Premiership Round 15

I really like having games on Friday afternoon (my time). I work most of the day then have a chance to get home, relax, and put on the Rugby with a pint and let the week disappear. Great door-opener for the weekend.

Round 15

Fri 6 Jan Gloucester v Saracens (7.45pm, live on BT Sport)
Sat 7 Jan Newcastle v Leicester (2pm, live on BT Sport)
Sat 7 Jan Exeter v Northampton (4.30pm, live on BT Sport)
Sun 8 Jan Harlequins v Sale (3pm, live on BT Sport)
Sun 8 Jan London Irish v Bristol (3pm)

Big test for Saints going down to Devon. Chiefs are struggling a bit and a great time for Saints to visit.

Newcastle Falcons team v Leicester Tigers (Saturday, 2pm, Kingston Park Stadium, live on BT Sport).

15 Tom Penny (captain),
14 Adam Radwan,
13 Matias Moroni,
12 Matias Orlando,
11 Mateo Carreras,
10 Brett Connon,
9 Sam Stuart;

1 Adam Brocklebank,
2 Jamie Blamire,
3 Trevor Davison,
4 Greg Peterson,
5 Sebastian de Chaves,
6 Gary Graham,
7 Callum Chick,
8 Carl Fearns.

Replacements: 16 Charlie Maddison, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Matthew Dalton, 20 Tom Marshall, 21 Michael Young, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Elliott Obatoyinbo.

Not available for selection: Sam Clark, Connor Collett, Matt Deehan, Freddie Lockwood, Pete Lucock, Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, Guy Pepper, Josh Peters, Sean Robinson, Oliver Spencer, George Wacokecoke, Will Welch.

Referee: Tom Foley.

Tigers -

15 Freddie Steward [64]
14 Harry Potter [53]
13 Matt Scott [54]
12 Dan Kelly [48]
11 Harry Simmons [26]
10 Charlie Atkinson [7]
9 Ben Youngs (vc) [291]

1 James Cronin [8]
2 Charlie Clare [65]
3 Dan Cole (vc) [302]
4 Harry Wells [168]
5 Calum Green [100]
6 Ollie Chessum [40]
7 Tommy Reffell [88]
8 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [72]

REPLACEMENTS
16 Joe Taufete'e [3]
17 Nephi Leatigaga [76]
18 Joe Heyes [111]
19 Cameron Henderson [24]
20 Emeka Ilione [6] *
21 Sean Jansen [12]
22 Jack van Poortvliet [57]
23 Jimmy Gopperth [6]

Saints v Exeter, Saturday, 7 January 2023 16:30
Where: Sandy Park
Referee: Adam Leal
Assistant referees: Charlie Gayther and John Meredith
No.4: Harry Walbaum
TMO: Stuart Terheege

	Northampton Saints		Exeter Chiefs		Grey's Advantage
15	Tommy Freeman	15	Josh Hodge		Freeman
14	James Ramm	14	Jack Nowell		Nowell
13	Matt Proctor	13	Henry Slade		Slade
12	Fraser Dingwall	12	Solomone Kata		Dinger
11	Courtnall Skosan	11	Olly Woodburn		Even
10	George Furbank	10	Joe Simmonds		Hmmmm
9	Alex Mitchell	9	Sam Maunder		Mitchell
1	Alex Waller	1	Scott Sio		Sio
2	Mike Haywood	2	Luke Cowan-Dickie (c)		LCD
3	Paul Hill	3	Harry Williams		even
4	Alex Coles	4	Dafydd Jenkins		Coles
5	Alex Moon	5	Jack Dunne		dunno
6	Lukhan Salakaia-Loto	6	Dave Ewers		even
7	Angus Scott-Young	7	Chris Tshiunza		even
8	Lewis Ludlam (c)	8	Sam Simmonds		even
	Replacements:
16	Robbie Smith	16	Jack Yeandle		Yeandle
17	Emmanuel Iyogun	17	James Kenny		Manny
18	Alfie Petch	18	Josh Iosefa-Scott		even
19	Karl Wilkins	19	Ruben Van Heerden		van Heerden
20	Sam Graham	20	Greg Fisilau		dunno
21	Callum Braley	21	Jack Maunder		even
22	Rory Hutchinson	22	Harvey Skinner		Hutch
23	Tom Collins	23	Rory O'Loughlin		Tommy

Tigers appear to be rather short on backs at the minute, though it's odd Cokanasiga isn't getting a look in. Ilione in line for his Prem debut which is good to see as is Henderson back on the bench. Some good impact there even if we're hoping there's no injuries in the backline.

Falcons XV looks strong so it could be a tough game.

Doc, on current form I'd say Ramm edges Nowell but I'd take Rory over Tom in the 23 shirt. I'm looking forward to the Kata Vs Dingwall face off, a real chalk and cheese approach to playing 12. Great chance to demonstrate some improved defence against a hard running opponent for Dingwall, if he doesn't then Kata will run over him.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Tigers appear to be rather short on backs at the minute, though it's odd Cokanasiga isn't getting a look in. Ilione in line for his Prem debut which is good to see as is Henderson back on the bench. Some good impact there even if we're hoping there's no injuries in the backline.

Falcons XV looks strong so it could be a tough game.

Doc, on current form I'd say Ramm edges Nowell but I'd take Rory over Tom in the 23 shirt. I'm looking forward to the Kata Vs Dingwall face off, a real chalk and cheese approach to playing 12. Great chance to demonstrate some improved defence against a hard running opponent for Dingwall, if he doesn't then Kata will run over him.

I'm actually looking forward to the Ludlum-Simmonds matchup. Completely agree about Dingwall. This is a great opportunity for him to show what he is made of. Hoping you are right abut Ramm v. Nowell.

Let's see what carnage Dickson and Hodnett combined can cause tonight ...

doctor_grey wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Tigers appear to be rather short on backs at the minute, though it's odd Cokanasiga isn't getting a look in. Ilione in line for his Prem debut which is good to see as is Henderson back on the bench. Some good impact there even if we're hoping there's no injuries in the backline.

Falcons XV looks strong so it could be a tough game.

Doc, on current form I'd say Ramm edges Nowell but I'd take Rory over Tom in the 23 shirt. I'm looking forward to the Kata Vs Dingwall face off, a real chalk and cheese approach to playing 12. Great chance to demonstrate some improved defence against a hard running opponent for Dingwall, if he doesn't then Kata will run over him.

I'm actually looking forward to the Ludlum-Simmonds matchup.  Completely agree about Dingwall.  This is a great opportunity for him to show what he is made of.  Hoping you are right abut Ramm v. Nowell.

Yeah good point in Ludlum Vs Simmonds. That should be an interesting head to head. Both sides will need their 8s to do well at the breakdown and still carry dynamically. I'm sure Borthwick will have an eye on that.

Good game down at kingsholm.

Great ti see Thorley back. Having a good game.

McGuigan having a rusty start...some good some not so.

Think Hazard will be getting replaced by Isiekwe at half time...looks quite lost out there today

Good to hear Dickson asking after the playing having the head injury checked. Hope Carley is taking note

Val Rapava Ruskin looking in good form again, hopefully he's not badly hurt. Borthwick will have liked what he's seen from him, good work rate, solid set piece and good over the ball. Not seen his carrying yet but that could seal the deal. Imagine having VRR and Cole for the first half and then rolling on Genge and Sinckler against a fatigued opposition for the second.

Glaws inaccuracies costing them badly here.

Both teams suffering from a lack of accuracy tonight ... Glaws getting more of the rub of the green though.

Clear pen missed by all the officials when a player in front of May who fumbled it picked it up ...

Farrell couldn't hit a cow's ar*s with a banjo tonight

Isn't accidental off-side normally a scrum not a pen?

Hhmm Farrell escapes a red but maybe hasn't escaped a rib injury

Geordie wrote:Hhmm Farrell escapes a red but maybe hasn't escaped a rib injury

There's Claire, thought she was being oddly competent. It's a shoulder to the face, she should have insisted that Dickson saw that. Would have had a big impact on the game.

He said he couldn't look at it as it wasn't the same phase - new directive maybe?

Farrell shouldn't be on the pitch then scores rhe winner...ouch...

Very enjoyable game, but I don't think I've ever seen such a level of substandard officiating. How Dickson is allowed to referee at any level is a mystery.

Why wasn't Farrell carded? He shouldn't have been on the pitch to score the winning drop goal. Why can they no longer go back multiple phases?

How ironic is that - after kicking cr*p all night he drops a goal to win it ...

Duty281 wrote:Very enjoyable game, but I don't think I've ever seen such a level of substandard officiating. How Dickson is allowed to referee at any level is a mystery.

Why wasn't Farrell carded? He shouldn't have been on the pitch to score the winning drop goal. Why can they no longer go back multiple phases?

Have you not seen Dickson before? This wasn't anywhere near his worst effort ...

Gee, Gloucester simply gave that match away on a silver platter. Really un-smart. The had the draw in hand right near the end, then kicked possession away multiple times and lost territory each time until Saracens had a lineout near Gloucester's 22 And the drop to win the match followed just the same a dudes follow girls.

Heaf wrote:How ironic is that - after kicking cr*p all night he drops a goal to win it ...

It was a beauty of a drip goal to be fair to him. Real bit of class.

Shouldn't have been on the pitch. Officials have dropped a clanger there. Not really sure how Hodnett keeps getting games, I presume Dickson does because he's a former player despite Leal, Smalles and Cox all looking better prospects.

Putting Hodnett being useless aside for the moment I'm wondering if one of the new directives that came in for this year limits the check to the current phase only - seems odd if that includes foul play, but that's the only way I can understand what happened - apart from the obvious that it was Dickson and Hodnett combined (see my post at the start of the match) ...

I can't see anything in the new directives about this. That references the current TMO guidelines released last May (linked below), which does put a phase limit on tries being referred (two), but foul play is 'All Clear and Obvious acts of Foul Play may be referred up until the game restarts'.

https://resources.world.rugby/worldrugby/document/2022/06/17/d96beea2-759d-4856-b8db-f4aa13d5cc75/2022-TMO-protocol-Approved-by-Council-May-2022-v2.pdf

So, unless there's something different, Dickson has dropped a massive clanger. Hopefully the death knell of his rugby refereeing career in the Premiership.

Just reviewed it and yes he cocked up - the game hadn't restarted when she referred it.

But she should also have known that ... so both at fault - again

Heaf wrote:Let's see what carnage Dickson and Hodnett combined can cause tonight ...

It was so predictable ....

I only saw the match in bits and pieces. About what time did the Farrell incident happen? I didn't see it and I can't see the Twitter video here.

It happens at the ruck at 74:22 but play goes on for a long time and they don't show the replay until 76:18

Heaf wrote:It happens at the ruck at 74:22 but play goes on for a long time and they don't show the replay until 76:18

Thanks mate.
Bloody hell - that's a straight red.  Shoulder charge to the head.  How did I miss that when watching yesterday???

Uses his arms so not a shoulder charge.

Can't agree, mate.  But you made me check again.  Seems a clear no arms shoulder to the chops.

You do see both arms wrap. https://twitter.com/btsportrugby/status/1611475671079092224?t=fVBXqgf97gGinHV0f4izwQ&s=19

doctor_grey wrote:

Heaf wrote:It happens at the ruck at 74:22 but play goes on for a long time and they don't show the replay until 76:18

Thanks mate.  
Bloody hell - that's a straight red.  Shoulder charge to the head.  How did I miss that when watching yesterday???

In the live play it was a distant overhead shot - it was only the reply where you could really see it.

Arms come up after the shoulder contact.  And that, not far up.  So, for me, a clear shoulder to the chin.  Farrell has some time off in his near future. Yes, much clearer on the replay.

doctor_grey wrote:Arms come up after the shoulder contact.  And that, not far up.  So, for me, a clear shoulder to the chin.  Farrell has some time off in his near future.  Yes, much clearer on the replay.  

Well that's just not how the laws are applied. That's classed as a tackle with arms.

We will find out. But I think you have this one wrong.

Arms or not a shoulder to the chin is going to be a red ...

Lawes is going to be in a lot of trouble going forward then as he has the same technique. Depends if there's mitigation Heaf. And if there's enough here. Think it's pretty close bad yellow softish red.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:Arms come up after the shoulder contact.  And that, not far up.  So, for me, a clear shoulder to the chin.  Farrell has some time off in his near future.  Yes, much clearer on the replay.  

Well that's just not how the laws are applied. That's classed as a tackle with arms.

The right arm only wraps after the shoulder is no longer in contact and both players are standing. There's also significant force and direct contact to the head so you're always starting at red and then looking to mitigate down. The Glaws player doesn't change his height, he starts low and stays low. Farrell has adequate time to change his height before contact and a good line of sight. I think you're looking at a 80/90% chance of red.

Kick fest at Kp ...

Last scrum looked like a pen to Falcons to me ...

Well worked try

Lucky to get away with no question asked of a pen try.

How the f...is that not a penalty try!!!

Hmmm - should have had a proper look at that - I'm not sure anyone is catching him

Tigers living dangerously here - could end up with another yellow

We're battering them...but we need points. Story of our season...need to make the most of possession and territory....

But We're seeing improvements...steadily.

Should really be 14 nil up now