Premiership
Declan Kidney’s post-Northampton Saints analysis
London Irish Director of Rugby Declan Kidney has said that there are collective things that his side can improve upon having analysed the Exiles’ loss to Northampton Saints.
The Round 2 Gallagher Premiership fixture at the cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens saw the home side collect five points in a 38-22 win, leaving the west Londoners seventh in the table trailing an opening day win over Worcester Warriors.
Irish went into the break 10-0 down and three men light after a trio of temporary dismissals, leaving Kidney’s men up against it which they nonetheless only conceded a four-point aggregate.
Kidney believes there are plenty of learnings for his side to take from the encounter against Phil Dowson’s men ahead of a first double gameweek of the campaign.
“There were a lot of things there in our control that we can do better, I think there were a couple of momentum swings in the game too,” Kidney stated.
“The two of those things combined probably cost us as the game went on, so it’s well within our grasp to be that much better and fairplay to Northampton, we knew they would be well up for it.
“There are little things that are learnings for us to take, both individually and collectively, and if we can get those right, we’ll be better for it.”
The Boys in Green managed a positive opening 40 minutes, with Henry Arundell’s potential try in the first half ruled out for an earlier infringement that saw a flurry of yellow cards inflicted upon Irish before the half’s end.
With a change in the match’s flow thereafter, Irish’s Director of Rugby explains the effort required from his men to attempt to grasp something from the affair thereafter.
He continued: “It does take the energy out of the boys on the pitch, you could say there was a four-point swing in those nine minutes which isn’t the worst with three men out.
“We got a penalty and they got a bit more momentum then, only scoring right at the end then when our three men came back on.
“The minute preceding that and moments like that we can control better, all the good work wasn’t necessarily undone but we can do a lot better.”
“When you get a yellow, everyone looks at the time when the players are off but everyone has to focus in and use extra energy, and there is a responsibility for everyone then to try and stay on the pitch.
“One of our yellows was unlucky, one was a learning and one was an opinion- what we have to learn that when they all come together it can be a challenge to deal with.
“The more time he and Henry get, the better they will become,” Kidney said of the Club’s England internationals.
“They’re young players, and it will take a while to build up that experience.”
Will Joseph, who scored for the second consecutive week, was one of many positives for Irish on the day and the DoR affirms that contributions from the wider squad will be necessary for the next fortnight and beyond.
“It was an expensive day for us in terms of bangs and knocks but we’ve never been a side to complain, there are loads of guys in our team looking to take their place.
“Like every Club now we have a full-on schedule, there are midweek games for the next two weeks in between league games.
“It will have to be a full squad effort over these next few gameweeks.”
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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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