Northampton Saints

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2026 17:18 by Saint Ted.

Sorry - duplicated this … I beg everyone’s forgiveness!!


Lots of interest but this is probably th strongest we can go.

Good to see Langdon starting … he is always good value! Also pleased to see that JJ is good for the bench, at least.

Let’s go!!

A strong Sarries side, no Earl or Gonzalez but otherwise to be expected.

Is Dingwall just resting?

Quote:

Deesaint
Is Dingwall just resting?

Until needed yes. He is number 23 on bench. Will come on into centre if needed and others juggled around depending on position to cover.

Dingers on the bench, I’m guessing Hutch and Litch are preferred and he’s getting eased back in. He’s the only outfield back on the bench so there’ll likely be some shuffling if he’s called upon.

Their starting pack is stronger but our bench pack is stronger and will take some stopping against a tiring defence. It’s just can our starting pack getting sufficient parity. Our backline is stronger. Hopefully our starting forwards can give the platform for our backs to have decent attacking ball.

Read the team on my phone, it only showed down to JW,

So is Sleighthome off shooting pheasants this weekend?

Bracken against McParland will be a good match-up.

How does the Sarries side compare to last week's?

Imagine a team that can bring on from the bench Fischetti, Davison, JJ vdM, Chick, and Dingwall. That is a pretty amazing amount of talent!

Quote:

FatAlan
So is Sleighthome off shooting pheasants this weekend?

Pheasant season is over.

I'm really pleased you've gone so strong as the only thing worse than being beaten in our big game is being beaten by the oppositions B team like we were by Quins last season.

Despite some residual pessimism both innate and based on this season and the last game in particular I am hoping for a game in which whatever the result it is competitive to the last.

For me there are some truly mouth-watering head to heads with the obvious one being the contrast in styles at 8. Freeeman is such an exceptional player and I am looking forward to seeing how Segun ex of your parish does against him. Likewise Kemeny v McFarland and the young 9's in McParland v Bracken.
My guess is the obvious press noise will be about Fin Smith v Farrell.

Given the disruptions I hope that those coming down have a good journey and day out.

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Sans Culottes

Quote:

FatAlan
So is Sleighthome off shooting pheasants this weekend?

Pheasant season is over.

From his Instagram account he’s really into his hunting, shooting & fishing. So in relation to Sleights the sign on the door must be ‘Gone Fishing’ 😀

Quote:

Stillgrinning
How does the Sarries side compare to last week's?

Carre, Itoje into starting lineup. George onto bench.
Earl & Gonzalez out through injury.

The interesting matchup is McParland v Bracken

We have a serious ‘bomb squad’ on the bench. The starters will have their work cut out to get parity but they’ll at least know they can give it their all for the first 40.

Nope.. fishing season's over too!

Quote:

195Rich
Nope.. fishing season's over too!

You're over-simplifying - not for game, sea and enclosed waters

I do have a n observation.


I know that all clubs go through ups and downs (even we got relegated) but right now the prem seems to have some really struggling sides. Harlequins.. Newcastle .. just watch Gloucester now …

Maybe the ‘minimum’ spend will help (although you do have to wonder where the money will come from - unless the 10 clubs end up as franchises funded by a sugar-daddy each??).

Good start from the guys … saracens claw one back although, honestly, was that pulled down or sacked?? Not sure!

I am going to predict a yellow any minute … I was wrong!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 28/03/2026 18:21 by Always2Hopeful.

Smith going off is a big blow. Sarries just managed to get a hand to tackle a player that broke through about four times. Hopefully they stick in the second half.

It’s all a bit inaccurate at the moment. Hopefully we can get a degree on control and get back to scoring.

Sarries fecking offside the whole game, never close to onside. Then he gives them a pen for it.

Woodthorpe is now having a nightmare - but then Archie!!!!!

It a classic - but we got there. Phew!!

Woodthorpe was absolutely terrible for the last 15 mins or so but we overcame!

Hope Fin is ok, also Kemeny and Trev. Need them all!

I cant forgive officials who make a game and scrap by allowing a team to consistently not get onside and stifle attack in a big game that is trying to attract fans. Terrible officiating for the game of rugby.

The performances have been poor, but looking on the positive side, the last two weeks are games saints just wouldn't have won in previous years, so there's a big plus

Well done for winning after losing Fin, Manny and Trev , but will they be fit for next week.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 28/03/2026 19:37 by Santiago.

Fantastic win.
Not at our best.
Great character.
Woodthorpe gave us nothing whatsoever, nor did the TMO.....one Mr Dickson.
Furbs stepping into fky half did well i. Such a cauldron.
Back row were brilliant.

How good is Litchfield? Under the radar

Oh yes you beauties. On the train back to Herts, with a glum looking Saracens supporter sitting opposite. Took a Lime hire bike to avoid the queue for the tube and it was a bit hairy but made a good train very quickly so feeling euphoric!
Yes the ref did us no favours. Litchfield did have a very good game. And JJ did well to stay in at the corner, but should have scored one try out of his two line crossings. Saracens announcer was totally biased in his approach too, boo!
Onwards and upwards!

Win ugly is winning. That will do 😀

And may I say Saracens jerseys look like they came from a bargain store....

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Saint Gordo
And may I say Saracens jerseys look like they came from a bargain store....

Indeed! It only struck me in the second half watching live. Awful. Home and watching it on TV now!

There was a competition at the Saracens School to design the top for the game.
I'm guessing you did a similar thing for your rebrand to the daffodils?

Thank goodness the Saints supporters at the game had some class.

Quote:

PaulHerox
There was a competition at the Saracens School to design the top for the game.
I'm guessing you did a similar thing for your rebrand to the daffodils?

Thank goodness the Saints supporters at the game had some class.

My first trip to Tottenham & thought Saracens did a good job. I liked the shirt design. Good for whoever came up with it. If I were a Saracens supporter, I would buy it.

We edged it with a piece of inspired back play but we couldn't retain possession for toffee, turning it over or conceding bucketloads of penalties, partly because of our own mistakes and partly because of the pressure Saracens applied at the set pieces. The referee had nothing to do with any of that.

A good day out. Goid luck for the rest of the season Paul

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Gregor

Quote:

PaulHerox
There was a competition at the Saracens School to design the top for the game.
I'm guessing you did a similar thing for your rebrand to the daffodils?

Thank goodness the Saints supporters at the game had some class.

My first trip to Tottenham & thought Saracens did a good job. I liked the shirt design. Good for whoever came up with it. If I were a Saracens supporter, I would buy it.

We edged it with a piece of inspired back play but we couldn't retain possession for toffee, turning it over or conceding bucketloads of penalties, partly because of our own mistakes and partly because of the pressure Saracens applied at the set pieces. The referee had nothing to do with any of that.

A good day out. Goid luck for the rest of the season Paul

The officials had loads to do with stifling our attack. I kept pausing and replaying because I thought my bias was telling me they were offside. When I paused it, they often never got onside. One time a Sarries player would have been onside if he was a Saints player. If we want to grow the game and not make it a mess, the officials have to do better in that key area of the game. The officials are bad across the league with offsides.

From post-match interviews, sounds like Davison could be out for a while now, which would be a huge loss. F.Smith was a head knock, so will likely miss next week, but won't be out for too long. Not a lot of commentary on Iyogun's injury.

Is such a positive for the squad that the 2 match winners (in addition to other best performers like Pearson) were not necessarily first team starters (Litchfield, McParland). Am really intrigued by Litchfield. I had him down as someone who would stay as a very good club performer, and probably be our third choice centre forever. Based on the last 2 weeks, he might be someone who could claim the first team shirt, and push on for international honours.

Quote:

PaulHerox
There was a competition at the Saracens School to design the top for the game.
I'm guessing you did a similar thing for your rebrand to the daffodils?

Thank goodness the Saints supporters at the game had some class.

I didn’t hear about the shirt design anywhere. Apologies for being a bit rude/euphoric. But your repost doesn’t exactly ooze with the class either. I didn’t get a chance to engage with any of the Saracens supporters at the ground, but when we scored at the end, I didn’t do anything lacking class to the few that were seated near us. Anyway, a great game of rugby and in some senses, a shame somebody had to lose.

Every single time we play saracens, they are offside, it’s the only way they can stop us, and whether it’s reffed or not dictates if we win or not. Deja vu every time we play.
Woodthorpe was a donut most of the game.
Loved seeing us snatch the win and George’s and itoje’s faces, it was more satisfying than us thumping them because they had hope and we denied it. Beautiful.
Good to see Landon getting into Theo Dan.
And I thought their kit was good, would be good if we did something different for the big games.
Our fixture was easily the best out of the 3 in terms of atmosphere and optics in a full stadium so fair play to sarries marketing team.

For a long time it has been dingwall and hutch. How long untill the conversation is which one partners litchfield for the first 15?

Re watching the match.

Our defence was excellent, keeping Sarries out before half time and in second half with repeated line outs and scrums (in which we struggled), was a great effort.

How are the gate receipts shared for this game?

Have to say that was one of the quietest games I’ve seen Freeman have in forever. Barely got a mention on commentary

Thank you Gregor,

I had a great time at the game and it was really interesting talking with the Saints supporters next to and near us. They were generous in their praise for how we performed especially after last week and mentioned the quality of several of our players. They were also understandably excited about Saints and even after the injuries had a real confidence about the result which was fully vindicated.
I'd be really please as a Saints supporter. Given a tough game in which key injuries could have derailed a different side but ultimately the quality of your attack and a few key individuals stood out in what was a very good team performance.

Good luck for the season and hopefully the Final. I really enjoy the way you play and are managed as a club both at board and coaching level.

Quote:

white lion
How are the gate receipts shared for this game?

How are they shared for a home game at the Gardens? Same answer.

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Saint dolph
For a long time it has been dingwall and hutch. How long untill the conversation is which one partners litchfield for the first 15?

Does that assume Freeman is a winger despite his stated desire to play centre?

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ajack

Quote:

Saint dolph
For a long time it has been dingwall and hutch. How long untill the conversation is which one partners litchfield for the first 15?

Does that assume Freeman is a winger despite his stated desire to play centre?

A question I've been asking myself - the answer (well,mine)? Play the best pair. Whoever they may be. But also consider who is on the wings. The coaches must decide what is best for the team (Ferguson Management Philosophy).

I don't think there will be a "right or wrong" answer, other than what suits on any particular day.

Thought you were going to bury us after the first 15 minutes when you could have had 2-3 more tries, but thankfully we fought back well and made a good contest of it.
Don’t think anyone was surprised you came back and won, but having been to Paris and watch the England game thats’s now 5 on the trot my team have been winning with a couple of minutes left and lost the lot. Getting fed up with it!
It’s clear your attacking play is light years ahead of ours and I sadly don’t seeing it changing for a year or two.

Came good in the end but was wondering your opinions on the benefits of a 6:2 bench over a 5:3 with the fact that having French Tony on the bench yesterday would have caused far less disruption than Furbank/Ramm & Litchfield all changing positions?

Is it a JJ/Prowse fitness selection? Or are the team benefitting from a 6:2?

Furbank obviously unhappy with a number of ‘Sir’s’ decisions yesterday have often wondered if it’s time for a Captain’s referral!
One (maybe two) per game which are kept if the challenge is upheld!

Quote:

tigersimon
Furbank obviously unhappy with a number of ‘Sir’s’ decisions yesterday have often wondered if it’s time for a Captain’s referral!
One (maybe two) per game which are kept if the challenge is upheld!

TBF he was right too George never onside in the tackle he made on JJ that resulted in the second held up decision. Woodthorpe was particularly hostile in his response

I've tried to interpret the TV coverage. Were the repeated shots of Furbank remonstrating with "Sir" clickbait or the TV director putting in his two-penneth against poor reffing.

Is it because we have so many involved in International rugby, being schooled on different game plans
That we should expect a disjointed performance, did any returning internationals play against Falcons, We get better the less distractions to the players

Hopefully that was, despite the win, our reintroduction to Saints for a good few players