Exeter vs Northampton - Sat 4.30pm

[Puja]

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 Lukę Cowan-Dickie (capa)
3 Harry Williams
4 Dafydd Jenkins
5 Jack Dunne
6 Dave Ewers
7 Christ Tshiunza
8 Sam Simmonds

Replacements
16 Jack Yeandle
17 James Kenny
18 Josh Iosefa-Scott
19 Ruben van Heerden
20 Greg Fisilau
21 Jack Maunder
22 Harvey Skinner
23 Rory O’Loughlin


15 Tommy Freeman
14 James Ramm
13 Matt Proctor
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Courtnall Skosan
10 George Furbank
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Alex Waller
2 Mike Haywood
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Coles
5 Alex Moon
6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
7 Angus Scott-Young
8 Lewis Ludlam (c)

Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Alfie Petch
19 Karl Wilkins
20 Sam Graham
21 Callum Braley
22 Rory Hutchinson
23 Tom Collins

[Adam_P]

Shame to lose Ribbans - he brought great physicality last week. At least Coles is back with us though. Skosan was very good off the bench last week too - carrying harder into contact that I've seen him do before, hopefully more of the same tomorrow.

Haven't seen much of Exeter lately, but it doesn't sound like they're playing their best rugby at the moment. Hopefully Saints can continue where they left off last week.

[fivepointer]

Exe were poor last week, Saints were very good. Exe do have some key players back and are at home so i expect an improvement. As ever with Saints its about finding consistency.

[FKAS]

Good game for Dingwall to show he's got an improved defence to go with his nice skills. Kata will be running hard and straight looking to get Chiefs on the front foot.

[Mellsblue]

Good game for Dingwall to show he's got an improved defence to go with his nice skills. Kata will be running hard and straight looking to get Chiefs on the front foot.

Dingwall’s strength has always been his d, imo, he just had a dip for the first half of this season. Being moved around between 12 & 13 must make it harder especially as, to the best of my knowledge, he was solely a 13 until last season. Defending with Hutchinson must also be hard work.

[Mellsblue]

Just realised it’s a Bedford School 10 - 12 combo. Saints by 73.

[Adam_P]

Good game for Dingwall to show he's got an improved defence to go with his nice skills. Kata will be running hard and straight looking to get Chiefs on the front foot.

Dingwall’s strength has always been his d, imo, he just had a dip for the first half of this season. Being moved around between 12 & 13 must make it harder especially as, to the best of my knowledge, he was solely a 13 until last season. Defending with Hutchinson must also be hard work.

Aye agreed, Dingwall's defence has always definitely been his main strength both technically and organisationally. I'd say this season his main improvement has been on his attacking play, with lots of intelligent lines being run

[Banquo]

Shame to lose Ribbans - he brought great physicality last week. At least Coles is back with us though. Skosan was very good off the bench last week too - carrying harder into contact that I've seen him do before, hopefully more of the same tomorrow.

Haven't seen much of Exeter lately, but it doesn't sound like they're playing their best rugby at the moment. Hopefully Saints can continue where they left off last week.

I like Furbs at 10 for running the backs, less so for kicking all round.
Interesting to see Freeman at 15; he isn't getting many mentions for England's back three as a starter, but I think he should be.


Tough game for Saints- they need to make sure they take all their chances, rather than 2 out of 3 and defend well all game, rather than for 60 mins.

[Banquo]

Good game for Dingwall to show he's got an improved defence to go with his nice skills. Kata will be running hard and straight looking to get Chiefs on the front foot.

He's a very good defender at 13 - strong inside shoulder and very good drift- , but agreed needs to improve d at 12. Very different proposition tbf ; was interesting how Saints coped with Esterhuizen- namely stationed Ludlam out there to take him early.

[Banquo]

Good game for Dingwall to show he's got an improved defence to go with his nice skills. Kata will be running hard and straight looking to get Chiefs on the front foot.

Dingwall’s strength has always been his d, imo, he just had a dip for the first half of this season. Being moved around between 12 & 13 must make it harder especially as, to the best of my knowledge, he was solely a 13 until last season. Defending with Hutchinson must also be hard work.

Pretty much, though his all round skills with the ball shouldn't be underestimated, and he picks great lines. But yes, he does need to keep improving how he defends at 12- though the system has also improved around him now.

[FKAS]

Good game for Dingwall to show he's got an improved defence to go with his nice skills. Kata will be running hard and straight looking to get Chiefs on the front foot.

Dingwall’s strength has always been his d, imo, he just had a dip for the first half of this season. Being moved around between 12 & 13 must make it harder especially as, to the best of my knowledge, he was solely a 13 until last season. Defending with Hutchinson must also be hard work.

Pretty much, though his all round skills with the ball shouldn't be underestimated, and he picks great lines. But yes, he does need to keep improving how he defends at 12- though the system has also improved around him now.

I'm not underestimating his very good rugby intelligence and decent skillset but international rugby is very physical and he has previously struggled against hard running opposition backs. Would make him difficult to select currently, he really would be targeted by most opposition at that level. He's clever and young enough to sort it all out, Saints soft midfield has been part of the issue with their overall defence. Proctor moving into 13 last weekend certainly helped a bit with that as well.

[Banquo]

Dingwall’s strength has always been his d, imo, he just had a dip for the first half of this season. Being moved around between 12 & 13 must make it harder especially as, to the best of my knowledge, he was solely a 13 until last season. Defending with Hutchinson must also be hard work.

Pretty much, though his all round skills with the ball shouldn't be underestimated, and he picks great lines. But yes, he does need to keep improving how he defends at 12- though the system has also improved around him now.

I'm not underestimating his very good rugby intelligence and decent skillset but international rugby is very physical and he has previously struggled against hard running opposition backs. Would make him difficult to select currently, he really would be targeted by most opposition at that level. He's clever and young enough to sort it all out, Saints soft midfield has been part of the issue with their overall defence. Proctor moving into 13 last weekend certainly helped a bit with that as well.

I was answering Mells, but I’m shocked to find that intl rugby is very physical .

The soft midfield has been more down to Hutchinson tbh. Dingwall is fine at 13, but so is Proctor and that’s the juggle. As twice before, Dingwall is figuring out defence at 12, and it’s a big change from 13z

[FKAS]

Pretty much, though his all round skills with the ball shouldn't be underestimated, and he picks great lines. But yes, he does need to keep improving how he defends at 12- though the system has also improved around him now.

I'm not underestimating his very good rugby intelligence and decent skillset but international rugby is very physical and he has previously struggled against hard running opposition backs. Would make him difficult to select currently, he really would be targeted by most opposition at that level. He's clever and young enough to sort it all out, Saints soft midfield has been part of the issue with their overall defence. Proctor moving into 13 last weekend certainly helped a bit with that as well.

I was answering Mells, but I’m shocked to find that intl rugby is very physical .

The soft midfield has been more down to Hutchinson tbh. Dingwall is fine at 13, but so is Proctor and that’s the juggle. As twice before, Dingwall is figuring out defence at 12, and it’s a big change from 13z

Mells was replying to me though so it made more sense to continue the conversation (at least in my mind).

I don't really remember him being a particularly good defender at 13 either and it's generally more difficult to defend there though there is less head on tackling. Even when playing 13 he'd shuffle into 12 to defend if partnered with Hutchinson. It's just technique and maybe the need for a bit more aggression.

[Banquo]

I'm not underestimating his very good rugby intelligence and decent skillset but international rugby is very physical and he has previously struggled against hard running opposition backs. Would make him difficult to select currently, he really would be targeted by most opposition at that level. He's clever and young enough to sort it all out, Saints soft midfield has been part of the issue with their overall defence. Proctor moving into 13 last weekend certainly helped a bit with that as well.

I was answering Mells, but I’m shocked to find that intl rugby is very physical .

The soft midfield has been more down to Hutchinson tbh. Dingwall is fine at 13, but so is Proctor and that’s the juggle. As twice before, Dingwall is figuring out defence at 12, and it’s a big change from 13z

Mells was replying to me though so it made more sense to continue the conversation (at least in my mind).

I don't really remember him being a particularly good defender at 13 either and it's generally more difficult to defend there though there is less head on tackling. Even when playing 13 he'd shuffle into 12 to defend if partnered with Hutchinson. It's just technique and maybe the need for a bit more aggression.

He’s a very good defender at 13- whilst it’s trickier on decision making and pushes you on acceleration it’s generally less physical…..but more importantly, very different. At a lower level, the strongest part of my game at 13 was defence, but found 12 more challenging. He has excellent technique and if anything too keen on gainline aggression rather than absorbing the hit. When playing with Hutchinson he is picked at 13 to defend there, but often at ic in attack. Recollections may vary.

[Mellsblue]

Good game for Dingwall to show he's got an improved defence to go with his nice skills. Kata will be running hard and straight looking to get Chiefs on the front foot.

Dingwall’s strength has always been his d, imo, he just had a dip for the first half of this season. Being moved around between 12 & 13 must make it harder especially as, to the best of my knowledge, he was solely a 13 until last season. Defending with Hutchinson must also be hard work.

Aye agreed, Dingwall's defence has always definitely been his main strength both technically and organisationally. I'd say this season his main improvement has been on his attacking play, with lots of intelligent lines being run

Agreed.

[Mellsblue]

I'm not underestimating his very good rugby intelligence and decent skillset but international rugby is very physical and he has previously struggled against hard running opposition backs. Would make him difficult to select currently, he really would be targeted by most opposition at that level. He's clever and young enough to sort it all out, Saints soft midfield has been part of the issue with their overall defence. Proctor moving into 13 last weekend certainly helped a bit with that as well.

I was answering Mells, but I’m shocked to find that intl rugby is very physical .

The soft midfield has been more down to Hutchinson tbh. Dingwall is fine at 13, but so is Proctor and that’s the juggle. As twice before, Dingwall is figuring out defence at 12, and it’s a big change from 13z

Mells was replying to me though so it made more sense to continue the conversation (at least in my mind).

I don't really remember him being a particularly good defender at 13 either and it's generally more difficult to defend there though there is less head on tackling. Even when playing 13 he'd shuffle into 12 to defend if partnered with Hutchinson. It's just technique and maybe the need for a bit more aggression.

This is very flattering, gents, but I’m spoken for.

[Mellsblue]

Tompkins name checking Dingers for the quality of his decision making at the line on this week’s The Ruck podcast.

[Banquo]

Tompkins name checking Dingers for the quality of his decision making at the line on this week’s The Ruck podcast.

He’s always been good there since schooldays at Bedford

[Mellsblue]

Tompkins name checking Dingers for the quality of his decision making at the line on this week’s The Ruck podcast.

He’s always been good there because of schooldays at Bedford

FTFY

[Adam_P]

Poor first 5 mins from Saints - though Dingwall did deliver a scrum through his masterful defence

[Adam_P]

Skosan was very good off the bench last week too - carrying harder into contact that I've seen him do before, hopefully more of the same tomorrow.

Bounced the tackler with his first carry. Where has this power carrying been until now?

[Banquo]

Saints doing everything their coach will have told them not too. Compounded by a poor decision from Freeman. Long afternoon with these mental errors I think.

[Adam_P]

Aye, looking very passive in contact too. Stark contrast to last week. Baffling how we swing so far one way to the other.

[Banquo]

Aye, looking very passive in contact too. Stark contrast to last week. Baffling how we swing so far one way to the other.

Mitchell having a shocker.

[Banquo]

Saints suicidal play- if LCD's darts were any good they'd be down by 40.