Premiership
Lawes, Mitchell, Hutchinson and Augustus return for Saints as Munster head to Northampton
Courtney Lawes, Rory Hutchinson, Alex Mitchell and Juarno Augustus all return to Northampton Saints’ starting line-up this weekend as Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes six changes to his side to face Munster Rugby.With Saints and Munster losing out on the first weekend of Heineken Champions Cup action to Stade Rochelais and Toulouse respectively, Sunday’s clash at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is a must-win for both sides.A repeat of the 2000 Heineken Cup final, Saints have won two of their six meetings with Munster over the years, with their last victory over the Irish province coming on Munster’s last visit to Northampton in 2009.Lewis Ludlam captains the men in Black, Green and Gold in the back row, switching back to flanker alongside England international Lawes to make room for Augustus to pull on the No.8 jersey.The heavyweight pairing of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and David Ribbans continue in the engine room for the hosts, but there are two further changes in the front row as tighthead prop Ehren Painter and hooker Sam Matavesi are selected from the start, packing down with Alex Waller at loosehead.Scrum-half Mitchell returns to the starting XV and partners No.10 Fin Smith, with Scotland international Hutchinson coming into the midfield to join Matt Proctor.Saints’ back three however is unchanged from last weekend’s trip to France, as England internationals Tommy Freeman and George Furbank line up with James Ramm – who scored on his European debut in La Rochelle.Amongst the replacements Northampton opt for a 6-2 split; the likes of Aaron Hinkley, Angus Scott-Young and Alex Moon will look to provide some ballast off the bench, while Fraser Dingwall and former Italy international Callum Braley could also enter the action.NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs MUNSTER RUGBYHeineken Champions Cup, Round 2Sunday 18 December 2022cinch Stadium at Franklin’s GardensKick-off: 1pm15 George Furbank14 James Ramm13 Matt Proctor12 Rory Hutchinson11 Tommy Freeman10 Fin Smith9 Alex Mitchell1 Alex Waller2 Sam Matavesi3 Ehren Painter4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto5 David Ribbans6 Courtney Lawes7 Lewis Ludlam (c)8 Juarno AugustusReplacements:16 Mikey Haywood17 Emmanuel Iyogun18 Alfie Petch19 Alex Moon20 Angus Scott-Young21 Aaron Hinkley22 Callum Braley23 Fraser DingwallNot considered for selection:Matthew Arden, Alex Coles, James Fish, Sam Graham, James Grayson, Paul Hill and Ollie Sleightholme.MUNSTER SIDE TO FACE SAINTS15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Jack Crowley, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Niall Scannell, 3 John Ryan, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Jack O’Donoghue, 7 Peter O’Mahony (c), 8 Gavin Coombes.Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Roman Salanoa, 19 John Hodnett, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Shane Daly.Referee: Ludovic Cayre (FRA)Assistant referees: Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy (FRA), Jonathan Gasnier (FRA)No.4: Gareth Holsgrove (ENG)TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin (FRA)
Courtney Lawes, Rory Hutchinson, Alex Mitchell and Juarno Augustus all return to Northampton Saints’ starting line-up this weekend as Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes six changes to his side to face Munster Rugby.
With Saints and Munster losing out on the first weekend of Heineken Champions Cup action to Stade Rochelais and Toulouse respectively, Sunday’s clash at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens is a must-win for both sides.
A repeat of the 2000 Heineken Cup final, Saints have won two of their six meetings with Munster over the years, with their last victory over the Irish province coming on Munster’s last visit to Northampton in 2009.
Lewis Ludlam captains the men in Black, Green and Gold in the back row, switching back to flanker alongside England international Lawes to make room for Augustus to pull on the No.8 jersey.
The heavyweight pairing of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and David Ribbans continue in the engine room for the hosts, but there are two further changes in the front row as tighthead prop Ehren Painter and hooker Sam Matavesi are selected from the start, packing down with Alex Waller at loosehead.
Scrum-half Mitchell returns to the starting XV and partners No.10 Fin Smith, with Scotland international Hutchinson coming into the midfield to join Matt Proctor.
Saints’ back three however is unchanged from last weekend’s trip to France, as England internationals Tommy Freeman and George Furbank line up with James Ramm – who scored on his European debut in La Rochelle.
Amongst the replacements Northampton opt for a 6-2 split; the likes of Aaron Hinkley, Angus Scott-Young and Alex Moon will look to provide some ballast off the bench, while Fraser Dingwall and former Italy international Callum Braley could also enter the action.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs MUNSTER RUGBY
Heineken Champions Cup, Round 2
Sunday 18 December 2022
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 1pm
15 George Furbank
14 James Ramm
13 Matt Proctor
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tommy Freeman
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Alex Waller
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Ehren Painter
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5 David Ribbans
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Lewis Ludlam (c)
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Mikey Haywood
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Alfie Petch
19 Alex Moon
20 Angus Scott-Young
21 Aaron Hinkley
22 Callum Braley
23 Fraser Dingwall
Not considered for selection:
Matthew Arden, Alex Coles, James Fish, Sam Graham, James Grayson, Paul Hill and Ollie Sleightholme.
MUNSTER SIDE TO FACE SAINTS
15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Jack Crowley, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Niall Scannell, 3 John Ryan, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Jack O’Donoghue, 7 Peter O’Mahony (c), 8 Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Roman Salanoa, 19 John Hodnett, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Shane Daly.
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (FRA)
Assistant referees: Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy (FRA), Jonathan Gasnier (FRA)
No.4: Gareth Holsgrove (ENG)
TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin (FRA)
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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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