Northampton vs Exeter

[Epaminondas Pules]

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs EXETER CHIEFS
Gallagher PREM, Round 1
Sunday 28 September, 2025
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 1pm

15 George Hendy – 50th Saints appearance
14 Edoardo Todaro – Gallagher PREM debut
13 Tom Litchfield
12 Fraser Dingwall (c)
11 James Ramm
10 Anthony Belleau – Gallagher PREM debut
9 Archie McParland

1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Craig Wright
3 Trevor Davison
4 Alex Coles
5 Ed Prowse
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Tom Pearson
8 Callum Chick

Replacements:
16 Henry Walker
17 Danilo Fischetti
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 JJ Van Der Mescht – Gallagher PREM debut
20 Sam Graham
21 Jonny Weimann
22 Rory Hutchinson
23 Toby Thame

Not considered for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, Amena Caqusau, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Tom James, Josh Kemeny, Curtis Langdon, Tom Lockett, Alex Mitchell, Chunya Munga, Henry Pollock, Charlie Ulcoq, Ollie Sleightholme, Fin Smith and Tom West.


Exeter Chiefs

15 Josh Hodge
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Henry Slade
12 Ben Hammersley
11 Paul Brown-Bampoe
10 Harvey Skinner
9 Stephen Varney
1 Will Goodrick-Clarke
2 Joseph Dweba
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
4 Rusi Tuima
5 Lewis Pearson
6 Christ Tshiunza
7 Ethan Roots (c)
8 Ross Vintcent

Replacements:
16 Jack Yeandle
17 Kwenzo Blose
18 Bachuki Tchumbadze
19 Dafydd Jenkins
20 Greg Fisilau
21 Charlie Chapman
22 Nick Lilley
23 Kane James

[Epaminondas Pules]

Why Exeter continue with Hammersley in the centre just baffles me!

[FKAS]

Why Exeter continue with Hammersley in the centre just baffles me!

Especially as they seem to be deploying him as a crash ball 12 really odd selection that. At 13, positionally he's at least reliable but odd he and Lilley haven't switched round.

[Oakboy]

Why Exeter continue with Hammersley in the centre just baffles me!

Anything goes if a HC picks Skinner at 10. Talking of 10s, who is the Saints guy? Delighted to see McParland start.

[FKAS]

Why Exeter continue with Hammersley in the centre just baffles me!

Anything goes if a HC picks Skinner at 10. Talking of 10s, who is the Saints guy? Delighted to see McParland start.

Belleau was supposed to be a big thing coming out the Toulon academy, never really happened for him there or for Clermont in the way expected. He got plenty of appearances and some French caps but never became the big name he was supposed to be. Saints have got him on a one year deal, should be a notable step up on their previous flyhalf back up options. He's good enough to be the Chiefs starting option but Baxter doesn't like to recruit 10s.

[Which Tyler]

He's good enough to be the Chiefs starting option but Baxter doesn't like to recruit 10s.

He did it once (Steenson) and decided to quit whilst he was ahead

[Puja]

Why Exeter continue with Hammersley in the centre just baffles me!

Anything goes if a HC picks Skinner at 10. Talking of 10s, who is the Saints guy? Delighted to see McParland start.

Belleau was supposed to be a big thing coming out the Toulon academy, never really happened for him there or for Clermont in the way expected. He got plenty of appearances and some French caps but never became the big name he was supposed to be. Saints have got him on a one year deal, should be a notable step up on their previous flyhalf back up options. He's good enough to be the Chiefs starting option but Baxter doesn't like to recruit 10s.

It's alleged that Saints have got him at an absolute bargain salary, not even breaking six figures. Incredible deal if that's true - frankly he's way too good to be second choice somewhere.

Puja

[FKAS]

He's good enough to be the Chiefs starting option but Baxter doesn't like to recruit 10s.

He did it once (Steenson) and decided to quit whilst he was ahead

Well he brought in Will Haydon-Wood as well but he's never been given a run of games. He always in and out, at fullback etc. Rumours are he'll be heading back to Newcastle next summer.

[FKAS]

Anything goes if a HC picks Skinner at 10. Talking of 10s, who is the Saints guy? Delighted to see McParland start.

Belleau was supposed to be a big thing coming out the Toulon academy, never really happened for him there or for Clermont in the way expected. He got plenty of appearances and some French caps but never became the big name he was supposed to be. Saints have got him on a one year deal, should be a notable step up on their previous flyhalf back up options. He's good enough to be the Chiefs starting option but Baxter doesn't like to recruit 10s.

It's alleged that Saints have got him at an absolute bargain salary, not even breaking six figures. Incredible deal if that's true - frankly he's way too good to be second choice somewhere.

Puja

Belleau needs to shoot his agent if he's not getting six figures.

[Adam_P]

Belleau has looked very good in pre season showings too, very calm on the ball.

Bit surprised to see Prowse starting ahead of JJ, but it'll be fun to see the big man come on against tiring bodies

[Epaminondas Pules]

Really keen to see how Wright gets on this season. There’s a few very good bookers bubbling up and he’s one of them. With LCD and George getting longer in the tooth we need some challengers pushing through.

[Scrumhead]

Agreed. Generally I like what I’ve seen from Wright although IIRC he’s had a few poor showings from a lineout POV. Seems like a familiar theme for a lot of our younger hookers.

Jibulu is probably my top pick to break into the senior squad this year. However, I will be very curious to see how Blamire’s move works out. If he can show improvement on some of his weaknesses, I think he could become a very decent option. He’s also shown he has the temperament for test rugby so less of a risk element.

[charlesdeboeuf]

Agree on Wright being one to watch this season. I feel
his importance to the JWC winning team is understated. Yes, having AOF and Sela/Fasogbon either side of you helps(!!) but England looked poorer without him besides them, imo. He’s also a great athlete - if you’ve seen the Cassius Cleaves highlight reel moment where he’s completely outshone by Craig Wright skinning the Baby Bok’s outside back down the touchline to score in the corner, you’ll know what I mean!

[Adam_P]

Todaro the young Italian back is also worth keeping an eye on, super promising player

[SixAndAHalf]

Hendy should be in the running at 15 for England. Not ideal for him and Furbank both to be at Saints.

[Oakboy]

Exeter are still sub-par at 9, 10 and 12. I can't see them doing much till that is fixed.

[fivepointer]

Classic game of two halves.

Saints will be very disappointed to lose that big lead, Exeter delighted to get out with a draw.

Thought Coles went very well, Dingwall put in some classy work and Chick gave the kind of no frills consistent performance that is his hallmark. IFW and BPP are going to be quite a handful if they can get regular front foot ball.

[Adam_P]

Terrible 2nd half from Saints. Very frustrating indeed

[Epaminondas Pules]

Great fun that as a neutral. Got to say PBBs utter butchery of two tries was criminal! Yes he’s electric but he’s cost his side 14 points!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Really keen to see how Wright gets on this season. There’s a few very good bookers bubbling up and he’s one of them. With LCD and George getting longer in the tooth we need some challengers pushing through.

Well that put the mockers on him!

[twitchy]

Great comeback. Exe needed that.

[Oakboy]

Has Fisilau ever had a bad game? He just seems to churn out effective performances and he wasn't due to start.

[FKAS]

Has Fisilau ever had a bad game? He just seems to churn out effective performances and he wasn't due to start.

He's pretty much a 7/10 every week, sometimes a bit better but rarely plays badly. He might need to find an extra gear to get into the England squad but at Prem level he's a fantastic asset.

[Captainhaircut]

IFW looked back to his best yesterday. Had hoped he would play left wing and PBB right as that would suit England better but it certainly worked for Exeter yesterday.

Hendy looked very lively but with a number of shaky moments. Feels like full back is his position rather than wing.

[Oakboy]

Has Fisilau ever had a bad game? He just seems to churn out effective performances and he wasn't due to start.

He's pretty much a 7/10 every week, sometimes a bit better but rarely plays badly. He might need to find an extra gear to get into the England squad but at Prem level he's a fantastic asset.

Yes, that's an accurate assessment. In terms of the extra gear, in many different ways, the same applies to a few potential backrowers. It's one factor that gets me so excited about Pollock. His current level IS good enough but he has several gears to go yet.

I'd love to be a 'fly on the wall' listening to SB talk to club HCs about what each of them needs to do. For example, I wonder how the conversation went about CCS, even in terms of what his best position might be.

Potentially, SB has the best back row choice since 2003, the last time ours was the best around. It's going to be an interesting couple of years seeing how he gets the unit performing.