Saracens
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: PREVIEW & MATCH COMMENTS HERE PLEASE
By The Saracens
May 20 2022
Saturday sees the last game of the regular season at StoneX (although hopefully not the LAST game) when Northampton Saints come to town. The fortunes affecting the 2 teams in recent weeks are somewhat different with Saints having had a 3 week break while Sarries have played 2 European ties, culminating in a very tough defeat to an almighty Toulon side in France. It will be interesting to see how each team copes.
The Northampton team have apparently not been on leave but have continued with regular training during the break. Their squad will be fresh and niggling injuries will have had time to heal. But will they have lost that competitive edge? Saracens on the other hand have had tough game after tough game (although sadly they do have the prospect of a week’s break next weekend). Some of the squad will be feeling it a bit by now. They will be both physically and emotionally bruised by their encounter with Toulon. Faz admitted afterwards that Sarries didn’t bring their best game to the South of France. Will they be able to rise again against their old foes? I loved a quote on the Saints’ board. In response to whether match sharpness will triumph over having a rest week, Spockst said “they have had a gap year!”
Saints are on a role, having achieved a bonus point win in each of their past 5 games. Interestingly they have won both of their past 2 games at StoneX – in 2019 in the League and again in March this year in the PRC so they will be looking for a hat trick. This is a rejuvenated Saints team under the leadership of Chris Boyd and Lewis Ludlam. Saints have 6 players in the England Training Squad next week: Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, George Furbank, Alex Mitchell, Fraser Dingwell and Tommy Freeman (as against 3 from Sarries – but that’s another story!) plus Welsh captain Dan Biggar. Saints last played Quins at the end of April, squeezing out a 1 point victory which means their Premiership fate is in their own hands. With a final match at home to Newcastle in a couple of weeks (should be a gimme 5 pointer) Saints will be looking to extend their 5 point sequence at the home of their old enemies. Sarries need 2 points to ensure a home semi-final. By the time the game is played, however, they may not need anything if Gloucester beat Quins.
No doubt Northampton will field their strongest available team. It is rumoured they could be a bit short of loose forwards with Conor Carey ruled out and question marks over Augutus, Cole, Hill and Ribbans. Dan Biggar is reportedly recovered and fit to start. Saints have a strong centre pairing in Dingwall and the under-rated Hutchinson. Doubtless Sarries will test England full-back George Furbank with plenty of high balls. It will be an interesting duel between him and our Alex! Saints’ supporters seem to think their team will look something like:
Furbank, Proctor, Dingwall, Hutchinson, Freeman, Biggar, Mitchell, Iyogun, Matavasie, Hill, Ribbans, Api, Lawes, Ludlam, Augustus.
Sarries’ coaches will have had a few things to think about this week. The team lacked the cutting edge against Toulon, Malins early departure was, I feel, a big loss as he has the spark to make things happen. The line-out was also pretty dreadful so hopefully a bit of revamping has gone on. So who will MMc select. Both our first choice wingers, Malins and Maitland, seem to be injured and with a week off to come, I don’t see either of them being risked. Mako needs match time. I am sure MMc will want the home semi done and dusted on Saturday to take any pressure off the final game of the season at Castle Grim. Potentially a 2 week break for some tired bodies if the deed can be done against Saints so I would expect a strong team. I would also like to see Loz get a start which makes it tricky to fit in Daly. Glad I don’t have to make the decisions! Maybe something like:
Goode, Lewington, Lozowski, Tompkins, Segun, Farrell, Davies, Mako, George, Koch, Itoje, Isiekwe, McFarland, Earl, Billy
The referee is Matt Carley (his 2nd in a row for Saints) assisted by Greg MacDonald and John Meredith. Dean Richards is the TMO. It’s a 5.30pm kick off and on BT Sport for those (like me) far from home.
Saints have appointed Jeremy Houghton as Artist in Residence – let us hope his picture is painted in red and black not green and black. I’m going for Sarries to do just enough but if they can get the 2 points they need (or maybe won’t need) that’ll do.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon20/05/2022 08:45
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:06:04:06:59:26 by Darraghgirl.
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Vincent Koch
4 Maro Itoje
5 Nick Isiekwe
6 Theo McFarland
7 Ben Earl
8 Billy Vunipola
9 Aled Davies
10 Owen Farrell (c)
11 Rotimi Según
12 Nick Tompkins
13 Elliot Daly
14 Sean Maitland
15 Alex Goode
Replacements:
16 Ethan Lewis
17 Ralph Adams-Hale
18 Alec Clarey
19 Callum Hunter-Hill
20 Jackson Wray
21 Ivan van Zyl
22 Alex Lozowski
23 Alex Lewington
15 George Furbank
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Matt Proctor
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Courtnall Skosan
10 Dan Biggar
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Mike Haywood
3 Ehren Painter
4 Alex Coles
5 Api Ratuniyarawa
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Aaron Hinkley
8 Lewis Ludlam (c)
Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Alex Waller
18 Paul Hill
19 Alex Moon
20 Brandon Nansen
21 Tom James
22 Rory Hutchinson
23 Ollie Sleightholme
I’m glad we’re going all out on the final home match (hopefully of the ref season), looking forward to a few beers in the sun!
2 Jamie George
3 Vincent Koch
4 Maro Itoje
5 Nick Isiekwe
6 Theo McFarland
7 Ben Earl
8 Billy Vunipola
9 Aled Davies
10 Owen Farrell (c)
11 Rotimi Según
12 Nick Tompkins
13 Elliot Daly
14 Sean Maitland
15 Alex Goode
Replacements:
16 Ethan Lewis
17 Ralph Adams-Hale
18 Alec Clarey
19 Callum Hunter-Hill
20 Jackson Wray
21 Ivan van Zyl
22 Alex Lozowski
23 Alex Lewington
You can take the man out of Yorkshire but you can't take Yorkshire out of the man.
Innings
Points win matches: tries win hearts and minds.
Quote:+1jonnybrowne
Delighted to see Ralph Adams-Hale back!!
Mawi has been brilliant but deserves a rest.
Also Clarey and another run for Lewis who was very good last time he was given a chance.
Hopefully Malins is ok and that some of the selection is rotation and returning players rather than injury.
I really like that pack and having CH-Hs energy and Wrays experience from the bench feels a big positive.
With both Maitland and Segun playing if we persist in using Daly as our main kick-chase option against those Saints backs we will deserve all we get. That aside feel very positive.
Saints squad interesting. Main missing players are their new 8 and Ribbans. Both very good players. They have backs who can cut teams apart given time and space so hopefully they're denied that.
Iyogan? the young LH who was picked from the Academy for the Chiefs game at the end of last? season has looked good when I've seen him. Painter is a massive lump but has the one trick at scrum time. Hopefully the ref and AR will be watching for him planting his feet way back and dropping his weight to try and buy a hinging penalty at scrum time.
Head says any which way (but lose!) to get the two points we need. Heart says a performance that shows we're back on track and that Toulon was a blip. Oh and kick the flipping points!
Quote:OldMarovian
Oh and kick the flipping points!
So true - and actually it was so unlike Sarries last week not to!
I hope Lewis is ok.
Blimey what a game! Poor execution and decision-making at times in the first half and yet also some of the most wonderful attacking rugby I've seen in ages through the 80. Great to see the attacking intent though especially in the light of some comments from Saints about the negative attritional rugby Sarries apparently play.
To the point the other day about whether we have those players who get you up off your feet well McFarland, Segun, Tompkins and Goode all do it for me. Incredible number of metres run and perhaps understandable that the performance dropped off near the end although Quins will have eyed that with interest!
Fair play to Saints. Largely kept in the first half through errors in our execution but they played some lovely rugby too and their fight to get the TBP and LBP is huge credit to them. Hinkley is a real pocket dynamo, Haywood was excellent and Freeman looked class. Proctor also had a big impact playing in his best position. I hope they manage to get the fourth spot as two Derbys would great as the penultimate games to the season.
Good luck to the Women tomorrow in their game against Quins. Hopefully we can make it a Sarries double weekend.
Great game to watch and the atmosphere in the sunshine is getting better and better.
Being picky, similar failings this season with teams who want to play fast and spread it wide. Hopefully we can find a solution before Quins in the semis because let’s face it, they are they masters of that style.
I still feel that we are yet to produce our best stuff though. Gloucester in the QFs was close but I reckon we have a performance with the defence of the first half today and the attack of the 10 mins after half time for the majority of the match in our locker.
Quote:TommyKentish
similar failings this season with teams who want to play fast and spread it wide. Hopefully we can find a solution before Quins in the semis because let’s face it, they are they masters of that style.
Agree that fantastic as it is to see us play such open rugby (and it is brilliant) there are teams who that approach will probably suit more than us. It will be interesting to see how we approach those games. On the other hand it would be great not to see Goode (again) kick away ball when we're playing against 13.
Had to watch it again and how good was Isiekwe!? He does much of the unglamorous stuff but its absolutely vital to how we play and he also got a couple of good carries in. Some of the breaks with interplay between backs and forwards where as good (better?) than anything I've seen in the League all season. Tompkins catching the pass above and behind his head
Also brilliant game for Farrell. Controlled, ref chat ok and played and kicked exceptionally well.
![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
More Saracens headlines
- END OF SEASON POLL AT LAST
- PWR Semi Final and Final 2025-26 Report
- Saracens Women v Ealing Trailfinders PWR Final Report
- Saracens Women v Ealing Trailfinders PWR Final Preview
- MARK McCALL, AN APPRECIATION
- Saracens Women v Exeter Chiefs Women PWR Semi-Final Report
- Exeter Chiefs v Saracens Premiership Report
- EXETER v SARACENS: please post match related content here
- SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST
Saracens latest threads
- END OF SEASON POLL AT LAST
- End of Season Poll (finally) #1
- Writing articles for the Sarries page
- More Game Time
- PensionBee Now main shirt sponsor?
- 26/27 fixtures
- PWR Semi Final and Final 2025-26 Report
- Champions Cup group 26/27
- New photo for the Sarries message board
- Saracens Women v Ealing Trailfinders PWR Final Report