Referee: Adam Leal Assistant referee: Andrew Jackson and Wayne Falla TMO: Matthew Carley No. 4: Mike Hudson
Teams:
Northampton Saints
Bristol Bears
James Ramm
15
Rich Lane
Tommy Freeman
14
Deago Bailey
Fraser Dingwall (c)
13
Kalaveti Ravouvou
Rory Hutchinson
12
Benhard Janse van Rensburg
Tom Litchfield
11
Gabriel Ibitoye
Fin Smith
10
AJ MacGinty
Alex Mitchell
9
Harry Randall
Emmanuel Iyogun
1
Ellis Genge
Curtis Langdon
2
Harry Thacker
Trevor Davison
3
Max Lahiff
Temo Mayanavanua
4
Josh Caulfield
Alex Coles
5
Joe Owen
Josh Kemeny
6
Steven Luatua
Henry Pollock
7
Santiago Grondona
Juarno Augustus
8
Fitz Harding (c)
Replacements:
Henry Walker
16
Gabriel Oghre
Tom West
17
Yann Thomas
Elliot Millar Mills
18
George Kloska
Tom Lockett
19
Viliame Mata
Angus Scott-Young
20
Ben Grondona
Tom James
21
Kieran Marmion
Tom Seabrook
22
James Williams
Will Glister
23
Siva Naulago
Not available for selection: Sam Graham, George Hendy, George Makepeace-Cubitt, Iakopo Mapu, Archie McParland, Burger Odendaal, Tom Pearson, Toby Thame, Charlie Savala, Ollie Sleightholme, and Robbie Smith.
Bristol have looked a little off the boil in recent weeks so it feels like a winnable game but will they want it more than Saints?
Unavailable for Bristol: Lovejoy Chawatama, Steele Barker, Joe Batley, James Dun, George Taylor, Jake Heenan, Harry Byrne, Sam Worsley, Noah Heward, Harry Rowson, Max Malins.
Bristol are depleted in the second row.
Saints have gone as strong as we can which I’m pleased/relieved to see. But our injuries are hurting us with 7 matchday best 23 players out injured and a lot long-term.
It’s a big ask for Furbank to go into a European semi-final with just one game under his belt 3 weeks before. Doesn’t say he is injured. But I suspect whilst he could play they are giving his arm max time to strengthen given the discomfort he showed in his first game back so can understand the approach. I’m sure he’ll be desperate to play in the semi.
Furbs didn’t look too rusty when he came on the Hendy last week, anything but in fact. So I’d back him to slot back in for the big one! More worried by Burger’s abesence, I didn’t realise he was injured.
A good side though and we really should be too good for a misfiring Bristol
Hope you are correct about being cautious with Furbs, Maul. Odendaal out is a miss as well - the luck with injuries this season has been absolutely terrible.
This should be a winnable match, four on the bounce going into the Leinster match would, for about the first time this season, give us a bit of momentum.
St Marcus Hope you are correct about being cautious with Furbs, Maul. Odendaal out is a miss as well - the luck with injuries this season has been absolutely terrible.
This should be a winnable match, four on the bounce going into the Leinster match would, for about the first time this season, give us a bit of momentum.
Completely agree Odendaal is a big miss, particularly against Bristol’s midfield!
With Mata (an 8) the second row cover on Bristol’s bench given Barkley, Batley and Dun are all injured; targeting the Bristol scrum and lineout may be a fruitful tactic that pays dividends as the game goes into the latter stages.
Sir Hector So we have a centre on the wing and two wingers on the bench?
It signals that the likes of Seabrook and Haffar are going to get limited game time before they depart for Tigers. An exceptional player like Augustus should still get picked but, personally, I like players who are staying being picked over leavers if it helps their development without significantly diminishing the team.
That's done it! now you've mentioned him, he's definitely going to score!
When's he out of contract? I don't care how old he is, how much he'd cost, just sign him so he can't score against us... again!
Once I mentioned him
I did go outside turn round three times spit and curse
Before knocking to be let back in
Should do it
Did you happen to count and/or salute the magpies?
Maybe it's how we were raised, or more importantly where we were raised. In my world, if you want to proof yourself against a curse or search for good luck, everyone knows you have to sacrifice a chicken. And not one already in a KFC order. That's what they told me in med school.
Saint Gordo Some really nice phases of play by both sides. That said, I'm glad there are more nice phases by Saints. Bristol has given us fits in the past.
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