Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers

First topic message reminder :

I can't see a thread for this one. Scheduled for Saturday April 14th at Franklin Gardens 8am kick off (well here anyway, 3pm BST for those in the UK )

Teams
Northampton: Foden; Ashton, Pisi, Downey, Diggin; Lamb, Dickson (capt); Tonag'uiha, Long, Mujati; Manoa, Day; Craig, Dowson, Wilson.
Replacements: McMillan, Waller, Doran Jones, Sorenson, Nutley, Roberts, Myler, May.
Leicester: Murphy (capt); Agulla, M Tuilagi, Allen, A Tuilagi; Flood, B Youngs; Ayerza, Chuter, Cole; Skivington, Parling; Croft, Salvi, Waldrom.
Replacements: T Youngs, Castrogiovanni, Mulipola, Mafi, Newby, Harrison, Twelvetrees, Hamilton.

Always a testy encounter. Tigers on form, Saints seem a little flat and both teams with a couple of long term absentee's (Deacon, Crane, Hartley, Clark). Wood also missing for the Saints but good to see Manoa back after injury. Although at the Gardens I can't see past the usual Tigers win although I do live in hope.

Did wonder about doing a first yellow card poll

Flood hurt!

False alarm he seems fine

Flood finishes that well, but it was weak tackling from Dowson.

Tigers starting to push on in the scrums and lineouts.

Flood scores a try. Poor defending by Saints (Dowson). Flood pretty much ran through him.

9-24 to Tigers

On another note, Falcons are currently winning at Glos 3-0... Blow the final whistle now ref!

Looks like Downey was looking for the little offload/pop pass and left Dowson with too much to do (still should have made the tackle).

Side note, try for Exeter 8-0 to them
Irish just beating Sarries and Newcastle just beating Gloucester

Reckon this penalty could kill it... Flood didn't have the distance.

Good luck with that Cumbrian. I want you guys to win, 1 for the relegation battle not to be over and 2 for Sale to make the HEC (unlikely given the run-ins)

Penalty to Flood but he misses badly. Big Tuilagi runs the kick off back and lineout to Tigers. But Saints steal it.

Pigging ESPN still have not started showing it on main channel

HammerofThunor wrote:Good luck with that Cumbrian. I want you guys to win, 1 for the relegation battle not to be over and 2 for Sale to make the HEC (unlikely given the run-ins)

Penalty to Flood but he misses badly. Big Tuilagi runs the kick off back and lineout to Tigers. But Saints steal it.

Cheers


Tigers look like they are filling their boots with this one.

Messy lineout for Tigers and Craig knocked on trying to gather it after a poor knock back for Tigers. Penalty Tigers at the scrum.

Irish now 9-3 against Sarries.

Gillies has scored his 1st premiership try for 15 years

Flood makes to kick 9-27 to Tigers

Great tackle by Ashton on Manu (legally )

LT sounds like they've just put it on.

BP try. Great finish from Agulla

Just want to say so far it's been a really clean game. Don't think there have been many penalties at all. Media wind up hasn't worked.

Good try by Agulla. Tigers worked it wide and he was able to ground it over Diggen. This will be a challenge for Flood.

9-32 to Tigers (missed conversion).

Subs coming on. Doran Jones, Sorenson, Myler and Waller.

Oh and Castro is one (just saw his hair)

I saw this coming

Trip by Downey?

Austin's just highlighted a possible trip by Downey (and citing).

14-6 to London Irish
14-10(?) to Worcester

Fight back is on then eh? Dickson gets over after a decent rolling maul (love to see them) from the Saints pack.

Try by Dickson following a driving maul. Castro almost got the ball when Sorenson tried handing it back over the top of the maul. But the push came on and the ball available quickly

Very good rolling maul by Saints.

Come on Tigers.

16-32 to Tigers (skimmed the inside post). Half way there

Matt Smith replaces Agulla.

Saints nicked the Leicester lineout

I think they're being a little over the top about Agulla, yes he's a good club man but with the armchair ride that Tigers pack give Benjamin will offer so much more next season.

Ashton blows a try by falling over.

Ashton truly is cursed.

Get in there! Falcons have gone in under the posts! 19-9 to the lads!

I agree Yappysnap. He's good and surprisingly hard to put down but not the best in world (certainly not worth a full salary for a partial season, at least unless he's clearly first choice)

Castro struggling in that scrum, yet we get the penalty.

Down as 19-6 on ESPN. Gloucester are very dangerous though so still very very early

Bloody hell Glos what are you doing to my predictions!

So Leicester possibly second in the league after coming from what 11th at one point in time? Fairly terrifying...

14-12 to LI at half time, saracens kicking nicely but not much else again
14-16 to Exeter at half time too

yappysnap wrote:I think they're being a little over the top about Agulla, yes he's a good club man but with the armchair ride that Tigers pack give Benjamin will offer so much more next season.

He has been one of Leicester's players of the season! He doesn't have any glaring weaknessess and he does so much very well. He is class.

So it is... that's even better!

May on for Downey
Nutley on for someone
Mafi on for Croft

Half time on that Newcastle game 6-19
14-12 to Irish
14-16 to Exeter

Great scrum from Tigers, Chutes surprises me by opting for the kick at goal when Pearson penalises Saints. Flood knocks it over. 19pt lead 11 minutes to go.

yappysnap wrote:Bloody hell Glos what are you doing to my predictions!

So Leicester possibly second in the league after coming from what 11th at one point in time? Fairly terrifying...

12th at one point weren't they?

My link seems to be a little behind. Flood's only just got that kick

Youngs on for Chuter

Saints flinging the ball everwhere now.

Saints just keep making little mistakes

YC for Tigers. Castro off.

Newby on as a bloodbin replacement for Salvi

Lineout in the corner. Good set by Saints but it goes to ground. Yet another penalty for Saints.

Cycle repeats, slightly crroked lineout. Saints close to the line. Good tackle by Youngs. and Saints make the mistake when the line is in range. Scrum tigers in front of the posts.

Ouch that's a nasty one for Salvi.

Were they 12th Thunor? Either way that's bloody impressive, nearly climbing the whole table in half a season!

This does not bode well for Quins hosting you gents next Sat.

Cole comes back on replacing Waldrom for the scrum. Matt Smith packs down and Tigers get penalty. Saints lineout near half way. surely not enough time now.

Parling steals the lineout and kick to corner with pin point precision by Flood. Tigers now on Saints line

I see that Mulipola is on for ayerza. Saints clear their lines and allen knock on.

Parling's playing really well, he's def become one of the best locks out there for doing all the stuff you never see on the highlights reel.