Northampton Saints

Click here to view the google sheet.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 21/07/2026 11:16 by Saint Ted.

Even though I'm logged on, why do I need to register?

And then when I do move to register it tells me the email address is already registered - well it would be wouldn't it? It's mine!

I get this as well!

That message comes up on every article, it says if you don’t have an account you need to register, it’s been like that for years.

Probably more obvious in this one because there isn’t a lot of text

Edit to add, by article I mean something that comes from the admin site, not a normal thread, so that message appears on the tv schedule and the match day threads when I have time to create them!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 13/10/2025 10:07 by Saint Ted.

Quote:

Saint Ted
That message comes up on every article, it says if you don’t have an account you need to register, it’s been like that for years.
Probably more obvious in this one because there isn’t a lot of text

Edit to add, by article I mean something that comes from the admin site, not a normal thread, so that message appears on the tv schedule and the match day threads when I have time to create them!

So how does one get to see what has been posted? It's a circle.

Click on the line in green that says Who’s Played and Who’s Not Been Available.

That will take you to the google sheet.

I've edited the register post (Didn't ever think to change it!) The link is there as well now

Quote:

Saint Ted
I've edited the register post (Didn't ever think to change it!) The link is there as well now

Thanks.

As we have now hit the first rest weekend, 7 matches in, every member of the senior squad that hasn't been injured since the start of the season has now played in one match or more.

We're getting our monies worth out of the excellent Belleau, he's featured in every match so far.

We've been averaging 13 players unavailable per match when considering injuries and international call ups

Halfway point in the prem, so far 15 matches played across all comps, saints have been using the whole squad. total match day squad involvements so far....

12 - Callum Chick
12 - JJ van der Mescht
12 - Ed Prowse
12 - George Hendy
11 - Emmanuel Iyogun
11 - Robbie Smith
11 - Craig Wright
11 - Sam Graham
11 - Rory Hutchinson
10 - Trevor Davison
10 - Danilo Fischetti
10 - Tom Pearson
10 - Archie McParland
10 - Anthony Belleau
10 - Toby Thame
10 - Edoardo Todaro*
9 - Alex Coles
9 - Tom Litchfield
8 - Josh Kemeny
8 - Fin Smith
8 - Fraser Dingwall
7 - Cleopas Kundiona
7 - Henry Pollock
7 - Tom James
7 - Alex Mitchell
6 - Luke Green
6 - Henry Walker
6 - Fyn Brown
6 - Chunya Munga
6 - Jonny Weimann*
6 - Tommy Freeman
6 - George Furbank
5 - Elliot Millar Mills
5 - Ollie Scola*
5 - Amena Caqusau
5 - James Pater*
5 - James Ramm
5 - Ollie Sleightholme
4 - Tom West
4 - Archie Benson
4 - Tom Lockett
4 - Henry Lumley*
3 - Angus Scott-Young
2 - Sonny Tonga’uiha*
2 - Marco Manfredi
2 - Aiden Ainsworth-Cave*
2 - James Bennett***
1 - Billy Pasco*
1 - James Martin
1 - Thomas Rowe**
0 - Curtis Langdon
0 - Archie Appleby*
0 - Emeka Atuanya
0 - Jack Lawrence*
0 - Charlie Ulcoq*
0 - Siep Walta*
0 - Aiden Pugh*
0 - Freddie St John*
0 - Will Glister*

* Senior Academy 2025/26
** Triallist
*** Guest

A few names towards the bottom of the list I’d like to see in action. Curtis should be available soon I’d hope. Atuanya told me he was close to being fully fit at the match. Perhaps when the cup comes around one or two of those academy lads will get to debut.

I know he's had enforced rest periods, but Freeman seems like he's played far more.

Special mention to Ed Prowse. For a tight head turned lock, who was receiving questionable reports last season, now appears to be one of the more key players for us. I appreciate injuries will necessitate this, but well done to the lad.

Quote:

St Stokey.
I know he's had enforced rest periods, but Freeman seems like he's played far more.
Special mention to Ed Prowse. For a tight head turned lock, who was receiving questionable reports last season, now appears to be one of the more key players for us. I appreciate injuries will necessitate this, but well done to the lad.

As one who has openly questioned his place in the squad, I watched him specifically during a re-run of the Bath game.

He was quite impressive, and put me in my place!

The more obvious physical attributes, size, pace etc whilst good to have, are in some ways less important than rugby IQ, soft hands and the ability to execute and the desire and commitment to get up and go again.
It was pointed out on tv at the weekend that the big difference Saints have is not the best backline (that’s just plain obvious) but forwards with the ball skills to be part of attacking moves. Not only can our forwards catch and pass but they are playing with their heads up and actually looking to provide continuity.

Indeed, the offloads from EMM to Fischetti to Coles then to Mitchell to seal the moves was a joy.

Nothing more satisfying than seeing a big lad showing deft skills!

It’s also interesting to note that they all seem to particularly enjoy the skills element almost more than the physical. Look at JJ for example, loves to truck it up route one but it’s the flip pass inside that brings a smile to his face.

And what about Pearson, an absolute animal in my view and most likely one of the banned breeds of fighting dog that the dangerous dog act overlooked. But the line he ran and the pace for his try at Bath was straight out of the Tommy Freeman playbook.

That was against Sale, although the point remains valid.

Quote:

Sir Hector
Look at JJ for example, loves to truck it up route one but it’s the flip pass inside that brings a smile to his face.

...not just the handling skills that he seems to enjoy based on his latest assist!

As for Pearson, whilst his running lines have been excellent, he seems to have regained his ability to simply run through people again. It feels like he suffered from 2nd season syndrome but he's clearly over that!

Seeing as you are not needing them can Leicester Lions have Charlie Ulqoc, Freddie St John and Will Glister back then?

Whilst updating this week, I thought it would be fun to see who would be playing if we picked solely on number of appearances for this season, the forwards were pretty straight forward, there isn't so much positional change as there is in the backs, for example Todaro is the most picked at both 11 and 14, Freeman has played a decent number of games but in 3 different positions! So this is the best I can do, how close is it to the strongest 23

15 George Hendy
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Edoardo Todaro
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Manny Iyogun
2 Craig Wright
3 Trevor Davison
4 Alex Coles
5 JJ van der Mescht
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Tom Pearson
8 Callum Chick

16 Robbie Smith
17 Danilo Fischetti
18 Cleopas Kundiona
19 Ed Prowse
20 Sam Graham
21 Archie McParland
22 Anthony Belleau
23 Toby Thame

Slight change, I've taken out Prem cup matches to try and balance out international absence, nothing really changes, just shows how much we are using the squad, I've put the number of appearances on out of 12 (9 league/3 champions cup), again wing was a real pain as so many have played there, at 1, Fischetti and Iyogun have both had the same number of starts but Iyogun had more bench spots and the bench spot for scrum half has been shared equally between James and McParland.

Freeman and Pollock don't make the list because they haven't played consistently in the same staring position

15 7/12 George Hendy
14 6/12 Edoardo Todaro
13 6/12 Rory Hutchinson
12 8/12 Fraser Dingwall
11 3/12 James Ramm
10 8/12 Fin Smith
9 8/12 Alex Mitchell

1 6/12 Danilo Fischetti
2 6/12 Craig Wright
3 10/12 Trevor Davison
4 8/12 Alex Coles
5 10/12 JJ van der Mescht
6 6/12 Josh Kemeny
7 9/12 Tom Pearson
8 7/12 Callum Chick

16 6/12 Robbie Smith
17 5/12 Manny Iyogun
18 6/12 Cleopas Kundiona
19 6/12 Ed Prowse
20 5/12 Sam Graham
21 5/12 Archie McParland/Tom James
22 4/12 Anthony Belleau
23 5/12 Toby Thame

Quote:

Saint Ted
Slight change, I've taken out Prem cup matches to try and balance out international absence, nothing really changes, just shows how much we are using the squad, I've put the number of appearances on out of 12 (9 league/3 champions cup), again wing was a real pain as so many have played there, at 1, Fischetti and Iyogun have both had the same number of starts but Iyogun had more bench spots and the bench spot for scrum half has been shared equally between James and McParland.
Freeman and Pollock don't make the list because they haven't played consistently in the same staring position

15 7/12 George Hendy
14 6/12 Edoardo Todaro
13 6/12 Rory Hutchinson
12 8/12 Fraser Dingwall
11 3/12 James Ramm
10 8/12 Fin Smith
9 8/12 Alex Mitchell

1 6/12 Danilo Fischetti
2 6/12 Craig Wright
3 10/12 Trevor Davison
4 8/12 Alex Coles
5 10/12 JJ van der Mescht
6 6/12 Josh Kemeny
7 9/12 Tom Pearson
8 7/12 Callum Chick

16 6/12 Robbie Smith
17 5/12 Manny Iyogun
18 6/12 Cleopas Kundiona
19 6/12 Ed Prowse
20 5/12 Sam Graham
21 5/12 Archie McParland/Tom James
22 4/12 Anthony Belleau
23 5/12 Toby Thame

I realise it probably increases the amount of work somewhat, but I feel like minutes played is potentially a more useful measure, or even at least who's picked to start. For example Tom James is yet to start a game this season, Mcparland has started 4 league games with a couple of almost 80 minute games

That list is based on starts for 1 to 15, then the bench is who's taken a bench position the most at that number. The full list of whose started and in what position is in the linked spreadshest including when a player has been unavailable and also who has been involved in international match day squads, I didn't bother with minutes played as the initial idea was to see who needs a break and when and minutes played doesn't come into that anymore.

I've had a bit of time on my hands today unable to access various work systems, so I've done some updates...

I've now added minutes played in each match and totals.
I've included matches played on loan as it gives the full picture for players.
I've added a rolling average to see where we are on the meeting EQP's levels.
Added an average for number of players unavailable.
Added positions and how a player was playing for when not playing for saints.
Added the bench split ratios.

Really interesting to see the updates.

Fischetti (as already discussed) is going to exceed the 30 games if Italy Plan to use him in the Summer and would be on 34 games if plays all Saints games (get to the final) and Italy’s three games!
Then Manny who must stand a good chance of England involvement with no sign of Baxter yet and Rodd injured could be on 28 games come the end of Saint’s season so could then only play 2 of the England games!
LH selection could be interesting until the end of the season!

Quote:

tigersimon
Really interesting to see the updates.
Fischetti (as already discussed) is going to exceed the 30 games if Italy Plan to use him in the Summer and would be on 34 games if plays all Saints games (get to the final) and Italy’s three games!
Then Manny who must stand a good chance of England involvement with no sign of Baxter yet and Rodd injured could be on 28 games come the end of Saint’s season so could then only play 2 of the England games!
LH selection could be interesting until the end of the season!

Baxter’s been quoted as potentially available this weekend against Newcastle, from a press release I saw from Wuins yesterday

Saw an article that said Baxter might play last two rounds for Quins after writing the above.
Does that make him ready for International Rugby after an extended injury lay-off?

Do we know/ are we sure, that the summer tours are taken off this year's "allocation" or are they taken from next years (as the season is logically over once the playoff final has happened............)

and secondly, are we "obligated" to stop our players playing for us in the run in, or can we tell the nations to shove it ?

They are part of this season.

I'm somewhat confused by how we actually stand on this, if things go well we can give both props a weekend off each in the last two rounds, so Manny would be fine, Fischetti is an interesting one, I assume our communication with the Italian RFU isn't as direct as with our own. So ultimately who would be punished if he went over?

Big update and full analysis coming next week (w/c 29th July) stupid work is getting in the way of things atm

I hate it when that happens