Northampton Saints vs Exeter Chiefs

Free kick for Exeter who clear high, Furbank gathers and Saints will have to go from deep. 

Great break from Alex Mitchell, manipulating the defence, but the next phase is messy and Saints lose possesion.

Patient defence from Saints who can't afford a penalty, and Exeter knock-on to cough up the ball. Scrum for the hosts on halfway.

A couple of reset scrums in midfield just kill the clock. Not what Saints need here.

Conversion missed and the scores remain within three points.

Crunching hit from Adendorff as a perfect box kick from Mitchell puts pressure on the visitors. But an accidental offside from Auterac after Naiyaravoro knocks on gives Chiefs an opportunity.

High kick from Biggar forces a knock-on from Dollman. Saints do well with the lineout and take territory again with a grubber into touch inside the 22.

Two new front rowers for Saints as Matavesi and Auterac replace Fish and Franks. Northampton still on top here.

Sharp work from Hidalgo-Clyne for Chiefs to dart down the blind side, and after Mitchell clears up, Furbank clears into touch on the 22. Exeter lineout but Saints force a turnover again and now Biggar clears!

Ball coughed up in the tackle from Exeter and Saints look to spin it wide but can't quite make it work. On comes Mitchell now for Saints, as Taylor makes way.

No.8 Adendorff enters the action for Saints, replacing Tonks, meaning Harrison shifts to flanker.

On comes Isiekwe, replacing Ratuniyarawa.

Franks off for Saints, Paul Hill into the action.

Saints' lineout goes awry as Ribbans is penalised, allowing Exeter to release the pressure valve. Huuuuuuge hit from Lawes and Harrison together forces a knock-on however, and Saints look to chip in behind but it bounces into touch.

A long kicking battle here but Saints win out with Hutchinson controlling field position and spraying it nicely around the Gardens deck. O'Flaherty has to stick it out inside his own 22 under pressure from Francis.

Free kick for Saints and they launch through Taylor. A few more phases up the short side, and Taylor boxes.

Chiefs look to bounce straight back but as they build some phases, high pressure in defence forces a knock-on. Collins is injured however, and on comes Piers Francis to replace him, with Proctor moving out to the wing.

Back underway then here at the Gardens as Steenson sends a kick into the dark sky. Saints go a couple of phases before Biggar clears.

Biggar's conversion drifts wide but the hosts are right back in it here with half-time beckoning.

Two quick penalties move Exeter up the field but they drop it and Saints are away. Biggar's distribution again is superb and the hosts build to halfway from deep.

Tuala limps off, so on comes Naiyaravoro for Saints.

Exeter knock a high ball on so Saints have the put in, just inside the Chiefs half. Good scrum from the hosts and sublime hands from the backs allows Furbank to grubber through again and Saints apply the pressure – put Pearce blows for a soft penalty as Van Wyk goes in at the side.

Great defence from Saints and Furbank exits will, then makes the tackle on Steenson who is caught. Biggar tries a crossfield kick and finds Furbank but he is tackled into touch.

Exeter stop the maul and win the turnover, but straightaway Saints win a penalty at the scrum. Biggar to the corner and momentum is building.

Proctor gets over it and wins a penalty! Biggar sends it back into the 22 and Saints will go again...

Exeter do well to gather the lineout on their own 5m line and Hidalgo-Clyne finds touch. Fish finds Ribbans with the next lineout and Saints press again. Hutchinson is caught in possession by Armand and the ref blows for holding on.

A lungbusting passage of play as the ball stays in for at least five minutes. Hutchinson puts an end to it with a grubber into the corner. Nicely done.

After 25 phases the ball is turned over and Exeter clear their lines. Saints outside the 22, but have it back.

Biggar is so close to going though a hole and this is better from Saints. Good defence from Chiefs keeps them at bay as Tonks is driven back, but Saints still have it and get a penalty on the 15th phase of possession. They play on with the advantage...

Deliberate knock-on from O'Flaherty gives Saints a penalty, and Biggar pops it into touch. Good opportunity for the hosts to strike back.

Biggar is put under pressure and has to find touch left-footed giving Chiefs good field position. They start to build the phases inside the 22.

O'Flaherty makes the break and when the Chiefs recycle the ball, Steenson feeds Lonsdale for the game's opening score.

Chiefs gather the lineout but knock on deep in their own territory. Saints play with the advantage and these are promising signs from the hosts. Hutchinson and Tuala try a couple of basketball offloads and Furbank just can't hold on. Exeter with the scrum inside thier own 22.

Exeter build some phases now and Dollman makes a break to get the Chiefs into the 22. Great penalty won at the breakdown from Saints however and Biggar finds Collins with a crossfield kick to make a break up the left. Furbank then opts for territory and Saints have done well there to release the pressure.

We've a beautiful crimson sky above the Gardens and Saints build a few phases. Harrison trucks it up twice and Saints win a penalty, but after a quick tap, Taylor knocks it out on the full.

The teams are out and it will be Dan Biggar to kick off for Saints. COYS!!

It’s a warm and slightly muggy evening here at the Gardens, but most importantly it’s dry and the pristine deck looks as good as ever for fast rugby! The teams are back in the sheds after the warm-ups and we’ve just got a few minutes left to wait for kick-off…

SAINTS: Furbank, Tuala, Proctor, Hutchinson, Collins, Biggar, Taylor; Van Wyk, Fish, Franks, Ribbans, Ratuniyarawa, Lawes, Tonks, Harrison
Replacements: Matavesi, Auterac, Hill, Isiekwe, Adendorff, Mitchell, Francis, Naiyaravoro

It’s 11 changes for Saints this evening with only Tom Collins, Rory Hutchinson, Matt Proctor and George Furbank remaining from the starting XV that went down to Harlequins on Sunday. A completely fresh pack is led by club co-captain Teimana Harrison, while Dan Biggar comes back into the No.10 jersey for the men in Black, Green and Gold.

Here’s how tonight’s visitors line up having made the journey from the West Country...

EXETER: Hodge, O’Flaherty, Dollman, Hendrickson, Baldwin, Steenson, Hidalgo-Clyne; Hepburn, Yeandle (c), Francis, Dennis, Skinner, Kirsten, Lonsdale, Armand
Replacements: Innard, Keast, Petch, Price, Capstick, Snow, Skinner, Wyatt

Welcome back to Franklin’s Gardens for this evening’s Gallagher Premiership clash against the league leaders, Exeter Chiefs! We’re under the Friday Night Lights for the first time since rugby’s return – and it’s do-or-die for Saints as Chris Boyd’s side fight to keep their play-off hopes alive. Northampton need a win to thrust themselves back into the top-four reckoning.