Premiership
Saints name side for trip to Exeter Chiefs
Phil Dowson has named his first side of 2024, with Northampton Saints travelling to Exeter Chiefs in Round 11 of the Gallagher Premiership this Saturday (6 January, kick-off: 3pm). The men in Black, Green and Gold have won their last six matches in all competitions, most recently defeating Sale Sharks 21-17 to put themselves top of the league over the festive period – the first time they had been top of the Premiership pile since November 2019. Exeter and Saints have enjoyed an even run of form against each other in recent seasons, with the last eight fixtures between the two clubs evenly split to four wins apiece, while Saints have won two of their last three visits to Sandy Park. George Furbank – who signed on again with Saints earlier this week – leads the side for the tenth time in his career, looking to keep his unbeaten run as captain as he is joined by Ollie Sleightholme and Tom Litchfield in the back three at Sandy Park. Rory Hutchinson and Burger Odendaal man Saints’ centres again this Saturday, while Callum Braley makes his first appearance of the season to start at scrum-half for Northampton alongside Fin Smith in the half-back berths. Loosehead prop Tarek Haffar will make his first Premiership start as he packs down alongside Sam Matavesi and Trevor Davison in the front row, with Alex Moon and Chunya Munga behind them in the engine room. Alex Coles – who also signed a contract extension to remain at the Club this week – starts at blindside flanker this weekend and joins openside flanker Angus Scott-Young and No.8 Sam Graham to complete Saints’ starting line-up. And Dowson names a strong bench of replacements for the trip to Chiefs, with the likes of Curtis Langdon, Tom Pearson, Alex Mitchell, Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman all set to make an impact should they enter the action at Sandy Park. While Emmanuel Iyogun is named in Saints’ matchday 23 for the first time in the Premiership this term, as he prepares to make his return from a groin injury that has kept him sidelined since September. EXETER CHIEFS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTSGallagher Premiership, Round 11Saturday 6 January, 2023Sandy ParkKick-off: 3pm15 George Furbank (c)14 Ollie Sleightholme13 Burger Odendaal12 Rory Hutchinson11 Tom Litchfield10 Fin Smith9 Callum Braley1 Tarek Haffar2 Sam Matavesi3 Trevor Davison4 Alex Moon5 Chunya Munga6 Alex Coles7 Angus Scott-Young8 Sam GrahamReplacements:16 Curtis Langdon17 Emmanuel Iyogun18 Elliot Millar Mills19 Temo Mayanavanua20 Tom Pearson21 Alex Mitchell22 Fraser Dingwall23 Tommy FreemanNot available for selection:Juarno Augustus, George Hendy, Paul Hill, Tom James (suspended), Lewis Ludlam, James Ramm, Tom Seabrook and Alex Waller.EXETER TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:15 Tommy Wyatt, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ben Hammersley, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stu Townsend; 1 Nika Abuladze, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Lewis Pearson, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 8 Greg Fisilau.Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Ehren Painter, 19 Rusi Tuima, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 Zack Wimbush.Referee: Anthony WoodthorpeAssistant referees: George Selwood and Neil ChiversNo. 4: Paul DixTMO: David Rose
Phil Dowson has named his first side of 2024, with Northampton Saints travelling to Exeter Chiefs in Round 11 of the Gallagher Premiership this Saturday (6 January, kick-off: 3pm).
The men in Black, Green and Gold have won their last six matches in all competitions, most recently defeating Sale Sharks 21-17 to put themselves top of the league over the festive period – the first time they had been top of the Premiership pile since November 2019.
Exeter and Saints have enjoyed an even run of form against each other in recent seasons, with the last eight fixtures between the two clubs evenly split to four wins apiece, while Saints have won two of their last three visits to Sandy Park.
George Furbank – who signed on again with Saints earlier this week – leads the side for the tenth time in his career, looking to keep his unbeaten run as captain as he is joined by Ollie Sleightholme and Tom Litchfield in the back three at Sandy Park.
Rory Hutchinson and Burger Odendaal man Saints’ centres again this Saturday, while Callum Braley makes his first appearance of the season to start at scrum-half for Northampton alongside Fin Smith in the half-back berths.
Loosehead prop Tarek Haffar will make his first Premiership start as he packs down alongside Sam Matavesi and Trevor Davison in the front row, with Alex Moon and Chunya Munga behind them in the engine room.
Alex Coles – who also signed a contract extension to remain at the Club this week – starts at blindside flanker this weekend and joins openside flanker Angus Scott-Young and No.8 Sam Graham to complete Saints’ starting line-up.
And Dowson names a strong bench of replacements for the trip to Chiefs, with the likes of Curtis Langdon, Tom Pearson, Alex Mitchell, Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman all set to make an impact should they enter the action at Sandy Park. While Emmanuel Iyogun is named in Saints’ matchday 23 for the first time in the Premiership this term, as he prepares to make his return from a groin injury that has kept him sidelined since September.
EXETER CHIEFS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 11
Saturday 6 January, 2023
Sandy Park
Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Furbank (c)
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Burger Odendaal
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tom Litchfield
10 Fin Smith
9 Callum Braley
1 Tarek Haffar
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Trevor Davison
4 Alex Moon
5 Chunya Munga
6 Alex Coles
7 Angus Scott-Young
8 Sam Graham
Replacements:
16 Curtis Langdon
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Temo Mayanavanua
20 Tom Pearson
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Fraser Dingwall
23 Tommy Freeman
Not available for selection:
Juarno Augustus, George Hendy, Paul Hill, Tom James (suspended), Lewis Ludlam, James Ramm, Tom Seabrook and Alex Waller.
EXETER TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Tommy Wyatt, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ben Hammersley, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stu Townsend; 1 Nika Abuladze, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Lewis Pearson, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 8 Greg Fisilau.
Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Ehren Painter, 19 Rusi Tuima, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 Zack Wimbush.
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant referees: George Selwood and Neil Chivers
No. 4: Paul Dix
TMO: David Rose
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.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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