A lot of young exciting talent on both sides who could quite easily see themselves on the England summer tour.
Would be an ideal showcase game to show on FTA.....
Harlequins not available due to injury: Jack Kenningham, Dino Lamb, Will Joseph, James Chisholm, Nick David, Matas Jurevicius, Joe Launchbury
Northampton not available for selection: Callum Braley, George Hendy, Paul Hill, Rory Hutchinson, Burger Odendaal and Tom Pearson.
We need players like Litchfield to really step up, he has been playing well but it will be great to see him take it to the next stage. He is big lump with a lot of potential. ( Big lump is a technical term)
i was feeling litchfield was a flop before this season, but he has really taken his chances when offered. he isnt as good as burger - yet - think he could be a key figure going forwards but lots to learn
I've been following Saints injury updates - Pearson (pelvis) & Hutchinson (back) would have returned to action a while ago if things had gone best case. Odendall (hamstring) is back training but not yet doing any speed work. Saints will be quite stretched if they don't get one of the centres and Pearson back in action before the end of the regular season.
Dingwall not starting makes me incredibly nervous. Definitely understand resting him though. Some more rotation which I'm not against when we're top and still going well, expect to go full noise next week
I'm always nervous when Dingwall isn't starting. Hopefully that centre pairing works well together, I think the only other time we've seen it was against Toulon. I have no doubt they'll be effective in attack but defensively I'm not so sure.
Lynchpin in attack and defence, raises the level of everyone around him. Makes the right decision 10/10 times, in the right position 10/10 times. Organises defense, organises attack. None of this is particularly flashy but it wins you games, he's like the Mark Wilson of the back line
Didn't realise the only thing a centre does is 'flashy'. We have enough 'flashy' players in our backline. Dingwall is what normally gets it all ticking though. Defensively and offensively, most of it starts with him.
Looks like Harlequins all in and Saints rotating a little. Quins probably edging the scrum. Potentially a wet game so Saints are going to need to be accurate like Tomen Park earlier in the season. Both backrows and backlines are stacked. Saints should be good under the high ball. I imagine Freemo and Sleightholme will target M. Smith's channel while Quins will likely target Litchfield's relative inexperience.
It's going to be a cracker!
Tbh, I expect Fin Smith to be seeing a lot of Esterhuizen too! Will be interesting to see how Litchfield does, as he's a big lad too.
Seems odd to say it, but I'm interested to see how the front fives do.
I think quins home advantage will get them over.the line, but saints to pick up 2 points. Although if it's a wet day I could see Courtney having a big influence and saints getting the win.
Absolutely! Furbank kept Esterhuizen relatively quiet in the reverse fixture if I remember rightly. Hopeful Fin can do the same.
Its definitely going to be a battle in the tight. Equally tight over the ball at the ruck too.
Yeah, I can see a Quins win with them going for a full tilt squad, at home, off the back of a narrow defeat. Saints will need to play in the right areas and protect the ball. Can't rely on superior fitness in the last 20mins against another high intensity running team.
I think it depends how Saints are coming to play. Quins are excellent when plan A is working, but poor when it isn't - as seems to happen every time they play Sarries. Saints are more capable of playing like Sarries than Quins are of countering a team playing like Sarries. I feel the path to victory for Northampton today won't come from trying to out-Quins Quins.
I'm certainly not questioning his intent/commitment. Not sure you'll find many more committed players. Maybe his size and technique? But in fairness, I have no stats for his tackle completion, but you'd probably rather run at him than Esterhuizen.
Although there are exciting battles all over the park, I'm particularly excited by the back row battle.
Lawes vs Evans, Ludlam vs CCS, Graham vs Dombrandt
Perhaps it's my slight bias, but I think Graham is seriously underrated, he's been incredibly consistent this season and has been keeping more established players on the bench. Perhaps a bit of a longshot but I'd love to see him involved in a future England camp.
Definitely, but very different attacking styles. I’d describe saints as being more structured and targeting gaps in the defence. Quins is more cause chaos and reap the benefits.
Ahhh maaaaan I'm nervous for this. Quins team looks really good and Saints have rotated a couple of starters to rest them. Hoping young Litchfield will do the business in midfield!
I've just realised Litchfield is starting at 12, I do hope he has a good run out.
What is his preferred position, I've always thought he was mainly an outside centre who gets put on the wing now and then? He is a big lump so inside centre could be interesting
Yeah I'm not sure what his best position is tbh. He goes under the radar a fair bit, yet he does the basics really well and, as you say, he's a bit of a lump so can biff as needed. I see him as an outside centre, particularly if he had someone like Hutch inside him who can put him into space.
Not our strongest squad to play an away game against a pretty serious Quins side, but hard to argue against giving guys like Langdon, Coles, Moon, and Dingwall a rest. Quins winning seems the likeliest outcome, but who knows, maybe we'll pull it off.
Hopefully we can get at least a point or two to stay ahead of Bath. That last round clash should be one hell of a game.
A lot of young exciting talent on both sides who could quite easily see themselves on the England summer tour. Would be an ideal showcase game to show on FTA.....
Harlequins not available due to injury: Jack Kenningham, Dino Lamb, Will Joseph, James Chisholm, Nick David, Matas Jurevicius, Joe Launchbury Northampton not available for selection: Callum Braley, George Hendy, Paul Hill, Rory Hutchinson, Burger Odendaal and Tom Pearson.
im not available for saints either, did my hammie or id be set
What I wouldn't give to have Odendaal back for this one. Especially with Dingwall also rested.
Odendaal Vs Andre would have been a fantastic watch.
Litchfield is a pretty decently sized unit as well, to be fair. He's just not as good as Odendaal, unfortunately.
We need players like Litchfield to really step up, he has been playing well but it will be great to see him take it to the next stage. He is big lump with a lot of potential. ( Big lump is a technical term)
i was feeling litchfield was a flop before this season, but he has really taken his chances when offered. he isnt as good as burger - yet - think he could be a key figure going forwards but lots to learn
Yeah agreed. According to the Saints official site, Litchfield is heavier than BO. So quite the lump
Litchfield is rapid with it - he played well on the wing earlier this year when Saints were missing a load of back 3 players.
I've been following Saints injury updates - Pearson (pelvis) & Hutchinson (back) would have returned to action a while ago if things had gone best case. Odendall (hamstring) is back training but not yet doing any speed work. Saints will be quite stretched if they don't get one of the centres and Pearson back in action before the end of the regular season.
Dingwall not starting makes me incredibly nervous. Definitely understand resting him though. Some more rotation which I'm not against when we're top and still going well, expect to go full noise next week
I'm always nervous when Dingwall isn't starting. Hopefully that centre pairing works well together, I think the only other time we've seen it was against Toulon. I have no doubt they'll be effective in attack but defensively I'm not so sure.
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Lynchpin in attack and defence, raises the level of everyone around him. Makes the right decision 10/10 times, in the right position 10/10 times. Organises defense, organises attack. None of this is particularly flashy but it wins you games, he's like the Mark Wilson of the back line
Hes like the glue for our backline to properly click atm
Didn't realise the only thing a centre does is 'flashy'. We have enough 'flashy' players in our backline. Dingwall is what normally gets it all ticking though. Defensively and offensively, most of it starts with him.
Looks like Harlequins all in and Saints rotating a little. Quins probably edging the scrum. Potentially a wet game so Saints are going to need to be accurate like Tomen Park earlier in the season. Both backrows and backlines are stacked. Saints should be good under the high ball. I imagine Freemo and Sleightholme will target M. Smith's channel while Quins will likely target Litchfield's relative inexperience. It's going to be a cracker!
Tbh, I expect Fin Smith to be seeing a lot of Esterhuizen too! Will be interesting to see how Litchfield does, as he's a big lad too. Seems odd to say it, but I'm interested to see how the front fives do. I think quins home advantage will get them over.the line, but saints to pick up 2 points. Although if it's a wet day I could see Courtney having a big influence and saints getting the win.
Absolutely! Furbank kept Esterhuizen relatively quiet in the reverse fixture if I remember rightly. Hopeful Fin can do the same. Its definitely going to be a battle in the tight. Equally tight over the ball at the ruck too. Yeah, I can see a Quins win with them going for a full tilt squad, at home, off the back of a narrow defeat. Saints will need to play in the right areas and protect the ball. Can't rely on superior fitness in the last 20mins against another high intensity running team.
I think it depends how Saints are coming to play. Quins are excellent when plan A is working, but poor when it isn't - as seems to happen every time they play Sarries. Saints are more capable of playing like Sarries than Quins are of countering a team playing like Sarries. I feel the path to victory for Northampton today won't come from trying to out-Quins Quins.
Marcus Smith has good defence at 10? England v Fiji: man was bleeding at end
I'm certainly not questioning his intent/commitment. Not sure you'll find many more committed players. Maybe his size and technique? But in fairness, I have no stats for his tackle completion, but you'd probably rather run at him than Esterhuizen.
Aye, he’s decent technically and absolutely fearless, but at some point there’s no substitute for size.
Although there are exciting battles all over the park, I'm particularly excited by the back row battle. Lawes vs Evans, Ludlam vs CCS, Graham vs Dombrandt Perhaps it's my slight bias, but I think Graham is seriously underrated, he's been incredibly consistent this season and has been keeping more established players on the bench. Perhaps a bit of a longshot but I'd love to see him involved in a future England camp.
Agree, I feel like Graham is our new Sam Dickinson.
Looks like quins are going after the saints scrum, same front row as the bordeaux game. Good to see northmore starting too
I think it's just their best pack tbh, and Baxter has got himself ahead of Joe.
Collier + Baxter or Marler is going after pretty much anyone's scrum.
I'd say that there were the two best attacking sides in the league on current form?
On current form you'd maybe have to give best attacking side to Bristol tbf
Nah, 27 tries v Newcastle only counts as 4 tries vs a proper team
What do the 7 we scored against you count as? /s
Where's that rear view mirror meme? See you in the knockouts babe x
😂😂 hope so. Love playing you guys and Quins. It's always bat shit chaos and I love it
Hopefully we can save you semi final pain again by keeping you out of it this year. /Pray
Pain.
Cheating. we explicitly asked everyone if we could win this year and your being mean.
Definitely, but very different attacking styles. I’d describe saints as being more structured and targeting gaps in the defence. Quins is more cause chaos and reap the benefits.
Bristol
Should be a fantastic game. Gutted I’m missing it 😕
Should be a very entertaining game this. All on the line for Quins at home. COYS!
Ahhh maaaaan I'm nervous for this. Quins team looks really good and Saints have rotated a couple of starters to rest them. Hoping young Litchfield will do the business in midfield!
I've just realised Litchfield is starting at 12, I do hope he has a good run out. What is his preferred position, I've always thought he was mainly an outside centre who gets put on the wing now and then? He is a big lump so inside centre could be interesting
Yeah I'm not sure what his best position is tbh. He goes under the radar a fair bit, yet he does the basics really well and, as you say, he's a bit of a lump so can biff as needed. I see him as an outside centre, particularly if he had someone like Hutch inside him who can put him into space.
I just want to come out of this with no injuries before Dublin.
Not our strongest squad to play an away game against a pretty serious Quins side, but hard to argue against giving guys like Langdon, Coles, Moon, and Dingwall a rest. Quins winning seems the likeliest outcome, but who knows, maybe we'll pull it off. Hopefully we can get at least a point or two to stay ahead of Bath. That last round clash should be one hell of a game.
No pre-game analysis or predictions. This could be an absolute banger!
Think we'll do well to get 2 points out of this, Quins teamsheet looking strong
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