New Prem Season Round 1

Friday
Bristol v Leicester

Saturday
Exeter v Saracens
Bath v Falcons
Gloucester v Harlequins

Sunday
Sale v Northampton

Newcastle Falcons team v Bath (Saturday, 2pm, The Recreation Ground)

15 Ben Redshaw,
14 Adam Radwan,
13 Tom Penny,
12 Matias Orlando,
11 Ben Stevenson,
10 Brett Connon,
9 Hugh O’Sullivan;

1 Adam Brocklebank,
2 Jamie Blamire,
3 Murray McCallum,
4 Philip van der Walt,
5 Sebastian de Chaves,
6 Freddie Lockwood,
7 Guy Pepper,
8 Callum Chick (captain).

Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Phil Brantingham, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Kiran McDonald, 20 Sam Cross, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Rory Jennings, 23 Elliott Obatoyinbo

For some reason the streaming platform I use here for the premiership matches didn't have the game yesterday so I actually had to talk to my family.   I always look forward to the first weekend of the Premiership season so this was a bit of a let down.  Hopefully they can right the ship quickly.

A lot of times the first game(s) of the season are not great and usually don't reflect how a team will go for the full marathon.

Saints: Hendy; Freeman, Dingwall (c), Hutchinson, Ramm; F Smith, James; E Waller, Langdon, Davidson; Moon, Coles; Scott-Young, Pearson, Graham.

Replacements: R Smith, A Waller, Millar-Mills, Lockett, Munga, McParland, Grayson, Seabrook.

Not considered for Saints selection: Juarno Augustus, Callum Braley, George Furbank, Emmanuel Iyogun, Tarek Haffar, Beltus Nonleh, Burger Odendaal, Temo Mayanavanua. International duty: Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Alex Mitchell, Sam Matavesi.

Sale Sharks: Carpenter; Roebuck, S James, Bedlow, O'Flaherty, R du Preez (c), Quirke; McIntyre, Taylor, Schonert; van Rhyn, Hill; JL du Preez, Dugdale, D du Preez.

Replacements: Caine, Harrison, Harper, Wiese, Beaumont, Warr, Curtis, Reed.

Really looking forward to see how Hendy does at fullback.  He's a bit on the thin side and worry just a tad about his defense.  Even more interesting is Archie McParland off the bench as a real promising 9.  Only 18 and real upside.  Started most of the Premiership Rugby Cup matches and looked very good.

Saracens starting well

Hodge playing out of his skin again ...

Heaf wrote:Hodge playing out of his skin again ...

Indeed, he has been brilliant, although Sarries' defence is making him look like Christian Cullen. Fullback has a lot of competition, so he'll have to keep up these performances and hope Borthwick notices/ can't ignore him.

I don't often feel Sorry for Saracens, but they've had a miserable afternoon. I don't know how much it is to do with them being terrible or Exeter just being very good (probably somewhere between the two).

Sarries weren't much good in the cup either. Probably should be fine when the A-team is available, but for how many games will that be?

The salary cap will really bite thus year as those teams with long standing players and internationals, will have minimal spend for the back-up players and so rely on their academies, which could be beneficial long term but painful short term.

Good win for Bath with a relatively recently (last couple of years) constructed squad. Not many first pick internationals but a lot who have experience from the fringes of test rugby which, injuries allowing will help consistency in the league. It will be interesting to watch how Finn Russell gets on in the Premiership.

Good start with an early try for Saints ... although the officials spent time checking the grounding but missed checking the last pass which looked forwards ...

Sale scrum struggling v Saints is a surprise ...

Although ref being a bit soft on Saints slowing down Sale's rucks

Saints score from a kick out from their own try line - lucky for them officials didn't check for offside from the kick

Officials have been a bit sloppy in this one ...

Saints plenty of chances to take the win there but just couldn't finish it off.