Northampton Saints Vs Montpellier

Kick off 19:45 on Friday 20th Jan 17

Saints team announced:

15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Juan Pablo Estelles
13 Nafi Tuitavake
12 Harry Mallinder
11 George North
10 JJ Hanrahan
9 Lee Dickson (capt)
1 Ethan Waller
2 Charlie Clare
3 Paul Hill
4 Michael Paterson
5 James Craig
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Ben Nutley
8 Teimana Harrison

16 James Fish
17 Alex Waller
18 Kieran Brookes
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Lewis Ludlam
21 Tom Kessell
22 James Wilson
23 Ken Pisi

Very much a second 23, only Mallinder, North and Harrison would be normal starters and only Waller (A) and Brookes on the bench would be in a normal matchday 23. With such a massively underpowered pack, I fear a long night. Another chance to get some of the youngsters some experience blown. What have Moon and Onojaife got to do to get some game time at this or any senior level

Also, Montpellier need the bonus point I believe so this could get ugly.

Lacey being up to his usual standard

Repeat of last week, gut is just not up to it any more

Lacey seems to have turned into a comedian the way the Montpellier players are laughing at his comments

Lacey truly is woeful isn't he?

Clear forward pass in the lead up to the Montpellier try and plenty more since completely ignored.

Why have a TMO if you don't bother to use him.

Harrison is playing himself into the 7 shirt for next week, as the commentator said, "got his mojo back". running into space that should not be there.

Lacey hasn't a clue what the Montpellier pack are up to, penalising Saints for offences he cannot see which the camera shows are completely wrong. Assistants just as bad.

Onojaife is showing Mallinder that we do have alternatives to Patterson, playing really well, carrying, lineout all there.

Not getting to see this game but Harrison was great last week. This game going nothing like as expected so far.

14 -10 now, Saints denied a try by the TMO after the ref had awarded it and the conversion was about to be taken. Very dubious decision.

Montpellier laying all over the ball at the breakdown and no penalties.

Lacey gets it wrong again, player in touch passes back, Saints player takes it and is enveloped, not released. penalty against Saints, lineout try Montpellier.

2nd time Lacey makes a decision then gets pressurised to go to the tmo

I think any winger over 110kg should shrunk, at 130kg they should forced to play prop................ ridiculous.

Montpellier just about deserved to win against a second string Saints side 26-17, would have been a lot less comfortable if they had had a ref with half a brain. Nadolo is just about unplayable at close range, 130kg on the hoof cannot be stopped in a couple of metres.

Harrison looks to be back to his form of last year so that is good for both England and Saints. Ethan Waller showed why he will be a big loss

That game turned on two touchline decisions. Both were marginal, and could have gone either way. I think if the first, the Saints disallowed try, had stood then the result would have been reversed.

Unfortunately, didn't see the match since I was flying home.
Good to hear Harrison played well.
Also good to hear the match was close - in France - and in a game Monty-P had to win.
Not so good to hear Lacey was up to his best (sic).
All depends now on how Saints play during the Six Nations.