Teams Up: Saints v Tigs PRC Sat 26th Jan KO 3pm
Tug that tail...
By Happywifehappylife
January 25 2019
Northampton Saints’ director of rugby Chris Boyd has made ten changes to his starting XV to face Leicester Tigers this weekend in the Premiership Rugby Cup
A place in the semi-finals is on the line for the men in Black, Green and Gold – with Northampton’s fate in their own hands and a bonus-point victory enough to guarantee a place in the last four of the competition.
After scoring 17 tries last time out against Timisoara Saracens, Boyd will hope the momentum stays with his side as they host their East Midlands rivals at Franklin’s Gardens for the second derby of the season.
Ken Pisi returns on the wing to make his third appearance of the season after recovering from injury, with Tom Collins also coming back into the line-up and fullback George Furbank completing the back three.
Last week’s man-of-the-match Rory Hutchinson is switched to inside centre to make room for Nafi Tuitavake in the midfield; the Tonga international selected for his first Northampton start since the opening match of the Gallagher Premiership campaign.
James Grayson continues in the No.10 shirt after kicking 22 points against Timisoara, but Cobus Reinach comes back into the team to partner him at scrum-half.
Northampton’s pack contains six changes, with only Dom Barrow – who faces his former side for the first time as a Saint – and Jamie Gibson retained from last week's win.
Francois van Wyk, James Fish and Ben Franks come in to make up a new-look front row, while lock Api Ratuniyarawa joins Barrow in the engine room, and Heinrich Brüssow and skipper Teimana Harrison round off the XV.
Meanwhile amongst the replacements, England international James Haskell is in line to make his return to action for the first time since October should he be introduced off the bench
Northampton Saints
15 George Furbank
14 Ken Pisi
13 Nafi Tuitavake
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tom Collins
10 James Grayson
9 Cobus Reinach
1 Francois van Wyk
2 James Fish
3 Ben Franks
4 Api Ratuniyarawa
5 Dom Barrow
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Heinrich Brüssow
8 Teimana Harrison (c)
Replacements:
16 Reece Marshall
17 Will Davis
18 Ehren Painter
19 Alex Moon
20 James Haskell
21 Charlie Davies
22 Ahsee Tuala
23 Andrew Kellaway
Not available for selection:
Andy Symons (knee), Harry Mallinder (knee), Tom Emery (shoulder), Mikey Haywood (knee), Dylan Hartley (knee), and Piers Francis (shoulder).
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Pisi
Tuitavake
Hutchinson
Collins
Grayson
Reinach
Van Wyk
Fish
Franks
Ratuniyarawa
Barrow
Gibson
Brussow
Harrison (Capt)
Marshall, Davis, Painter Moon, Haskell, Davies, Tuala, Kellaway
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:25:12:00:35 by tedge.
15 Jordan Olowofela
14 Leonardo Sarto
13 Sam Aspland-Robinson
12 Tom Hardwick
11 Tom Varndell
10 Joe Ford
9 Ben White
1 Facundo Gigena
2 Ross McMillan
3 Joe Heyes
4 Sam Lewis
5 Harry Wells (c)
6 Tommy Reffell
7 Will Evans
8 Fred Tuilagi
Replacements
16 Harry Mahohey
17 Campese Ma’afu
18 David Feao
19 Cameron Jordan
20 Taylor Gough
21 Jonny Law
22 Curtis Wilson
23 Freddie Steward
We look considerably nearer to full strength. Hopefully a good derby victory coming up. If we do get 5 points and win well, we'll put ourselves in the mix for a home semi. COYS!!!
lets hope T keeps himself on the paddock as he's captain again
COYS!!!!
Quote:Saint Stokey
Its crazy to think that we no longer have a distinct Wandies or First Team.
Absolutely agree, so pleased with the opportunity everyone is getting. The success of the Wandies in the past has highlighted our failing as a first team. You could even see a "them and us" stance on social media at times.
Credit where credit is due, Boyd seems to really be building for future. I not going to say we'll win the league, but the blue prints are there to develop a success academy and bring home grown talent through.
Quote:Houghton Saint
As I see it, Saints need a five point win to get in the mix for a home s/f. We do not want Chiefs to get anything more than four points at Bristol as I think Wuss will get all five at home to Wasps. Thère are other permutations !
Just had a look at the respective Bristol and Exeter sides. Bristol to me look fairly near full strength, Exeter more mixed and are playing very inexperienced half backs. Hope Bristol can do us a favour.
Collins, Reinach, Gibson, Harrison (Capt)?
The rest being a mixture of first team benchers (in the forwards particularly) and youth.
Would of liked to have seen what Mitch Eadie could do and Mitchel starting at 9.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:25:15:11:16 by jimusjones.
On paper we really should win. But a young Tigers team in a derby with nothing to lose could make it tasty! The Tigers forum are despondent about their team's chances
Is it on TV?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:25:16:05:08 by SaintMaul.
BT are showing the Bristol vs Exeter game. Hopefully we will get some decent highlights at some point.
Where they will meet former Tigers, Barrow and Gibson.
They will all be ‘up for it’, as they say...
*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*
Quote:Tom Paine
Lurve your ...cough… Development Team. Hope they won't be too hard on our little boys.
We are consistently the top 1 or 2 reserve league side for a reason (and arguably the cap should be more spent on the core first team than wider squad) but it does mean we have depth.
Plus frankly it’s very important psychologically to win games right now, and to beat our bigger local rivals. I think it’s an error on your part. So I applaud the selection, no mercy!
enjoy the game, interested to look out for some of your younger talent whilst Evans vs Brussouw should be fun
Apparently he is from Olney? He's not the first from there to play for Tigers, either.
Will have to have a word with the committee at Olney. Club history should tell them. Only one club to feed.
Should know better!