Pre-season friendlies

[Puja]

Ulster vs Exeter is on the BBC on Friday: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/62724311

Puja

[Adam_P]

Saints side for tomorrow night against Ospreys. Nice physical backrow there. Hoping to see a bit more of Hendy in the first team this season, he is quality. Not sure how we're going to give Freeman, Furbank and Hendy enough time at 15 in seasons to come. I know Freeman has played a lot on the wing, but I can't help but feel his talents are a bit wasted on the wing.

[FKAS]

That Saints away kit is grim.

Sam Graham, is there a feeling he's going to play a lot this season. It's otherwise your strongest pack (minis England internationals) I'd have assumed that Hinkley would have started in there.

Be interested to see how Robbie Smith goes, I've got a suspicion he'll end your first choice by the end of the season. He's in McGuigan mould and that should suit Saints down to the ground.

[fivepointer]

Ulster vs Exeter is on the BBC on Friday: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/62724311

Puja

Exeter Chiefs:

15 Facundo Cordero
14 Rory O'Loughlin
13 Ian Whitten
12 Solomone Kata
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Sam Maunder
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Jack Yeandle (capt)
3 Marcus Street
4 Jack Dunne
5 Jonny Gray
6 Richard Capstick
7 Christ Tshiunza
8 Ollie Leatherbarrow

Replacements
Max Norey
James Kenny
Harry Williams
Patrick Schickerling
Rus Tuima
Lewis Pearson
Jack Maunder
Will Becconsall
Chester Ribbons

[Puja]

Tshiunza at 7 is a statement, even for Baxter-ball.

Puja

[FKAS]

Tshiunza at 7 is a statement, even for Baxter-ball.

Puja

Ollie Leatherbarrow playing 8 is handy at the breakdown, suspect it's similar to when they deployed Kvesic at 8.

[Adam_P]

That Saints away kit is grim.

Sam Graham, is there a feeling he's going to play a lot this season. It's otherwise your strongest pack (minis England internationals) I'd have assumed that Hinkley would have started in there.

Be interested to see how Robbie Smith goes, I've got a suspicion he'll end your first choice by the end of the season. He's in McGuigan mould and that should suit Saints down to the ground.

I'm not sure he'll play loads, but will almost certainly be heavily involved during internationals. Starting back row is nailed on as Lawes, Ludlam and Augustus and then I'd probably have him behind Hinkley and Scott-Young for a flank berth. Though he does seem pretty physical so is probably our second choice at 8 similar to how we used Harrison.

[FKAS]

Thanks AP, given how many Prem games internationals will be missing solid club men will be required this season.

Not a great outing for Chiefs. 26-0 down after an hour. Made a decent finish to bring it back to 33-12 at the final whistle but they were second best throughout and their discipline appalling. Be good if they could play like that next weekend.

[fivepointer]

Kata looked pretty good for Exe. Tuima has put in some serious conditioning and had a strong showing. You can see why Jones went for Schickerling. He's very good with the ball.

[FKAS]

Kata looked pretty good for Exe. Tuima has put in some serious conditioning and had a strong showing. You can see why Jones went for Schickerling. He's very good with the ball.

Schickerling definitely gave Chiefs some much needed go forward up front. He scored one and had the penultimate carry for the second. Tuima was pretty handy and an improvement on the starting 7 and 8. Kata looked good but on a different wavelength to the rest of the backline, maybe a more mobile outside centre would have helped get more out of him, Whitten looked his age.

[Peej]

Wasps beat Dragons tonight but it sounds like it was pretty ragged.

[Raggs]

Wasps beat Dragons tonight but it sounds like it was pretty ragged.

Though on the plus side Ryan Mills still isn't injured and seems to have been going well.

[Puja]

Interesting Q&A with the Prem DoRs on the new season: https://12ft.io/proxy?ref=&q=https://ww ... eter-bath/

Puja

[Tigersman]

Borthwick really does say feck all to the media doesn't he.
He will be hated by them if he gets the England job

[FKAS]

Borthwick really does say feck all to the media doesn't he.
He will be hated by them if he gets the England job

If he thinks the questions are boring or generic he gives very short answers. If the question interests him or the interviewer generates a conversation he gives more. Will just mean the media will have to ensure they good Rugby reporters should Borthers get the England job, they wouldn't be handed the headlines like they are with Eddie.

[Stom]

Quins lost 26-21 to Leinster.

arlequins Starting XV

1. Simon Kerrod
2. George Head
3. Will Collier
4. George Hammond
5. Irne Herbst
6. Jack Kenningham
7. Tom Lawday
8. Alex Dombrandt - Captain

9. Lewis Gjaltema
10. Tommy Allan
11. Cadan Murley
12. Lennox Anyanwu
13. Luke Northmore
14. Nick David
15. Tyrone Green

Impact Players:

Joe Marler, Santiago Garcia Botta, Jack Musk, Wilco Louw, Charlie Matthews, Dino Lamb, Archie White, James Chisholm, Will Evans, Scott Steele, Jack Stafford, Jamie Benson, Bryn Bradley, Ross Chisholm, Conor Oresanya

[jimKRFC]

Gloucester lost to Hartpury, 7 - 37
Exeter lost to Cornish Pirates, 14 - 42
Bristol beat Scarlets, 34 - 28

Not sure what sort sides were out out though.

[twitchy]

The exe team was all youngsters (plus simmonds jnr).

[Gloskarlos]

Gloucester lost to Hartpury, 7 - 37
Exeter lost to Cornish Pirates, 14 - 42
Bristol beat Scarlets, 34 - 28

Not sure what sort sides were out out though.

Not quite, Glos ‘B’ side lost to Hartpury, the same day Glos ‘A’ beat Cardiff very easily. Glos A also beat Munster last week pretty easily.

Of note is that Polledri played the whole game for a Glos ‘B’

[Banquo]

Saints side for tomorrow night against Ospreys. Nice physical backrow there. Hoping to see a bit more of Hendy in the first team this season, he is quality. Not sure how we're going to give Freeman, Furbank and Hendy enough time at 15 in seasons to come. I know Freeman has played a lot on the wing, but I can't help but feel his talents are a bit wasted on the wing.

Interesting one on Freeman- I think he could be a great 15, but on the other hand you can give a wing a bit more licence to roam about if you think creatively.

[FKAS]

Saints side for tomorrow night against Ospreys. Nice physical backrow there. Hoping to see a bit more of Hendy in the first team this season, he is quality. Not sure how we're going to give Freeman, Furbank and Hendy enough time at 15 in seasons to come. I know Freeman has played a lot on the wing, but I can't help but feel his talents are a bit wasted on the wing.

Interesting one on Freeman- I think he could be a great 15, but on the other hand you can give a wing a bit more licence to roam about if you think creatively.

Having someone as quick, tall and as good in the air as Freeman on the wing really opens up the crossfield option on that side of the pitch as well. Can really stretch a back three if there's a significant crossfield danger they need to cover.

[Mikey Brown]

Not sure if this should go here or the kits thread, as these two are both horrendous. I had not realised how awful that green stripe would be.

[FKAS]

Not sure if this should go here or the kits thread, as these two are both horrendous. I had not realised how awful that green stripe would be.

What's the marketing bollocks behind the ugly green stripe thing? It can't be that the shirts aren't colourful enough.

[Stom]

Not sure if this should go here or the kits thread, as these two are both horrendous. I had not realised how awful that green stripe would be.

Dang. I thought it looked a really nice kit, but live… those side panels!!! Ouch. Terrible

[Puja]

Not sure if this should go here or the kits thread, as these two are both horrendous. I had not realised how awful that green stripe would be.

Just watched the first half hour or so. Anyanwu looks in good touch - is it assumed that he'll be your starting 12 while Esterhuizen's away with South Africa?

Puja