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Teams Up: Saints vs Ospreys


By Saint Ted
December 8 2017

SAINTS NAME TEAM FOR OSPREYS CHAMPIONS CUP CLASH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017   Jim Mallinder has made eight changes to Northampton Saints’ starting line-up for this weekend’s home clash against Ospreys.

Jim Mallinder has made eight changes to Northampton Saints’ starting line-up for this weekend’s home clash against Ospreys.

Saints welcome the Welsh region to Franklin’s Gardens having won the last six meetings between the sides, the most recent being a 36-6 triumph back in 2014.

Ahsee Tuala – who signed a new two-year Saints contract this week – is the only change to the back three, with the Samoan international joining full-back Harry Mallinder and Ben Foden.

Luther Burrell returns to the midfield to partner Rob Horne, with Piers Francis and Nic Groom forming a new-look half-back partnership.

Meanwhile there are also two changes in the engine room as both David Ribbans and Christian Day return from injury, with Courtney Lawes shifting to blindside flanker.

Alex Waller misses out through injury in the front row, so Francois van Wyk comes in with Dylan Hartley continuing to skipper the side from hooker

 

For more injury news and tickets head over T'Offy

SAINTS V OSPREYS TEAM NEWS
European Champions Cup Round Three
Franklin's Gardens
Saturday 9 December, 2017
Kick-off: 5.30pm 

SAINTS    

15 Harry Mallinder
14 Ahsee Tuala
13 Rob Horne
12 Luther Burrell
11 Ben Foden
10 Piers Francis
9 Nic Groom

1 Francois van Wyk
2 Dylan Hartley (capt)
3 Jamal Ford-Robinson
4 David Ribbans
5 Christian Day
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements:
16 Mikey Haywood
17 Campese Ma’afu
18 Paul Hill
19 Michael Paterson
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Cobus Reinach
22 Stephen Myler
23 JP Estelles

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Teams Up: Saints vs Ospreys
Discussion started by Marching On , 08/12/2017 11:40
Marching On
08/12/2017 11:40
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St tub
08/12/2017 11:34
SAINTS V OSPREYS TEAM NEWS
European Champions Cup Round Three
Franklin's Gardens
Saturday 9 December, 2017
Kick-off: 5.30pm

SAINTS

15 Harry Mallinder
14 Ahsee Tuala
13 Rob Horne
12 Luther Burrell
11 Ben Foden
10 Piers Francis
9 Nic Groom

1 Francois van Wyk
2 Dylan Hartley (capt)
3 Jamal Ford-Robinson
4 David Ribbans
5 Christian Day
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements:
16 Mikey Haywood
17 Campese Ma’afu
18 Paul Hill
19 Michael Paterson
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Cobus Reinach
22 Stephen Myler
23 JP Estelles



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:12:08:11:43:39 by Saint Ted.

ElySaint
08/12/2017 11:36
Much more balanced back row, looking forward to seeing how they go. Another new starting 9/10 combo? Great to see Ribbans back as well.

St tub
08/12/2017 11:37
Ospreys are missing a few..

15 Dan Evans
14 Hanno Dirksen
13 Kieron Fonotia
12 Owen Watkin
11 Jeff Hassler
10 Sam Davies
9 Tom Habberfield

1 Nicky Smith
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Dmitri Arhip
4 Bradley Davies
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Capt)
6 Dan Lydiate
7 Olly Cracknell
8 James King

REPLACEMENTS
16 Scott Otten
17 Rowan Jenkins
18 Ma’afu Fia
19 Adam Beard
20 Rob McCusker
21 Reuben Morgan-Williams
22 James Hook
23 Ben John

Missing - sadly including Mooj

Cory Allen – Knee
Dan Baker – Knee
Ashley Beck – Groin
Dan Biggar – HIA
Sam Cross - Ribs
Keelan Giles – Knee
Dafydd Howells - Shoulder
Paul James – Calf
Brian Mujati – Shoulder
Sam Parry – Ankle
Gareth Thomas – Calf
Rory Thornton – Shoulder
Justin Tipuric - Thigh
Eli Walker – Back
Rhys Webb - Knee
Kieran Williams – Ankle
Tom Williams - Forearm

Saint Ted
08/12/2017 11:46
Tub, I've just edited your post a little bit so we don't have the entire Offy article and linked it in the news story!

(Using this as a news story keeps this site alive with minimal effort and I agreed we would link back to the offy site and not use the whole article)

Saintsman94
08/12/2017 11:47
That looks like a proper, balanced back-row to me! Groom at 9 Francis at 10 would be my first choice half-back paring too. A much better team selection I think, shame to see Grayson dropped all together though.

SaintsAsh
08/12/2017 12:00
Best team so far that we have put out IMHO. Back row looks much more balanced.

brancastersaint
08/12/2017 12:00
Just hope this team turns up and puts in the performance we the long suffering supporters crave
I'm in the Parish tonight - MC at a boxing event at The St James WMC if anyone is in the area and fancies some good live boxing tonight, Come along and say hello
But I'm heading home to Brancaster in the morning as I don't think I want to be leaving the town feeling as fed up as I did after last Friday night
COYS!!!

alwayshopeful
08/12/2017 12:08
Probably our strongest back line?

Longers
08/12/2017 12:08
Not liked a team selection for quite some time.

Is Jim reading this?

andysaint
08/12/2017 12:09
A much more positive team selection that makes me more positive about tomorrow. Having not been at the Gardens since October, I am now looking forward to coming back.

I did not realise that Ospreys had so many unavailable. Saints need to take this opportunity and get a good win behind them.

saintsfella
08/12/2017 12:16
Why do I get the impression we’re going to hammer Ospreys in a meaningless game for us, which will paper over the cracks and divert attention from our shambolic run recently. That being said a win’s a win a I’ll be there supporting. COYS!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2017:12:08:12:32:20 by saintsfella.

None
08/12/2017 12:18
No more injuries please.....Chiefs and Quins are the priority this side of New Year

rugbymel
08/12/2017 12:19
Partnerships much better balanced, back row, half backs, centres. Looking forward to seeing how they pan out. Pity it’s a dead rubber. COYS

Saint Ted
08/12/2017 12:29
It's not so meaningless saintsfella, two bonus point wins would put us back in the mix and give us some much needed momentum going into the league

Matthew
08/12/2017 12:32
If - if - Saracens do the double over Clermont and minimise Clermont's bonus points, and we can get 9 or 10 points from Ospreys, then Europe is still possible (mathematically at least).

One second-placed team went through to the QFs last season on 16 group points, though 18/19 looks to be a more normal minimum. When we went to Clermont I thought they looked very beatable (if we'd taken the chances we created), so if we can beat them in the return fixture at the Gardens we'd just need to figure out how to beat Sarries away. Hmm.

Foul up on Saturday, however, and we'll be sending the Wanderers to the next 3 European fixtures.

Casual Saint
08/12/2017 13:24
Decent looking team, hoping for a strong performance. A good result would be provide a base to kick on when the league restarts. Unfortunately I won't be there to witness as I am having a trot out for Casuals 3rds.

Once a scrum half .... always a scrum half

Duckonstilts
08/12/2017 13:27
Thats the best looking team of the season (wing looks the only weak point). I just want a decent performance and no injuries. We need to put this team out a few weeks in a row to see if it has potential to dig us out of the poop.

Saint Ted
08/12/2017 13:28
If I wasn’t recovering from recent surgery I’d be joining you on the field casual!

Stockers
08/12/2017 14:06
BREAKDOWN!!!! Just flippin compete!

COYS!!!!

Duckonstilts
08/12/2017 14:22
Quote:
Stockers
BREAKDOWN!!!! Just flippin compete!
COYS!!!!

With that back row you would hope we would do better there.

fleetg
08/12/2017 15:59
V happy with Ribbans back and Lawes at 6.
Just a shame that headless Harry keeps being selected by Dad.

Stockers
08/12/2017 16:08
Quote:
fleetg
V happy with Ribbans back and Lawes at 6.
Just a shame that headless Harry keeps being selected by Dad.

That's a bit harsh! If you want to criticise, I suggest that you do so in a more reasoned and logical fashion.

Duckonstilts
08/12/2017 16:09
Thats very harsh on Harry. He is probably our best fullback.

Deesaint
08/12/2017 16:55
Like all above very pleasing team selection
We need to win
We need to get a couple of good wins under our belt
Get some confidence returning
Get the winning mentality
And who knows
COYS

Lamont4Saints
08/12/2017 16:59
Harry is definitely one of our top 2 options at FB, with Ace on the wing Harry is my top FB pick.

Saint Nath
08/12/2017 17:04
I prefer what Harry brings at FB over Ace.
And I like the size and power ace brings on the wing for us now.
H comes in to the line really well, can play as 2nd playmaker and has a howitzer of a boot.
I think he is only going to get better and really kick on.

fleetg
08/12/2017 17:05
Personal opinion Stockers. Are we not allowed that anymore without having to justify everything ?
From what I have seen of Harry, I simply don't rate him that's all (sorry if that upsets some). His place & out of hand kicking is very very erratic, decision making quite poor at times in choosing when to pass, take a player on etcc. Defence is also not good.

Stockers
08/12/2017 17:46
Opinion perfectly fine but slagging off one of our players without any reasoning is poor form, IMO, and it seems I'm not in the minority either.

Walks11
08/12/2017 18:01
Quote:
fleetg
Personal opinion Stockers. Are we not allowed that anymore without having to justify everything ?
From what I have seen of Harry, I simply don't rate him that's all (sorry if that upsets some). His place & out of hand kicking is very very erratic, decision making quite poor at times in choosing when to pass, take a player on etcc. Defence is also not good.

Again a bit harsh, he’s a young lad still learning the game and not by any means the finished article. His kicking from hand is actually pretty good. Place kicking I grant you is not where it needs to be but I suspect he will only ever be a back up kicker. He’s also been moved around positionally so give him a chance to settle at FB and see where we are at the end of the seaso

fleetg
08/12/2017 18:39
Fair comments and thanks for tbe counter reasoned argument (unlike some who just accuse me of slagging him off with no counter argument !!).
Just out of interest why would you suspect he is only a back up kicker ? The evidence last week was that he was still our kicker with Grayson (doubt that would do much for his confidence) and Piers on the pitch.

Saintalex
08/12/2017 22:22
Quote:
fleetg
V happy with Ribbans back and Lawes at 6.
Just a shame that headless Harry keeps being selected by Dad.

What??? fleetg come on mate??? Explain this comment please

Wilson Pickett
09/12/2017 07:27
Chatting to some Sarries players who think Harry is our most talented player....

Saintalex
09/12/2017 08:11
Horne is our most I would say, Harry will be unbelievable. He has something, reminds me very much to John Clarke and Nick Beal, they were a class act.

fleetg
09/12/2017 09:32
Saintalex
I understand that you disagree.
Again I will stress it's personal opinion which I have explained above. I fully accept that I am in the minority but I also think this board should be a little more accepting of others opinions at times.
The way that a large amount of individuals talk about Harry on here, he will be the nailed on England full back for the next 10 years. Will be interesting to see if that comes to fruition or not.

BrianB
09/12/2017 10:41
Anytime the lad gets the ball in the oppo 22 i think we have a real chance of scoring. Thats exciting and cant be said for most saints players. No one has said he is nailed on england thats pure extrapolation on your part. Perhaps you're trying to even out the opinions of him to show hes not the finished article. I find myself doing that with Ace - his defence is rubbish, not premier no 15 standard but no doubt he is good with ball in hand.

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