Premiership
Five changes for Saints ahead of European opener
Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes five changes to his starting line-up as Northampton Saints prepare to head to Stade Rochelais this weekend, with Robbie Smith, David Ribbans, Aaron Hinkley, Tom James and Matt Proctor all coming into the side.The men in Black, Green and Gold kick-off their Heineken Champions Cup campaign on the road, making a first-ever trip to the Stade Marcel-Deflandre for the Round 1 clash on Saturday (10 December, kick-off: 6.30pm local time). After lifting the Heineken Champions Cup last term, Saints’ hosts sit in fourth place in the Top 14 having won seven of their 12 outings so far this season – with five of those wins coming on home soil. Smith is one of four Northampton players set to make their Heineken Champions Cup debuts as he starts at hooker, with Alex Waller and Paul Hill packing down either side of the 24-year-old in the front row.Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – also set for his European debut – makes his sixth consecutive start as he joins Ribbans in Saints’ engine room for only the second time this season.Captain Lewis Ludlam shifts to No. 8 this weekend to lead the side out in La Rochelle, accompanying incoming Hinkley and England international Alex Coles in the back row.James makes his third start of the season at scrum-half as he partners another Champions Cup debutant Fin Smith in the half-back berths, with Fraser Dingwall and Proctor lining up outside them in the centres. James Ramm makes his first European appearance as he mans Saints’ wings with Tommy Freeman for the second week running, while George Furbank completes the back three at fullback. Amongst the replacements, there is a return from injury for Courtney Lawes – while the likes of Emmanuel Iyogun, Angus Scott-Young, Alex Mitchell and Rory Hutchinson are set to make an impact from the bench.STADE ROCHELAIS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTSHeineken Champions Cup, Round 1Saturday 10 December 2022Stade Marcel-DeflandreKick-off: 6.30pm (local time)15 George Furbank14 James Ramm13 Matt Proctor12 Fraser Dingwall11 Tommy Freeman10 Fin Smith9 Tom James1 Alex Waller2 Robbie Smith 3 Paul Hill4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto5 David Ribbans6 Alex Coles7 Aaron Hinkley8 Lewis Ludlam (c)Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi17 Emmanuel Iyogun18 Ehren Painter19 Courtney Lawes20 Angus Scott-Young21 Juarno Augustus22 Alex Mitchell23 Rory HutchinsonNot considered for selection:Matthew Arden, James Fish, Sam Graham, James Grayson, Mike Haywood, Geordie Irvine, Tom Lockett and Ollie Sleightholme.Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland) and Oisin Quinn (Ireland)TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes five changes to his starting line-up as Northampton Saints prepare to head to Stade Rochelais this weekend, with Robbie Smith, David Ribbans, Aaron Hinkley, Tom James and Matt Proctor all coming into the side.
The men in Black, Green and Gold kick-off their Heineken Champions Cup campaign on the road, making a first-ever trip to the Stade Marcel-Deflandre for the Round 1 clash on Saturday (10 December, kick-off: 6.30pm local time).
After lifting the Heineken Champions Cup last term, Saints’ hosts sit in fourth place in the Top 14 having won seven of their 12 outings so far this season – with five of those wins coming on home soil.
Smith is one of four Northampton players set to make their Heineken Champions Cup debuts as he starts at hooker, with Alex Waller and Paul Hill packing down either side of the 24-year-old in the front row.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – also set for his European debut – makes his sixth consecutive start as he joins Ribbans in Saints’ engine room for only the second time this season.
Captain Lewis Ludlam shifts to No. 8 this weekend to lead the side out in La Rochelle, accompanying incoming Hinkley and England international Alex Coles in the back row.
James makes his third start of the season at scrum-half as he partners another Champions Cup debutant Fin Smith in the half-back berths, with Fraser Dingwall and Proctor lining up outside them in the centres.
James Ramm makes his first European appearance as he mans Saints’ wings with Tommy Freeman for the second week running, while George Furbank completes the back three at fullback.
Amongst the replacements, there is a return from injury for Courtney Lawes – while the likes of Emmanuel Iyogun, Angus Scott-Young, Alex Mitchell and Rory Hutchinson are set to make an impact from the bench.
STADE ROCHELAIS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Heineken Champions Cup, Round 1
Saturday 10 December 2022
Stade Marcel-Deflandre
Kick-off: 6.30pm (local time)
15 George Furbank
14 James Ramm
13 Matt Proctor
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Tommy Freeman
10 Fin Smith
9 Tom James
1 Alex Waller
2 Robbie Smith
3 Paul Hill
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5 David Ribbans
6 Alex Coles
7 Aaron Hinkley
8 Lewis Ludlam (c)
Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Ehren Painter
19 Courtney Lawes
20 Angus Scott-Young
21 Juarno Augustus
22 Alex Mitchell
23 Rory Hutchinson
Not considered for selection:
Matthew Arden, James Fish, Sam Graham, James Grayson, Mike Haywood, Geordie Irvine, Tom Lockett and Ollie Sleightholme.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Martin (Ireland) and Oisin Quinn (Ireland)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
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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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