutes against a side of that quality.

To our credit we did sort things out and actually finished much the stronger of the two teams and in reality it was only really close because of a truly awful refereeing decision for their last try, albeit a very well taken try by them.

Still far more positives than negatives and we really do look something very special when we get it all together. Very enjoyable to watch.

Spot on.

Sarries are a very street-smart team. They have rugby brains throughout the team chattering to the ref. Attitude. Cheek!

I wish we had some to complement our rugby. Sometimes - and that Todaro penalty was a good example - we need to be in the ear of the ref.

Scores on the door by Tom V.

[www.northamptonchron.co.uk]

I agree with most (maybe all a little high given the second 20?), think Big Trev & Robbie were better than Fischetti.
Hendy slightly over marked. Would have given Mitch a 9.5 & Todaro a 9 if using Tom V’s baseline.

The commentary team spent a lot of the game hyping Calouri and Willis.

The former was pretty anonymous and Willis was abrasive and direct but was he better than Pollock and did he carry better than JJ?

Brilliant tactics around Calouri and his aerial prowess and also made him look average at best in other facets.
Refs really need to get to grip with time wasting by stopping the clock quicker and/or putting them on a team warning.

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Push Over
The commentary team spent a lot of the game hyping Calouri and Willis.
The former was pretty anonymous and Willis was abrasive and direct but was he better than Pollock and did he carry better than JJ?

Brilliant tactics around Calouri and his aerial prowess and also made him look average at best in other facets.
Refs really need to get to grip with time wasting by stopping the clock quicker and/or putting them on a team warning.

Calouri was just exposed - but as Ben Kay said in commentary, it was a night for learnin for all the Sarries youngsters.

Willis? I thought he was outplayed not just by Pollock, but by Pearson as well. In fact I reckon that was one of TP's best performances. Would like to see his stats.

Thought the Brackens apart from the obvious 2 on 1 did ok!

But the best two wingers on display were most definitely TF & Todaro!

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Saint dolph
Theres a comment on the saracens board saying thats the best saints can play. Could not be further from the truth. Dont get me wrong we looked good and played at high speeds but our disciplin was awful, our scrum did not function that well and apart from freeman we was very poor under the high ball. Ive said it before and i will say it again if saints brought the pens conceded down to the average of the league i think only bath would live with us from what ive seen so far.

Echos of that burk burke when we beat Tigers some while ago

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Longers
we found Itoje little jobs to do so he couldn't go marauding.

Love it

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Steve Batt
Great win. 2 questions about Saints. Can Hendy catch a high ball which is a requirement for a full back Great going forward. Was it a tactic for Fin at every restart but one to kick to Ioje and tie him up?

My guess is that Hendy's highlight reel would include him running back to make amazing catches behind him. Re Itoje that was maybe part of Longers meant about finding little jobs for Itoje to do

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Santiago

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Longers
we found Itoje little jobs to do so he couldn't go marauding.

Love it

Quote:

Steve Batt
Great win. 2 questions about Saints. Can Hendy catch a high ball which is a requirement for a full back Great going forward. Was it a tactic for Fin at every restart but one to kick to Ioje and tie him up?

a lot of the time Hendy wasn't particularly trying to catch the ball, there was a lot of attempted (and successful) tap backs in there. It's a good idea when you know you're the weaker player in the air for one, and also if successful, gives you another chance at attacking unstructured defence. I'm not saying he didn't drop a couple though