London Irish Vs Saracens - Friday 7.45pm

[FKAS]

London Irish: 15 Ben Loader, 14 Lucio Cinti, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Benhard van Rensburg, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ben White, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Mike Willemse, 3 Oliver Hoskins, 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 5 Adam Coleman (c), 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Tom Pearson, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o.

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Ciaran Parker, 19 Chunya Munga, 20 Rob Simmons, 21 Chandler Cunningham-South, 22 Caolan Englefield, 23 Rory Jennings.

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Ivan Van Zyl; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Tom Woolstencroft, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Andy Christie, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola

Replacements: 16 Kapeli Pifeleti, 17 Robin Hislop, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Andrew Kitchener, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Max Malins

Even with a weakened Sarries pack and then being away from home I can't see past them for this one. Can see LI maybe grabbing a couple of bonus points though.

[fivepointer]

Irish play such attractive rugby that you really hope they start winning more games. Tonight would be nice but Saracens are in a relentless groove right now.

[twitchy]

Nasty knock out.

[FKAS]

The LI discipline is shocking. The number 8 a liability conceding three of their four inside 15 mins. Then Coleman nearly removes Woolstencroft's head, he immediately asked the ref to stop the game and showed a lot of concern that's how bad it is.

[Oakboy]

Inevitable red card. Sad, though. I was enjoying the game. I doubt I'll watch it all now. 65 minutes, a man short, spoils it.

[FKAS]

Ben Earl with a red card. That makes it spicy.

[FKAS]

LI were the better team with 14 as well.

[Oakboy]

Might stay with it now.

[FKAS]

Moronic bit of play by LI time wasting gives Sarries the chance to bring it closer. Bit of handbags after and it's refreshingly a penalty given for dickhead celebrations after the try is scored.

[Oakboy]

The lack of discipline is astounding. The ref is doing well considering it all. A weaker ref could have lost control. Both captains should be thoroughly ashamed, Coleman for the horrendous high tackle and Farrell for his mouth and attitude. It's easy to understand why so many dislike Saracens. They seem to go out of their way to be offensive.

[padprop]

Jennings always been class whenever I’ve seen him play, funny old career. 26 and has played for 7 clubs. Think he’s found his feet at Irish

[padprop]

Message board curse…

[padprop]

Love to see what Pearson could do in the 6N…

[FKAS]

Good result for LI. Not even a losing bonus point for Sarries though they've got enough points on the board already not to be to concerned.

Borthwick might well have been there to look at Earl but he ended up watching Pearson. He does like a combative and mobile forward.

[Timbo]

Love to see what Pearson could do in the 6N…

He’s one of those who just looks to have ‘it’, whatever ‘it’ is, doesn’t he? He’s got the perfect build and game of a modern backrow forward.

[stepsider]

Great defence by LI but Saracens' inability to score tries against 12 men (post cards) was weird. Or maybe it was just Farrell and co. showing their age/lack of line-breaking skills.

Loader looked good and Joseph the younger looking sharp until retiring hurt, which was a shame. Wouldn't be surprised to see one or both feature for England next year.

[Puja]

What a fantastically fun game that was. I wasn't expecting much from that, but Irish are so relentlessly positive in attack that they made a game of it even with their discipline.

Farrell was dire for Saracens. Continually copping an attitude to the referee and, as Carley himself put it, "setting a bad example for the rest of the team." Worst bit was when Irish were down to 12 and he tried to go for it himself and got bundled backwards, slowing the game down and changing a certain try into a slow grind that Irish eventually turned over.

Thought Carley had a fantastic game in general. Full marks for changing free-kick to pen and then marching back 20m for chopsing, excellent call on Irish time-wasting to run down the yellows, got the big decisions right, and generally communicated very well and kept the game flowing. The commentators can piss off with their take on Earl's red of, "He hasn't got time to react, what's he meant to do?" - he has time to choose to throw his shoulder in with a tucked arm. It's not a case that he didn't have time to raise his arm - he's chosen to go with a pointed shoulder and, while he wasn't aiming for the head, that action's still one that's looking to hurt someone.

Puja

[FKAS]

Agree on Carley. Got all the big decisions right. Good night at the office for him.

Agree about the Sarries attack, was so stodgy and boring. Daly and Farrell got talked up pre game but neither brought much to the table. The Loader and OHC combination for LI was livewire and are we 100% van Rensburg can't qualify for England? Our MPs aren't exactly the most ethical bunch I'm sure one can sort him out a passport to help the national team.

[fivepointer]

Carley was very good. Got the red cards exactly right. Are refs starting to stamp on players chat and excessive appealing? Hope so, its about time.
Saracens were off key but you had to admire the way Irish dug in and score a terrific clinching try.
Pearson was just excellent. Lot to like about him. OH-C is looking a more rounded player and did his reputation no harm at all.

[twitchy]

Yep pearson definitely has something about him.

[p/d]

As we say it needs a captain to rally and galvanise his players. Such an important role

[Banquo]

As we say it needs a captain to rally and galvanise his players. Such an important role

shows what happens with a sh*t captain, I'd say.

[p/d]

As we say it needs a captain to rally and galvanise his players. Such an important role

shows what happens with a sh*t captain, I'd say.

what are you saying!!!! Owen not a good leader? So it is his kicking then

[Banquo]

As we say it needs a captain to rally and galvanise his players. Such an important role

shows what happens with a sh*t captain, I'd say.

what are you saying!!!! Owen not a good leader? So it is his kicking then

He’s not even especially good at that It’s being a gritty northerner….

[FKAS]

Pearson was just excellent. Lot to like about him. OH-C is looking a more rounded player and did his reputation no harm at all.

If I was being picky, and I am, then OHC has got to look at his kicking technique. He got poor accuracy and distance from a number of his kicks because he wasn't making good contact. It's an area he'll need to tighten up if he wants to play internationally and in the form he's in that's very much on the cards.

The question with Pearson is, can he play in a backrow with Curry? If not it might be tough for him to force a way into the side.