Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester


By Saint Ted
April 5 2019

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs GLOUCESTER RUGBYGallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 18Sunday 7 April, 2019Franklin’s GardensKick-off: 3pm

Director of rugby Chris Boyd has made four changes to Northampton Saints’ starting XV to take on Gloucester Rugby in Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership clash.

The men in Black, Green and Gold welcome the third-placed Cherry & Whites (kick-off 3pm) to Franklin’s Gardens, with the race for the league’s play-off places hitting fever pitch with just five rounds of the season to go.

Saints have been defeated just once in any tournament at Franklin’s Gardens since early December, and will be hoping to extend a run of home wins over Gloucester that stretches back to February 2013.

Boyd makes three changes in the pack to the side that played ASM Clermont Auvergne last weekend in the European Challenge Cup, with Reece Marshall coming in at hooker to replace the injured James Fish.

There’s another switch in the front row as Francois van Wyk starts at loosehead, but tighthead prop Paul Hill continues his run of starts.

Courtney Lawes moves up into the engine room to join Alex Moon, with flanker Heinrich Brüssow also selected alongside Lewis Ludlam and skipper Teimana Harrison in the back row.

Meanwhile Dan Biggar and Cobus Reinach will marshal Northampton’s back-line from the half-back berths, with Rory Hutchinson and Piers Francis – who scored his first Saints try when the sides met at Kingsholm in September – starting together in the midfield for the third straight week.

The only change to the backs sees Ahsee Tuala come in on the wing, with Taqele Naiyaravoro and George Furbank rounding off the line-up.

15 George Furbank
14 Ahsee Tuala
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Piers Francis
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach

1 Francois Van Wyk
2 Reece Marshall
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Moon
5 Courtney Lawes
6 Lewis Ludlam
7 Heinrich Brüssow
8 Teimana Harrison (c)

Replacements:
16 Darren Dawidiuk
17 Alex Waller
18 Ben Franks
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Luther Burrell
23 Ken Pisi

Not available for selection:
Andy Symons (knee), Harry Mallinder (knee), Mikey Haywood (knee), Dylan Hartley (knee), Ehren Painter (calf), Paddy Ryan (knee), James Haskell (toe), Fraser Dingwall (ankle), David Ribbans (ankle), and James Fish (concussion).

Tickets are still available over on T'Offy

Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Marching On (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 12:11

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Team's up
Posted by: shendy (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 12:04

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 18
Sunday 7 April, 2019
Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm

15 George Furbank
14 Ahsee Tuala
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Piers Francis
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach

1 Francois Van Wyk
2 Reece Marshall
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Moon
5 Courtney Lawes
6 Lewis Ludlam
7 Heinrich Brüssow
8 Teimana Harrison (c)

Replacements:
16 Darren Dawidiuk
17 Alex Waller
18 Ben Franks
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Luther Burrell
23 Ken Pisi

Not available for selection:
Andy Symons (knee), Harry Mallinder (knee), Mikey Haywood (knee), Dylan Hartley (knee), Ehren Painter (calf), Paddy Ryan (knee), James Haskell (toe), Fraser Dingwall (ankle), David Ribbans (ankle), and James Fish (concussion).

Re: Team's up
Posted by: Wilson Pickett (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 12:07

BREAKDOWN !

Re: Team's up
Posted by: Saintlyg (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 12:07

Looks likely to be a good game.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:05:12:09:38 by Saintlyg.

Re: Team's up
Posted by: ElySaint (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 12:08

Gloucester Rugby for Sunday:

15. Tom Hudson; 14. Matt Banahan, 13. Billy Twelvetrees, 12. Mark Atkinson, 11. Charlie Sharples; 10. Danny Cipriani, 9. Willi Heinz (capt); 1. Josh Hohneck, 2. Franco Marais, 3. Fraser Balmain; 4. Ed Slater, 5. Franco Mostert; 6. Ruan Ackermann, 7. Jaco Kriel, 8. Ben Morgan


Replacements:

16. Mike Sherry, 17. Val Rapava Ruskin, 18. Ruan Dreyer, 19. Tom Savage, 20. Freddie Clarke, 21. Jake Polledri, 22. Callum Braley, 23. Tom Seabrook



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:05:12:14:37 by ElySaint.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Wilson Pickett (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 12:20

the whole match will be decided in the back row, our turnover merchants vs their ball carriers

chop them down low early

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Saint Ted (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 12:21

Think I’ve tidied that up!

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Saintlyg (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 12:24

Thanks Ted

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: ElySaint (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 12:24

Bit of a close one to call for me. As WP says, looks like we're targeting the breakdown, and I think also, looking to have a pack that can change the point of attack. We do seem to be more positive if we shift the defence's focus and with Heinz, Harrison and Ludlam we have three players well equipt to do that.

Defence needs to step up a level from recent times. If we can get the intensity up there, and knock them back we've got a real chance with our backline to punish them. Again, I think the second and back row selections reflect that with some of our most prolific and powerful tacklers selected in Moon, Lawes, Ludlam, Heinz and Tei.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: ElySaint (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 12:24

Quote:
Saint Ted
Think I’ve tidied that up!
thanks Ted, I maybe need another coffee.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Saint.Kenneth (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 13:13

I’m always surprised that a versatile player like Andrew Kellaway doesn’t even make the bench. I’m sure he didn’t expect to travel halfway around the world to play for the reserves.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Walks11 (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 13:13

Any clues as TC’s non selection?

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Saint Ted (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 13:25

Boyd likes to rotate and while we have strength in depth, fair play

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Neil-H (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 14:11

Interesting that some ask about none selection, I read the team and went, oh 4 changes... as it is always 4-6 like every week now days, think its great the rotation.

Do think we want get quick ball and get it out and run them around a bit.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: ElySaint (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 14:22

I tend to agree Saint Kenneth. While we seem to rotate our wingers a fair bit, Kellaway hasn't seemed to get as many starts as others. I guess the others aren't doing anything particularly disastrous. Perhaps Boyd doesn't know where he likes him best at the moment.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Wilson Pickett (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 14:31

This is purely observational and I’m sure is totally wrong but AK looks a bit fleshy vs our other guys. Hutch, TC, Ace, Piers, DB are all cut from granite. Can we read into that about nutrition or training? No idea just a hunch.
maybe needs a good pre season..

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Awaywin (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 14:39

Seems like even with this rotation this back line has emerged as first choice

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: JohnI (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 15:29

Naiyaravoro V Banahan. Both strong going forward but I think Banahan edges it overall and more all round.
The breakdown will be key and Gloucester riding on a wave still recently so would be a major game to win with the league so tight at the moment.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Wilson Pickett (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 15:45

if we beat Gloucester and Quins then top 4 is in

huge if

hypothetically better weather, harder tracks etc should suit us in the run-in

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Statesman (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 16:00

Yes, big if but doable. I liked the Paul Hill interview - players focussed on what they need to do to make top 4.

Sale also in the mix though - play Glaws and Quins at home.

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: ancient mariner (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 16:06

Saints 22 : 20 Gloucester

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: Abington Adam (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 16:44

Quote:
Wilson Pickett
if we beat Gloucester and Quins then top 4 is in
huge if

hypothetically better weather, harder tracks etc should suit us in the run-in

If we want harder tracks then it needs to stop raining first!

COME ON YOU SAINTS!
Church's Stand season ticket holder
EMRU Referee

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: fair_weather_fan (IP Logged)
Date: 05/04/2019 17:21

Quote:
Abington Adam
Quote:
Wilson Pickett
if we beat Gloucester and Quins then top 4 is in
huge if

hypothetically better weather, harder tracks etc should suit us in the run-in

If we want harder tracks then it needs to stop raining first!

Went walking around NN6 this morning and the country park was pretty dry despite all the rain. Since its forecast to be dry up to ko, conditions should be nigh on perfect

Re: Teams Up: Saints v Gloucester
Posted by: grampian (IP Logged)
Date: 06/04/2019 15:16

Now JH's ankle has cleared up, only the toe to recover before that inevitable England call-up.

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