Premiership
Fin Smith to debut for Saints against Bristol Bears
Fly-half Fin Smith will make his Northampton Saints debut this weekend, as the men in Black, Green and Gold welcome Bristol Bears in Round 8 of the Gallagher Premiership.The hosts saw a two-game winning run in the league ended last weekend at Bath Rugby, although Saints have only lost once at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in any competition since February.Bears come into the clash (which kicks off at 3pm on Saturday and will be broadcast on PRTV Live) on a three-game losing run but have a strong recent record in Northampton, winning three times on their last four visits in the league.Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes eight changes in total to his line-up in total from last week’s defeat, with England Under-20 international George Hendy earning his first Premiership start at full-back.Matt Proctor shifts over to the wing to make room for fit-again Rory Hutchinson at centre, while Ollie Sleighholme – who has scored five tries in six league appearances so far this term – rounds off the back three.Fraser Dingwall is also selected in the midfield and will captain Saints on home soil, with Alex Mitchell named at scrum-half and Smith pulling on the Northampton No.10 jersey for the first time following his arrival at the Club from Worcester Warriors earlier this month.There are five changes to the hosts’ pack as loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun and hooker Mike Haywood join Paul Hill in the front row.Lukhan Salakaia-Loto continues at lock but Alex Moon returns to engine room alongside him, while there are two further changes to the back row as flankers Sam Graham and Aaron Hinkley both start the clash, with Juarno Augustus selected at No.8 for the third straight match.Meanwhile Angus Scott-Young, Ethan Waller and Brandon Nansen all return to the matchday 23 for Saints amongst the replacements, with Tom Collins also hoping to extend his try-scoring run to four matches if he enters the action from the bench.NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs BRISTOL BEARSGallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 8Saturday 29 October 2022cinch Stadium at Franklin’s GardensKick-off: 3pm15 George Hendy14 Matt Proctor13 Fraser Dingwall (c)12 Rory Hutchinson11 Ollie Sleightholme10 Fin Smith9 Alex Mitchell1 Emmanuel Iyogun2 Mike Haywood3 Paul Hill4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto5 Alex Moon6 Sam Graham7 Aaron Hinkley8 Juarno AugustusReplacements:16 Sam Matavesi17 Ethan Waller18 Alfie Petch19 Brandon Nansen20 Angus Scott-Young21 Tom James22 James Grayson23 Tom CollinsNot considered for selection:Matthew Arden, Dan Biggar, Tommy Freeman, Aston Gradwick-Light, Ethan Grayson, Courtney Lawes, George Patten, and Karl Wilkins.International duty:Alex Coles, George Furbank, Lewis Ludlam, and David Ribbans.Referee: Hamish SmalesAssistant Referees: Greg Macdonald and Phil WattersNo.4: Gareth HolsgroveTMO: David RoseBRISTOL TEAM TO PLAY SAINTS15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren; 1 Jake Woolmore, 2 Harry Thacker, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 Joe Batley, 5 Joe Joyce (c), 6 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Fitz Harding.Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Jay Tyack, 19 Chris Vui, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Will Porter, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Jack Bates.
Fly-half Fin Smith will make his Northampton Saints debut this weekend, as the men in Black, Green and Gold welcome Bristol Bears in Round 8 of the Gallagher Premiership.
The hosts saw a two-game winning run in the league ended last weekend at Bath Rugby, although Saints have only lost once at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in any competition since February.
Bears come into the clash (which kicks off at 3pm on Saturday and will be broadcast on PRTV Live) on a three-game losing run but have a strong recent record in Northampton, winning three times on their last four visits in the league.
Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes eight changes in total to his line-up in total from last week’s defeat, with England Under-20 international George Hendy earning his first Premiership start at full-back.
Matt Proctor shifts over to the wing to make room for fit-again Rory Hutchinson at centre, while Ollie Sleighholme – who has scored five tries in six league appearances so far this term – rounds off the back three.
Fraser Dingwall is also selected in the midfield and will captain Saints on home soil, with Alex Mitchell named at scrum-half and Smith pulling on the Northampton No.10 jersey for the first time following his arrival at the Club from Worcester Warriors earlier this month.
There are five changes to the hosts’ pack as loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun and hooker Mike Haywood join Paul Hill in the front row.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto continues at lock but Alex Moon returns to engine room alongside him, while there are two further changes to the back row as flankers Sam Graham and Aaron Hinkley both start the clash, with Juarno Augustus selected at No.8 for the third straight match.
Meanwhile Angus Scott-Young, Ethan Waller and Brandon Nansen all return to the matchday 23 for Saints amongst the replacements, with Tom Collins also hoping to extend his try-scoring run to four matches if he enters the action from the bench.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs BRISTOL BEARS
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 8
Saturday 29 October 2022
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Hendy
14 Matt Proctor
13 Fraser Dingwall (c)
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Mike Haywood
3 Paul Hill
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5 Alex Moon
6 Sam Graham
7 Aaron Hinkley
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Ethan Waller
18 Alfie Petch
19 Brandon Nansen
20 Angus Scott-Young
21 Tom James
22 James Grayson
23 Tom Collins
Not considered for selection:
Matthew Arden, Dan Biggar, Tommy Freeman, Aston Gradwick-Light, Ethan Grayson, Courtney Lawes, George Patten, and Karl Wilkins.
International duty:
Alex Coles, George Furbank, Lewis Ludlam, and David Ribbans.
Referee: Hamish Smales
Assistant Referees: Greg Macdonald and Phil Watters
No.4: Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: David Rose
BRISTOL TEAM TO PLAY SAINTS
15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren; 1 Jake Woolmore, 2 Harry Thacker, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 Joe Batley, 5 Joe Joyce (c), 6 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Fitz Harding.
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Jay Tyack, 19 Chris Vui, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Will Porter, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Jack Bates.
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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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