Autumn International Preview - England v Argentina

It's not very often you go into an international weekend as an England fan with a feeling of deflation.  Expectation?  Occasionally.  Hope?  Against my better judgement, more often than not.  Dread?  Regularly.  Numb despondency?  Occasionally – often when Andy Robinson was picking the team.  But this weekend should have been a chance to see one of the most exciting wing pairings in years strut their stuff in front of an expectant home crowd.  Marland Yarde showed glimpses of his speed and power at the weekend whilst Christian Wade was in phenomenal form for Wasps, bagging two tries from the half way line in a scintillating display of acceleration and footwork.  Instead, minor ailments have ensured that neither man will be gracing the hallowed home of English rugby this weekend, and instead their spots will be taken by a man who hasn't found international form for 18 months and a full back playing out of position.   Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Chris Ashton when he's on form, but we haven't seen that for years.  Perhaps now he has had a stern warning, we may see some sparks fly.

Stuart Lancaster has attempted to quell the feeling of disappointment of not seeing two of the most exciting young talents in the English game in the famous white shirt by instilling one of curiosity, as he changes the entire front row for the match up against the Pumas on Saturday.  Joe Marler is in for Mako Vunipola, who is injured, with the returning Alex Corbisiero on the bench, Dylan Hartley steps in for new-father Tom Youngs and, most surprisingly, Dan Cole is replaced by David Wilson.  The first two changes are semi-forced and understandable, but the latter had me confused at first – Dan Cole had been the central figure in an utterly dominant England scrum last weekend, destroying James Slipper and earning 7 penalties in the process.  It was difficult to see why he was dropped.  But then I came to realise this is a positive change.  Cole has been a fixture in the side for years, and no other tighthead has really been tested as a starter, and a match against the Pumas represents a more than significant challenge to anyone wanting to challenge Cole's spot.  Plus, Wilson's form has been impressive and all facets of his game have been improving – Cole is still first choice in my book, but Wilson has a real chance to put himself forward as a genuine option.  And against the Pumas front row, there's no better place to test yourself.

The South Americans come into this in what can best be described as disarray, and worst as a chaotic mess.  With rumours of a split in the camp, coach Santiago Phelan walking out on the eve of the tour and a 40 point hammering at home to Australia, morale must be low.  The deflated feeling amongst England fans won't have been helped either by the news that 2 of their truly world-class operators – Juan Martin Hernandez and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe – are injured for the fixture.  But in times like these, sides can either rally or collapse.  I know what I expect to see from them, and Stuart Lancaster's men should be expecting that fiery Latino passion.  There's nothing more dangerous than a Puma side that has been written off.    As is tradition, everyone has been banging on about the scrum in the build up to this one – and to some extent that's right with the calibre of scrummagers they have at their disposal, but I'd suggest that they have extremely capable players out wide as well, although they appear to be unsure as to how to bring them into play effectively at the moment.  Their back 3 of Amorosino, Agulla and Imhoff are all proven at top club and international level, and can be lethal if given space.

That's not to say England don't have threats of their own – indeed, the competition for places that is developing should ensure that players are looking to show as much ambition as possible.  The vote of confidence for Billy Twelvetrees should see him demanding ball off the half backs and looking to dictate play with the authority we've seen for Gloucester.  How effective that proves to be will be down to whether or not Owen Farrell and Lee Dickson express at least a modicum of understanding, which was missing last week – but one thing is for sure, they shouldn't lack for front foot ball, with Billy Vunipola, Wilson and Courtney Lawes lurking about.  And that's not the mention the all-Test Lion tight 5 they have on the bench.  Useful.

So, despite the disappointment of injuries to promising players, perhaps there are a couple of reasons to be hopeful.  England are building a genuinely competitive squad and, if they win – and win with style – maybe there will be some reasons to feel a little more 'inflated' for the visit of the All Blacks.

 

England Team News

England have made four changes to their starting XV for Saturday's Test against Argentina at Twickenham.  Leicester prop Dan Cole, who has been a fixture in the England side since making his debut in 2010, makes way for Bath tight-head David Wilson.   Dylan Hartley replaces Tom Youngs at hooker after the Leicester man had been away at the birth of his first child during the week and loose-head Joe Marler replaces the injured Mako Vunipola.   Ben Foden comes in for the injured Marland Yarde on the wing but Christian Wade is out with a hamstring strain.  Scrum-half Ben Youngs failed a fitness test on a hip injury on Friday and will be replaced on the bench by Danny Care.

Starting Line-up: Mike Brown, Chris Ashton, Joel Tomkins, Billy Twelvetrees, Ben Foden, Owen Farrell, Lee Dickson; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, David Wilson, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (captain), Billy Vunipola

Subs: Tom Youngs, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Ben Morgan, Danny Care, Toby Flood, Alex Goode

Key Player

Billy Twelvetrees.  Of course, the game-deciding battles will be up front, but when you're looking at individuals who need a big game, there is none who stands out more than Billy Twelvetrees.  Well, perhaps Chris Ashton, but we've been saying that for the last 18 months.  Rightly vilified for a terrible missed tackle on Matt Toomua that led to a try last week, he cut a frustrated figure in attack as Farrell and Dickson failed to gel.  He needs to focus on bringing Tomkins and his back 3 into the game with his distribution, as that's what he's in for.  Taking it one play at a time should bring out the best in a player who has been tipped in some quarters as England's next Will Greenwood…no pressure then.

Argentina Team News

New coach Daniel Hourcade has made five changes from the team crushed 54-17 by Australia in the Rugby Championship.   Full-back Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, centre Santiago Fernandez and scrum-half Tomas Cubelli come into the side.   Amorosino replaces the injured Juan Martin Hernandez, Fernandez takes over from the now-retired Felipe Contepomi, while Cubelli has been preferred to Martin Landajo, with both nines playing their club rugby in the amateur Buenos Aires championship.  Maximiliano Bustos comes into the front row for injured prop Juan Figallo, while a late change sees Eusebio Guinazu retain his place after Agustin Creevy withdrew injured.   Further positional changes see brilliant youngster Pablo Matera move from open-side flanker to blind-side to cover the absent Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, while Julio Farias Cabello switches from lock to open-side.  Number 8 Juan Manuel Lequizamon takes over the captaincy.

Starting Line-up:  Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Horacio Agulla, Marcelo Bosch, Santiago Fernandez, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli; Marcos Ayerza, Eusebio Guinazu, Maximiliano Bustos, Mariano Galarza, Patricio Albacete, Pablo Matera, Julio Farias Cabello, Juan Manuel Leguizamon (captain).

Subs: Santiago Iglesias, Nahuel Lobo, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Manuel Carizza, Benjamín Macome, Martin Landajo, Gonzalo Tiesi, Santiago Cordero.

Key Player

Juan Manuel Leguizamon.  I've never been the biggest fan of the number 8 at club level – perhaps because whenever I see him my mind jumps back to his hilariously stupid bombed try for London Irish – but he does seem to do the business with an international jersey on.  He is a big physical presence and he will need to be mobile as well to make up for the loss of a man as influential as Lobbe.  We all know about the Pumas set piece power, but what we need to see from the back row to make them a threat is speed over the ground and intelligent running lines of Sanchez to really test the England defence.  Keep an eye out for new Leicester boy Pablo Matera as well – some raw talent on show.

Key Battle

David Wilson v Marcos Ayerza.  It's not sexy, it's not glamorous, and some would say that it's not even entertaining, but there can be no doubting the crucial battle will take place in the scrum – in particular the arm wrestle between Wilson and Ayerza.  Wilson has a great chance to stake a claim as a regular starter, but he will have to do it against one of the best looseheads in Europe.  Wilson hasn't always had it easy when scrummaging against Ayerza at club level, but the Bath tighthead has made a marked improvement and seems to have adjusted well to the new laws.  His job will be to hold his ground and ensure that Ayerza doesn't get underneath in, whilst simultaneously making life for hooker Eusebio Guinazu as uncomfortable as possible.  Easy.

Prediction

The Pumas certainly boast an impressive amount of experience within their ranks and it's hard to see them putting in a display as wet as the one that sunk to a miserable defeat to the Wallabies.  But, despite the deflated feel in a fairly unambitious line up, this England side still has the muscle and skillset to do the business against a Pumas side who must be struggling for form and confidence.  I don't expect a walkover – but the Twickenham faithful should be expecting a comfortable win, with at least a smidgeon of attacking finesse this time.  England by 16.

 

The autumn internationals get underway properly this weekend, let's see what's happening elsewhere:

Italy v Australia:  Despite the setback of last week, the Wallabies should have too much class for the Azurri – but their scrum will have to improve.  Australia by 7.

Scotland v Japan:  Japan are developing into a competitive outfit but it is difficult to see them making too many waves against a powerful Scotland side.  Scotland by 22.

Wales v South Africa:  In one of the games of the weekend, fireworks are promised at the Millennium Stadium.  With two sets of titanic forwards and gifted backs, this promises to be a nailbiter.  South Africa are well and truly warmed up though, after their Rugby Championship exploits.  South Africa by 5.

Ireland v Samoa:  In my view, Samoa have announced themselves as a top 8 side in world rugby so this will be a tricky – and bruising encounter – for the Irish.  Home advantage should see them through.  Ireland by 8.
 

Freance v New Zealand:  In another traditional thriller, the French look like they may once again be hindered by some questionable selections from Philippe Saint Andre.  Kiwis too strong.  All Blacks by 10.

Premiership Review - Leicester Tigers 16 - 23 Harlequins

Every side has a ‘bogey’ team – a side which seems to create a mental block when it comes to winning every time the teams face one another.  To be a championship-winning side, you really shouldn't have many of these – the definition of a bogey-team is consistently losing to a side you are more than capable of winning against.  So when you hear Harlequins have won 3 out of their last 5 against Leicester at Welford Road heading into their latest fixture, you get a sense that the sight of the Quins team bus hurtling up the M1 is enough to cause many a squeaky-bum amongst the Tigers faithful.

Of course, several of Harlequins' wins have been in situations just like Saturday's – in the international windows.  That's not to put a dampener on Quins achievements though, as any win at the Welford Road fortress is worth its weight in gold, no matter which Leicester line-up you face - and these days Harlequins are more than capable of turning over anybody on their day.  Perhaps what set this fixture apart from the rest, though, was that both sides were in exactly the same boat – riddled with injuries, struck by international call-ups.  The ultimate double whammy.

With both sides fielding rather mix-and-match line ups, and a swirling wind at Welford Road, it was perhaps no surprise that both sides were struggling for fluency in the opening 10 minutes.   Owen Williams, the young Welsh fly half, belied the conditions though with a superb kick from halfway to put the Tigers 3 – 0 up after a scrappy start to the match.  But then the Quins engine began to purr.  With many, including myself, doubting whether or not the pack could withstand the Tigers’ power, the spine of the Londoners side stood up and yards alarmingly easily through Leicester’s defence, with Nick Easter, Tom Guest and George Robson leading the way executing the powerful offloading game that makes them such a joy to watch.  However, scrappy play and some good last ditch defence from Ed Slater and Niall Morris denied the visitors the reward their play deserved, and instead the hosts found themselves an unlikely 6 – 0 lead after another well-struck Williams penalty, thanks to a dominant scrum led by Logovi’i Mulipola and Marcos Ayerza.

Despite the lead though, it was all one way traffic.  Despite playing with a strong breeze mostly at their backs, Leicester couldn’t get out of their own half – although this wasn’t helped by the hammer-booted Owen Williams missing touch and finding the dead ball line from his own 22 metre line.  Worryingly for the Tigers, the Quins backs were also starting to fire, with Matt Hopper, Nick Evans and the electrically talented Charlie Walker all make real inroads into the Tigers’ defence.  They laid siege to their line and were rewarded when Julian Salvi was penalised for hands in the ruck, and the Aussie received a yellow card for his troubles.  I took issue with this – not because it wasn’t worthy of a yellow card, but the fact that it was only Leicester’s second penalty, whilst the count stood at nine for the visitors.  Referee Tim Wigglesworth had shown plenty of leniency in the scrum for Quins, and it was surprising to see him take such a harsh line on Salvi.  Evans, of course, couldn’t care less, and slotted over 3 points before, on the cusp of half time, Easter crashed over from close range to give the visitors a 4 point lead at the break.

Things didn’t get any easier after the break for the home side as the cost of Salvi’s sin binning continuing to spiral.  With players missing basic tackles – Jordan Crane in particular was putting in efforts that Bambi would have been ashamed off – the visitors had no problem in building momentum, and when Matt Hopper received the ball on the left wing, he expertly stepped inside the covering Scott Hamilton, Ed Slater and Niall Morris to touch down beneath the sticks.

Salvi then returned to the fray, and Leicester began to return belatedly to the game.  With Ed Slater, Mulipola and Graham Kitchener making good yardage, it looked as if the Tigers pack would claw the hosts back into contention.  But every time the ball went wide, the cohesion disappeared – on account of Leicester being down to their second choice 12 and fourth choice 13, perhaps.  But the main factor that was keeping them away from the Quins line was outstanding defence.  Sensational cover defence from Evans and Walker kept Adam Thompstone out, before Ugo Monye weighed in with a couple of punishing hits.  With Steve Mafi on for the ineffectual Louis Deacon, the men in green were well on top – but with nothing to show for it.  Instead, Evans slammed over another kick with 10 minutes to go to take the game well away from the Tigers.

The problems got worse for the hosts, as they were forced to watch Matt Smith and Dan Bowden follow Terence Hepetema off the field with head injuries, meaning the Tigers packed down for the final scrum of the game with the unusual backline of full back Blaine Scully and winger Thompstone in the centres, and scrum half Sam Harrison and prop Fraser Balmain on the wings.  Luckily, the hosts’ scrum had been the sharpest object in their armoury, and the pack earned their long overdue reward by grabbing a penalty try with the last play of the game.

It earned the Tigers a bonus point at 16 – 23, but it proved once again that Quins are the Tigers’ bogey team – no matter which side takes the field.

 

What else was happening in the Premiership at the weekend?

 

Worcester Warriors 6 – 21 Bath:  The Warriors misery continued as they limply fell to defeat at Sixways on Friday night.  Bath deserved their win and picked up two tries though Anthony Perenise and Horacio Agulla.

Sale Sharks 16 – 18 Exeter Chiefs:  The Chiefs continued their fine form with a narrow victory at the AJ Bell Stadium, despite the hosts scoring the game's only try though Mark Cueto.  Gareth Steenson was the man on target with the boot for the visitors, nailing 6 penalties.

Gloucester 30 – 32 London Wasps:  Wasps picked up a crucial win as the Cherry and Whites fell to yet another disappointing defeat in a thriller at Kingsholm.  Shaun Knight, Sione Kalamofoni and Rob Cook (2) picked up the 5-pointers for the hosts, whilst a sensational double from Chrisian Wade and tries from Nathan Hughes and Guy Thompson sealed a dramatic win for the visitors.

Saracens 40 – 3 Newcastle Falcons:  Sarries coasted to victory over the Falcons at Allianz Park, picking up a try bonus point in the process.  Scores from Charlie Hodgson, David Strettle (2), Jamie George and Marcelo Bosch made it a comfortable afternoon for the Londoners.

London Irish 14 – 19 Northampton Saints:  Saints ruined James O'Connor's debut for Irish by grinding out a tight win at the Madejski Stadium.  Sailosi Tagicakibau scored for the home side, with James Wilson responding for the East Midlanders.
 

Autumn International Review - England 20 - 13 Australia

These Autumn Internationals are already giving me a headache.  It seems before any tournament or series that England play, the press get off their rear ends and stop writing about what knickers Miley Cyrus is wearing and instead pose unanswerable question after unanswerable question.  Is Chris Robshaw a ‘real’ openside (yawn)?  What’s England’s best centre combination?  Is it true Danny Care has been dropped because of his appalling haircut?

To be fair, it’s not just England facing the pressure.  The Aussies have had their own demons to deal with, with a series loss to the Lions and then a disappointing Rugby Championship campaign leading many to wonder why this undoubtedly talented Wallaby side were failing to fire.  But a sensational away win over Argentina in Rosaria and impressive showing in their defeat to the All Blacks was enough to at least inject a sense of hope and expectation behind all the questions about the Wallabies – in particular their pack – which remained unanswered.

But there’s something about the English press which really hammers home the importance of answering all these questions in time for the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in 2 years time.  Ranging from the suitability of individuals such as Mike Brown and Lee Dickson, to the balance of units in the pack – particularly the back row.  As England lined up against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, the plethora of ponderings was mind-boggling.

Another question that was hanging over England as the game kicked off was over the suitability of Chris Robshaw as both a captain and an openside.  I find this constant berating of one of England's best and most consistent performers tiresome at best, and he responded perfectly in the opening two minutes.  After the hosts had spilled the kick off and Quade Cooper had probed the defence with a smart cross-field kick which just eluded Adam Ashley-Cooper, Joe Launchbury made a nuisance of himself at a ruck, forcing the ball loose and allowing Tom Youngs to make an outstanding tackle.  First man in at the breakdown?  Robshaw.  The Wallabies were penalised for holding on and the men in white had their first points courtesy of Owen Farrell.

The lead didn't last for long though, as Youngs and Courtney Lawes managed to fluff a lineout, which gave the visitors a chance to apply pressure and earn a penalty, which Cooper duly slotted.  The game then took an odd path, with neither side able to develop any continuity, but it was the English who were dominating possession and territory.  Dan Cole was destroying James Slipper in the scrum and, with the help of Mako Vunipola, earning penalty after penalty.  However, with Lawes and Youngs still not quite in tune at the lineout, a lack of cohesion in the middle and uncharacteristic indecisiveness from Lee Dickson, England were unable to make any sort of inroads into a disciplined Wallaby defence.  The only threats they had were from the scrum and Mike Brown at 15, who got Twickenham on its feet with a magnificent regathering of his own chip ahead over Will Genia.  Despite the pack impressing with its dominance, Owen Farrell was unable to reward his side as he hooked his penalty attempts 3 consecutive times.

Finally, the Saracens man got his radar working with a simple kick close to the sticks, and it came after his clubmate and debutant Billy Vunipola swatted off Cooper like an irritating bug and made big inroads through the middle of the defence.  If the sight of Vunipola junior's raw talent was a welcome one, then the sight of Farrell finally hitting his mark and sending England 3 points up was even more so. 

Any sense of relief was short-lived, though, as centre Billy Twelvetrees endured the worst 5 minutes of his international career.  After Israel Folau got on the outside of Chris Ashton thanks to a sumptuous pass from Cooper, the Wallabies recycled and centre Matt Toomua – who repeatedly smashed Twelvetrees when the Brumbies played the Lions – introduced the Gloucester man to the soles of his feet as he smashed through the centre.  Cooper slotted the conversion and then added another kick as Twelvetrees was penalised within kicking distance, handing the Wallabies a 10 point lead.  It would prove to be a lead which they'd carry into half time, as more promising work by Brown on the counter was undone by indecisiveness by Farrell and Dickson.

It was starting to look like a painfully familiar story for England fans – another autumn of exaggerated expectations and disappointing defeats, made all the starker by the parading of the 2003 World Cup winning England squad during the break – but it was absolutely clear that it was going to be critical who scored first.  Unfortunately for the hosts, it looked like that it would be the men in gold who were the more likely to trouble the scoreboard, with Nick Cummins just failing to gather a kick in a promising position and then Cooper missing a penalty after Marland Yarde had checked Adam Ashley-Cooper on kick chase.  It was Australia with all the threat, all the penetration and all the invention.

But it was England with all the luck.  Mike Brown fielded a magnificent kick for Toomua and – not for the first time – prevented a kick destined for touch from finding its mark.  Replays showed, though, that Brown has deceptively big toes that were grazing the whitewash by his own tryline, meaning the Wallabies should have had the lineout by the England line.  Instead, Brown dummied the kick and surged up field, bringing the crowd to life, before a quick tap from Ashton helped release Yarde on the other wing, who burned his way past Will Genia and Tevita Kuridani with searing speed and power, only to be denied by a superb cover tackle by Adam Ashley-Cooper.  What looked to be the get-out-of-jail card for the Aussies though did not work out as planned, as Genia's box kick from the ensuing lineout was charged down, allowing Chris Robshaw to pounce on the loose ball and claim his first international try. 

Farrell nailed his conversion and suddenly it was England with all the tempo and attacking threat.  They were aided by the introductions of Dylan Hartley, who brought the lineout up to scratch and carried hard, and Ben Youngs, who finally added some direction and zip to the England thrust.  It paid dividends as they surged upfield and set up camp by the Wallaby line, and when Hartley 'leaned' into Stephen Moore, it created a gap for Farrell to burst through and touchdown to give England the lead.  Referee Stephen Clancy reviewed the score before awarding it, deciding that there hadn't been 'enough' obstruction to deny the try.

In the next 10 minutes England looked to hammer home their advantage, with Brown going close from a smart dabbed kick from Farrell and even Chris Ashton making some useful metres, but the alarm bells were starting to ring for the Wallabies, and as the game reached the closing stages they upped their game to another level.  With Nic White, on for the ineffectual Will Genia, directing play smartly and kicking intelligently, the visitors began to claw their way back into the game.  Nick Cummins shot through a gap, only to be denied by another superb tackle from the magnificent Brown, before Folau was halted short after Quade Cooper had rounded substitute Ben Morgan.  Try as they might, the Wallabies couldn't find the killer touch – but the England scrum had it in abundance, and the pack earned another couple of penalties to make the game safe, and set the final score at 20 – 13.

It was a scrappy, messy game but also intense, brutal and compelling.  There's a view that, from England's perspective, it will have raised more questions than answers after some unconvincing individual performances, but at least they've answered the key enquiry – can they beat quality opposition when they are expected to?  It wasn't pretty – at times it wasn't effective – but at least they've come out with the right answer.

 

England Player Ratings

Mike Brown – 9 – England’s best attacking threat fully justified his inclusion as he finally got to play in his preferred full back position.  His defensive work was strong, but his counter attacking was superb as he got his side on the front foot time and again.  Man of the match.

Chris Ashton – 5 – Didn’t do anything wrong, but didn’t do anything right either.  Was hardly involved but not necessarily his fault, given the poor cohesion inside him.

Joel Tomkins – 5 – Not the best debut.  Made a good early tackle on Folau but then was pretty much invisible for the next 75 minutes.  Partnership with Twelvetrees didn’t spark, although they had limited quality possession.

Billy Twelvetrees – 4 – He must hate the sight of Matt Toomua.  He recovered slightly in the second half, but his attempted tackle for the try was not that of an international 12 and his distribution skills weren’t on show for the majority of the game.

Marland Yarde – 6 – Promising stuff from the London Irish man.  Showed his pace and power on a couple of occasions but was over enthusiastic at times.

Owen Farrell – 7 – Had a nightmare second quarter where he missed 3 kicks and stopped directing with any authority.  But to recover and put in a fine 2^nd half display – including the key score – was very impressive.

Lee Dickson – 4 – Disappointing from a man who has been in top form for his club.  Average box kicking, ponderous decision making and poor service led to all sorts of problems for those outside him.  Is under pressure for his spot next week.

Mako Vunipola – 7 – Was well on top against Ben Alexander and was as destructive as ever on the carry.  Is becoming a really good option at loosehead.

Tom Youngs – 6 – Not his best day at the office as a couple of loose throws proved, but his energy in the loose was as impressive as ever, and was part of a dominant scrummaging effort.

Dan Cole – 7 – Utterly dominant in the set piece against James Slipper and tackled well, although it would be good to see that turnover work coming to the fore again.

Joe Launchbury – 8 – Impressive.  Busy all over the park and made a real nuisance of himself at rucktime.  A real force in defence and attack.

Courtney Lawes – 7 – The lineout didn’t always go according to plan but a couple of huge hits in the second half helped turn the tide.  Difficult to tell if he’s done enough to oust Geoff Parling.

Tom Wood – 6 – A quiet but workmanlike display from Wood.  Suffered from some sloppy handling at times but more than made up for that with some ferocious work in the loose.

Chris Robshaw – 8 – Yet another strong display from the skipper.  Prominent at ruck time – forcing 2 turnovers – and towards the top of the tackle charts and carries once again, his engine was impressive.  Out muscled Michael Hooper in the back row battle.

Billy Vunipola – 7 – Impressive home debut.  Literally threw Quade Cooper off on a couple of occasions to make some real in roads into the Wallaby defence, and made a textbook choke tackle on Genia.  Needs to stay more involved though, rather than drifting in and out.

Subs used

Dylan Hartley – 7 – Lineout seemed to improve and his carrying was impressive.  Will be pushing Youngs for a starting spot.

Joe Marler – 6 – Did nothing wrong and helped maintain the upper hand in the scrum.

David Wilson – 6 – Aside from the sight of a prop wearing upper-body skins, did well in the scrum and looked to carry as well.

Dave Attwood – Not enough time to make an impact.

Ben Morgan – 5 – A couple of good carries but couldn’t really get into the game – and a missed tackle on Quade Cooper did not make for good watching.

Ben Youngs – 7 – Another to breathe life into the England game.  Injected zip and urgency to the England attack and will be pressing Dickson hard.

Toby Flood – 6 – Was an authoritative presence on the pitch when the Wallabies were threatening to come back into things.

International Round Up

Japan 6 - 54 New Zealand:  An experimental New Zealand side thrashed their hosts, Japan, despite the Cherry Blossoms impressing in the opening exchanges.  Tries from Charles Piutau (2), Sam Cane, Ben Smith, Richie McCaw, Jeremy Thrush, Frank Halai and Beauden Barrett all helped rack up a big total.

Premiership Preview - Leicester Tigers v Harlequins

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the autumn internationals.   Top players from around the globe showcasing their stuff in front of the best stadia in the northern hemisphere, what's not to like?  That's right, the sight of your club being shorn of their best players right when they're bang smack in the middle of an injury crisis.  Leicester and Harlequins fans may be delighted to see the likes of Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Chris Robshaw and Mike Brown in England colours, but that unbridled joy is somewhat tinted by the fact that, currently, both sides are nursing an injury list as long as Mr Tickle's right arm.

The hosts, Leicester, have been particularly stricken.  With 18 key players injured – including Lions Tom Croft and Manu Tuilagi – the last thing Richard Cockerill would have wanted to see is Dan Cole, Tom Youngs, Geoff Parling, Ben Youngs and Toby Flood swanning off on international duty.  In their last outing, against Wasps, there was not one first choice player in the backline and only two (arguably three) in the pack.  No wonder they're struggling for consistency.  That said, this Tigers side still possess a bruising nucleus that could challenge any other pack in the league – it's time for the new Tigers, the offloading, free-scoring Tigers, to revert to stereotype.  In Marcos Ayerza they have one of the best scrummagers in the league, whilst Ed Slater is once again a superbly physical presence around the park – how he hasn't claimed England recognition yet, I do not know.  Add in the raw potential of new signing Pablo Matera and the nous of Julian Salvi, and you have a set of forwards who should be able to grind out a win in the toughest of circumstances.

Quins, on the other hand, have done well to shake off the traditional view that they're a bit soft up front with some standout performers, but the loss of Joe Marler and Chris Robshaw deprives them of physicality and leadership, whilst Maurie Fa'asavalu, Jordan Turner-Hall and George Lowe (sadly out for the season with a neck injury) are also noticeable by their absence.  But this is still a Quins side that has the potential to excite.  Their performance away at Clermont and at home against Sale showed that in George Robson and Nick Easter they have two grizzled campaigners who can mix it with the best, whilst Luke Wallace, Jack Clifford and Joe Trayfoot are a trio of young loose forwards with real speed and venom in the loose.  But it remains in the backline where, despite injuries, Quins still possess that X-Factor.  Danny Care can count himself incredibly unlucky not to be involved with England at the weekend but he'll be completely focused on making life difficult for his usurper (Ben Youngs)' club, and in the backline the sheer combination of pace and footwork in the likes of Ugo Monye and the young Charlie Walker make this a side you cannot afford to take your eyes off.

For both sides, the only way to get a win will be to revert to stereotype.  And, even in the absence of so many internationals and other stars, that makes for one hell of a prospect.

 

Leicester Team News

Leicester recall Graham Kitchener and Scott Hamilton following last Sunday's defeat by London Wasps.  Kitchener partners Louis Deacon in the second row, Hamilton returns to the wing, and Matt Smith is fit and in the squad for the first time this season.

Starting Line up:  Morris; Hamilton, Hepetema, Bowden, Thompstone; Williams, Mele; Ayerza, Briggs, Mulipola; Deacon (capt), Kitchener; Slater, Salvi, Crane.

Subs: Chuter, Stankovich, Balmain, Mafi, Waldrom, Harrison, Smith, Scully.

Key Player

Owen Williams.  The young Welshman has been impressive in his brief displays so far this season and, thanks to the moronic actions of Ryan Lamb (who broke his hand throwing a punch), he is Tigers' fly half for the next month.  Tigers fans already know of his natural tendency to run and counter attack, as well as his handy form with the boot off the tee, but with the hosts looking to dominate in the tight his pack will demand to be playing in the right areas of the pitch.  And when Leicester's forwards tell you to do something… He was taught a lesson in game management by veteran Andy Goode last week, but he will be better for it.  If he gets his tactical kicking game on song then Tigers will have a shot at winning.

Harlequins Team News

Nick Evans moves to full-back to replace the injured Tom Williams and Ben Botica starts at fly-half.  Charlie Walker and Ugo Monye play on the right and left wings respectively, with Danny Care completing the backline.

Starting Line up: Evans; Walker, Hopper, Molenaar, Monye; Botica, Care; Lambert, Ward, Collier; Easter (capt), Robson; Trayfoot, Wallace, Guest.

Subs: Allen, Marfo, Mayhew, Matthews, Clifford, Dickson, Casson, Smith.

Key Player

Charlie Walker.  Yes he's on the wing, but since I've proclaimed him as the one to watch in the Premiership this season I should give him kudos his first Premiership start.  In the brief glimpses we've seen of the young centre-cum-winger-cum-fullback this year, we've seen some electric pace coupled with real balance and a deadly step.  At Welford Road, on a narrow pitch though, it will be his defensive duties that will be placed under scrutiny, especially when facing up to the powerful figure of Adam Thompstone.  That said, any loose kicks by Williams will be a real opportunity for Walker to run in space – and that will be very bad news for the Tigers.

 

Key Battle

David Mele v Danny Care.  A battle of two yappy 9s is always entertaining – and occasionally amusing – to watch, and this should be no different.  Mele has become a popular figure at Welford Road since his summer arrival, with his feisty nature and sharp service proving a valuable asset to the side, especially with Ben Youngs out of form.  With the pack aiming to dominate, Mele can help Williams get them into the right areas of the park by utilising his kicking game – which has been hit and miss so far this season.  Of course, he'll have to simultaneously try to shut down the threat of Danny Care, the heartbeat of this Quins side.  With any ball that the visitors do get, the England man will have to make sure he makes the right decisions to put his quick men into as much space as possible.

Prediction

I know many Leicester fans have this down as a loss already, given how much the squad has been reduced to its bare bones in recent weeks.  That said, Quins find themselves in a similar position and, although it's a shame such a cracking match up had to take place in the international window, it does add a real intrigue to the fixture.  With drizzle forecast for 5 30 pm on Saturday (kick off), it's looking as if the ball may just have fallen into the hosts' court.  If they can get the forward dominance they are after, and pepper out-of-position fullback Nick Evans with high balls, then they should just about claim the win.  Tigers by 5.

 

What else is happening in the Aviva Premiership this weekend?

Worcester Warriors v Bath:  This must be a target game for Dean Ryan's men, given how Bath and George Ford have noticeably struggled in wet conditions – is the confidence there though?  Bath by 3.

Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs:  Sale at home on Friday night is always a tough place to get a win, even if the Chiefs are in scintillating form at the moment.  Perhaps a trip too far? Sharks by 4.

Gloucester v London Wasps:  A home game against struggling Wasps represents a great opportunity to pick up some points for the Cherry and Whites, despite the Londoners beating the Tigers last week.  Gloucester by 6.

London Irish v Northampton Saints:  It's impossible to look past the East Midlanders after their fantastic destruction of Saracens last weekend, despite Irish looking impressive at home.  Saints by 12.

Saracens v Newcastle Falcons:  Sarries will be livid with their display last weekend and a home game against Premiership new boys Newcastle is a perfect way to bounce back.  Sarries by 15.

Autumn International Preview - England v Australia

A dark secret of mine is that, after a shandy or nine, I get an irrepressible urge to go onto one of the funniest websites known to mankind – Chat Roulette.  The nature of the website is that you are randomly connected to a video chat to someone else who is logged into the website anywhere in the world, and you can skip if you don't fancy speaking to them.  Or just don't fancy them full stop.  Of course, the majority of participants are sexually frustrated middle-aged men or drunken fools who think it's funny to irritate those I've just described, with a brief smattering of people who genuinely want to see what's going on elsewhere in the world.  I should probably point out that I consider myself as someone in the latter category after a few beers, although I’m sure others would argue otherwise.

Anyway, the point of me ruining my social credibility by divulging this habit, is that I ended up chatting to a charming Aussie bloke on Saturday after a night on the beers.  He was sat without a shirt on, with a wide-brimmed hat on his head, a bottle of VB in his left hand and a tattoo of a vagina on his right shoulder.  He wasted no time in gloating about Australian’s glorious victory over England in the rugby league.  I assumed this was banter and so politely pointed out that it was about time they won something after their attempts in the cricket and the Lions series, at which point he flew off the handle, called me every name under the sun and spat at his own computer camera.  It just goes to show that, if there are any people who match us English for sulking when we lose, it’s the Aussies.

Which, fortunately for rugby fans, means that the games between England and Australia usually have an added bit of spice.  They also seem to have a habit of going against the grain in recent years – in 2010, the Wallabies were being touted as World Cup contenders after beating New Zealand, before being dismantled by a Chris Ashton-inspired England side, whilst last year they recovered from taking a hiding from the French to turn over the men in white in their own backyard.  It all makes Saturday’s contest all the more intriguing, since it is so difficult to pick an out-and-out favourite this time.

The Wallabies come into this off what, at first glance, looks like an abysmal Rugby Championship campaign, managing just two wins against Argentina and suffering two losses against the South Africans and 3 against All Blacks.  Put that on top of a Lions Series loss, and you get the impression of a side really struggling for form.  But look a little closer, and you realise the Wallabies managed to push the cream of British and Irish talent to within a slipped-kick of a series win, they hammered the Pumas 54-17 in Rosario and put 33 points on the All Blacks in their last Bledisloe game.  You get the impression that Ewan Mackenzie is building something good – and with the likes of Will Genia, Michael Hooper, Quade Cooper, Israel Folau and Adam Ashley-Cooper in the ranks, this is a side that is not short on speed, skill or guile.  Even the stripping of the captaincy from James Horwill does little to weaken the effect, with new skipper Ben Mowen proving himself time and again as a real workhorse who leads from the front.

For Stuart Lancaster, this is almost a step into the unknown.  The Argentina tour was largely a series between second-string sides, so this is the first time he’s had the big boys together since that humbling loss to Wales.  I say he’s got his group together, but he’s actually missing 4 Lions who form the spine of his side – Alex Corbisiero, Geoff Parling, Tom Croft and Manu Tuilagi.  Corbisiero and Tuilagi are, in particular, huge losses as they are in effect England’s most potent attacking weapons.  Corbisiero is a dominant scrummager who wins penalty after penalty – as Ben Alexander found out in the summer – and, whilst Mako Vunipola is a great player elsewhere, he lacks that set-piece dominance.  And as for Tuilagi, he is the one England player who is spoken about in hushed whispers in the Southern Hemisphere as a man/monster genuinely feared by defences.  Lancaster’s selection of Joel Tomkins in his place is understandable – the former league man is a big unit with a sweet offload – but I don’t think it’s necessarily right.  I’ve yet to see Tomkins do anything to stand himself out as an international player, and the possibility of playing the in-form Henry Trinder or electric Kyle Eastmond would allow England to develop an alternative backline strategy to keep as an option if the Tuilagi approach wasn’t working.

Elsewhere, there are few surprises.  Lancaster obviously rates Ben Youngs, which is why he is still in the squad ahead of Danny Care, and Lee Dickson is without doubt the man in form at the moment.  I suspect that Youngs was retained last week to work on conditioning and lose a couple of extra kilos he is carrying as a result of missing pre-season, so he will have a real opportunity to showcase his undoubted talent off the bench.  Lawes is also an uncontroversial pick in the absence of the excellent Parling, having weighed in with some thunderous performances for Saints of late, but the one selection I’m unsure of in the pack is Billy Vunipola.  He is a huge talent and a huge man, but his ball-control at the base of the scrum is so poor that Saracens play him at blindside, whilst his ball carrying remains too upright.  Ben Morgan may not have been in sparkling form but he’s playing behind a tight 5 at Gloucester who are as threatening as a bag of bunnies, so I’d have stuck with the ex-Llanelli man and had Vunipola for some real impact off the bench.

But selections will only get you so far.  On Saturday, it will all come down to one of the best rivalries in sport.  And I’m sure that, no matter what the result, we can all have a friendly chat about it afterwards.  Yeah right...

 

England Team News

Joel Tomkins will make his England debut at outside centre in Saturday's first autumn Test against Australia.  Tomkins, 26, whose brother Sam will play for England in their Rugby League World Cup match against Ireland on the same day, partners Billy Twelvetrees in a new-look midfield at Twickenham.  Northampton's Lee Dickson is chosen at scrum-half ahead of Leicester's Ben Youngs, who is on the bench.  Billy Vunipola starts his first Test, and wing Marland Yarde his second.

Starting Line up: Mike Brown, Chris Ashton, Joel Tomkins, Billy Twelvetrees, Marland Yarde, Owen Farrell, Lee Dickson; Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (captain), Billy Vunipola.

Subs: Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler, David Wilson, Dave Attwood, Ben Morgan, Ben Youngs, Toby Flood, Ben Foden

Key Player

Lee Dickson.  The Saints man arguably does not have to same raw talent as Ben Youngs and Danny Care, but he does offer something very different from either of them – he does the basics brilliantly.  Youngs and Care are genuine game-breakers with heads up rugby and threats around the fringes, but when not on form they do dither with their distribution.  Dickson has no such problems.  His focus is purely on getting to the breakdown and giving sharp service.  With the great offloaders of the likes of Tomkins and Twelvetrees in the middle of the park, and hard working wingers like Ashton and Yarde sniffing for opportunities, quick ball will be the order of the day if England are to break this Wallaby backline.

 

 

Australia Team News

Ben Mowen replaces James Horwill as captain of Australia for Saturday's meeting with England at Twickenham.   The back-row forward, 28, made his Test debut against the British and Irish Lions in June and will lead the Wallabies for the second time.  Australia coach Ewen McKenzie said 28-year-old Horwill's recent displays had led to him losing the captaincy.  Scott Fardy returns at blind-side flanker while Sitaleki Timani partners Horwill in the second row with fellow lock Rob Simmons a late withdrawal after re-injuring medial ligaments in training this week.  Nick Cummins, a try-scorer in Australia's 20-14 victory at Twickenham last year, returns on the wing after recovering from a fractured hand.   Matt Toomua retains the number 12 jersey ahead of ACT Brumbies team-mate Christian Leali'ifano, who has to settle for a place on the bench on his return from an ankle injury.

Starting Line up:  Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Nick Cummins, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Sitaleki Timani, James Horwill, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen (capt)

Subs: Saia Fainga'a, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Ben McCAlman, Nic White, Christian Leali'ifano, Bernard Foley.

Key Player

Matt Toomua.  The young Brumbies playmaker may have only made his Wallaby bow in the Rugby Championship but he did face the Lions for ACT in mid-week game – and boy did he make an impact.  He seemed to take a particular dislike to Billy Twelvetrees, smashing the Gloucester centre with ease and apparent glee time and time again, and showed skill and poise with the ball in hand.  With the firepower outside of him, Toomua knows he must be crisp and decisive with his distribution – and if he can put in a similar defensive shift like the last time he faced Twelvetrees, then he can shut England’s attack off at source.

 

Key Battle

Billy Vunipola v Ben Mowen.  Same position, two completely different players, both with massive points to prove.  There’s no doubting Vunipola’s raw physical talent but I still have concerns over his workrate and technique, both at the base of the scrum and on the carry.  He’ll learn pretty quickly that you can’t go into contact upright against international opposition – but if he gets it right then he could be devastating.  With two real grafters in Wood and Robshaw on the flanks, then Vunipola’s sole job will be to carry as much as possible – his workrate must be up to the task.  Mowen, on the other hand, is almost the polar opposite to England’s number 8.  A strong tackler, solid defensive organiser and an intelligent operator at the breakdown, Mowen doesn’t lack for the finer aspects of number 8 play, but in a backrow without huge ball carriers, it will be his job to make the hard yards with the ball in hand.  Will he be up to it?  Vunipola’s workrate v Mowen’s physicality could well be the decider in the key battle of who gets front foot ball.

Prediction

England will go into this game a little rusty and the Wallabies, as they have shown in their last 2 displays, are beginning to click.  I think the visitors will go ahead early and then the challenge will be to see what England can do to pull them back.  Despite having a very strong looking bench I don’t know if there’s enough venom in England’s attacking options to chase the Wallabies down should it come to it.  I’ve changed my mind a 1000 times on this but, due to the above, I’ve got a feeling the Wallabies will sneak it.  Australia by 3.
 

 

 

Other Internationals

 

Japan v New Zealand:  Despite bringing in plenty of new faces this won't be a problem for the Kiwis, who seem to have talented players popping up all over the place.  All Blacks by 30.

Premiership Review - Northampton Saints 41 - 17 Saracens

There is a new breed of grudge matches coming to the fore in the Premiership.  Sure, we're used to crackers between the Tigers and Saints, Bath and Gloucester, but with the top 3 seemingly iron-cast to be sitting at the top of the table, any match between Leicester, Northampton or Saracens is now just that more fiercely contested.  And they are generally as bad tempered as Victor Meldrew would be if he was kept awake the entire night by that wretched 'Stand up for the Saracens' song.

Of course, the place at the top of the pile is not new for Leicester.  They may not be firing on all cylinders at the moment, and have an injury list that would in itself form a top-4 side, but you wouldn't bet against them being in the mix again this season.  But Sarries and Saints are relatively new players at the top table.  It was only three years ago when Sarries first burst onto the scene and made it to the Premiership final, and the Saints only made the long-overdue step to the Premiership's showpiece last year.  But what these two may lack in traditional 'big-time' pedigree, they are making up for this season with some ferociously physical and clinical displays.  The match between Northampton and Saracens at Franklins Gardens on Saturday was always going to be a display of power-packed rugby at its best.  As it turned out though, only one side was playing it…

The battle began deceptively evenly, with Stephen Myler and Alex Goode exchanging penalties – although there was an indication of a very significant swing in the hosts' direction early on, with the Northampton scrum not only standing up to the renowned Sarries pack, but actually putting one over on them.  With the set piece considered to be Saracens' area of clear advantage between the 2 sides heading into this match, the sight of new man Richard Barrington and, surprisingly, Matt Stevens, struggling would not have been a welcome one for the visitors.

If those were the first signs of a leak in the Londoner's aura of invincibility that they've maintained domestically this season, the flood gates were soon to open.  Samu Manoa picked up a lineout and charged downfield, passing on to Kahn Fotuali'I who was brought down 20 metres out.  With the visitors backpeddling frantically, the Saints surged through the middle of the park, with Manoa, Alex Waller and Sam Dickinson offloading beautifully to put try machine Jamie Elliot over for the game's opening score.

Following that setback, Saracens fought hard to get a foothold in the match but were denied by superb try-saving tackles from Elliot and Ben Foden – the latter getting one over on the competition for the England 15 shirt, Goode.  With nothing to show for their trouble, things went from bad to worse for the visitors, as Luther Burrell continued his fine form by going on a 20 metre bust up the right, before the omnipresent Manoa picked the ball, brushed off a poor attempted tackle by Nils Mordt and stepped the flatfooted Goode for a superb try.

Goode pulled a desperately needed 3 points back for Saracens on the cusp of half time to leave the score 17-6, but the visitors' problems continued unabated in the second period.  The revered wolf pack was looking positively toothless, with even the one-man-wrecking-ball Jacques Burger anonymous, and Saints were rampant.  Burrell was once again the man to make the burst, but this time it was Foden who profited, picking up from short range and being driven over by Phil Dowson.

Less than 10 minutes later, Foden was in on the act again, picking up Saints' magnificent bonus point.  I've been critical of the fullback recently, questioning where his zip has been, but it was here for all to see now as the England man raced onto a perfectly weighted kick from Myler to collect the ball and ride out the covering tackle for the try.  This was now a rout, a 5 pointer against the meanest defence in the league in a match that was predicted to go down to the wire.

Duncan Taylor, the burly centre who had seen next to no ball for Saracens, briefly caused a glimmer of a smile of coach Mark McCall's face as he strode over the line for Sarries' first score, following a fine pass from Nils Mordt, who had endured a torrid afternoon otherwise – but there was no doubt this was Saints' afternoon.  Luther Burrell had made a real case for international inclusion and he was rewarded for another thunderous display when he finished off a fine move involving some slick hands between the Pisi brothers, George and Ken.

Saracens, to their credit, rallied, and the pack had a moment to saviour after spending the majority of the afternoon eating turf when Kelly Brown plunged over the line after a ferocious rolling maul, but fittingly it was to be the East Midlanders who had the last word, as James Wilson put Ken Pisi over following Myler's magnificent pass.

The final score was 41 – 17.  This wasn't just a thrashing, this was a statement.  And this time the statement is not "why not us?"…it increasingly looks like "it will be us".

What else was happening in the Premiership over the weekend?

 

Bath 15 – 13 Gloucester:  Bath came up trumps in a West Country derby at the Rec, but it proved a tight affair, despite utter forward dominance for the hosts.  George Ford hit 5 penalties but missed another 5 to allow the Cherry and Whites, who scored through Freddie Burns, within touching distance.

Exeter Chiefs 40 – 6 Worcester Warriors:  Dean Ryan's misery continued as Worcester were hammered at Sandy Park.  The Chiefs scored at will with Ben White (2), Dean Mumm, Phil Dollman, Damian Welch and Haydn Thomas all crossing for tries.

Harlequins 24 – 3 Sale Sharks:  Quins got back to winning ways at home as they cruised to victory over the Sharks.  Back rowers Luke Wallace and young Jack Clifford were the men to claim the key scores.

Newcastle Falcons 13 – 11 London Irish:  The Falcons continued their solid start to life in the Premiership with a crucial win over Irish in Newcastle.  Adam Powell scored the crucial try, countering an earlier effort from back-row Ofisa Treviranus.

London Wasps 22 – 12 Leicester Tigers:  Andy Goode was the man of the moment as the chunkster put in an inspired performance to make it six years at Adams Park without a win for the injury-ravaged Tigers.  England flyer Christian Wade scored the only try of the game.
 

Premiership Preview - Northampton Saints v Saracens

One of the reasons why we love sport, why we keep coming back time after time, is the drama.  And not just the on-pitch drama, the last gasp drop-goal or try, the illegal tackle or controversial red card – it's the off-field stuff as well.  After every game with niggle, or any game that has something significant riding on it, a new set of sub-plots are born.  One side wants revenge, one man has a vendetta against another for a sly elbow, and so on and so forth.  In a sense we are effectively watching one big episode of Eastenders, except with shorts, boots, mud, rugby balls and an entire sporting rule book thrown in.  Perhaps it's nothing like Eastenders then, but hopefully you get my point – we love the drama and subtext as much as the sport itself.

And that's why Saints v Sarries is my game of the week.  Remember the last time these two met?  Sarries were on the crest of a wave, having finished the regular season on top of the pile and with most commentators tipping them for the Premiership crown.  They just had to win at a ground they hadn't lost at against a Northampton side who had snuck narrowly into the playoffs.  No problem?  Wrong.  Saints showed up as the anti-Saracens, with no fuss or fanfare – and proceeded to bully the living daylights out of Saracens to an extent I have not seen before or since.  It was a lesson which will have hurt the men from north-London, and a lesson they will be dying to repay when they arrive at Franklins Gardens tomorrow.

So with the backdrop set, who are the protagonists?  Unfortunately, international call-ups has seen some of the big names with points to prove out of the frame for this match – think Courtney Lawes and Owen Farrell.  But look around and you will see the like of the Pisi Brothers, Luther Burrell, Sam Dickinson, Jaques Burger, Alex Goode and Schalk Brits will still be going toe to toe in what promises to be another epic encounter between these 2. 

So where do the weaknesses lie?  Well for Saints, the absence of Dylan Hartley and Alex Corbisiero seriously weakens their scrummaging platform, but they seem pretty well covered elsewhere in the backline.  The opposite can probably be said for Saracens, who have covered the loss of Billy Vunipola with Kelly Brown, but with Farrell off with England and Charlie Hodgson out injured, they have turned to Nils Mordt.  Don't get me wrong, Mordt is a solid player – but to throw a bloke with no starts this season – who also doesn't play fly half all that regularly – into the fray, is a risky move.  There is intrigue all over the pitch and a series of mouthwatering confrontations.

And you can bet Saracens will be hungry for this one – revenge can be sweet.

Northampton Team News

Northampton make five changes to the side that beat Ospreys last weekend.   Kahn Fotuali'i makes his full home debut, while Mike Haywood, Ken Pisi, Calum Clark and Sam Dickinson also come into the starting XV.

Starting Line up:  Foden; K. Pisi, G. Pisi, Burrell, Elliott; Myler, Fotuali'i; Waller, Haywood, Ma'afu; Manoa, Day; Clark, Dowson (capt), Dickinson.

Subs: McMillan, Waller, Denman, Van Velze, Nutley, Glynn, Waldouck, Wilson.

Key Player

Kahn Fotuali'i.  I predicted that this guy could be the signing – if not the player of the season – but, so far, Lee Dickson's terrific form has left Fotuali'i frustrated and me with egg on my face.  However, Dickson's form has been such that he seems a certainty to take part in the Autumn Internationals, which means the Samoan 9 can now get a run in the side to show what he can do – and he will relish the chance to face Saracens first up.  As with most Islanders, he relishes physical confrontation and has the quick feet to get out of trouble.  Sarries will be targeting him as a potentially rusty link in the side – it will be interesting to see how he faces up to the test.

Saracens Team News

Premiership leaders Saracens give a first start to Richard Barrington, with Mako Vunipola on international duty with England and Rhys Gill injured.   Fly-half Nils Mordt starts his first game of the season alongside scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth.

Starting Line up:  Goode; Tagicakibau, Wyles, Taylor, Strettle; Mordt, Wigglesworth; Barrington, Brits, Stevens; Borthwick (capt), Hargreaves; Brown, Burger, Joubert.

Subs: George, Auterac, Johnston, Botha, Wray, De Kock, Bosch, Ransom.

Key Player

Steve Borthwick.  Yes, he's about as exciting as the inside of a paper bag, but the former England skipper is so crucial to Saracens.  He's a leader, not just in the sense of being captain, but in terms of ensuring that the approach by his side starts physical and remains physical throughout the game.  Sure, he may not have the athleticism or raw strength of others, but his intelligent reading of the game and the set piece, in particular, adds balance to a monster Saracens pack.  He will have been particularly stung by his side's loss to Northampton last season and will have to ensure his side focus that enthusiastic aggression and desire to exact revenge in a productive way.

 

Key Battle

Calum Clark v Kelly Brown.  From being on the cusp of the England squad to not getting a start for Saints this season, Clark has cut a frustrated figure in the opening few games.  However, the absence of Tom Wood has given the powerful young flanker a chance to stake a real claim and build up some momentum.  With a good technique and a relentlessly physical and aggressive approach – occasionally too aggressive, as Rob Hawkins' mangled elbow can testify – the big blindside has all the qualities to neutralise the Saracens' gameplan.  That gameplan, with the absence of a recognised Premiership-quality fly half, will be to smash the Northampton pack to give Nils Mordt as smooth a ride as possible, and Kelly Brown's athleticism and intelligence at the breakdown will be a key component on that.  Who comes out on top here could tip the balance in the context of the game.

Prediction

When you look at the line ups for this game, you end up changing your mind about the likely winner than schizophrenic bookie.  Saints look like they have suffered more in the pack due to international call ups, with the front row in particular looking vulnerable.  If they struggled in the set piece against Leicester with Hartley and Corbisiero, how are they going to cope without them against Saracens.  However, the call ups have left Sarries fielding a rather slap-dash midfield, whilst Northampton are lucky enough to replace quality with quality.  Oh, Lee Dickson's not here?  That's OK, we'll just bring in one of the best scrum halves in Europe to replace him.  In a game of edges it is the visitors who look like they should edge the forwards battle – especially in the tight – whilst the hosts have the firepower to cause damage out wide.  Although the mantra is usually that the forwards will decide who will win, I just feel that, in front of Franklins Gardens, Northampton should have just enough to squeeze a win – provided they can win their own ball on set piece.  Saints by 3.

 

What else is happening in the Premiership this weekend?

Bath v Gloucester:  A cracking West Country derby that would have been my game of the weekend had it not been 1st v 2nd on Saturday.  Bath are in the better form and I expect them to pick up a win against the Cherry and Whites.  Bath by 9.

Harlequins v Sale Sharks:  Quins finally looked like they'd hit some form in the second half against Clermont but they will need to carry that on against a Sale side who have been resurgent this season.  Home advantage should just about do it.  Quins by 5.

Exeter Chiefs v Worcester Warriors:  The Chiefs have started to hit form of late and they look a real handful at home again – Sandy Park is not the best place for the Warriors to break their duck this season.  Chiefs by 12.

London Wasps v Leicester Tigers:  Wasps have been arguably the unluckiest side in the Premiership but they need to start converting narrow defeats into victories.  With the visit of a Leicester Tigers side who haven't won at Adams Park since 2007, and an unrecognisable backline thanks to injury and international call ups, this might the game to make that change.  Wasps by 3.

Newcastle Falcons v London Irish:  Another game which looks like it might have huge ramifications come the end of the season.  Irish have been impressively overperforming but Dean Richards men will have long earmarked this one as a must-win.  Falcons by 4.