BATH RUGBY vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS Gallagher PREM, Round 8 Saturday 27 December, 2025 Recreation Ground Kick-off: 5.30pm

[FKAS]

15 George Hendy
14 Edoardo Todaro
13 Tommy Freeman
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 James Ramm
10 Anthony Belleau
9 Archie McParland

1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Robbie Smith
3 Trevor Davison
4 Ed Prowse
5 Chunya Munga
6 Callum Chick (c)
7 Sam Graham
8 Henry Pollock

Replacements:
16 Henry Walker
17 Oliver Scola – Gallagher PREM debut
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Archie Benson
20 Fyn Brown
21 Tom James
22 Henry Lumley
23 Ollie Sleightholme

Not considered for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, Will Glister, Curtis Langdon, Tom Litchfield, Tom Lockett, Charlie Ulcoq, and Tom West.

BATH SIDE TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence,12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Miles Reid.

Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Santi Carreras, 23 Chris Harris.

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant Referees: Hamish Smales and Jonathan Healy
No. 4: Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: Dan Jones

[fivepointer]

Saints rotation is something of a disappointment. Was hoping to see Mitchell and Smith up against Spencer and Russell.

[Adam_P]

It is a shame not to see a stronger side to go against Bath, but understandable rotation given the playing calendar. Other than 9, the starting backline is still pretty strong - its the difference in quality/experience on the benches that's going to really do it imo.

Saying that, starting James instead of McParland would give us a better shot.

[Adam_P]

Why on earth was that 'knock on' not checked?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Jesus Saints have been hard done by there on about three separate decisions! Really poor officiating!

[FKAS]

Why on earth was that 'knock on' not checked?

Let it play through and then come back for the TMO. Was a bit over eager on the whistle.

From that stroke of good fortune Bath have turned up.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Maxwell-Keys has discovered there’s another team that needs refereeing!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Great decision by McParland after almost fucking it up!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Pretty blatant crossing

[Epaminondas Pules]

Can’t blame Bath for trying a run round the outside of that scrum

[Epaminondas Pules]

That looked horrible. Hope TDG is ok

[Epaminondas Pules]

Obano has got his back turned. That’s arse!

[FKAS]

Obano has got his back turned. That’s arse!

Yeah that's not a good call by the officials. He is held but he's not going to fill that gap, also a Bath player is still able to attempt a tackle. If that happens on any other ruck it won't be a penalty.

[Adam_P]

We should be ahead, and really need to be because our bench cannot live with Baths

[FKAS]

We should be ahead, and really need to be because our bench cannot live with Baths

Saints really needed the TBP in the first half. Second half is likely to be a rough 40 mins.

[Adam_P]

Not checking Lawrence's tackle on Todaro, but will check the 50/50 grounding

[Adam_P]

Good bants from Tommy

[FKAS]

Good bants from Tommy

Playing with fire considering the TMO has had a fiver on Bath winning this one.

[FKAS]

Arundell ball in the wrong hand. Means the tackler can just snag the arm and force the knock on. If he keeps the ball in the hand closest to the touch line as he should he probably shrugs it off.

[Adam_P]

Unbelievable result here. McParland has made me eat my words - excellent performance from him. Whole team has put in a hell of a shift

[fivepointer]

Wow! What a 2nd half from Saints. They were quite superb.

[Captainhaircut]

Wow, that’s pretty special.

McParland excellent having been pretty poor last few outings. Easy to forget he’s 20 with some challenging injuries in the last 18 months or so.

Freeman brilliant- can’t comprehend how anyone is against him at 13. I get he doesn’t always play there but he’s always looked brilliant when he has.

Pollock again exceptional. Such a good rugby brain. Small things like the way he ran ahead of Hendy for his try so he could get into position, wouldn’t see many players doing that.

Belleau as a back up 10 is incredible really. There’s surely no way Saints keep him.

Always love watching this Saints side. So well coached and so good at developing players.

[FKAS]

Saints bench can't live with Bath. Saints just don't use the bench, until late on in the main.

The decisions going against them seemed to galvanise Saints. Bath played like they expected the bench to turn the game and that made them complacent.

Belleau was great at 10 for Saints. He really is to good to be a back up, I've said it before but NRB could do a lot worse than offer him a starting job. The other half of the half back pairing was electric. Have their side a nice platform. The 13 match up would have been prime viewing for the England coaches and it was easy to see Freeman coming out on top by a distance. Lawrence was really poor and that last dropped pass to ensure Bath got nothing from the game summed his night up.

[Adam_P]

Freeman brilliant- can’t comprehend how anyone is against him at 13. I get he doesn’t always play there but he’s always looked brilliant when he has.

Hard agree. With Todaro announcing himself so strongly this season and the other back 3 riches, I'd like to see Saints play him there more regularly.

[Captainhaircut]

Looking at the stats and some interesting stuff. Chick took 11 lineouts- Saints 100% there. Not an area of his game I’d usually think as strong. He’s miles down the list for England which is some reflection on strength.

Prowse got through a mountain of work too. 15 tackles, 8 carries. Lot of clearing out. Interesting profile.