Saints v Saracens Friday 7.45

[FKAS]

That yellow card really knocked Sarries momentum and Saints made the most of it. Not helped by the fact Malins has been absolutely woeful at the back leaving the inexperienced backs around him struggling.

Saints could have helped my fantasy selection out but passing to the other bloody wing, come on Fin share the love, Freeman doesn't need all the tries.

[Beasties]

Did Hendy actually catch any high ball tonight?
Itoje immense for Sarries.
F Smith superb and Tommy just brilliant.
Saints did well to re-ignite themselves second half. Thought they were gonna fold at half-time.
Top entertainment. Crowd MOM.

[Puja]

Saracens have got some young backs coming through. All of CBracken, JBracken, and Caluori looked their age at times today, but they were incredible given how green and inexperienced they are. Get a season or two's worth of experience and learning into them and they'll be something special, to coin a phrase!

Puja

[fivepointer]

Great game for the neutral.

When on song Saints were irresistible, guided immaculately by Mitchell and Smith. Freeman was terrific.

The Saracens youngsters have bags of talent and its great to see them being given opportunities.

[TheNomad]

Missed the game as was driving! As has been said, well done sarries for giving exposure to these kids - they’re a super talented crop. I’ve seen the highlights, and this elements that the Brackens contributed, but how did Caluori do?

[Oakboy]

Caluori did alright, particularly after being clattered in the air illegally. Farrell, in open play, looked pedestrian and clumsy.

Freeman was outstanding on the wing or narrower, justifying the international 13 or 14 shirt. Mitchell and Smith looked like England's starting half backs. Pollock showed backs-standard pace and handling skills whilst losing nothing in the physical side of the back row contest. He should start for England too. Holding him back would be a mistake.

[Puja]

Missed the game as was driving! As has been said, well done sarries for giving exposure to these kids - they’re a super talented crop. I’ve seen the highlights, and this elements that the Brackens contributed, but how did Caluori do?

Didn't geta huge amount of ball in hand and was relatively well marshalled when he did, but was an absolute weapon under the high ball, earned a penalty by jumping over the ISS to take a box-kick and getting cleaned out in the air, plus put in a phenomenal piece of defensive work by showing Todaro the outside and then huntjng him down and taking him into touch. Got taken the piss out of by FSmith with his defensive positioning in the backfield on a couple of occasions, as did JBracken, but that'll come with experience.

Definitely not international quality yet, but such a promising talent.

Puja

[Captainhaircut]

Farrell was particularly anonymous last night which was great to see.

Fin Smith looked excellent bar a few dodgy tackles that he’s hopefully got out of his system.

Was also great to see Saints manage Willis very well. Was dreading a massive performance from him.

[Mikey Brown]

Caluori did alright, particularly after being clattered in the air illegally. Farrell, in open play, looked pedestrian and clumsy.

Freeman was outstanding on the wing or narrower, justifying the international 13 or 14 shirt. Mitchell and Smith looked like England's starting half backs. Pollock showed backs-standard pace and handling skills whilst losing nothing in the physical side of the back row contest. He should start for England too. Holding him back would be a mistake.

I didn’t see this game, and I know our differing stances on Pollock are pretty established at this point, but from what you’ve said there I’m interested what he’s offering that isn’t offered by (for example) Earl?

We have a number of absolutely rapid back-rows who you could argue ‘lose nothing in the physical side’, but that’s a very broad description.

I wouldn’t be upset at Borthwick sticking Freeman at 13 and saying “this is the guy, this is the future for England” and Northampton have to just deal with it, and whilst I can believe he was fantastic going forward in midfield (playing wing) I don’t see how he can prove anything if his ability to defend at 13 while playing wing.

[Oakboy]

Caluori did alright, particularly after being clattered in the air illegally. Farrell, in open play, looked pedestrian and clumsy.

Freeman was outstanding on the wing or narrower, justifying the international 13 or 14 shirt. Mitchell and Smith looked like England's starting half backs. Pollock showed backs-standard pace and handling skills whilst losing nothing in the physical side of the back row contest. He should start for England too. Holding him back would be a mistake.

I didn’t see this game, and I know our differing stances on Pollock are pretty established at this point, but from what you’ve said there I’m interested what he’s offering that isn’t offered by (for example) Earl?

We have a number of absolutely rapid back-rows who you could argue ‘lose nothing in the physical side’, but that’s a very broad description.

I wouldn’t be upset at Borthwick sticking Freeman at 13 and saying “this is the guy, this is the future for England” and Northampton have to just deal with it, and whilst I can believe he was fantastic going forward in midfield (playing wing) I don’t see how he can prove anything if his ability to defend at 13 while playing wing.

IMO, Pollock is the quickest back rower available. He also has the best hands. Arguably, he is behind Earl and Underhill on some of the physical stuff but he is getting better (maybe even game by game). He is clearly annoying to the opposition. Overall, I think he shows an infinite will to learn and his ceiling is way higher than the rest. Incidentally, there was one moment that mattered in the light of the above. He stopped Willis in his tracks which few can manage. What followed made it insignificant but it was an indication that his physicality is on the up.

I like Freeman for the 13 shirt because he has a better combination of grunt, speed and basic rugby skills than the other contenders. I could accept Ojomoh and Lawrence as a natural centre pairing but the argument for them mirrors that for Freeman in so far as they appear not to be first choice for their clubs. Freeman definitely merits a place in the XV. That means he starts on the wing ahead of Roebuck if the 14 shirt is a choice between the two. IFW walks in at 11, IMO.

With Slade playing so well and kicking so superbly, I wonder if SB will consider him for the 15 shirt. So, Mitchell and Fin at 9/10, IFW, Freeman, Roebuck, Slade might work at 11, 13, 14, 15. That still leaves 12. Dingwall? He certainly outplayed Farrell on Friday.

[Which Tyler]

I could accept Ojomoh and Lawrence as a natural centre pairing but the argument for them mirrors that for Freeman in so far as they appear not to be first choice for their clubs.

On what basis?

[Oakboy]

I could accept Ojomoh and Lawrence as a natural centre pairing but the argument for them mirrors that for Freeman in so far as they appear not to be first choice for their clubs.

On what basis?

Sorry, I don't understand your question. Am I wrong to say they are NOT Bath's first choice pairing? It seems to me that Redpath (who I don't rate that highly) is first choice 12. Is that not the case?

[Which Tyler]

A] It read like you thought that neither was first choice for their club - but that's just a communication thing.
B] You're kinda wrong - Bath don't really have a first choice centre pairing.
C] You're likening to Freeman at 13 - which isn't much of a contest.