Saracens vs Exeter - Sat 3pm

[Puja]

Saracens Men team to play Exeter Chiefs:

1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Marco Riccioni
4 Maro Itoje
5 Nick Isiekwe
6 Andy Christie
7 Jackson Wray
8 Billy Vunipola

9 Ivan van Zyl
10 Owen Farrell (c)
11 Sean Maitland
12 Nick Tompkins
13 Elliot Daly
14 Max Malins
15 Alex Goode

Replacements:

16 Kapeli Pifeleti
17 Eroni Mawi
18 Eduardo Bello
19. Hugh Tizard
20 Ben Earl
21 Aled Davies
22 Alex Lozowski
23 Alex Lewington



15 Josh Hodge
14 Jack Nowell
13. Henry Slade
12 Solomone Kata
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Joe Simmonds
9 Sam Maunder

1 Scott Sio
2 Jack Yeandle (capt)
3 Harry Williams
4 Ruben van Heerden
5 Jonny Gray
6 Santiago Grondona
7 Christ Tshiunza
8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements:

16 Dan Frost
17 Josh Iosefa-Scott
18 Patrick Schickerling
19 Jack Dunne
20 Lewis Pearson
21 Tom Cairns
22 Tom Hendrickson
23 Rory O'Loughlin

[Puja]

Fun to see Fisilau starting for Exeter, although that's a very awkward looking back row withiut a pacy linker at 8.

Shouldn't Earl be suspended after his red card?

Puja

[Banquo]

Fun to see Fisilau starting for Exeter, although that's a very awkward looking back row withiut a pacy linker at 8.

Shouldn't Earl be suspended after his red card?

Puja

Red card overturned

[Oakboy]

Daly v Slade could be interesting. Might it suggest whether either or both belong in that shirt for club or country, rather than Daly at 11/14 and Slade at 12, for example. Both clubs have their own reasoning obviously. Mind you, Slade's attention might drift to Farrell, in the 10 shirt for Saracens. Might Slade believe that, regardless of shirt numbers, he is a better second playmaker, for example. It will be interesting to get Borthwick's take on the three when the team is announced for the 1st 6N match. I wonder what odds the bookies would give on none of the three being in the 23, or all of them.

[FKAS]

Slade has played most his games for England at 13. He's a very good defender in the 13 channel. I'm not his biggest fan and Daly blows hot and cold irrespective of where he plays. I'm not overly bothered whether either are kept in the England squad or not.

[Banquo]

Slade has played most his games for England at 13. He's a very good defender in the 13 channel. I'm not his biggest fan and Daly blows hot and cold irrespective of where he plays. I'm not overly bothered whether either are kept in the England squad or not.

He's become good defending in the 13 channel, but still bites in when he doesn't need to; Daly's defence at 13 is plain poor.

I really would have liked to see Slade have a proper go at 12, but I think that time has passed.

[Mellsblue]

The idea that Farrell’s kick has anything to do with Christie’s turnover is laughable.

[Banquo]

The idea that Farrell’s kick has anything to do with Christie’s turnover is laughable.

Some nice variation from Sarries in the Exeter 22, but other than that an error fest, albeit in tricky conditions.

[Mellsblue]

Interesting that Exe have seemingly reversed their policy on Nowell playing on plastic pitches.

Josh Hodge!

[Mellsblue]

Very nice from Farrell!

[Mellsblue]

Dallaglio’s love for his babysitter knows no bounds.

[Puja]

Dallaglio’s love for his babysitter knows no bounds.

Turned it on just in time to see the last try. Turned it off a few minutes later just in time before Dallaglio's enthusiastic verbal fellating made me vomit.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Rarely get that irritated watching games but this one made me comment out loud on a number of occasions. The moronic commentary of Dallaglio & Monye would test anyone's patience, plus Exeter were badly done to by officials who only had eyes for their indiscretions.
Saracens won the game with something to spare. Exeter werent really on it and offered very little. Thought Fisilau gave a good account of himself.

[Banquo]

Rarely get that irritated watching games but this one made me comment out loud on a number of occasions. The moronic commentary of Dallaglio & Monye would test anyone's patience, plus Exeter were badly done to by officials who only had eyes for their indiscretions.
Saracens won the game with something to spare. Exeter werent really on it and offered very little. Thought Fisilau gave a good account of himself.

Yep dayglo was particularly bad.

Exeter hammered by Sarries and the ref. Sarries England lads went well I thought, and in fairness, Faz did an awful lot well, in conditions pretty much made for him.

[p/d]

Didn’t see the game (and don’t enjoy watching rugby on that pitch) but how did Billy go with ball in hand. Jog or charge into contact?

[Spiffy]

Rarely get that irritated watching games but this one made me comment out loud on a number of occasions. The moronic commentary of Dallaglio & Monye would test anyone's patience, plus Exeter were badly done to by officials who only had eyes for their indiscretions.
Saracens won the game with something to spare. Exeter werent really on it and offered very little. Thought Fisilau gave a good account of himself.

Yep dayglo was particularly bad.

Exeter hammered by Sarries and the ref. Sarries England lads went well I thought, and in fairness, Faz did an awful lot well, in conditions pretty much made for him.

Yes - Lol is proper fick, innit.
And Farrell is a proper 10 but not a 12. Playing club rugby every week at 10 is poor preparation for international rugby at 12 anyway.

[Banquo]

Rarely get that irritated watching games but this one made me comment out loud on a number of occasions. The moronic commentary of Dallaglio & Monye would test anyone's patience, plus Exeter were badly done to by officials who only had eyes for their indiscretions.
Saracens won the game with something to spare. Exeter werent really on it and offered very little. Thought Fisilau gave a good account of himself.

Yep dayglo was particularly bad.

Exeter hammered by Sarries and the ref. Sarries England lads went well I thought, and in fairness, Faz did an awful lot well, in conditions pretty much made for him.

Yes - Lol is proper fick, innit.
And Farrell is a proper 10 but not a 12. Playing club rugby every week at 10 is poor preparation for international rugby at 12 anyway.

Yup. Decent club 10.

[Banquo]

Didn’t see the game (and don’t enjoy watching rugby on that pitch) but how did Billy go with ball in hand. Jog or charge into contact?

Billy was pretty good, but he generally is. He is a bit careless with the ball sometimes

[Epaminondas Pules]

Rarely get that irritated watching games but this one made me comment out loud on a number of occasions. The moronic commentary of Dallaglio & Monye would test anyone's patience, plus Exeter were badly done to by officials who only had eyes for their indiscretions.
Saracens won the game with something to spare. Exeter werent really on it and offered very little. Thought Fisilau gave a good account of himself.

Very impressed with Fisilau. Prem debut at a new club, 19 years old, against Sarries. Made 25 tackles, 7 carries, full 80 minutes! Proper shift in a losing team.

[FKAS]

Rarely get that irritated watching games but this one made me comment out loud on a number of occasions. The moronic commentary of Dallaglio & Monye would test anyone's patience, plus Exeter were badly done to by officials who only had eyes for their indiscretions.
Saracens won the game with something to spare. Exeter werent really on it and offered very little. Thought Fisilau gave a good account of himself.

Very impressed with Fisilau. Prem debut at a new club, 19 years old, against Sarries. Made 25 tackles, 7 carries, full 80 minutes! Proper shift in a losing team.

I'd like to see an 8 make more carries but his team were under the pump and you can't say he didn't get involved. Looks like he's got a bright future, good pick up by Baxter.

[Oakboy]

Exeter were outplayed at artificial pitch rugby in bad conditions. Credit to Saracens for exploiting their expertise to the full. The comparative experience and nous of the two back rows highlighted the difference in application of the two teams. Ironically, given a year's experience, I think that Exeter trio would reverse the advantage. They could be special.

[oldbackrow]

Quick question as I didn't see the game, was Farrell just as petulant as he has been the last couple of games I've seen, was Itoje a bit more controlled in his hollering and screeching and how did him and Iseikwe work against what looked like a slightly weaker pack?

[Banquo]

Quick question as I didn't see the game, was Farrell just as petulant as he has been the last couple of games I've seen, was Itoje a bit more controlled in his hollering and screeching and how did him and Iseikwe work against what looked like a slightly weaker pack?

He was more measured, except for one spat with his own 9 for having the temerity to pass to him- albeit it was a bad option . He played pretty well, and probably deserved his MOTM- good club 10.