Premiership
Five changes for Saints ahead of trip to Saracens
Director of Rugby Phil Dowson has made five changes to Northampton Saints’ starting XV this weekend as the men in Black, Green and Gold face Saracens.Saints enter the Gallagher Premiership clash (kick-off: 12.15pm, live on BT Sport and ITV) sat fourth in the table following back-to-back wins over Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs. Sunday’s opponents Saracens however are unbeaten in the league so far this season and top the table after nine rounds of action.George Furbank and Alex Mitchell both start in Saints’ back-line, at fullback and scrum-half respectively, after the pair were released from England duty on Wednesday.Meanwhile Tommy Freeman – scorer of both Northampton tries against Chiefs – and Courtnall Skosan continue on the wings, with the visitors’ midfield also unchanged as skipper Fraser Dingwall and Rory Hutchinson are named in the centres.Fin Smith remains in the No.10 jersey after an impressive start to his Saints career which has seen him pick up 29 points and a man-of-the-match award in two appearances. The 20-year-old’s current streak of 12 successful kicks at goal is the longest in the Premiership.Two changes come in the front row for Northampton with props Alex Waller and Paul Hill returning to the starting line-up to pack down either side of hooker Mike Haywood.Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Alex Moon are selected together in Saints’ engine room for the third straight week, while No.8 Juarno Augustus returns from injury in the back row to join flankers Angus Scott-Young and Sam Graham – who made a whopping 37 tackles between them last time out against Exeter.Amongst the replacements for Northampton, the likes of Emmanuel Iyogun, Tom James and Matt Proctor will be hoping to make an impact from the bench, while Kayde Sylvester and James Ramm could make their Gallagher Premiership debuts if they enter the action.SARACENS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTSGallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 10Sunday 13 November 2022StoneX StadiumKick-off: 12.15pm15 George Furbank14 Tommy Freeman13 Fraser Dingwall (c)12 Rory Hutchinson11 Courtnall Skosan10 Fin Smith9 Alex Mitchell1 Alex Waller2 Mike Haywood3 Paul Hill4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto5 Alex Moon6 Angus Scott-Young7 Sam Graham8 Juarno AugustusReplacements:16 Robbie Smith17 Emmanuel Iyogun18 Ehren Painter19 Brandon Nansen20 Kayde Sylvester21 Tom James22 Matt Proctor23 James RammNot considered for selection:Matthew Arden, James Fish, James Grayson, Aaron Hinkley, Courtney Lawes, Tom Lockett, Lewis Ludlam, George Patten, Ollie Sleightholme and Karl Wilkins.International duty:Alex Coles (England), Sam Matavesi (Fiji) and David Ribbans (England).SARACENS TEAM TO FACE SAINTS15 Max Malins, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Alex Lozowski, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Alex Goode, 9 Ivan van Zyl; 1 Robin Hislop, 2 Theo Dan, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 5 Andrew Kitchener, 6 Andy Christie, 7 Ben Earl (c), 8 Jackson Wray.Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 James Flynn, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Ollie Stonham, 20 Hugh Tizard, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Josh Hallett, 23 Tom Howe.Referee: Andrew JacksonAssistant Referees: Nick Wood and Phil WattersNo.4: Mike WoodsTMO: Claire Hodnett
Director of Rugby Phil Dowson has made five changes to Northampton Saints’ starting XV this weekend as the men in Black, Green and Gold face Saracens.
Saints enter the Gallagher Premiership clash (kick-off: 12.15pm, live on BT Sport and ITV) sat fourth in the table following back-to-back wins over Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs. Sunday’s opponents Saracens however are unbeaten in the league so far this season and top the table after nine rounds of action.
George Furbank and Alex Mitchell both start in Saints’ back-line, at fullback and scrum-half respectively, after the pair were released from England duty on Wednesday.
Meanwhile Tommy Freeman – scorer of both Northampton tries against Chiefs – and Courtnall Skosan continue on the wings, with the visitors’ midfield also unchanged as skipper Fraser Dingwall and Rory Hutchinson are named in the centres.
Fin Smith remains in the No.10 jersey after an impressive start to his Saints career which has seen him pick up 29 points and a man-of-the-match award in two appearances. The 20-year-old’s current streak of 12 successful kicks at goal is the longest in the Premiership.
Two changes come in the front row for Northampton with props Alex Waller and Paul Hill returning to the starting line-up to pack down either side of hooker Mike Haywood.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Alex Moon are selected together in Saints’ engine room for the third straight week, while No.8 Juarno Augustus returns from injury in the back row to join flankers Angus Scott-Young and Sam Graham – who made a whopping 37 tackles between them last time out against Exeter.
Amongst the replacements for Northampton, the likes of Emmanuel Iyogun, Tom James and Matt Proctor will be hoping to make an impact from the bench, while Kayde Sylvester and James Ramm could make their Gallagher Premiership debuts if they enter the action.
SARACENS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 10
Sunday 13 November 2022
StoneX Stadium
Kick-off: 12.15pm
15 George Furbank
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Fraser Dingwall (c)
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Courtnall Skosan
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Alex Waller
2 Mike Haywood
3 Paul Hill
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5 Alex Moon
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Sam Graham
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Ehren Painter
19 Brandon Nansen
20 Kayde Sylvester
21 Tom James
22 Matt Proctor
23 James Ramm
Not considered for selection:
Matthew Arden, James Fish, James Grayson, Aaron Hinkley, Courtney Lawes, Tom Lockett, Lewis Ludlam, George Patten, Ollie Sleightholme and Karl Wilkins.
International duty:
Alex Coles (England), Sam Matavesi (Fiji) and David Ribbans (England).
SARACENS TEAM TO FACE SAINTS
15 Max Malins, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Alex Lozowski, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Alex Goode, 9 Ivan van Zyl; 1 Robin Hislop, 2 Theo Dan, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 5 Andrew Kitchener, 6 Andy Christie, 7 Ben Earl (c), 8 Jackson Wray.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 James Flynn, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Ollie Stonham, 20 Hugh Tizard, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Josh Hallett, 23 Tom Howe.
Referee: Andrew Jackson
Assistant Referees: Nick Wood and Phil Watters
No.4: Mike Woods
TMO: Claire Hodnett
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.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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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