Getting Excited Now.

[Rossm]

When will Lee announce our team to go to Saints? Apart from this game, when we should put out our very strongest XV and go for 5 points, as Lee has already said that everyone will get a game, we will presumably  be split into approx 2 balanced squads. Hopefully, with 3/4 day turnarounds,  nobody will have to play twice in quick succession.

[Neils]

Noon on Friday

[HDAWG]

I too am very excited! Hoping we can keep up form, but also this match against Saints will be very interesting to see where we are in form and if we're capable of top 4.

I'll be very interested to see what squad selection is like too.

I expect we'll here the team on Friday.

[WonkyWasp]

It'll be quite like the old days, won't it!

[Stinging Wasp]

Very excited here too! As this is effectively a 10 pointer I think we should go flat out for the win. Assuming all are fit I'd go for

Sopoaga
Kibirige
Fekitoa
Gopperth
Watson
Umaga
Robson

McIntyre
Taylor
Brookes
Launchbury
Flament
Young
Willis
Shields

No idea if Shields can play 8 or not but might be worth a punt.


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[Neils]

I think Rowland will be picked.

Bench choice will be interesting.

I think this will be a behind the sofa match and I must admit to not expecting much from it.

[Stinging Wasp]

If it goes anything like football did when it returned there could be a lot of away wins initially. It appeared that the lack of a crowd to drive the home team on had an adverse effect on their performance. Let's hope so for Sunday!!

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[BG]

Having walked across a local park a few days ago, I don't envy the players.

I know the pitches will have been watered but we've had very little rain over the last few months and even a good amount of irrigation/watering won't soften the ground.

[Steve from Cov]

 I’m excited too but the week is going very slowly and I’m really disappointed we have to wait until Sunday.

We had a run of good wins at Franklin Gardens but I fear Saints have the momentum right now.

I agree with most of SW’s selection but I suspect Rowlands will get the nod alongside Joe and I’m not sure Brad Shields is an out and out 8.

I would love to see Thibaud, Ryan Mills and Ben Velacott on the bench.

[Neils]

Last time I looked Northampton was due thunderstorms at 3pm on Sunday.

[WonkyWasp]

Atmospheric or corporeal?

[Neils]

Wet

[backdoc]

"Having walked across a local park a few days ago, I don't envy the players."

BG, I am going to watch a preseason friendly in Agen on friday [v Castres]. If the pitch is anything like my garden here, there are going to be some sore bodies on saturday.

[baldpaul101]

I am viewing this as a start of the season rather than a continuation as the players have had so much time off. Players have left & joined and therefore any talk of momentum being with one side or another, or  players continuing pre covid form seem a bit of a nonsense.

For me this is like the first game in September after a summer off, every team will want to start well but everyone will be rusty and it will take time to get teams firing again.
I would love Wasps to pick up where they left off in March but I just don't see it.

[BG]

I wonder which player (s), Wasps and other clubs, are most likely to break the PRL lockdown rules (apparently  25 in the Stade Francais camp, which might include backroom staff, have tested positive)

Manu and fiver must be quite high up the betting list