Premiership
Biggar back to captain Saints against Irish
Northampton Saints will be led out by Dan Biggar for the first time this Saturday, as the Wales fly-half captains the side when London Irish head to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens for the Gallagher Premiership clash. Tickets for the Round 2 match – that kicks off at 2pm in Northampton – are still available online from £22 adults / £8 junior*, with the game also available to watch via the PRTV Live streaming service.Saints have lost to London Irish in the Premiership just once since 2015 and, having won their last five home matches at cinch Stadium, will be hoping to carry on that record this weekend. Captain Biggar lines up alongside Alex Mitchell in the half-back berths for the clash with the Exiles, while Scotland international Rory Hutchinson returns to the side to partner Matt Proctor in the midfield.After scoring a brace of tries last weekend, Tom Collins shifts to the wing for Saturday’s match and joins Ollie Sleightholme and England fullback George Furbank in the back three. Meanwhile, props Alex Waller and Paul Hill retain their places in the front row this weekend and are joined there by Fiji hooker Sam Matavesi, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Alex Moon packing down behind them in the engine room. Alex Coles shifts from lock into the back row on Saturday alongside flanker Aaron Hinkley and No. 8 Juarno Augustus to round off the line-up. Mike Haywood, Emmanuel Iyogun, Angus Scott-Young and Courtnall Skosan are amongst the men in Black, Green and Gold primed to make an impact from the replacements – while there is also a potential competitive Saints debut for scrum-half Callum Braley should he enter the action. NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs LONDON IRISHGallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 2Saturday 17 September 2022cinch Stadium at Franklin’s GardensKick-off: 2pm15 George Furbank14 Ollie Sleightholme13 Matt Proctor12 Rory Hutchinson11 Tom Collins10 Dan Biggar (c)9 Alex Mitchell1 Alex Waller2 Sam Matavesi3 Paul Hill4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto5 Alex Moon6 Alex Coles7 Aaron Hinkley8 Juarno AugustusReplacements:16 Mike Haywood17 Emmanuel Iyogun18 Alfie Petch19 Brandon Nansen20 Angus Scott-Young21 Callum Braley22 Tom Litchfield23 Courtnall SkosanNot considered for selection:Matthew Arden, Callum Burns, Fraser Dingwall, Sam Graham, Tommy Freeman, Joseph Gaffan, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, David Ribbans, Frankie Sleightholme, and Karl Wilkins.Referee: Luke PearceAssistant referees: Andrew Jackson and John MeredithNo.4: Dean RichardsTMO: Sara Cox
Northampton Saints will be led out by Dan Biggar for the first time this Saturday, as the Wales fly-half captains the side when London Irish head to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens for the Gallagher Premiership clash.
Tickets for the Round 2 match – that kicks off at 2pm in Northampton – are still available online from £22 adults / £8 junior*, with the game also available to watch via the PRTV Live streaming service.
Saints have lost to London Irish in the Premiership just once since 2015 and, having won their last five home matches at cinch Stadium, will be hoping to carry on that record this weekend.
Captain Biggar lines up alongside Alex Mitchell in the half-back berths for the clash with the Exiles, while Scotland international Rory Hutchinson returns to the side to partner Matt Proctor in the midfield.
After scoring a brace of tries last weekend, Tom Collins shifts to the wing for Saturday’s match and joins Ollie Sleightholme and England fullback George Furbank in the back three.
Meanwhile, props Alex Waller and Paul Hill retain their places in the front row this weekend and are joined there by Fiji hooker Sam Matavesi, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Alex Moon packing down behind them in the engine room.
Alex Coles shifts from lock into the back row on Saturday alongside flanker Aaron Hinkley and No. 8 Juarno Augustus to round off the line-up.
Mike Haywood, Emmanuel Iyogun, Angus Scott-Young and Courtnall Skosan are amongst the men in Black, Green and Gold primed to make an impact from the replacements – while there is also a potential competitive Saints debut for scrum-half Callum Braley should he enter the action.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs LONDON IRISH
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 2
Saturday 17 September 2022
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 2pm
15 George Furbank
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Matt Proctor
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tom Collins
10 Dan Biggar (c)
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Alex Waller
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Paul Hill
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5 Alex Moon
6 Alex Coles
7 Aaron Hinkley
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Mike Haywood
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Alfie Petch
19 Brandon Nansen
20 Angus Scott-Young
21 Callum Braley
22 Tom Litchfield
23 Courtnall Skosan
Not considered for selection:
Matthew Arden, Callum Burns, Fraser Dingwall, Sam Graham, Tommy Freeman, Joseph Gaffan, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, David Ribbans, Frankie Sleightholme, and Karl Wilkins.
Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson and John Meredith
No.4: Dean Richards
TMO: Sara Cox
Content & Images from – Northampton Saints Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
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Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
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Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
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