Northampton vs Quins - Friday night

[Puja]

Northampton Saints: 15 George Hendy, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 James Ramm, 10 George Furbank, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Lewis Ludlam (c), 7 Tom Pearson, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Alex Coles, 4 Chunya Munga, 3 Trevor Davison, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Ethan Waller
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Tom Lockett, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Tom James, 22 Charlie Savala, 23 Tom Litchfield

Harlequins: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Louis Lynagh, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c), 7 Will Evans, 6 Dino Lamb, 5 George Hammond, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Fin Baxter
Replacements: 16 Nathan Jibulu, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 Chandler Cunningham-South, 20 James Chisholm, 21 Will Porter, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Oscar Beard

Venue: cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Referee: TBC
Assistant Referees: TBC
TMO: TBC

[FKAS]

Shame this isn't a face off of the Smiths. Not sure Furbank has the game management to undo Quins. Will Evans will have watched Reffell destroy Saints at the breakdown last weekend and be eager to repeat the feat.

I'm expecting tries.

[Banquo]

Shame this isn't a face off of the Smiths. Not sure Furbank has the game management to undo Quins. Will Evans will have watched Reffell destroy Saints at the breakdown last weekend and be eager to repeat the feat.

I'm expecting tries.

Quick backline for Saints though. You'd think with that backrow they should be able to adjust tbh. Underperforming so far, Saints imo

[Oakboy]

Freeman still at 13 so presumably judged to be a success there so far??

[p/d]

Two fb’s playing 10.
Should be fun

[Adam_P]

I just knew as soon as Grayson left Smith would get injured.

Two very tasty backlines going head to head, should be a cracker

[Mellsblue]

Good to see Northampton upgrade at 10. There I was thinking Ford vs Finn was the test class 10 battle to watch this weekend.
If Litchfield replaces Freeman at any point then it’s an all Bedford midfield. Insert aubergine emoji here.

[FKAS]

Shame this isn't a face off of the Smiths. Not sure Furbank has the game management to undo Quins. Will Evans will have watched Reffell destroy Saints at the breakdown last weekend and be eager to repeat the feat.

I'm expecting tries.

Quick backline for Saints though. You'd think with that backrow they should be able to adjust tbh. Underperforming so far, Saints imo

Both backlines look pretty rapid to be fair.

You'd hope with the quality Saints have in the backrow plus a week spent working on the areas of issue from last weekend they'd be better. Lawes is a very underrated threat at the breakdown. Pearson was very quiet Vs Tigers and got replaced earlier than I suspect he would have liked. I wouldn't be surprised to see him try and make a statement.

[Banquo]

Freeman still at 13 so presumably judged to be a success there so far??

yep, from what I've heard- he was brilliant against us in the prem cup, but then we are a newly promoted semi pro side getting a stuffing from the pro teams week in week out.

A Dingers/Tommy midfield is the future

[fivepointer]

Always like this fixture. 2 sides who like to play. Should be a good watch.

[twitchy]

Some good stuff so far.

[FKAS]

Great finish from Murley but Mitchell gets bumped off a bit easy. It was Puma winger esque from Murley.

Poor missed tackle from Smith for the Saints riposte. Dingwall maybe lucky to not get pinged for that dummy line but it's a one on one side on tackle Smith slides off. Nice Sam Vesty planned set piece move though.

End to end game so far. Encore.

[Adam_P]

Furbank is doing a good defensive shift on Esterhuizen so far.

Saints need to improve accuracy in the wide channels going forward. A few promising moves ended and changed into Quins counter attack because of balls not going to hand

[FKAS]

Tough early double sub for Saints losing Ludlam and Ramm.

[oldbackrow]

I've never liked Healey as a pundit, but is it just me or is he getting worse (and getting more things wrong than right!)

[Adam_P]

Hendy has had another impressive game - strong running, safe under high balls and some intelligent play

[Adam_P]

After a very odd Quins decision not to kick goal from a very kickable pen to get a LBP, Mitchell decided to gift them one anyway

[FKAS]

After a very odd Quins decision not to kick goal from a very kickable pen to get a LBP, Mitchell decided to gift them one anyway

Bit of a howler from Mitchell. Saints have at least got a stout enough defence to keep Quins in their 22 from the kick off this season. The new defence coach has definitely improved the first up tackling.

[Banquo]

Furbank is doing a good defensive shift on Esterhuizen so far.

Saints need to improve accuracy in the wide channels going forward. A few promising moves ended and changed into Quins counter attack because of balls not going to hand

they dont look after the ball well, frustrating 4 coach

[Banquo]

Mitchell was pretty average tbh. Some nice running from Saints, but careless handling could have cost them, along with getting isolated. Coles very handy in the loose.

[Spiffy]

Hendy has had another impressive game - strong running, safe under high balls and some intelligent play

Hendy is very handy. A good all-rounder and a tough nut with decent gas too. Just the kind of fresh face that should probably be fast tracked into the England training squad and shake them up a bit. I had him down as MOTM but Furbank, who did particularly well in defence, pipped him.

[Mellsblue]

Hendy has had another impressive game - strong running, safe under high balls and some intelligent play

Hendy is very handy. A good all-rounder and a tough nut with decent gas too. Just the kind of fresh face that should probably be fast tracked into the England training squad and shake them up a bit. I had him down as MOTM but Furbank, who did particularly well in defence, pipped him.

Beeeeedfooooord.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Fun game that. Will Evans continues to impress and impress. Pearson had a better game this week. Freeman was fun but some very iffy handling in some wide situations. Furbank the better 10. Liked a lot of Baxter’s work.

[fivepointer]

Highly entertaining game with plenty to enjoy.

Hendy does look a good player. Developing nicely. Good to see Sleightholme back looking pretty sharp.