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OldMarovian
21-23 are fascinating choices. Looks like Dowson wants to end, rather than start, the game with his best backs on the field.

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Dave Jackson

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OldMarovian
21-23 are fascinating choices. Looks like Dowson wants to end, rather than start, the game with his best backs on the field.

I suspect Mitch and Tommy may stay on the bench all game unless needed, both due a bit of rest to come back hard in the European games.

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OldMarovian
21-23 are fascinating choices. Looks like Dowson wants to end, rather than start, the game with his best backs on the field.

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Santiago
I'm not really up to speed on Exeter's strongest team this season, but I don't think this is it. Can someone clarify please.

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Lamont4Saints
Really happy to see Manny back and also happy to see Haffar starting. Two potential internationals there.

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None
You know what you are going to get against Exeter - predictable but effective

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Deesaint
If we hadn’t had switched off for the simple score off their lineout it would be a far better outlook
But not writing Saints off
If we can get an early score second half
We can do it

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shiversaint
How Slade avoided a red there, I have no idea. The mitigation was no way near significant enough to kill what was a ridiculously dangerous act. I am not happy about that.

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Stockers
Strap yourselves in for the glorious come back and bonus point win!

NURSE!!

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ajack
Oh dear looks like the Saints of old. Exeter with a try bonus point inside 25 minutes.

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Howling Howler
How can so few write so much nonsense . Makes me realise why I only bother to make so few comments . We go to fortress Exeter ( unbeaten by any Premiership side in nearly 2 years ) , rest numerous first choice stars ( either on the bench or not in 23 squad) missing several injured stars , manage to score a couple of try’s in first half to keep us in the game , start bringing on first team stars after 50 minutes and take Exeter to the cleaners in the second half . Rather than just say outstanding result for saints - including coaching team given need to rest key players got it 100% right - people moan about the first half . I give up .

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shendy

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Howling Howler
How can so few write so much nonsense . Makes me realise why I only bother to make so few comments . We go to fortress Exeter ( unbeaten by any Premiership side in nearly 2 years ) , rest numerous first choice stars ( either on the bench or not in 23 squad) missing several injured stars , manage to score a couple of try’s in first half to keep us in the game , start bringing on first team stars after 50 minutes and take Exeter to the cleaners in the second half . Rather than just say outstanding result for saints - including coaching team given need to rest key players got it 100% right - people moan about the first half . I give up .

That's mainly people moaning in real time, and who could blame them when we were 26-0 down at more than a point a minute?
Yes, we turned it around rather well, but 25 mins in it looked like a calamity.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

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Howling Howler

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shendy

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Howling Howler
How can so few write so much nonsense . Makes me realise why I only bother to make so few comments . We go to fortress Exeter ( unbeaten by any Premiership side in nearly 2 years ) , rest numerous first choice stars ( either on the bench or not in 23 squad) missing several injured stars , manage to score a couple of try’s in first half to keep us in the game , start bringing on first team stars after 50 minutes and take Exeter to the cleaners in the second half . Rather than just say outstanding result for saints - including coaching team given need to rest key players got it 100% right - people moan about the first half . I give up .

That's mainly people moaning in real time, and who could blame them when we were 26-0 down at more than a point a minute?
Yes, we turned it around rather well, but 25 mins in it looked like a calamity.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

And that’s just the sort of response I had expected - no hindsight required !!

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Ogee
This game is all about the top two inches.

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Howling Howler

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shendy

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Howling Howler
How can so few write so much nonsense . Makes me realise why I only bother to make so few comments . We go to fortress Exeter ( unbeaten by any Premiership side in nearly 2 years ) , rest numerous first choice stars ( either on the bench or not in 23 squad) missing several injured stars , manage to score a couple of try’s in first half to keep us in the game , start bringing on first team stars after 50 minutes and take Exeter to the cleaners in the second half . Rather than just say outstanding result for saints - including coaching team given need to rest key players got it 100% right - people moan about the first half . I give up .

That's mainly people moaning in real time, and who could blame them when we were 26-0 down at more than a point a minute?
Yes, we turned it around rather well, but 25 mins in it looked like a calamity.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

And that’s just the sort of response I had expected - no hindsight required !!

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Neil-H
Well that’s screwed dry January 😂

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Duckonstilts
I continue to think Sleightholm looks so much like Ben Cohen. Something very special about him.

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Gwendoline

But ....... We need to sort our scrum out . It's a penalty nearly every time these days .

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Walks11
I was watching down the pub so couldn’t hear the ref mic too well, what were mitigations for the yellow cards? They both looked red to me, certainly the 2nd was highly reckless

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Longers

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Walks11
I was watching down the pub so couldn’t hear the ref mic too well, what were mitigations for the yellow cards? They both looked red to me, certainly the 2nd was highly reckless

I couldn't hear either, and I was watching from the front room!

Both commentator and pundit insisted on chattering, not to mention the pitch-side music "adding" to the suspense. I got the impression from what bits I did hear that TMO David Rose thought Slade's offence was red and tried to talk the ref around.

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Longers

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Walks11
I was watching down the pub so couldn’t hear the ref mic too well, what were mitigations for the yellow cards? They both looked red to me, certainly the 2nd was highly reckless

I couldn't hear either, and I was watching from the front room!

Both commentator and pundit insisted on chattering, not to mention the pitch-side music "adding" to the suspense. I got the impression from what bits I did hear that TMO David Rose thought Slade's offence was red and tried to talk the ref around.

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Walks11
I was watching down the pub so couldn’t hear the ref mic too well, what were mitigations for the yellow cards? They both looked red to me, certainly the 2nd was highly reckless

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Push Over
Hutch, Dingers, Freeman and Litchfield plus Burger give us quality in depth in midfield.
.

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Walks11
Thanks all.. I thought overall the ref had a good game, Hutch was right call for sure, would have been a harsh yellow. I think the other two on another day with a different ref could have both been red. The fact Burger failed his HIA is telling in terms of impact and force
Just watched highlights back. They definitely caught us cold early on we weren’t quite on it and Chiefs came firing out of the blocks. 12 months ago or more it could have been a truly depressing afternoon, the new resilience is great to see. Felt a bit for Braley, very rusty early on with no game time, got better as the game wore on, replacements made an impact which was the plan so well done Dowson & team.. again

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herbie85

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Longers

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Walks11
I was watching down the pub so couldn’t hear the ref mic too well, what were mitigations for the yellow cards? They both looked red to me, certainly the 2nd was highly reckless

I couldn't hear either, and I was watching from the front room!

Both commentator and pundit insisted on chattering, not to mention the pitch-side music "adding" to the suspense. I got the impression from what bits I did hear that TMO David Rose thought Slade's offence was red and tried to talk the ref around.

Refs view was slade started shoulder and rose up to head contact, so gave yellow. Rose as tmo clearly thought otherwise, said he would show another angle after ref said yellow, but not his call ultimately. I thought this perhaps should have been red, however I thought overall the ref was quite sensible today. Everything looks awful slowed down imho. Other refs may have given hutch punishment for his head contact on the Exeter second row, games gone if he gets done for that as their player dipped so much, he's pretty much unable to tackle him without acting like he did. For me there has to be some level of scrutiny and onus on the ball carrier too, and thought woodthorpe came to a sensible decision.

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Awaywin

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herbie85

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Longers

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Walks11
I was watching down the pub so couldn’t hear the ref mic too well, what were mitigations for the yellow cards? They both looked red to me, certainly the 2nd was highly reckless

I couldn't hear either, and I was watching from the front room!

Both commentator and pundit insisted on chattering, not to mention the pitch-side music "adding" to the suspense. I got the impression from what bits I did hear that TMO David Rose thought Slade's offence was red and tried to talk the ref around.

Refs view was slade started shoulder and rose up to head contact, so gave yellow. Rose as tmo clearly thought otherwise, said he would show another angle after ref said yellow, but not his call ultimately. I thought this perhaps should have been red, however I thought overall the ref was quite sensible today. Everything looks awful slowed down imho. Other refs may have given hutch punishment for his head contact on the Exeter second row, games gone if he gets done for that as their player dipped so much, he's pretty much unable to tackle him without acting like he did. For me there has to be some level of scrutiny and onus on the ball carrier too, and thought woodthorpe came to a sensible decision.

Generally happy with all 3 decisions, Jenkins, Slade and Hutchinson. There has to be a certain amount of common sense and rugby incident. In the Slade incident if he'd have been given the pass he wanted it would have been Odendall who was looking at a red.

The game was so good I'm watching the re-run now. I think it will do us some good as there were obviously some defensive issues around the front of the lineout that can be rectified after this game.

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Walks11

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Awaywin

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herbie85

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Longers

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Walks11
I was watching down the pub so couldn’t hear the ref mic too well, what were mitigations for the yellow cards? They both looked red to me, certainly the 2nd was highly reckless

I couldn't hear either, and I was watching from the front room!

Both commentator and pundit insisted on chattering, not to mention the pitch-side music "adding" to the suspense. I got the impression from what bits I did hear that TMO David Rose thought Slade's offence was red and tried to talk the ref around.

Refs view was slade started shoulder and rose up to head contact, so gave yellow. Rose as tmo clearly thought otherwise, said he would show another angle after ref said yellow, but not his call ultimately. I thought this perhaps should have been red, however I thought overall the ref was quite sensible today. Everything looks awful slowed down imho. Other refs may have given hutch punishment for his head contact on the Exeter second row, games gone if he gets done for that as their player dipped so much, he's pretty much unable to tackle him without acting like he did. For me there has to be some level of scrutiny and onus on the ball carrier too, and thought woodthorpe came to a sensible decision.

Generally happy with all 3 decisions, Jenkins, Slade and Hutchinson. There has to be a certain amount of common sense and rugby incident. In the Slade incident if he'd have been given the pass he wanted it would have been Odendall who was looking at a red.

The game was so good I'm watching the re-run now. I think it will do us some good as there were obviously some defensive issues around the front of the lineout that can be rectified after this game.

Good point about lineout, is this a Chiefs tactic generally or something they spotted that was particular to us

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OldMarovian
I'd love to know what (in terms of input) has changed in the past fortnight.
I don't know if it feels the same to Saints supporters but to me they are the first games for an age where there seems a very particular strategy for the game rather than "just" play your best.