Premiership
Three changes for Saints ahead of trip to Bath
Matt Proctor, Lewis Ludlam and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto all return to Northampton Saints’ starting line-up this weekend as Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes three changes to his side to face Bath.The men in Black, Green and Gold travel to the Rec on Saturday afternoon (kick-off: 3pm, broadcast on PRTV Live) having won their last four matches in all competitions with a bonus point.Saints recorded a season’s double over Bath last term for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign, and will be looking to extend that winning run in the West Country.England international Ludlam returns to the back row to captain Saints, with Alex Coles keeping his spot at blindside flanker and Juarno Augustus – who scored his tenth Northampton try in the win over Newcastle Falcons last week – selected at No.8.Salakaia-Loto meanwhile is called into the engine room in the only other change to Saints’ pack, with David Ribbans continuing at lock and Dowson opting with an unchanged front row of Alex Waller, Sam Matavesi and Paul Hill.Northampton have been fluid in attack so far this season, making more metres (3,238) with the ball in hand and throwing more offloads (85) than any other team in the league, and there’s just one change to the back line this week with Proctor replacing the injured Rory Hutchinson in the centres for his 50th appearance in the Gallagher Premiership.Fraser Dingwall (who has crossed the gainline 36 times so far this season, more than any other player in the league) completes Saints’ midfield with the visitors’ half-back combination of James Grayson and Alex Mitchell unchanged inside him.Tom Collins and Ollie Sleightholme, both of whom crossed the whitewash last weekend, continue in the back three with the in-form George Furbank selected at fullback. The 26-year-old England international has made the second-most metres (467) of anyone in the Gallagher Premiership so far, and more carries (68) than any other back.Saints’ bench is packed full of youth with the likes of Emmanuel Iyogun, Alfie Petch, Tom Litchfield and George Hendy hoping to make an impact if they enter the action.BATH RUGBY vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTSGallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 7Saturday 22 October 2022The Recreation GroundKick-off: 3pm15 George Furbank14 Tom Collins13 Matt Proctor – 50th Premiership appearance12 Fraser Dingwall11 Ollie Sleightholme10 James Grayson9 Alex Mitchell1 Alex Waller2 Sam Matavesi3 Paul Hill4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto5 David Ribbans6 Alex Coles7 Lewis Ludlam (c)8 Juarno AugustusReplacements:16 Robbie Smith17 Emmanuel Iyogun18 Alfie Petch19 Alex Moon20 Sam Graham21 Tom James22 Tom Litchfield23 George HendyNot considered for selection:Matthew Arden, Dan Biggar, Tommy Freeman, Aston Gradwick-Light, Rory Hutchinson, Courtney Lawes, George Patten, Courtnall Skosan, and Karl Wilkins.Referee: Anthony WoodthorpeAssistant Referees: Nick Wood and Simon HardingNo.4: Harry WalbaumTMO: Stuart TerheegeBATH TEAM TO PLAY SAINTS15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Butt, 10 George Worboys, 9 Louis Schreuder; 1 Juan Schoeman, 2 Tom Dunn (c), 3 Aranos Coetzee, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Quinn Roux, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Richard de CarpentierReplacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Arthur Cordwell, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Fergus Lee-Warner, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Max Ojomoh
Matt Proctor, Lewis Ludlam and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto all return to Northampton Saints’ starting line-up this weekend as Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes three changes to his side to face Bath.
The men in Black, Green and Gold travel to the Rec on Saturday afternoon (kick-off: 3pm, broadcast on PRTV Live) having won their last four matches in all competitions with a bonus point.
Saints recorded a season’s double over Bath last term for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign, and will be looking to extend that winning run in the West Country.
England international Ludlam returns to the back row to captain Saints, with Alex Coles keeping his spot at blindside flanker and Juarno Augustus – who scored his tenth Northampton try in the win over Newcastle Falcons last week – selected at No.8.
Salakaia-Loto meanwhile is called into the engine room in the only other change to Saints’ pack, with David Ribbans continuing at lock and Dowson opting with an unchanged front row of Alex Waller, Sam Matavesi and Paul Hill.
Northampton have been fluid in attack so far this season, making more metres (3,238) with the ball in hand and throwing more offloads (85) than any other team in the league, and there’s just one change to the back line this week with Proctor replacing the injured Rory Hutchinson in the centres for his 50th appearance in the Gallagher Premiership.
Fraser Dingwall (who has crossed the gainline 36 times so far this season, more than any other player in the league) completes Saints’ midfield with the visitors’ half-back combination of James Grayson and Alex Mitchell unchanged inside him.
Tom Collins and Ollie Sleightholme, both of whom crossed the whitewash last weekend, continue in the back three with the in-form George Furbank selected at fullback. The 26-year-old England international has made the second-most metres (467) of anyone in the Gallagher Premiership so far, and more carries (68) than any other back.
Saints’ bench is packed full of youth with the likes of Emmanuel Iyogun, Alfie Petch, Tom Litchfield and George Hendy hoping to make an impact if they enter the action.
BATH RUGBY vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 7
Saturday 22 October 2022
The Recreation Ground
Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Furbank
14 Tom Collins
13 Matt Proctor – 50th Premiership appearance
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 James Grayson
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Alex Waller
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Paul Hill
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5 David Ribbans
6 Alex Coles
7 Lewis Ludlam (c)
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Alfie Petch
19 Alex Moon
20 Sam Graham
21 Tom James
22 Tom Litchfield
23 George Hendy
Not considered for selection:
Matthew Arden, Dan Biggar, Tommy Freeman, Aston Gradwick-Light, Rory Hutchinson, Courtney Lawes, George Patten, Courtnall Skosan, and Karl Wilkins.
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant Referees: Nick Wood and Simon Harding
No.4: Harry Walbaum
TMO: Stuart Terheege
BATH TEAM TO PLAY SAINTS
15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Butt, 10 George Worboys, 9 Louis Schreuder; 1 Juan Schoeman, 2 Tom Dunn (c), 3 Aranos Coetzee, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Quinn Roux, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Richard de Carpentier
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Arthur Cordwell, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Fergus Lee-Warner, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Max Ojomoh
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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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