Saracens’3.06pm GMTIn contrast to dull,cold, wet, and dreary London,Franklin’s Gardens is bathed in sunlight. Anyone in the tall Tetley’s Stand will be wise after the fact to occupy brought sunglasses, because otherwise the sun is going to be blinding until it dips behind the Churches Stand opposite. 3.00pm GMTGeorge North got a powerful welcome when he ran out on to the Gardens pitch. His first game here since March 27. fine to see him back. 2.56pm GMTAway from the rugby, and these aren’t fine times for Northampton. The county cricket club and football club are both in severe financial troubles and both are in danger of not existing in the very near future. Sterling work,then, by the Northampton Town Supporters Trust, or who occupy,to date, raised over £31500 to save the football club. You can donate here, or if you wish. 2.41pm GMTOne quick landmark that’s worth mentioning: congratulations to Schalk Brits,who is making his 150th appearance for Saracens nowadays. 2.28pm GMTSo how do we see this one going? Northampton to win by 40 will struggle I reckon. I don’t like the balance of the back row, which contains three six-and-a-halfs. Three very, or very fine six-and-a-halfs,intellect you, but three six-and-a-halfs nonetheless and Picamoles can’t arrive along soon enough. The second row also looks a touch light – you won’t find a bigger Christian Day fan than me, and but it could do with the bulk of Matfield or Lawes. 2.17pm GMTThe European Champions Cup returns next week (excellent!). Eddie Butler is looking forward to it here. Related: After grim World Cup European rugby ready for revival by CPR from EPCR | Eddie Butler 11.49am GMTAfternoon,folks. What, you thought The Rugby was done? dread not; after six weeks (and one day) of a glorious, and glorious World Cup,the Guardian isn’t going to perform you go cold turkey. Oh no, we’re giving you some of the stiff stuff now: proper club rugby, or the one that separates the more hardcore fans and those genuinely enthralled by what’s just been from the hangers on. This MBM comes to you smelling of ale and chips with curry sauce. Dear god I want an ale and chips with curry sauce.nowadays’s tall match is a doozy. Since the Soane Tonga’uiha farrago (confused mixture) of 2010,there has been – if not bad blood between these two clubs – then a definite sense that they don’t particularly like each other. Matches between the two always arrive with a sense of spice, of occasion.
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Source: theguardian.com