Northampton Saints
NEWS: Teams Up AW cup Sale vs Saints
By Saint Ted
January 26 2018
The team is up as Saints take on Sale away at the AJ Bell Stadium kick off 2pm Saturday 27th January 2018
Eight fresh faces will come into Northampton Saints' starting line-up for their crucial Anglo-Welsh Cup clash at Sale Sharks.
The Franklin’s Gardens outfit can put one foot in the knockout stages of the competition with victory at the AJ Bell Stadium, heading into the fixture top of Pool 3 with Saracens, Worcester Warriors and Scarlets all trailing them.
Saints were edged out 18-15 on their last visit to Sale back in November, but Northampton have beaten the Sharks in three of their last four meetings.
Technical coaching consultant Alan Gaffney and interim head coach Alan Dickens have made three changes to the Saints’ backline from last weekend, with Ahsee Tuala named at full-back and Nafi Tuitavake moving into the centres from the wing.
British & Irish Lion George North takes his place and veteran No.10 Stephen Myler brings even more experience to the side, starting his first game since mid-November.
Cobus Reinach, who impressed in defeat at Saracens last time out, remains at scrum-half while Tom Stephenson’s run in the side continues at inside centre.
Francois van Wyk and hooker Reece Marshall are promoted from the bench to join Kieran Brookes in the front row, and in the engine room skipper Christian Day will lead the side out alongside Api Ratuniyarawa, who was rested last week.
And while Lewis Ludlam and Ben Nutley make up a new-look back row with David Ribbans, there’s room on the bench for Tom Wood as well as Academy starlets Alex Mitchell and James Grayson.
Wing Tom Collins also makes the 23 after two months out of action with a foot problem; his last appearance in the Black, Green and Gold came back in November against Worcester Warriors.
For further comment and injury news head over T'Offy
15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Ken Pisi
13 Nafi Tuitavake
12 Tom Stephenson
11 George North
10 Stephen Myler
9 Cobus Reinach
1 Francois van Wyk
2 Reece Marshall
3 Kieran Brookes
4 Api Ratuniyarawa
5 Christian Day (capt)
6 David Ribbans
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Ben Nutley
Replacements
16 Charlie Clare
17 Campese Ma’afu
18 Jamal Ford-Robinson
19 Michael Paterson
20 Tom Wood
21 Alex Mitchell
22 James Grayson
23 Tom Collins
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Stumbleupon26/01/2018 11:52
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Takes me back to the days of "Wot, no Digger?"
Good luck lads.
Looking forward to seeing what that back row can do.
One person who I am looking forward to see have some game time is Clare. He’s looked like a good prospect and hopefully he can get some good game time.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018:01:26:23:40:08 by SaintMaul.
Reece Marshall has overtaken Charlie Clare in the pecking order.
James Craig injured again. Poor chap can't seem to stay fit.
I guess Collins would come on at fullback or wing, and we'd have to shoehorn Ace or North in at 13.
Personally, i like to see a little more utility on the bench which we would see had we had the likes of Francis or Harry available. Neither is really an option with Myler and Grayson although i believe that Grayson has played at 15 on the odd occasion.
but fingers crossed we'll come through unscathed
Shame about Eadie if he is injured, not having a lot of luck.
Like the team think it’s a good balance, Sale’s looks decent too could be a good game
Quote:Walks11
I don’t think Estelles is flavour of the month defensively. When he played a few weeks ago (Falcons I think) he jumped out of the line and we conceded a try, the coached were really not happy with him. No doubt he is exciting with ball in hand.
Shame about Eadie if he is injured, not having a lot of luck.
Like the team think it’s a good balance, Sale’s looks decent too could be a good game
Are any of our players flavour of the month defensively? Without doubt it has cost us many games this year, I think to not pick one for defensive failings of the many would be harsh
Quote:Walks11
I don’t think Estelles is flavour of the month defensively. When he played a few weeks ago (Falcons I think) he jumped out of the line and we conceded a try, the coached were really not happy with him. No doubt he is exciting with ball in hand
I don’t think Luther would get picked if that were the case.
Quote:Dragonboy
I don't think Eadie is injured because he's not listed as being injured on the t'offy
He's listed at the bottom of the story as being unavailable for selection.
Him and Piers have had rotten luck with injuries since joining us.
Flynn
Jones
WGJ
Bryn
Beau
TJ
Nield
Moore
Faf
Wilkinson
Odogwu
L. James
Will A
Charnley
Haley
Bench:
16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Jake Pope, 18. Alexandru Tarus, 19. Matt Postlethwaite, 20. David Seymour, 21. George Nott, 22. Will Cliff, 23. Cameron Redpath.
Young lad still at school doing his A levels, Kieran Wilkinson.
Quote:Dave Jackson
Rotten luck. Or poor management of the players conditioning?
Rotten luck.
I can see why Myler’s experience may seem attractive in a less experienced Saints team but these are the games Grayson should be playing in 100%.
Quote:Eif Jones
Strange, not exactly a development team when you have OAPs like Myler being chosen in front of the possible future in Grayson.
Grayson is away with England Under 20 from next week, Piers is still out and Harry is one injury away from being in the England 23. So Stephen needs some game time.
Let's forget this development team/competition stuff, teams pick the best team for their circumstances.
Developing whom for what for this season?
I new DOR may have other thoughts?
There are about four U18 games and another maybe 6 wandies game anyway, so why not go for the cup?
Quote:Chris Hoddle
Sale team (some changes from St Maul's version
Flynn
Jones
WGJ
Bryn
Beau
TJ
Nield
Moore
Faf
Wilkinson
Odogwu
L. James
Will A
Charnley
Haley
Bench:
16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Jake Pope, 18. Alexandru Tarus, 19. Matt Postlethwaite, 20. David Seymour, 21. George Nott, 22. Will Cliff, 23. Cameron Redpath.
My apologies. I copied from the Sale board assuming it was the actual team. Turns out it was a speculative team by a Sale fan.
Thanks for highlighting Chris.
still, good enough to maybe win. Happy with Myler selection for now, we need wins from wherever we can get them in whatever competition.
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