Director of Rugby Chris Boyd has named his matchday 23 to take on Wasps on Sunday, with Northampton Saints’ league campaign finally set to resume after 163 days without rugby.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs WASPS Gallagher Premiership, Round 14 Sunday 16 August 2020 Franklin’s Gardens Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Furbank 14 Harry Mallinder 13 Fraser Dingwall 12 Piers Francis 11 Ahsee Tuala 10 Dan Biggar 9 Alex Mitchell
1 Francois van Wyk 2 Mikey Haywood 3 Paul Hill 4 David Ribbans 5 Api Ratuniyarawa 6 Courtney Lawes 7 Lewis Ludlam 8 Teimana Harrison (c)
Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi 17 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi 18 Owen Franks 19 Alex Coles 20 JJ Tonks 21 Henry Taylor 22 Matt Proctor 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro
Not available due to injury Ollie Sleightholme (hamstring), Connor Tupai (wrist), Alex Waller (achilles), and Tom Wood (illness).
Was just about to post the Wasps team but beaten to it, looking forward to a few of those match ups. Two no-nonsense Kiwi types at 12 (yes I know Francis is English but raised over there in terms of rugby) and two exciting talents at 13. Hell of a back row battle to come as well I think, that could be decisive
Good strong Saints team. Not that it matters, but that seems to narrow the positive Covid test down to one of two - good luck to them, whoever they are!
The missing names are interesting - they can't all be Covid victims - Adendorf, Auterac, Collins, Fish, Marshall, Gibson, Grayson, Hutchinson, Isiekwe, Moon, Painter to name but a few.
And of course controversial as this might be, but isn’t there a chance that the coaches might have picked the 23 based on their showing the best form in training?
Some of the newer guys will perhaps benefits from a few more training sessions and watching the other team/squad play, or perhaps they just haven't earned their way past existing squad members yet?
Or perhaps it's more horses for courses, for example it may be that Hill will start against lighter, faster packs and Painter will start against the Exeters and Sharks for example? Likewise Proctor, Moon etc all bigger options vs this starting team?
There's always the third option that we have no idea of the mysterious workings of a DoR's mind of course..... As always I have trust in Boyd and the coaching team not only in general but also having seen training, who works well with who, how new squad members are picking things up etc.
Personally most excited to see Mitchell back fit and firing, I genuinely think he can be as good as Reinach - think he's got 99% of the speed, really good basics and a rugby brain. He's smart enough to have absorbed as much as possible from Reinach (and others) over the last few seasons.
I wouldn't normally wish away Friday and Saturday but can it be Sunday yet?
I think I'm right in saying that Umaga isn't really seen as a kicking fly half but Goppeth is sure to use the boot intelligently. Not sure three is necessary but a winger who is confident in the backfield perhaps gives Furbank more freedom to move into the line etc, hopefully hitting some more of those beautiful inside shoulder lines off Biggar.
Yes, Pelerin, there was a huge impact - without home fans putting pressure on referees , there has been a marked drop in yellow cards shown to away team players. This has happened not just in this country, but throughout Europe in matches played behind closed doors. I don't have the stats to hand, but they were published recently in the Sports section of the Racing Post.
It will be interesting to see if the same happens in rugby - if referees will issue fewer cards to away team players without the home supporters there baying for blood!
The Franklins Gardens crowd are particularly good at offering the ref sound advice. A shame that we fans aren’t able to lend a helping hand.
The selection looks good. I was wondering how we were going to include Harry and George. Hopefully the firmer pitches will suit us more than others.
St Saltaire The Franklins Gardens crowd are particularly good at offering the ref sound advice. A shame that we fans aren’t able to lend a helping hand.
The selection looks good. I was wondering how we were going to include Harry and George. Hopefully the firmer pitches will suit us more than others.
I’m looking forward to seeing how Harry and George fit together. We need another Foden and Ashton style connection.
Good shout for a fast hot game. Interesting to see Malinder back. No push overs on either side, but our bench looks fun too. Missing the 16th man massively. It will flatter Wasps, Sale and some.
Just because you're born in a stable - it doesn't make you a horse...
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