The Premiership Final - It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win.

"It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDIDawmeeI0

COYS

Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby 
Where: Twickenham Stadium
When:  Saturday 8th June 2024; 15:00 BST, 10:00 EDT
How do I watch: TNT 1/TNT Ultimate/Discovery +/ITV1/Fox Sports 2 (USA)
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce & Anthony Woodthorpe
TMO: Tom Foley

Northampton Saints		Bath Rugby
George Furbank	15	Matt Gallagher
Tommy Freeman	14	Joe Cokanasiga
Burger Odendaal	13	Ollie Lawrence
Fraser Dingwall	12	Cameron Redpath
Ollie Sleightholme	11	Will Muir
Fin Smith	10	Finn Russell
Alex Mitchell	9	Ben Spencer
Alex Waller	1	Beno Obano
Curtis Langdon	2	Tom Dunn
Trevor Davison	3	Thomas du Toit
Alex Moon	4	Quinn Roux
Alex Coles	5	Charlie Ewels
Sir Courtney Lawes (c)	6	Ted Hill
Tom Pearson	7	Sam Underhill
Juarno Augustus	8	Alfie Barbeary
Replacements:
Sam Matavesi	16	Niall Annett
Emmanuel Iyogun	17	Juan Schoeman
Elliot Millar Mills	18	Will Stuart
Temo Mayanavanua	19	Elliott Stooke
Sam Graham	20	Josh Bayliss
Lewis Ludlam	21	Louis Schreuder
Tom James	22	Orlando Bailey
George Hendy	23	Miles Reid

I'm always impressed what a handsome team Saints are.  It's so easy to get lost in their skills, their physicality, their intelligence.  But they are a fine looking group wearing just a terrific ensemble.

I think Bath will try to get an early upper hand in the breakdown battle to slow Saints quick ball.  If Saints can get the ball out quickly it will make a long day for Bath.

Per Draft Kings Sport Book, Saints are a 5.5 point favourite and the over/under is 54.5.

doctor_grey wrote:I'm always impressed what a handsome team Saints are.  It's so easy to get lost in their skills, their physicality, their intelligence.  But they are a fine looking group wearing just a terrific ensemble.

You might need an eye test or to cut down on your drinking.

Both sides going for a 6-2 bench split, this one is going to be a physical game irrespective of the fancy stuff further out.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:I'm always impressed what a handsome team Saints are.  It's so easy to get lost in their skills, their physicality, their intelligence.  But they are a fine looking group wearing just a terrific ensemble.

You might need an eye test or to cut down on your drinking.

Drinking? How do you think I can get through surgery with all that blood?

formerly known as Sam wrote:Both sides going for a 6-2 bench split, this one is going to be a physical game irrespective of the fancy stuff further out.

Agree completely. Another championship match to be won at the breakdown. Can't wait.

Finn vs Fin will be the key here. If Russell is in the mood then Bath will not be easy to beat. If he’s trying to win the game with the first pass of the ball then you can’t see passed the saints.

I've got a few quid on Bath....but jeez it's a close one...

What a start

Big scrum from Bath! They are looking strong at the moment.

Cumbrian wrote:Big scrum from Bath!  They are looking strong at the moment.

Second one they have marmalised saints. As the first was near the line and so soon the ref bottled it and just gave a reset

Saints first play was a cracker. Sleightholme arrives late and the no luck pass doesn't go to hand. Gallagher does Furbank for speed but the England fullback does well to force the knock on.

After that the scrums are all Bath and now Saints look rattled.

tigertattie wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Big scrum from Bath!  They are looking strong at the moment.

Second one they have marmalised saints. As the first was near the line and so soon the ref bottled it and just gave a reset

I think sir had gone to the back of the scrum to watch the shenanigans between the 9s and missed the Saints front row collapse.

Looked like a rather illegal bath hand in that ruck there

Tackle was superb by Freeman.

Some questions over ford's availability for the NZ tour? That would be big....

tigertattie wrote:Looked like a rather illegal bath hand in that ruck there

I thought so live but on the replay it looked like Lawes was holding onto it on the floor and then jolted it loose when Mitchell tried to pull it out.

Geordie wrote:Some questions over ford's availability for the NZ tour? That would be big....

Be a significant blow in the short term but long term might be beneficial if one of the Smith's can claim the shirt. If Ford goes he'll start and whilst he might make the next world cup it's no guarantee.

Northampton need to stop messing about on their own put in, get it straight in and out.

Bath are really up for the fight, think their intensity has caught Northampton off guard.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Geordie wrote:Some questions over ford's availability for the NZ tour? That would be big....

Be a significant blow in the short term but long term might be beneficial if one of the Smith's can claim the shirt. If Ford goes he'll start and whilst he might make the next world cup it's no guarantee.

Yeah would you go Fin or Marcus to stsrt. I think k I'd go Fin.

Great choice and execution from Smith.

If that was high Obano is in trouble.

I like that from Smith. It's a poor missed kick at goal but the self belief to shrug it off and then drop into the pocket and slot the drop goal is classy.

There's some big hits gonig on in this

This is going to be red.

That's a red

I don't want it to be red because it could spoil the game, but it is the right decision.

Well thats huge

That's Obano out of the summer tour then

Game over I suspect now. Too long to play rest of match with 14.

That's unlucky. He's tried to make a legitimate tackle there and just got it wrong. It's throat and chin area so an inch or so lower and then it's just a good hit. Red card call correct though.

Massive blow for Bath. Obano has started well.

Well that could be the game. TMO was going for a yellow but Christophe wanted the red. Could be argued for either colour but when a player is hitting upwards and clocks the carrier in the face, you’re asking for a red

Gutting for Barbeary.

That was beautiful.

Game over

Lovely try there

It's the new man Schoeman. Not up to the speed of the game and he doesn't get round the ruck quickly enough leaving a gap.

Cumbrian wrote:Gutting for Barbeary.  

It can’t have done his chances of touring any good.

What a finish!

Saints are destructive in attack but the red card has totally swung this game

What a score by Sleightholme.

Good job Borthwick is there

Thought that was meant to go inside for Mitchell. A happy accident for Sleightholme methinks

Oooh game on....

Bath needed that, turning into a bloody good game.

Geordie wrote:Oooh game on....

This is a fun game to watch

Borthwick has some big decisions for the tour....

Mr Bounce wrote:

Geordie wrote:Oooh game on....

This is a fun game to watch

Damn right it is...sadly my bets out rhe window...Babreary to score bath win

Geordie wrote:Borthwick has some big decisions for the tour....

Just a summer tour. Can experiment to hearts content

tigertattie wrote:

Geordie wrote:Borthwick has some big decisions for the tour....

Just a summer tour. Can experiment to hearts content

Yes but this is a tour where there are numerous candidates for several key positions...so this could be a tour which really starts to build the make up of the 2027 world Cup side.

Might need to look at that clearout on Hill.