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NEWS: Teams Up: PRC Saints v Bristol Bears


Beware the cuddly image

By Happwifehappylife
October 26 2018

Saints starlets given opportunity to make their mark in Premiership Rugby Cup. Chris Boyd says “We’ve mixed the youngsters in with some older guys to play around – it’s really exciting to see how they might go"  

 

Director of rugby Chris Boyd has rung the changes within his Northampton Saints ranks for this weekend’s clash against Bristol Bears, with the Club’s youngsters thrust into the limelight.

 

The men in Black, Green and Gold will begin their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign on Saturday (kick-off 2pm), and 14 fresh players come into the matchday 23 following the side’s Challenge Cup win over Dragons in Newport last Friday evening. Tom Wood will lead out a Saints squad packed with Academy talent, with wingers Ollie Sleightholme and Matt Worley making their debut first-team appearances for Northampton from the start, as well as Ampthill tighthead Karl Garside – with the trio becoming Saints #1997, #1998 and #1999 in the process.

But prop Will Davis, scrum-half Charlie Davies, centre Fraser Strachan and Coventry prop Jack Higgins could all also debut from the bench, meaning the 2000th player in Saints history is likely to run out onto the Franklin’s Gardens turf during the match. George Furbank lines up at fullback with Luther Burrell and Fraser Dingwall linking up in the midfield, while James Grayson and Alex Mitchell are given another opportunity to develop their blossoming half-back partnership.

Up front Francois Van Wyk – who came off the bench last weekend – is promoted into the starting front row, while hooker Reece Marshall starts for the first time since April. Dom Barrow continues his return to action alongside Alex Moon in Saints’ engine room, while a well-balanced back row sees skipper Wood and Lewis Ludlam pack down either side of No.8 Mitch Eadie.

“It’s sure to be an interesting competition this year given it’s replaced the Anglo-Welsh, and it will be interesting to see how all the clubs sit within it,” said Boyd.

“For us, it’s opened up an opportunity for guys coming back from injury, guys that haven’t been able to get themselves onto the teamsheet regularly, and younger guys that are yet to make their first-team debuts.

“So the combination of those three things makes this a really worthwhile exercise; the younger guys have shown enough in the Wanderers games that the skeleton is there for them to be ready, and we’ve mixed them in with some older guys to play around – it’s really exciting to see how they might go"

Taken from & more detail on t'Offy

 

 

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Teams Up: PRC Saints v Bristol Bears
Discussion started by Marching On , 26/10/2018 14:59
Marching On
26/10/2018 14:59
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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John Rickerd
26/10/2018 11:53
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS v BRISTOL BEARS
Premiership Rugby Cup, Round 1
Saturday 27 October, 2018
Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 2pm
15 George Furbank
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Luther Burrell
11 Matt Worley
10 James Grayson
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Francois Van Wyk
2 Reece Marshall
3 Karl Garside*
4 Dom Barrow
5 Alex Moon
6 Tom Wood (c)
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Mitch Eadie
Replacements
16 Mike Haywood
17 Will Davis
18 Jack Higgins*
19 James Craig
20 Devante Onojaife
21 Charlie Davies
22 Fraser Strachan
23 Andrew Kellaway
*Guest player
Not available for selection:
Paul Hill (shoulder), Rory Hutchinson (knee), Toby Trinder (foot), Ken Pisi (shoulder), Nafi Tuitavake (neck), Andy Symons (knee), Jamal Ford-Robinson (knee), Tom Emery (ankle), Harry Mallinder (knee) and James Haskell (ankle).

Saint Maul
26/10/2018 12:01
Given Garside plays for Amptill I wonder if he is a Tiny recommendation as a future prospect. Amptill's website says he is 20 and a half stone.

Meiji Jingu
26/10/2018 12:03
Brizzle

15. Tom Pincus
14. Charlie Powell
13. Sam Bedlow
12. Tusi Pisi (cc)
11. George Perkins
10. Ian Madigan
9. Nic Stirzaker
1. Jordan Lay
2. Tom Lindsay
3. Nicky Thomas
4. Ehize Ehizode
5. Joe Batley
6. Jack Lam
7. Jake Heenan
8. Jordan Crane (cc).

Replacements:
16. Will Capon
17. Jack Cosgrove
18. Jake Armstrong
19. John Hawkins
20. James Dun
21. Reiss Cullen
22. Tiff Eden
23. Ioan Lloyd.

St_Bart
26/10/2018 12:12
No mention of Brussow as still being in HIA protocol so hopefully now fully recovered

Saint Maul
26/10/2018 12:16
Madigan, Pisi, Lam and Crane. Bristol won't be short of leadership.

twsaint
26/10/2018 13:31
Quote:
SaintMaul
Given Garside plays for Ampthill I wonder if he is a Tiny recommendation as a future prospect. Amptill's website says he is 20 and a half stone.

He's normally on the bench for Ampthill. He's been with the Wandies for each game this year but, with JFR and Hilly injured , it's really more a case of getting someone who can do a reasonable job than a future Saints prospect. He'll be up against a Samoan international in James Lay, quite a challenge. Likewise Jack Higgins from Coventry. He's played for the Wandies before but also guested for Wasps A. It could be difficult up front.

Two strong back rows .

Bristol think they've got some pacey backs, wait until they see ours. The game could go either way.

Deesaint
26/10/2018 13:37
Set for a dry day with sun
Hopefully see some good back play
Also James Craig back
Let’s hope he can get a good run injury free

andysaint
26/10/2018 14:58
It is very good to see 3 alternatives at lock at in Moon Barrow and Craig. We have relied quite a bit on Lawes and Ribbans so some depth coming back is good.

Tighthead is looking quite precarious at the moment.

Deesaint
26/10/2018 16:01
Good preview HWHL
Always smile when I see that 'signature'

Sure you didn't mean this one?


[www.youtube.com]

That caused me a lot of pain.

Happywifehappylife
26/10/2018 16:16
Quote:
Deesaint
Always smile when I see that 'signature'

Sure you didn't mean this one?

Haha no - I picked it up & am constantly reminded about it following our fantastic trip to Vietnam a couple of years ago - another one was "We see wedding we have lucky day"

JamboBris
27/10/2018 12:32
Who would be the players you'd suggest keeping an eye out for? For us Capon was U18 England captain. Powell on the wing is an U18 international too.

JamboBris
27/10/2018 12:37
Also very pleased to see Batley back playing. Was diagnosed with leukaemia last season but back playing again for us.

ElySaint
27/10/2018 13:25
Quote:
JamboBris
Who would be the players you'd suggest keeping an eye out for? For us Capon was U18 England captain. Powell on the wing is an U18 international too.

Personally I'm looking forward to seeing how Dingwall and Sleightholme go. Mitchell and Grayson have the makings of a formidable and enduring partnership at half-back. Also keen to follow Alex Moon - not seen too much of him yet, bit iirc he is the heaviest lock in the senior squad.

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