Arnie Faces Fitness Test

By Ridley
September 6 2002

Richard Arnold will be put through a light training session on Saturday morning to decide whether he will face Northampton Saints in the Sky TV game. Arnie still has a few niggles in a calf muscle and Rob Andrew says he won't be risked if there is a danger of aggravating the injury.

If he isn't fit we will once field the most "polite" back row in the Premiership. Taione, Dowson and Dunbar did far better than expected against Wasps last week but can expect an equally daunting task at the new Franklin's Gardens.

Saints will be celebrating the launch of their major investment in front of a 12,000 crowd and a national TV audience and we will have to compete from the first minute.

Rob has named a big squad. But it would be a surprise is he didn't stick with the side which beat Wasps last week.... with the possible exception of Arnie and even Grindal.

Falcons [probable]: Botham, Shaw, Noon, May, Stephenson, Wilkinson [capt, Charlton, Ward, Brothersone, Hurter, Vyvyan, Grimes, Taione, Dowson/Arnold, Dunbar.

Reps from Godman, Grindal, Hamilton, Devonshire, Otuvaka, Thompson, Peel, Isaacson, Makin, Springgay, M Wilkinson.