Northampton vs Leicester - Sat 3.05pm

[Puja]

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs LEICESTER TIGERS
Gallagher PREM, Round 3
Saturday 11 October, 2025
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3.05pm

15 George Hendy
14 Tommy Freeman – 100th Saints appearance
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Edoardo Todaro
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Robbie Smith
3 Trevor Davison
4 Tom Lockett
5 JJ Van Der Mescht
6 Alex Coles
7 Tom Pearson
8 Callum Chick (c)

Replacements:
16 Craig Wright
17 Danilo Fischetti
18 Luke Green
19 Josh Kemeny
20 Henry Pollock
21 Archie McParland
22 Anthony Belleau
23 Tom Litchfield

Not considered for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, George Furbank, Tom James, Curtis Langdon, Cleopas, Kundiona, Elliot Millar Mills, Chunya Munga, James Ramm, Ollie Sleightholme and Charlie Ulcoq.


Leicester Tigers
1 Nicky Smith (27)
2 Jamie Blamire (3)
3 Joe Heyes (165)
4 Harry Wells (218)
5 Ollie Chessum (69) (Captain)
6 Hanro Liebenberg (134)
7 Tommy Reffell (138)
8 Emeka Ilione (51)
9 Jack van Poortvliet (98)
10 Billy Searle (3)
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins (51)
12 Solomone Kata (46)
13 Will Wand (15)
14 Adam Radwan (14)
15 Freddie Steward (113)

16 Charlie Clare (127)
17 Tarek Haffar (2)
18 Will Hurd (53)
19 Joaquín Moro (4)
20 Olly Cracknell (69)
21 Tom Whiteley (43)
22 James O'Connor (0)
23 Orlando Bailey (2)


Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant referees: Alex Thomas and John Meredith
No.4: Neil Chivers
TMO: Peter Allan

[Puja]

Feels like this could be a long day for Leicester. Saints back up to nearly full-bore with a very scary lineup, while we've got two fit locks in total and a very average-looking 10-12-13.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Has Illione played 8 much before? I can certainly picture it, but not sure if it’s a new thing.

[FKAS]

Seemingly a lot of injuries in the backs for Tigers. No Woodward, no Hamer-Webb, no Perese, not really what you want for a game with Saints. We'll be praying a winger doesn't go down. Knowing our luck a Kata special tackle is coming.

Bit of extra weight at lock is nice. Shame no vdF, he was excellent last weekend, going to be a tough act for Haffar to follow. Blamire, Reffell and Ilione all starting at least gives multiple breakdown threats early on and Liebenburg being back is always a bit boost.

Saints looking almost at their starting xv (add in Furbank and Langdon and you're there, Slieghtholme Vs Henry would be close). Saints have got quite a bit of impact on the bench as well so the second half could be another interesting affair for them. Good conditions on the weather front will really suit that backline as well.

[FKAS]

Has Illione played 8 much before? I can certainly picture it, but not sure if it’s a new thing.

He did for England under 20s. He's covered there for Tigers a few times but can't remember this last start there. Most of his starts have been on the openside at senior level. He's been bulking up sensibly for a while so should be up to the job.

[Puja]

Has Illione played 8 much before? I can certainly picture it, but not sure if it’s a new thing.

He did for England under 20s. He's covered there for Tigers a few times but can't remember this last start there. Most of his starts have been on the openside at senior level. He's been bulking up sensibly for a while so should be up to the job.

There was an interview with him pre-season where he was saying that's where he sees himself long-term and he's hoping to play more there for Leicester this season, so it's not out of the blue.

Puja

[twitchy]

Game of the weekend, hopefully. Looking forward to this.

[FKAS]

Has Illione played 8 much before? I can certainly picture it, but not sure if it’s a new thing.

He did for England under 20s. He's covered there for Tigers a few times but can't remember this last start there. Most of his starts have been on the openside at senior level. He's been bulking up sensibly for a while so should be up to the job.

There was an interview with him pre-season where he was saying that's where he sees himself long-term and he's hoping to play more there for Leicester this season, so it's not out of the blue.

Puja

Versatility is useful. Ilione getting time in at 8 as well as openside is only going to be good for his career both at Leicester and maybe England in the future.

[Puja]

He did for England under 20s. He's covered there for Tigers a few times but can't remember this last start there. Most of his starts have been on the openside at senior level. He's been bulking up sensibly for a while so should be up to the job.

There was an interview with him pre-season where he was saying that's where he sees himself long-term and he's hoping to play more there for Leicester this season, so it's not out of the blue.

Puja

Versatility is useful. Ilione getting time in at 8 as well as openside is only going to be good for his career both at Leicester and maybe England in the future.

I've always thought of him more as an 8 than anything else - with that size of frame and athleticism, it seems a waste if we don't get the ball in his hands as much as we can. Not as though hard-carrying 8s are 10-a-penny in the transfer market at present either, so it makes sense to make our own if we can.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Have tigers got any FHs not making the squad?

[FKAS]

Have tigers got any FHs not making the squad?

Yeah, Charlie Titcombe isn't included. Tom Threlfall is on the bench for Notts tonight.

[Adam_P]

Agreed on Ilione - always thought he looked like he'd fit best at 8, but needed a bit more bulk. Haven't seen him yet this season so will be interested to see how he goes.

Very pleased to have some key men back for Saints. Pollock and Kemeny on the bench should hopefully inject something to prevent the second half flop that we've seen in the first two rounds. Happy to see Todaro keep his place - young lad has been impressive in his first two senior matches.

[twitchy]

Quite a low key game so far, doesn't feel like a derby. Very stop/start.

[twitchy]

Proper pre season affair.

[twitchy]

Ok I take it back, that was great from saints.

[Adam_P]

Yeah not the most enthralling 40 mins, bar a few nice moments. Hopefully heats up a bit after half time

[Adam_P]

I'd get Pollock on ASAP to inject some energy

[Adam_P]

Surprised Kata's tackle on Wright wasnt checked there

[Adam_P]

Belleau has been such a good signing

[fivepointer]

Took a while to get going but that was a very entertaining tussle.

Belleau's first try was a brilliant team effort; his second an audacious piece of individual skill. He and Todaro have certainly added to the Saints squad.

[FKAS]

Bit of a weird end to end game that didn't really fire up until into the second half. Bench impact was key, Tigers bench offered next to nowt and Saints had some real impact with Belleau in particular being excellent out of position at 15.

Not sure how the officials managed to stuff up the last two minutes having done a good job all game. The clearest sacking of the lifter you'll see at the lineout and then putting the time back on before the scrum was even set making sure there was noore game to play.

Tigers attack in the 22 is still absolute dog shite. Hampered massively once the attacking handbrake Whiteley came on to single handedly add a second to every ruck. No disguise, no set plays just bashing away, we had a massive advantage under the high ball for the whole damn game and didn't try a single fecking crossfield kick! We didn't deserve to win. Don't even get me started on the lineouts where we were either perfect or awful, no idea why we stopped competing on Saints ball when we were putting pressure on there in the first half either.

Saints looked a bit rusty at times, Tigers choice to go with Ilione at 8 definitely helped frustrate them. Noticeable Cracknell got done on the outside in midfield in his first defensive set. When Saints managed to get a few phases together they looked very dangerous with a real clinical edge that won them the game ultimately. Odd to see Fin Smith missing kicks at goal, doubt it'll continue.

[FKAS]

Surprised Kata's tackle on Wright wasnt checked there

Surprised Chick's on OHC from the O'Connor offload wasn't. TMO was pretty busy in the background and was nicely consistent. I think there was a couple other TMOs would have agonised over looking for a hint of head contact.

[Puja]

Bench impact was key, Tigers bench offered next to nowt

You're right there - Saints could bring on some extra energy and quality in all 8 bench slots, whereas our changes all lowered our quality (with the exception of the props and possibly Cracknell). The beggar's muddle that occurred from bringing Bailey and O'Connor on, with neither of them looking sure who was supposed to be 10, was not a good decision.

I have to say that I haven't been impressed with what I've seen from Moro so far. At best, he seems exceedingly average and I'm not sure what his USP is meant to be yet.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Did not watch this game. What's the position with Freeman? On another thread, somebody said he was injured.

[Adam_P]

Did not watch this game. What's the position with Freeman? On another thread, somebody said he was injured.

Yeah he didnt look comfortable just before half time, got off down the tunnel quickly presumably to get some treatment then played about 3 mins of the second half before going off. Wasn't immediately obvious what the actual issue was, but hopefully not serious. With Hendy also going off in the first half and Furbank, Sleights and Ramm also out, our back 3 are getting pretty heavily depleted.