Teams Up: Saints v Newcastle


By Saint Ted
November 30 2018

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS v NEWCASTLE FALCONSGallagher Premiership Rugby, Round NineSaturday 1st December, 2018Franklin’s GardensKick-off: 3pm

Northampton Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd has called on his returning international stars to deliver a Gallagher Premiership Rugby victory over Newcastle Falcons this weekend.

The men in Black, Green and Gold host Dean Richards’ Newcastle side on Saturday at Franklin’s Gardens (kick-off 3pm), and Boyd makes seven changes to the starting XV following a narrow defeat at Sale Sharks last time out.

Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes, Dan Biggar, Piers Francis, and Ahsee Tuala are all available again for selection following the autumn international series, and head straight into the side alongside fit-again lock David Ribbans and flanker Jamie Gibson.

And hooker Hartley – already the most-capped player in the current squad – will celebrate a special milestone as he leads Saints out to face the bottom-of-the-table Falcons, making his 250th appearance for the Club he joined way back in 2005.

Co-captain Alex Waller and Paul Hill join Hartley in the front row, with Lawes and Ribbans – who has recovered fully from the illness which kept him out of last weekend’s trip to Sale – packing down in the engine room.

Gibson is selected to start on the blindside for the first time since early November, while Lewis Ludlam and Teimana Harrison continue to round off the forwards.

Wales No.10 Dan Biggar returns to marshal Saints’ backline, linking up with scrum-half Cobus Reinach – who maintains his record of starting every Gallagher Premiership match so far this season.

Andrew Kellaway and Taqele Naiyaravoro continue on the wings but Samoa fullback Tuala comes into the back three, while Francis heads straight into the midfield to join Fraser Dingwall after the young centre this week signed a new contract with the Club.

Saints can call on a plethora of both experience and youth from the bench, with the likes of Ben Franks, Api Ratuniyarawa, Ollie Sleightholme and Alex Mitchell all hoping to get the nod from Boyd during the clash.

15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Andrew Kellaway
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Piers Francis
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach

1 Alex Waller (co-capt)
2 Dylan Hartley (co-capt)
3 Paul Hill
4 David Ribbans
5 Courtney Lawes
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements:
16 Reece Marshall
17 Francois Van Wyk
18 Ben Franks
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Mitch Eadie
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Luther Burrell
23 Ollie Sleightholme

Not available for selection:
Ken Pisi (shoulder), Nafi Tuitavake (neck), Andy Symons (knee), Jamal Ford-Robinson (knee), Harry Mallinder (knee), James Haskell (ankle), Heinrich Brüssow (concussion), James Craig (concussion), Tom Emery (shoulder), Mikey Haywood (knee) and Tom Collins (eye).

For more info and tickets please head over to T'Offy

Teams Up: Saints v Newcastle
Posted by: Marching On (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 11:30

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Team is up
Posted by: AlexC (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 11:23

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS v NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round Nine
Saturday 1st December, 2018
Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm

15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Andrew Kellaway
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Piers Francis
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach

1 Alex Waller (co-capt)
2 Dylan Hartley (co-capt)
3 Paul Hill
4 David Ribbans
5 Courtney Lawes
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements:
16 Reece Marshall
17 Francois Van Wyk
18 Ben Franks
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Mitch Eadie
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Luther Burrell
23 Ollie Sleightholme

Not available for selection:
Ken Pisi (shoulder), Nafi Tuitavake (neck), Andy Symons (knee), Jamal Ford-Robinson (knee), Harry Mallinder (knee), James Haskell (ankle), Heinrich Brüssow (concussion), James Craig (concussion), Tom Emery (shoulder), Mikey Haywood (knee) and Tom Collins (eye).

Re: Team is up
Posted by: AlexC (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 11:24

Ooo and it is Dylan’s 250 appearance ... blimey!

Re: Team is up
Posted by: AlexC (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 11:26

Newcastle Falcons team to face Northampton Saints (Saturday, 3pm, Franklin's Gardens)

15 Simon Hammersley
14 Vereniki Goneva
13 Chris Harris
12 Johnny Williams
11 Sinoti Sinoti
10 Toby Flood (captain)
9 Sam Stuart

1 Sam Lockwood
2 Kyle Cooper
3 David Wilson
4 Calum Green
5 Sean Robinson
6 Mark Wilson
7 John Hardie
8 Nemani Nagusa

Replacements

16 George McGuigan
17 Adam Brocklebank
18 Logovi'i Mulipola
19 Andrew Davidson
20 Gary Graham
21 Sonatane Takulua
22 Brett Connon
23 Pedro Bettencourt

Re: Team is up
Posted by: ElySaint (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 11:29

Well, I do like the look of that. Assume Piers covers fly half, as Grayson looks to have a rest week. Tom Wood also rested, so a chance for Jamie to hit his straps.

Naiyaravoro V Goneva could be interesting.

Think we will win this one, by 5-10 points with bp. COME ON YOU SAINTS



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018:11:30:11:41:20 by ElySaint.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Newcastle
Posted by: Toulousian Firefighter (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 11:40

I think everything's fallen into place quite nicely. Ace replacing the injured Furbank, Biggar and Dylan didn't play quite that much in the AIs so are fresh to replace a rested Grayson and bring some much needed experience at hooker. Likewise, Courtney must be chomping at the bit to start as it feels like he's hardly played for us this season.

I would like to see Eadie given a go at 8 one day but T will always give it 100%.

Hopefully Mark Wilson is tired from the AIs as he's a great player.

If we're not winning by more than 7 points with 20mins to go I'd be worried. With the Montpellier and Quins cup games as examples, you can't back off against the Falcons.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Newcastle
Posted by: Saint Stokey (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 11:58

Big contrats to Dingwall!

Could easily have been ousted with the returning players.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Newcastle
Posted by: St.Sinner (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 13:14

Hope Dingwall goes well & excited to see the battle of the wingers, possibly the two biggest blokes on the pitch !

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Newcastle
Posted by: Saint Stokey (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 14:40

Its a shame Coles didnt get a spot on the bench. I think he's been on good form recently. I hope this is a case of rotation rather than anything else.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Newcastle
Posted by: Waggydog (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 15:53

Quote:
Saint Stokey
Its a shame Coles didnt get a spot on the bench. I think he's been on good form recently. I hope this is a case of rotation rather than anything else.

Did you mean Alex Moon? I thought the same thing as he's been excellent over the last few weeks and I can only assume after a few weeks it made sense to rest him for this one.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Newcastle
Posted by: Deesaint (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 15:54

light pack, I presume we are going to keep them on their toes.
We also have playmakers at 10 and 12 while Luther's power running is left on the bench.
If Boyd gets this right, and our handling doesn't let us down, I think we could be very good.
Buts its Friday and i'm full of optimism .

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Newcastle
Posted by: tedge (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 16:05

You know looking at that side, if all the injured players were available I'm not sure that any of them, with the possible exception of Harry Mallinder, would make the first fifteen on current form, Yes Haywood, Haskell, Brussow and Collins might make the bench but otherwise it does give an indication of the improved squad quality so far this season. Fit players like Fish, Painter, Barrow, Moon, Wood and Grayson have been left out without weakening the squad too much.

Of course I might change my mind after tomorrow's match !

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Newcastle
Posted by: Eif Jones (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 16:39

I suspect most clubs would like to give their overworked internationals a rest week but with the Euro competition imminent, they are unable.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Newcastle
Posted by: fair_weather_fan (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 17:07

Since Ehren Painter's injury was to his back it makes sense to give him another week and then use him in a European game.

Generally our squad management is looking so much better than it ever was under Jim and Dorian.

WE seem to have enough players despite the injuries and Dingwall is looking like first choice 13.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Newcastle
Posted by: Wilson Pickett (IP Logged)
Date: 30/11/2018 17:46

Quote:
tedge
You know looking at that side, if all the injured players were available I'm not sure that any of them, with the possible exception of Harry Mallinder, would make the first fifteen on current form, Yes Haywood, Haskell, Brussow and Collins might make the bench but otherwise it does give an indication of the improved squad quality so far this season. Fit players like Fish, Painter, Barrow, Moon, Wood and Grayson have been left out without weakening the squad too much.
Of course I might change my mind after tomorrow's match !


Equally good coaching and management turns young prospects into first teamers, average players into good players, good players into very good players etc

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