Northampton vs Bath - Friday night

[Puja]

15 James Ramm
14 Tom Collins – 100th Premiership appearance
13 Matt Proctor
12 Fraser Dingwall (c) – 100th Saints appearance
11 Tommy Freeman – 50th Saints appearance
10 Fin Smith
9 Tom James

1 Alex Waller
2 Robbie Smith
3 Paul Hill
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5 Alex Moon
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Sam Graham
8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements:
16 Tom Cruse
17 Ethan Waller
18 Alfie Petch
19 Brandon Nansen
20 Sam Matavesi
21 Callum Braley
22 James Grayson
23 Rory Hutchinson


Bath Rugby: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Louis Schreuder; 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn ©, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 GJ van Velze, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Chris Cloete, 8 Miles Reid

Replacements: 16 Tom Doughty, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Josh McNally, 20 Will Spencer, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Will Butt, 23 Richard de Carpentier

[fivepointer]

Probably not a good time to play Saints away. They will be smarting after last week and desperate for decent performance.

Bailey and Ojomoh seemed to have slipped off the radar a bit so interesting to see how they shape up against Smith and Dingwall.

[Banquo]

Not only is Fraser D getting his 100th cap, also Gallagher Prem player of month in feb, try of the month scorer, cinch/Saints player of the month too. Good for him, his early season form wasn't that great.

[fivepointer]

Amazing to think Fraser is about to play his 100th game. His form has certainly gone up a notch.

[Scrumhead]

I’m surprised it’s Collins’ 100th Premiership game. I know he’s never cemented a place in the starting XV, but it feels like he’s been around a long time and I thought he’d have quite a few more than that.

[Adam_P]

Saints start the game by knocking on in the red zone then immediately concede a try. Jesus christ.

[FKAS]

Wonderful try by Bath but TDG would be better taking a few more metres towards the posts rather than going for the stupid swallow dive. Fortunately for him Spencer nailed the conversion anyway.

[FKAS]

Saints start the game by knocking on in the red zone then immediately concede a try. Jesus christ.

Quintessential Northampton.

[Peej]

Real lack of quality at times already.

[FKAS]

Well executed driving maul though it was a complete gimmy from the Bath penalty.

[Adam_P]

Hell of a take in the lineout by Lukhan

[Adam_P]

Kay has convinced himself that Robbie Smith is called Russell

[Adam_P]

Thats a very frustrating time for Proctor to get injured

[FKAS]

It was a nice rolling maul by Bath but when they were on top in the scrum already wouldn't it have been better to call for a scrum and force Saints to sacrifice another player for a prop. Try and limit Saints ability to cover the ground and attack.

Bath's ball retention has been shocking so far.

[Peej]

Is Barbeary still injured/injured again?

[Peej]

Ah, just had the commentary answer that

[Adam_P]

Well thats a depressingly tight half against bottom of the table. Saints form was looking up until the last 10 mins of the Glos game and its been bleak since

[Adam_P]

Been a lot of handling errors on both sides tonight. Not sure how much is lack of skill/concentration and how much is the freezing temp

[Banquo]

Been a lot of handling errors on both sides tonight. Not sure how much is lack of skill/concentration and how much is the freezing temp

Saints concentration has been poor for so long now.

[fivepointer]

Thought Robbie (er, Russell) Smith and his namesake Fin were very good.

Bath obviously 2nd best but they did enough to earn a try BP.

[Adam_P]

Saints now at 81 tries conceded this season. Can we keep it below a century by the end of the season?

[FKAS]

Thought Robbie (er, Russell) Smith and his namesake Fin were very good.

Bath obviously 2nd best but they did enough to earn a try BP.

I tipped him, maybe somewhat optimistically, to be a really good signing for Saints and be their go to option by the end of the season. Was good to see him get the start and play well. He looked to good to be third choice up at Falcons.

[Banquo]

Saints now at 81 tries conceded this season. Can we keep it below a century by the end of the season?

Yep, defence is a big problem- they just switch off without the ball. Part of the overall concentration issue imo.

[Banquo]

Thought Robbie (er, Russell) Smith and his namesake Fin were very good.

Bath obviously 2nd best but they did enough to earn a try BP.

I tipped him, maybe somewhat optimistically, to be a really good signing for Saints and be their go to option by the end of the season. Was good to see him get the start and play well. He looked to good to be third choice up at Falcons.

Good tip- he's very good. Good-ish darts, seems to be a decent scrummager and gets about in the loose.

[Adam_P]

Thought Robbie (er, Russell) Smith and his namesake Fin were very good.

Bath obviously 2nd best but they did enough to earn a try BP.

Indeed - I was optimistic that Robbie would force his was into the starting line up when we signed him, and he's starting to look very handy. I like Matavesi around the pitch, but Smith is a definite upgrade when it comes to lineout throwing.