Ian Hunter
Former Northampton Saints and England wing on 5 Live sports extra

Northampton dominate the opening 40 minutes, but only have a Mike Haywood try and JJ Hanrahan penalty to show for it. 

Exeter producing little in the way of attacking rugby, but have defended doggedly. And they have needed to as their penalty count has put them under a lot of unnecessary pressure at times.

Lennie Newman
Former Northampton Saints player and manager

Scrum. Reset. Penalty. Line-out. Pressure. Exeter survive.

The Chiefs are parked deep in defence, but refuse to be breached.

Tom Collins gets caught up in the moment and attempts to give Saints the hurry on with a chip kick over the top. This time, however. it is a poor from the winger and Northampton have nothing to show from their efforts once again.

Lennie Newman
Former Northampton Saints player and manager

Northampton opt to tee up the points and punish Exeter for offside. 

It is one penalty too many from the visitors and from well within kicking distance, JJ Hanrahan slots it over and gives Saints the very least of what they deserve.

Rare period of Exeter dominance sees the Chiefs move the ball calmly across field and back again looking for a weakness in Northampton's defence. 

However, it all comes undone as the visitors try and press their case a little too hard and the ball is spilled. Better from Exeter, but yet to truly test Saints.

Image source, Getty Images

A setback for Northampton as Kahn Fotuali'i limps off with what looks like a hamstring injury. The Samoan looked dangerous more than once with his pace. On comes Lee Dickson.

Ben Foden makes something out of nothing, running on to meet a high ball over the top.

The break is on as the ball spills for Saints and in a flash they are pressing for the try-line. Eventually, the attack fizzles out, but the warning was clear from the hosts as they press forward in waves.

Image source, Getty Images

Ian Hunter
Former Northampton Saints and England wing

Image source, Getty Images

Plenty of territory and repeat phases for Saints in their attacking half. Must be said that they have failed to make the most of their possession in the opening 15 minutes.

Poor handling has been the hosts' undoing more than once, but Exeter's defence has been stubborn. Their scrum, however, is being overrun and allows Saints to pin Exeter onto their own try-line.

Early penalties allowing both sides to kick themselves into good field position. And with ball in hand, neither outfit looking shy about moving it through hands.

Victor Matfield leaves the field with a bloodied nose for Northampton, allowing Christian Day to join the action. He comes into a game that has started at a high tempo with Saints back on the attack, but Exeter are holding strong.

Lennie Newman
Former Northampton Saints player and manager

These two sides muscling up in a big way, the power generated early on at the scrum is enough to generate roars of appreciation from the the Northampton fans as Exeter's Ben Moon goes down in the scrum.

A long kick down field and a neat grubber kick through see Saints go over and Tom Collins dots down, but it is no try as there is a forward pass.

Image source, BBC Sport

Two sides with a very different run of form just getting a feel for one another in the early minutes on a biting cold day at Franklin's Gardens.

Northampton's inconsistent start to the season took on somewhat of a dismal tone on Boxing Day when they were overcome by the previously winless London Irish. If you were to look further into their form in December, they have failed to generate any momentum in the European Champions Cup, having managed a draw against Racing Metro at home after being well beaten by the French side in the away tie.

Conversely, Exeter have dropped just two possible league points in a run of six straight wins since losing at Bath on the opening day of the delayed 2015-16 season in mid-October.

A win today takes them top for 24 hours at least as leaders Saracens host Leicester on Saturday.

Exeter get the action underway.

Northampton in their traditional black, green and gold, while Exeter are in all white.

Fancy Northampton getting back to their more formidable ways with a win to start 2016? Or maybe the rise-and-rise of Exeter has captured your imagination, and you are busting at the seams to tell the twitterverse all about it.

While many will be getting caught up in the hype of what the new year will bring, we have just waved farewell to what was a huge 2015 of rugby union. What were your highlights, or if you are an England rugby fan, the lowlight?

Get in touch with us using #bbcrugby to share your thoughts.

Image source, BBC Sport

Replacements: Taione, Rimmer, Low, Atkins, White, Lewis, Hooley, Short.  

Big team news out of Exeter for this one sees Italy international Michele Campagnaro make his first Premiership start in the centre.

Having been impressive off the bench in the 33-17 Boxing Day home win over Sale, he comes in alongside Ian Whitten, while winger Olly Woodburn gets the nod ahead of James Short, who drops to the bench.

Also, Exeter recall England's Tom Johnson to replace Julian Salvi at open-side flanker, with Ben White on the bench.

Image source, BBC Sport

Replacements: Hartley, E Waller, Denman, Day, Paterson, Dickson, Myler, Mallinder.

Northampton make six changes for the visit of Exeter after going down to London Irish earlier in the week.

Tom Collins and JJ Hanrahan come into the back line following the boxing day loss to the previously winless Irish side, while Alex Waller, Mikey Haywood, Victor Matfield and Sam Dickinson are all recalled in the pack.