It's going to be an interesting game on Saturday. Toulouse look to be improving after a shocking opening. Saints could be set to take half a team over there. No Walmsley, Mata'utia, Batchelor or Grace. Welsby, Makinson and Lomax also carrying knocks plus a rumoured three unvaccinated players. If the unvaccinated players aren't amongst those injured/being rested, it could be a lineup worthy of a pre-season testimonial.

Saints have history at doing this against the bottom team as well, with London picking up two victories over us in their last season in Super League. Hull KR fans in particular weren't too happy with that I remember.

With Toulouse being basically at Wigan's level, you'd imagine half a Saints team might still be able to win, but potential for a morale boosting 'victoire' for Toulouse.

So saints have a few players missing, welcome to what all other clubs are having to deal with.

You miss the point.
This is Saints having a "rest", just as they have in the past.
Extremely disrespectful to Toulouse and the Competition and their travelling fans who will have paid good money to watch their side.

I know that every club has a squad of players for good reason but, this is taking the proverbial (again)

You couldn’t be more wrong, Woolf is putting his strongest side out for the game. Quite simple we have a definite 4 players out with injury. I think Saddened has laid out a bit of ground bait and you’ve responded with a nibble response.

I think saints have enough quality in the remainder of their squad to walk past Toulouse with a few gears to spare, if they legitimately have a few injuries and unvaccinated players then they can only take what players they can. It looks like they'll still have the likes of Roby, Lomax, Dodd, Paasi, Makinson et al available.

Let's see who travels and then who makes a miracle recovery.
IIRC Saints chose to rest half their side v London (twice) a couple of seasons ago and gifted them a couple of wins.

Maybe I'm just an old cynic but, Leopards and spots.......................

They've got a proud history of putting out weakened sides. Easter Monday 2004 anyone?

Yep, you are being cynical………only Grace and Batchelor due back in 2 weeks time. Saints have a lot of academy produced players in their squad and we give them game time so they become superleague players.

Might catch on with some other clubs to do this same instead of looking for a quick fix.

Look, Saints, right now are streets ahead of the rest of the comp.

However, playing a second string "just because you can", is disrespecting both your opposition and the competition, just as it was a couple of seasons ago.
I absolutely agree that it will help the development of the kids that play but, it's still taking the mickey and to wrap it up as injuries is being disingenuous towards Toulouse.

It could be argued that Wigan, Wire, Saints and Catalan are nailed on for a play off spot.
Should these clubs put out deliberately weakened squads, to aid the development of their youngsters "because they know they will still reach the play offs".

It's fundamentally wrong.

Stop making things up that isn’t the current situation , Saints are NOT playing a second string team against the opposition,
Woolf has confirmed he is playing his strongest side and respects that Toulouse have played well over their last 2 games.

Hang on a minute. This isn’t cas or Hull kr playing the “Covid” card to get out of playing better teams. These are legitimate injuries which will make it all the sweeter when saints muller a team with theirs reserves out that Wigan and Wakefield were lucky against with full teams

Wakefield were no were near full strength ,and never looked like losing

Don't let facts get in the way of a good troll

Wigan were nowhere near full strength and should have lost

Dan Norman recalled from Leigh for the game, Jake Wingfield, Sam Royle and Lewis Baxter brought in.

Toulouse at +32 on the handicap is looking decent value

He's right, stop making excuses for what is blatantly obvious to most people with two brain cells. I get why it's part of the game but your pretence is a touch naudeating.

Bell must be injured so Norman/Amor for Walmsley (2 weeks) Wingfield for Matautia (5 weeks) Royle for Batchelor (11 day HIA). Grace started full contact training yesterday so will be available next week.. Hopoate picked up a knock in training yesterday so Hurrell plays.

Looks as though Welsby (ankle) has recovered but Bennison is on standby.

So that means no one has been rested for the game, despite the dumb-dumber-dumbest posters on here saying otherwise.

We'll see when the team sheet comes out. I suspect there may be some rested from within the 21 man squad too, but if we pick the strongest team you could be right. Bennison is expected to play and there are four travelling who they haven't made a decision on according to a DM I got on Twitter. I get the feeling we may rest a couple. I'm think we can have a good guess at 2 of the 3 unvaccinated players at this point too.

Just because a coach says a player is injured, doesn't mean they are.

He isn't exactly going to say "we're playing the kids because Toulouse are " is he?

It's an odd one with some fans, their coach never lies or uses gamesmanship if we are being polite but all others do, blinkered or what.

I'll be blunt, Poaching doesn't exactly lie but boy I wouldn't play him at poker.

Damn right, sir.

It's a sad indictment of the comp that a club can do this in the regular season and it's all with in the rules

Be hilarious if they got creamed and picked up a few short term injuries (nothing serious, just a few weeks). Then we'd see the begging bowl out if they started slipping.

We've lost these kind of games in the past. That isn't going to bother them.

No, but sometimes it can backfire on even the best, especially if you pick up injuries, You're the best team in the comp at present but a lot of that is down to momentum, it's an easy thing to lose and a hard thing to get back. Don't think it will happen in this case but you need to be careful. Despite beating them I personally thought Toulouse were a better team than Leeds and Hull and are not far off a win. They have nothing to lose and they are not short of players who can dole it out, tough little team IMO.