Northampton vs Exeter - Sunday 3pm

[Puja]

On a side note, how good was George Hendy? I hadn't seen much of him before this game, but he looks a very awkward player to tackle.

Puja

[Adam_P]

Hendy has always looked dangerous going forward, but to me always previously seemed a bit chaotic and not confidence inspiring. He seems to be putting that to bed and maturing into his role in the first team nicely. He runs with a big stride and is deceptively strong in contact, both of which made him awkward to tackle.

[Banquo]

Hendy has always looked dangerous going forward, but to me always previously seemed a bit chaotic and not confidence inspiring. He seems to be putting that to bed and maturing into his role in the first team nicely. He runs with a big stride and is deceptively strong in contact, both of which made him awkward to tackle.

He still needs to calm down a bit tbh, but he has a lot of running talent.

[FKAS]

Hendy has always looked dangerous going forward, but to me always previously seemed a bit chaotic and not confidence inspiring. He seems to be putting that to bed and maturing into his role in the first team nicely. He runs with a big stride and is deceptively strong in contact, both of which made him awkward to tackle.

Considering he's 6ft3 he's got some great footwork from him going into contact, gives him that pin ball effect. Exciting talent.

[Mellsblue]

Goldington Road Finishing School grad….

[Banquo]

Hendy has always looked dangerous going forward, but to me always previously seemed a bit chaotic and not confidence inspiring. He seems to be putting that to bed and maturing into his role in the first team nicely. He runs with a big stride and is deceptively strong in contact, both of which made him awkward to tackle.

Considering he's 6ft3 he's got some great footwork from him going into contact, gives him that pin ball effect. Exciting talent.

blimey, didn't have him as being 6ft 3....

[Puja]

Hendy has always looked dangerous going forward, but to me always previously seemed a bit chaotic and not confidence inspiring. He seems to be putting that to bed and maturing into his role in the first team nicely. He runs with a big stride and is deceptively strong in contact, both of which made him awkward to tackle.

Considering he's 6ft3 he's got some great footwork from him going into contact, gives him that pin ball effect. Exciting talent.

blimey, didn't have him as being 6ft 3....

I can believe it. He's got that gangly giraffe-like thing of having too many elbows and knees when he runs.

Puja

[Slater582]

Agreed on FSmith - while he might not be in our top 2 fly-halves just yet, he's certainly far too good to let Scotland get their hands on.

Puja

He's easily out fourth best and given his age profile and potential it shouldn't be long before he moves up that pecking order. Scotland getting their hands on him would benefit them and hamper our rebuild into the next world cup.

Fin Smith said this in an interview after the Exeter game.

“I saw Steve (Borthwick) on the big screen at one point and thought ‘oh s***!’. He dropped me a nice message after the game to say he thought it went well, which was good,” Smith said.

“I set out a few goals for myself at the start of the season and at the top of that list was getting a cap for England this season. It’s a cliché answer but I’ve got to make sure I’m doing well for my club and hopefully the recognition will come from Steve.”

“There are some brilliant fly-halves ahead of me in Owen, George and Marcus, but if the opportunity came I’d be delighted and more than ready to go,” said Smith, who joined Saints after Worcester’s financial collapse last season. I’ve got so many things I need to keep working at to get to the level of Owen, George and Marcus.

“I’ve just got to focus on playing well. Selection if I get picked would be great, if not I’ll just keep working hard. Hopefully I’ll get there eventually.”

“Steve has given me the feedback that I have a strong kicking game and I can manage a game quite well,” he said. The way we play at Northampton traditionally has been to move the ball and run a lot. Steve felt he hadn’t seen as much of my kicking game when I’ve been playing for Northampton so he’s challenged me to find ways to control matches with my kicking, while continuing to find space, which he thinks is one of my big strengths.

“So this season I’ve been working really hard to find a balance of when to run and do the stuff that people associate with Northampton, but when the opportunities aren’t there to put pressure on the opposition with a chip in behind or trying to find grass with my boot.”

Obviously good to hear his ambition is to play for England. Farrell & Ford are over 30 and other than Marcus Smith, this lad seems the best prospect in the position.

Surely you guys will start him in the A game?

If he's fit at the time, you would think he'd at least make the bench.

[p/d]

......."Steve felt he hadn’t seen as much of my kicking game when I’ve been playing for Northampton so he’s challenged me to find ways to control matches with my kicking,...."

Brilliant

[Puja]

......."Steve felt he hadn’t seen as much of my kicking game when I’ve been playing for Northampton so he’s challenged me to find ways to control matches with my kicking,...."

Brilliant

Yeah, that leapt out at me as well. I'm trying so hard to be optimistic about a new start for England in the 6N, Steve, why are you making it so hard for me?

Puja

[p/d]

......."Steve felt he hadn’t seen as much of my kicking game when I’ve been playing for Northampton so he’s challenged me to find ways to control matches with my kicking,...."

Brilliant

Yeah, that leapt out at me as well. I'm trying so hard to be optimistic about a new start for England in the 6N, Steve, why are you making it so hard for me?

Puja

I know!!! I keep thinking we will be whizzing the ball through the hands, attacking space and applauding deft hands and counting off the conversions............. and then I wake up

[Mellsblue]

......."Steve felt he hadn’t seen as much of my kicking game when I’ve been playing for Northampton so he’s challenged me to find ways to control matches with my kicking,...."

Brilliant

I literally* vomited in my mouth when I read this.

*in the newfangled sense of the word, ie metaphorically.

[Mikey Brown]

I know you have to score loads of tries to make up for your atrocious defence, but have you considered just hoofing the ball up in the air instead?

[FKAS]

......."Steve felt he hadn’t seen as much of my kicking game when I’ve been playing for Northampton so he’s challenged me to find ways to control matches with my kicking,...."

Brilliant

Yeah, that leapt out at me as well. I'm trying so hard to be optimistic about a new start for England in the 6N, Steve, why are you making it so hard for me?

Puja

To be fair it's one of two elements that has held Northampton back. Inability to control the game when the attack doesn't rip the opposition to shreds and defence. If Fin starts showing that controlling game management then Saints will benefit and it'll bode well for international duty where even the most flair flyhalfs have to display those skills (Russell for instance is incredible at it). Game management being the aspect of flyhalf play that develops with experience as well.

I'm more pleased that Borthwick is clearly identifying the next generation of talent and working with them to polish their skill sets with clear work ons as opposed to the old Eddie pick and drop without reason.

[Mellsblue]

......."Steve felt he hadn’t seen as much of my kicking game when I’ve been playing for Northampton so he’s challenged me to find ways to control matches with my kicking,...."

Brilliant

Yeah, that leapt out at me as well. I'm trying so hard to be optimistic about a new start for England in the 6N, Steve, why are you making it so hard for me?

Puja

To be fair it's one of two elements that has held Northampton back. Inability to control the game when the attack doesn't rip the opposition to shreds and defence.

#justice4biggar

[Banquo]

......."Steve felt he hadn’t seen as much of my kicking game when I’ve been playing for Northampton so he’s challenged me to find ways to control matches with my kicking,...."

Brilliant

Yeah, that leapt out at me as well. I'm trying so hard to be optimistic about a new start for England in the 6N, Steve, why are you making it so hard for me?

Puja

To be fair it's one of two elements that has held Northampton back. Inability to control the game when the attack doesn't rip the opposition to shreds and defence. If Fin starts showing that controlling game management then Saints will benefit and it'll bode well for international duty where even the most flair flyhalfs have to display those skills (Russell for instance is incredible at it). Game management being the aspect of flyhalf play that develops with experience as well.

I'm more pleased that Borthwick is clearly identifying the next generation of talent and working with them to polish their skill sets with clear work ons as opposed to the old Eddie pick and drop without reason.

There are at least three elements in that case.

And Eddie was not short on work on advice. I'd be more inclined to note that players failed to do it, ne'er to return. I'd hope Slightly Biased has been clear with the likes of Freeman, (Hardy) and Willis about what they need to do.

[p/d]

Yeah, that leapt out at me as well. I'm trying so hard to be optimistic about a new start for England in the 6N, Steve, why are you making it so hard for me?

Puja

To be fair it's one of two elements that has held Northampton back. Inability to control the game when the attack doesn't rip the opposition to shreds and defence. If Fin starts showing that controlling game management then Saints will benefit and it'll bode well for international duty where even the most flair flyhalfs have to display those skills (Russell for instance is incredible at it). Game management being the aspect of flyhalf play that develops with experience as well.

I'm more pleased that Borthwick is clearly identifying the next generation of talent and working with them to polish their skill sets with clear work ons as opposed to the old Eddie pick and drop without reason.

There are at least three elements in that case.

And Eddie was not short on work on advice. I'd be more inclined to note that players failed to do it, ne'er to return. I'd hope Slightly Biased has been clear with the likes of Freeman, (Hardy) and Willis about what they need to do.

absolute cobblers

[Oakboy]

Armstrong getting a 3 week ban (reduced by one for the indoctrination course that Farrell failed) seems a bit OTT.

[Mikey Brown]

Armstrong getting a 3 week ban (reduced by one for the indoctrination course that Farrell failed) seems a bit OTT.

I was going to say something about going back to actually enforcing punishments now the RWC is over, but just saw this.

https://x.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/17 ... 25633?s=20

It's one of those odd ones you have to assume it can't be as intentional as it looks, as it's so incredibly dumb and obvious. I'd love to see the other angle and where he is looking. I'd argue for several months if that is an intentional elbow to the face of a falling player. Maybe Farrell did more damage than we realised.

Sorry. Way off topic at this point.

[FKAS]

Armstrong getting a 3 week ban (reduced by one for the indoctrination course that Farrell failed) seems a bit OTT.

I was going to say something about going back to actually enforcing punishments now the RWC is over, but just saw this.

https://x.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/17 ... 25633?s=20

It's one of those odd ones you have to assume it can't be as intentional as it looks, as it's so incredibly dumb and obvious. I'd love to see the other angle and where he is looking. I'd argue for several months if that is an intentional elbow to the face of a falling player. Maybe Farrell did more damage than we realised.

Sorry. Way off topic at this point.

Even Basham's coach didn't bother defending that one.

[FKAS]

Yeah, that leapt out at me as well. I'm trying so hard to be optimistic about a new start for England in the 6N, Steve, why are you making it so hard for me?

Puja

To be fair it's one of two elements that has held Northampton back. Inability to control the game when the attack doesn't rip the opposition to shreds and defence.

#justice4biggar

He was decent, when he wasn't broken or playing for Wales.

[Banquo]

To be fair it's one of two elements that has held Northampton back. Inability to control the game when the attack doesn't rip the opposition to shreds and defence. If Fin starts showing that controlling game management then Saints will benefit and it'll bode well for international duty where even the most flair flyhalfs have to display those skills (Russell for instance is incredible at it). Game management being the aspect of flyhalf play that develops with experience as well.

I'm more pleased that Borthwick is clearly identifying the next generation of talent and working with them to polish their skill sets with clear work ons as opposed to the old Eddie pick and drop without reason.

There are at least three elements in that case.

And Eddie was not short on work on advice. I'd be more inclined to note that players failed to do it, ne'er to return. I'd hope Slightly Biased has been clear with the likes of Freeman, (Hardy) and Willis about what they need to do.

absolute cobblers

well it is Northampton

[Mellsblue]

To be fair it's one of two elements that has held Northampton back. Inability to control the game when the attack doesn't rip the opposition to shreds and defence.

#justice4biggar

He was decent, when he wasn't broken or playing for Wales.

He was better than decent and averaged 20 club appearances per season which is better than Ford and Farrell over the same period…

[Banquo]

#justice4biggar

He was decent, when he wasn't broken or playing for Wales.

He was better than decent and averaged 20 club appearances per season which is better than Ford and Farrell over the same period…

Very highly regarded at Saints on and off the park.

[FKAS]

#justice4biggar

He was decent, when he wasn't broken or playing for Wales.

He was better than decent and averaged 20 club appearances per season which is better than Ford and Farrell over the same period…

All Rugby has it 69 games for Saints, if we discount the short fifth season that's 66 games in four seasons or 16.5 games a season. Not a bad return for an international to be fair to him.

He (particularly in that final full season) didn't finish some important games. Leaving both East Midlands Derbies he played in early with knocks, one being the Prem Semi final and both being losses. Getting sent off Vs Glaws in the Challenge Cup.

Quality player but Saints definitely allowed him to move on at the right time. He didn't shy away from putting his body on the line and it told.