Sarries vs Saints - Ludlam starts!?!

[Puja]

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY SARACENS
Aviva Premiership Round 1
Twickenham
Saturday, September 2nd, 2017
Kick off 2:00pm
15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Ben Foden
13 Nafi Tuitavake
12 Luther Burrell
11 Tom Collins
10 Harry Mallinder
9 Nic Groom
1 Alex Waller
2 Dylan Hartley (capt)
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Courtney Lawes
5 Christian Day
6 Tom Wood
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Mitch Eadie

16 Mikey Haywood
17 Campese Ma’afu
18 Paul Hill
19 David Ribbans
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Alex Mitchell
22 James Grayson
23 Ken Pisi

[Puja]

Saracens Team to face Northampton Saints

15 Alex Goode (231)

14 Sean Maitland (21)

13 Duncan Taylor (102)

12 Brad Barritt (c) (195)

11 Nathan Earle (19)

10 Alex Lozowski (31)

9 Richard Wigglesworth (186)

1 Richard Barrington (108)

2 Schalk Brits (205)

3 Vincent Koch (16)

4 Dominic Day (0)

5 George Kruis (137)

6 Maro Itoje (75)

7 Schalk Burger (26)

8 Jackson Wray (173)

Replacements

16 Scott Spurling (22)

17 Hayden Thompson-Stringer (9)

18 Juan Figallo (58)

19 Nick Isiekwe (6)

20 Michael Rhodes (57)

21 Ben Spencer (100)

22 Marcelo Bosch (97)

23 Chris Wyles (227)

[Puja]

Very surprised that Itoje's starting. I'd've expected him to have been given a longer rest. Pleasantly surprised to see Ludlam and Earle starting - they must've really impressed in pre-season given how far off selection they were at the end of last year.

Puja

[Digby]

Ludlam starting and Itoje at 6 were the things to leap out, that and Saints seem to have run out of 10s

[fivepointer]

No Francis for Saints which is a shame. Good test for young Grayson. Very pleased to see Ludlam in the side.

Astonished itoje has been picked. There is a case for Lawes having a rest, too.

[Puja]

Hah - the fantasy rugby site has crashed as everyone tries to change their teams!

Puja

[Tigersman]

finally Ludlam starting although wish it wasn't against the biggest pack in the league TBH.

[Adam_P]

What the Lord (Jim Mallinder) giveth with one hand, starting Collins and Ludlam, he taketh away with another by starting Burrell. Hoping Brookes continues to look more interested as he has in pre season, and hope Eadie has a good game. Eadie the only new recruit to make it into the 23 which is a bit disappointing.

[twitchy]

What sort of player is ludlam (I know his name but haven't seen much)? A genuine 7?

[Scrumhead]

What sort of player is ludlam (I know his name but haven't seen much)? A genuine 7?

Yes. He was voted best player at the U20s three years ago but has barely featured for Saints.

Given Itoje and Wray are not the most natural 6/7 partnership, I'm hoping he can really stand-out in this game and state serious case for leapfrogging Gibson, Wood et al.

[Puja]

What sort of player is ludlam (I know his name but haven't seen much)? A genuine 7?

Lit up the U20s a couple of years back - was an absolute menace at the breakdown and had a habit of big tackles and crucial turnovers. A genuine 7, and one I'd be more excited about if we hadn't just unearthed Underhill, Curry, and Curry.

Puja

[Puja]

Where's Clark, does anyone know? Not that I particularly wish him well, but I was hoping that his signing would end Sarries need to piss about Itoje by putting him at 6.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Where's Clark, does anyone know? Not that I particularly wish him well, but I was hoping that his signing would end Sarries need to piss about Itoje by putting him at 6.

Puja

I wish him luck. Break a leg, I say.

[Adam_P]

What sort of player is ludlam (I know his name but haven't seen much)? A genuine 7?

Yes. He was voted best player at the U20s three years ago but has barely featured for Saints.

Given Itoje and Wray are not the most natural 6/7 partnership, I'm hoping he can really stand-out in this game and state serious case for leapfrogging Gibson, Wood et al.

For me, Wood and Gibson should be competing for 6, while Ludlam and Harrison compete for 7 (as well as Harrison covering 8 and Nutley providing back up).

[twitchy]

Nice I'll give him a closer watch today then.

[twitchy]

Bit of a car crash for saints so far.

[Adam_P]

Penalty only my ass

[Adam_P]

There have been about 3 high tackles and a neck roll that the ref has chosen to ignore from Sarries

[Adam_P]

Can't understand why Saints have been playing nice rugby in pre season and scoring tries, and now in a competitive game we are passing to players standing still and have no shape in the back line. Oh and we've forgotten how to defend too. It's going to be another long season I think.

[Banquo]

ouch, Saints defence is not up to this. Sarries are very impressive to be fair.

[Adam_P]

The 12 year old ref also has to have the touch judge tell him about Burger grabbing someone round the neck right in front of him. He is useless.

[Banquo]

6 tries in 34 mins.....good job Lozowski is missing his kicks else it'd be embarassing

[Adam_P]

Jesus Christ. This is awful watching. What the fuck have they been doing all summer

[Tigersman]

Suspect Ludlam might not have wanted to start this game..............

[Banquo]

Brits and Koch have been fantastic in the loose, fair play.