Northampton Saints vs Exeter Chiefs - build-up, teams and match-day live thread

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Franklin Gardens has not been a happy hunting ground for the Chiefs thus far in the premiership - we got close in year 1, two season ago, just 3 points adrift, but last year the Saints were in dominant form. Expecting two unchanged teams, with both having got off to good wins, Saints putting paid to Glaws at Kingsholm, no mean feat in itself, and Exe dispatching the Sharks fairly comfortably. Possibly Exe will shuffle their bench - Haydn Thomas might come in for Kevin Barrett, and Sereli Naqelevuki could replace Luke Arscott depending on what the plan is as the game wears on. If James Scaysbrook doesn't get past the concussion tests, expect TJ to switch to openside, with Ben White pulling on the 6 shirt.

There will be a warm welcome for three ex-Saints players, Exe attack/backs coach, Ali Hepher, who has masterminded the transformation in Exe's style since the middle of last season, Brett Sturgess, and the ligind that is Budgie, the prem's oldest try scorer, at just 3 months shy of his 40th birthday! Saints will still be missing Courtney Lawes and Calum Clark (nuff said). With both teams coming in to this game on the back of strong performances, this match should be a cracker from two fairly well balanced teams, with home advantage possibly counting in the end.

[HQ matt]

yes a very interesting fixture.

the chiefs continue to surprise and something tells me saints may be the team to watch this season.

[doctor_grey]

Budgen will always be welcome to the Gardens. As we said last season:
We love Budgen. Budgen cute, Budgen for PM.
But, sadly, Budgen must lose.
I predict Saints will beat the Exeter American Indians in a close match between two good teams.

[beshocked]

http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures/exeter_chiefs.php?section=4

Really interesting looking at the Chiefs wins and losses stats in the AP so far.

Ones that stand out are

5-0 vs Sale

0-4 vs Bath (this one really surprises me)

Bath are the only side in the AP Exeter have not beaten - incredible!

In the case of Saints vs Exeter it's 3-1 to Saints.


Exeter continue to surprise. We'll see what Saints can do.

Areas for concern in my opinion for Saints are the back three.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

http://www.premiershiprugby.com/matchcentre/fixtures/exeter_chiefs.php?section=4

Really interesting looking at the Chiefs wins and losses stats in the AP so far.

Ones that stand out are

5-0 vs Sale

0-4 vs Bath (this one really surprises me)

Bath are the only side in the AP Exeter have not beaten - incredible!

In the case of Saints vs Exeter it's 3-1 to Saints.


Exeter continue to surprise. We'll see what Saints can do.

Areas for concern in my opinion for Saints are the back three.

beshocked, never fear, that is one statistic which will be corrected this year!

[beshocked]

I hope so Good luck.

Saints at FG are a tough cookie to crack.

[yappysnap]

I would never have expected Bath to beat anyone 4 times, let alone on the bounce!

Good luck Exeter, although I think home advantage will decide it in the end

[Effervescing Elephant]

Chiefs for Sunday

15 Luke Arscott
14 Josh Tatupu
13 Ian Whitten
12 Phil Dollman
11 Matt Jess
10 Ignacio Mieres
9 Will Chudley
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Chris Whitehead
3 Craig Mitchell
4 Tom Hayes (capt)
5 Aly Muldowney
6 Tom Johnson
7 James Scaysbrook
8 Richard Baxter

16 Simon Alcott
17 Ben Moon
18 Chris Budgen
19 James Hanks
20 James Phillips
21 Kevin Barrett
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Sireli Naqelevuki

Jason Shoemark injured, still a strong side though!

[gowales]

This is exactly why it was a good move for Mitchell to go to the Premiership.

You don't come across a scrummager like Tonga in the Pro 12 very often

[Effervescing Elephant]

I would never have expected Bath to beat anyone 4 times, let alone on the bounce!

Good luck Exeter, although I think home advantage will decide it in the end

Never fails to amaze me how the really big clubs can so often fail against a minnow/struggler. I think it's often a case of the lesser team upping there game for the big occasion...

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Think we'll miss Shoey in midfield, he seems to be the piece that holds everything together. That being said, Dolly has started this season in as good form as I've ever seen him, he really seems to appreciate the invitation to attack everything that Ali Hepher has given the Exe backline. Otherwise, much as expected team-wise, Naqer should provide some good impact off the bench

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Just rewatching the match now, and in the first 20 mins we've put pressure on ourselves needlessly on three occasions (Nacho kick out on the full, Chudders the same, and then failing to find touch from our own 22 which Foden ran back and ultimately led to the first try). Wouldn't say there was any blockage for that first score either on Nacho, with the Saints' player entitled to hold his own ground. Scrum struggling a bit, Craig M finding Tongha'uia a tough customer, no shame in that. Not sure how van Velze didn't see yellow for preventing Chudders' quick tap either? Second try initially came from some wobbly tackling in midfield (two forwards guilty here), allowing Ryan Lamb to ghost thru a gap that shouldn't have been there - after that quick recycling, and Dowson goes over in the corner - again, too soft a score to be giving away against teams of the quality of Saints. Lovely step from Josh Tatupu for our first try, with Dolly in exactly the right spot on his shoulder, still with plenty to do and aided by some poor Northampton tackling. Not sure what happened to Aly Muldowney as he is replaced by Hanksy. Van Velze's tackle on Chudley looked like a classic 'tip' to me, surprised JP Doyle didn't go red but instead followed the TMO's advice to go with a YC. Good to see Luke Arscott getting back to his best too. Dylan Hartley leading by example, loads of constructive energy from him.

Into the second half, lovely lineout steal from TJ leads to a fast break, felt like Skywalker (off Ian Whitten's clever switch inside) could have stepped on the gas even more and backed himself as he found the hole in the Saints' defence. Chudders unlucky not to squirrel over. Play stops for Tatupu's injury which looked innocuous, and he doesn't seem in too much obvious pain. Described as a 'serious injury' by the ref tho, which doesn't sound good. Naqer looked a little slow to react to Artemyev's kick thru, but fortunately the ball goes long. Several well-constructed phases from Saints, with Burrell crossing the white-wash in the end, a missed tackle from one of our forwards costing Exe. Ball stolen by James Phillips after Scays floors Dowson, but JP Doyle sees not releasing the tackled player - odd one. Lovely drive to the line for Hartley to secure the TBP for Northampton - guess Rob will be working on defending the rolling maul this week in training. Didn't really see any truck&trailer-type offences. Also first time I've seen 'Crouch, touch, set' working well. Daft trip from Oakley in front of the ref, deserved YC. Lovely show and dummy from Naqer in midfield leave Jessy with a relatively simply canter over - Chiefs just won't lie down, love it. As the commentator said, "A game of two halves of two halves". Plenty of positives for Exe to take, and equally plenty to work on too.

[Guest]

Van Velze has been cited

Still can't believe how it wasn't a straight red for him.

http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/van-velze-cited-for-alleged-tip-tackle-1-4245694

[doctor_grey]

For me the best part of the Saints-Exe match was the return of the maul as a real weapon. The power and precision of the Saints maul against a darn good defence was awesome to watch (especially as a Saints supporter). As teams look to open up more running lanes, perhaps some have forgotten that one of the best ways to do it is to suck the defence in with a strong maul. And if the defence keeps its shape, then keep driving and eat up the yards.

The worst part was Van Velze with that dumb tip tackle, which could have been red. Oakley's moronic trip with two minutes to go could have cost Saints the match.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Van Velze banned for 4 weeks - shame something so obvious wasn't called properly by TMO and ref at the time, even with the benefit of a review.

[Guest]

It's even more baffling that it wasn't a straight red with the aid of a review Asbo. Glad he's been banned though, it was a horrible incident.

[doctor_grey]

At least - and this is a good thing - it seemed the referee and TMO were in general agreement the penalty was yellow. This shows there were attempts to improve the general understanding of the tip tackle and improve their alignment of the appropriate the penalty for the severity as they saw it.

What can be argued is whether their alignment was right or wrong. I was a bit surprised it was only Yellow, but didn't think it the same as the Warburton tackle. At least this shows people are getting on the same page. Now we simply have to change the page. Small steps.

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