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Saints Vs Castres Olympique - Saturday 14 Jan - 13:00 - Franklin's Gardens
Topic Started: Jan 11 2017, 10:35 AM (573 Views)
Wibble
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Well we have done well over the past few weeks to get ourselves back in the mix in the League. Its not been perfect but we have started scoring trys again which must build confidence. now we are back to the European Cup and we all know we have nothing to play for except pride and more importantly IMO momentum.

If the Saints keep up their winning ways it could lead to a very good second half to the season, loose a couple of games and the very fragile confidence we have built could dissapear.

I expect us to put out a strong team at home. We might rest a couple of players who are not 100% like Picomoles but other than potentially that i think we will go flat out to get a home win.

Castres are in a similar position to us in the league and we know them better than most French teams. We will probably get a win but i would like to see us look convincing.

Overly optimistic? Very much so.
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happyclapper
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Difficult one this for Castre. They still have a slim chance of getting out of the group. But on the other hand, it is slim so do they put their efforts into securing a top 6 in the league to ensure they are in EC again next season? Not sure what they will do.

Re Saints, we need to build momentum so I would definitely go with putting out our strongest team but with a couple of changes. Rest Myler and give JJ a go at 10. And rest any player carrying a knock who could do with a break.
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Wibble
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Starting JJ will depend on the fitness of Harry IMO. If Harry is fit enough for 80 mins i think we could see that change, perhaps Myler on the bench incase we need him to close out a close game.
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happyclapper
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Yep, completely agree Wibble.
I just want to see JJ get some game time at 10. He needs it in case Myler gets crocked and there's no pressure on these games at all!
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big mac returns
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For me i'd rest, rest and rest.......we are as good as out, use that to an advantage and give the players a decent break to recover.

The next fours weeks are champions cup then LV, before the six nations begins.

for me id give some players a rest and give some others and opportunity. squad rotation is part of sport so i dont see how we can be called on fielding and weakened team. we did v leinster so do the same again. for the next four weeks id go with:

E Waller
Hayward (for lv bring in clare)
Hill
Api
Craig/Ribbins
Gibson
Clark (ludlem if clark isnt fit)
T
Dickson, lets get him firing again, did a good job seeing out the game v bristol
JJ
Collins
Mallinder
Hutch
Estelles/Packman (packman definitely for LV)
Foden

or at least give them a rest and then play the team that is going to be our first during the six nations a blow out v scarlets, almost a preseason game within the season.
Edited by big mac returns, Jan 11 2017, 02:11 PM.
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happyclapper
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Can't really argue with that team if I'm honest.
Maybe give Ace a run at FB as Fodes has been playing a lot. Freshen him up too.
Or didn't you say you wanted to see Collins at FB?
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big mac returns
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would be good to see collins at full back, i think his footwork could work there well, not sure if they see as an fb though. then just give packman the start.

however foden for me hasnt been that good of late in certain aspects but there has been a improvement in some areas, i think cause hes had so many long injuries and never got back to his best before getting injured again that a good run would help.

it'll be interesting to see where jim goes, i bet he'll go with virtually the same team as last week.
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happyclapper
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I don't think he will. He can't. He has to give JJ time at 10, regardless of whether Harry is fit. He needs time there in case needed and Stevo needs a rest.
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ElmaFudd
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I think we need to rotate a bit as well. So dicko 9, jj at 10 give Smlyer a bench place. Arry and George 12 and 13, Ken and Estellez. maybe Collins at FB but expect Ben. wouldn't be suprised to see courtney and Daisy on the bench. so Api and Craig or the new lad starting. Louis will probably be benched is dickinson fit yet? If so my money is on him at 8. gibson and Woody. Flanker with beef,heywood and hill front row.

Bet i'm 100% wrong though.
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chesty
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Need to keep confidence going and also keep faith with the Gardens crowd.Rest people by all means, but not wholesale, and I don't think the England lads would be helped by not playing Eddie likes to see his players playing.
J.J.needs time at fly half so we can see if he is good enough if not we need to sign a fly half.
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Saints2000
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I agree with Mac. It's time to give more of the young and fringe players the opportunity to show what they can do. If Castre field a weaker team then there is the chance of a win. However, another 50 point thumping won't do morale any good, so there is a balance to be struck.
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happyclapper
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Chesty, I think I'm somewhere between you and Mac.
I think we need to put out a strong team, keep momentum and ensure the crowd are pleased, so I agree with you on that. But we also need to rotate and rest some players and also give others some much needed game time.

1 - Swap the Wallers - should be no real loss in service there.
2 - Mikey to start as I don't think Clare is up to it yet but bring him on for a good 20-30 mins and also give him the LV.
3 - I'd keep with Brooks as he needs to find some form. Maybe give Hill the LV
4/5 - I want to see some game time for Api and Ribbans. I'd pair them with Day or Patterson though. Courtney needs a rest.
6/7/8 - Rest Louis, he deserves it. If no Sam, I'd play T at 8 EC and a youngster for LV. Rotate the flanks, maybe play Wood for EC but rest him for LV.
9 - Give Dicko a run.
10 - This must be JJ for all 4 games. He needs to get some time at 10.
12 - Harry.
13 - Pisi for EC, a youngster for LV.
11/14 - Estelles and North for EC. Play Estelles and a kid for LV.
15 - Foden for EC, a youngster for LV.

Just my thoughts...
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big mac returns
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Don't disagree. Would play t at 8 over Dickinson. Otherwise tend to agree, maybe hutch in at 13 though. Hopefully Clark is available he could do with four games.
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ElmaFudd
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Very similar to my thoughts above HC. Need some experience and a team with a decent chance of a result. Can't just field a side that has no experience or it will be a pasting.
Edited by ElmaFudd, Jan 12 2017, 09:09 PM.
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Wibble
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If we want to test players we need a strong side or we wont learn how they fit in.
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big mac returns
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Can someone confirm that if we were to win our next two games, and potentially finish 2nd (if leinster beat montpellier at home) we wont be in the top two second places and would therefore drop into the challenge cup?
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Wibble
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Very unlikely. Might even be impossible. Let me do the calculations :-/
Looking at it, we need the top teams to not loose and the bottom teams to win all theres... Plus we need two BP wins (perhaps only 1 BP and a good win ratio will do it)...

I would say we are out. we need Zebre to get a win i think....
Edited by Wibble, Jan 13 2017, 11:28 AM.
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big mac returns
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as far as i can see it, if we win both our games and montpellier lose to leinster, which means montpellier a castres both lose, we finish at least on 12, montpellier assuming they dont get any bonus points finish on 11.
Wibble, dont we just need to finish second to get into the challenge cup?

the top two second places go into the next round and the other second places drop into the challenge cup dont they?
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY CASTRES
European Rugby Champions Cup Round 5
Franklin’s Gardens
Saturday, January 14th, 2017
Kick off 1:00pm
15 Ben Foden
14 Juan Pablo Estelles
13 Luther Burrell
12 Harry Mallinder
11 George North
10 Stephen Myler
9 Nic Groom
1 Alex Waller
2 Mikey Haywood
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Courtney Lawes
5 Christian Day
6 Tom Wood (capt)
7 Jamie Gibson
8 Teimana Harrison

16 Charlie Clare
17 Ethan Waller
18 Paul Hill
19 James Craig
20 Ben Nutley
21 Lee Dickson
22 JJ Hanrahan
23 Ahsee Tuala

fundamentally we were all wrong, thats basically as strong as we can go. which is generally in keeping with jim's approach and maybe due to threat for not fielding strong team last time.
Edited by big mac returns, Jan 13 2017, 01:10 PM.
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Hood56
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Very strong team there. I agree it's likely as a threat for not wanting to get in trouble. I would also say they want to keep the momentum of the last few games going, coupled with it being a home game they most likely don't want to annoy the fans anymore by getting another thrashing whilst watching a second string team.
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chesty
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is api injured or what has he done wrong,not in the sqad.
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happyclapper
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Yep, more or less as strong as can be.
I assume Picamoles is injured?

It might also be a bid to get into ECC for another shot at silverware?
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Wibble
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I thought the backdoor into the ECC was shut in the new format....
Yes it was. All we have to play for is a best placed runner up...
Edited by Wibble, Jan 13 2017, 05:10 PM.
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happyclapper
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Think you're right.
From ECC website:

Clubs will qualify for the 2017/18 European Rugby Challenge Cup in the following ways:

The remaining 18 clubs from the PRO12, TOP 14 and the Aviva Premiership which have not qualified for the Champions Cup.
Two additional clubs will qualify from the Challenge Cup Qualifying Competition which features representatives from emerging countries and the Italian Eccellenza
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big mac returns
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hot and cold from us today, thought the forwards did well at times. but it was almost as if we needed to be provoked into a performance.

Hill is just not up to it, the man cant scrummage. rumour is he leaving, i'm not fussed. hes too light, we have academy players younger then him. i think where ever he goes he will be exposed as what he is.
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ElmaFudd
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Well rumour is Hill will be with Sale next season Mac which I'm sure will be a relief for you. I thought he had a decent game today but I know nothing about forward play. Entertaining game nowhere near the 13k that saints claimed as the gate though.
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Ossie Reborn
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Elma, the club probably takes as read that all season ticket seats are filled each week then all they do is add the ticket office sales. It's possible, though even Robson might baulk at the idea, that no one could turn up and the club could claim 10,000.
Edited by Ossie Reborn, Jan 14 2017, 08:45 PM.
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flanker
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Sounded like the scrum was completely outpowered. Pointed out on the radio that Hill is only 21, very young for a prop and still learning his trade.
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big mac returns
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Apologies when I said we have academy players younger then him I meant older. At 21 he is very young to be a first team prop, needs a few years in the gym bulking. But at the moment he cant scrummage. If they're having hill can we have mooj?
I think he's a very good rugby player, he just cant scrummmage
Edited by big mac returns, Jan 14 2017, 10:49 PM.
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ElmaFudd
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Ossie Reborn
Jan 14 2017, 08:44 PM
Elma, the club probably takes as read that all season ticket seats are filled each week then all they do is add the ticket office sales. It's possible, though even Robson might baulk at the idea, that no one could turn up and the club could claim 10,000.
Ossie the club definitely do that 13k turnout claimed yesterday but in reality no more than 11k I would say.

Anyway enjoyable match yesterday as flanker says overpowered and outsmarted in the scrum. Still an obvious lack of communications in the backs bit plenty if heart on display. Foden had a good game in the backs but my motm was T what a machine. I Don't think loosing Clarke will be such a problem as long as we retain him.
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happyclapper
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Once their first choice props went off, we held our own and I thought we did well in the scrum.
If the ref would make them feed straight and hook, it may have been different.

Foden was good with ball in hand but couldn't catch a cold.
Luther ran some good lines but made some awful mistakes.

Wood was my MOTM, awesome all game long.
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