By Saint Ted
May 17 2019

EXETER CHIEFS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTSGallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 22Saturday 18 May, 2019Sandy Park, ExeterKick-off: 4pm

Director of rugby Chris Boyd has made four changes to Northampton Saints’ line-up ahead of this weekend’s vital clash at Exeter Chiefs.

After making his injury return off the bench in Saints’ victory over Worcester Warriors last time out, Piers Francis is fit to start against the Gallagher Premiership leaders at Sandy Park.

Meanwhile Boyd has shuffled his pack with Paul Hill, Alex Moon and Lewis Ludlam all selected as the men in Black, Green and Gold look to complete a season’s double over the Chiefs – having won a dramatic December showdown between the sides 31-28 at Franklin’s Gardens.

Saints enter the game on a three-game winning streak in the league, and one more victory at Exeter would guarantee them a return to the Premiership’s semi-finals for the first time since 2015.

Alex Waller skippers the side with Reece Marshall packing down at hooker and England international Hill named at tighthead after impressing off the bench against Worcester.

Moon returns to Northampton’s second row after shaking off an ankle injury that has kept him out since the beginning of April, and the 22-year-old joins Courtney Lawes in the engine room.

The final change to Saints’ pack sees flanker Ludlam selected on the openside, with Jamie Gibson and No.8 Teimana Harrison keeping their places in the back row.

Dan Biggar, Cobus Reinach and Francis all crossed for superb tries against the Chiefs earlier in the season, and are named again for the trip to Sandy Park with Land Rover Discovery of the Season nominee Rory Hutchinson completing the midfield.

Meanwhile, for the third-straight match fullback Ahsee Tuala and explosive wingers Taqele Naiyaravoro and Tom Collins make up the back three for Saints.

There is also room on the bench for fit-again duo James Fish and David Ribbans, with James Grayson and Alex Mitchell providing half-back cover amongst the replacements.

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

1 Alex Waller (c)
2 Reece Marshall
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Moon
5 Courtney Lawes
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements
16 James Fish
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Ben Franks
19 David Ribbans
20 Tom Wood
21 Alex Mitchell
22 James Grayson
23 Luther Burrell

Not available for selection:
Andy Symons (knee), Harry Mallinder (knee), Mikey Haywood (knee), Paddy Ryan (knee), Heinrich Brüssow (concussion), James Haskell (toe), and George Furbank (concussion).

For more info head over T'Offy

Teams Up: Exeter v Saints

Discussion started by Marching On , 17/05/2019 12:01

Marching On
17/05/2019 12:01

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Wilson Pickett
17/05/2019 12:02

go for it boys

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St Marcus
17/05/2019 12:05

Exactly that WP, just go for it. I think tomorrow evening we'll be sitting in fourth. COYS!!!

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tedge
17/05/2019 12:05

As I said in my post which disappeared no Hartley (pragmatism over emotion ?). Also no Api - not on the injured list but was ill last week.

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ElySaint
17/05/2019 12:05

Happy with that. Always pleased to see Francis involved, brings so much to our back line.

Moon back adds weight and he seems to be a real grafter. Bench is decent too.

Another big ask, but we've risen to the occasion before so fingers crossed we can again.

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riverlodge
17/05/2019 12:06

All the expectation is on Exeter, arguably a 'no pressure' gig for Saints?

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Saint Stokey
17/05/2019 12:09

So... Dylan hasn't made it. Fingers crossed there's still time for him this season.

Good looking team and great to see players returning from injury.

The medics must have been flat out!

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tedge
17/05/2019 12:10

Boyd's View

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Saintsby
17/05/2019 12:11

Indeed just get out there boys give it your darndest as I know you will play some fast running rugby be aware of the wind no not that sort!) the draft that whistles round the peaks of sandy park. COYS!

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Brave new world
17/05/2019 12:11

Quote:

riverlodge
All the expectation is on Exeter, arguably a 'no pressure' gig for Saints?

I don't understand. Surely you have to win to guarantee a play off place. Exeter already have a home semi final.

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Chris Hoddle
17/05/2019 12:12

Probably couldn't have been any stronger?
At least we can give it a go.

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ElySaint
17/05/2019 12:16

Exeter Chiefs: Nowell; Cuthbert, Slade, Devoto, Woodburn; J Simmonds, White; Hepburn, Yeandle (c), Williams; Dennis, J Hill; Ewers, Armand, Kvesic.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Moon, Francis, Skinner, S Simmonds, Maunder, Steenson, S Hill.

Strong.

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Saint Ted
17/05/2019 12:20

Quote:

tedge
As I said in my post which disappeared no Hartley (pragmatism over emotion ?). Also no Api - not on the injured list but was ill last week.

Somehow, I’ve merged your thread with the last match thread instead of this one!

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Saint Stokey
17/05/2019 12:20

No let up from Exeter from their squad. Get a win on their patch and we can consider ourselves genuine contenders!

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Chiefs
17/05/2019 12:24

Two very strong sides, our best looking side for some time tbh.

I just hope for an entertaining match and may the best side win.

Wishing all our Saintly friends a safe and enjoyable trip to Sandypark.

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tedge
17/05/2019 12:26

Quote:

Saint Ted

Quote:

tedge
As I said in my post which disappeared no Hartley (pragmatism over emotion ?). Also no Api - not on the injured list but was ill last week.

Somehow, I’ve merged your thread with the last match thread instead of this one!

No worries Ted

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Wilson Pickett
17/05/2019 12:43

Saint Ted absolutely spot on forecast that they wouldn’t rest players

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Walks11
17/05/2019 12:59

Exeter have not been in their usual excellent for of late so they will want to get some momentum going. they certainly won't want to lose at home to us who they could potentially meet next week. so for lots of reasons they will want to put one over us. I have low expectations I have to say, but if we continue to play as we have done this season we are capable of beating anyone if it all clicks.

As for Dyl not playing, I think Boyd alluded to this earlier in the week when he said putting him on bench is a risk if we lose a hooker early as he hasn't got 60 mins in his legs yet. I suspect he would have been involved if one of Marshall or Fish were injured

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LeicesterSaint
17/05/2019 13:35

I think it was meant that Chiefs have the pressure in terms of being expected to win given league position, previous head to heads etc. However it is definitely Saints who need the points from the game, Exeter just need to build some momentum and form rather than going into knock outs off the back of a couple of losses.

Could it be the old Wasps v Tigers where the latter led the league but Wasps came good at exactly the right time.

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ajack
17/05/2019 15:30

Not sure they would plan it but a win for Chiefs would most likely see them face Quins in the semi an win would put them against Glaws.

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195Rich
17/05/2019 15:54

Walks11 - think that you are spot on. Saints must win and Exeter need to win so this is a real crunch match and should make great watching - especially if Saints are still in it with a few minutes to go!

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Stevie Myler's right boot
17/05/2019 17:19

Quote:

Brave new world

Quote:

riverlodge
All the expectation is on Exeter, arguably a 'no pressure' gig for Saints?

I don't understand. Surely you have to win to guarantee a play off place. Exeter already have a home semi final.

If we win we would most likely be facing Sarries in the Semi final
Wasps still have a lot to play for - I think who is facing who in Semis May change several times over course of afternoon

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Walks11
17/05/2019 21:50

Quote:

Stevie Myler's right boot

Quote:

Brave new world

Quote:

riverlodge
All the expectation is on Exeter, arguably a 'no pressure' gig for Saints?

I don't understand. Surely you have to win to guarantee a play off place. Exeter already have a home semi final.

If we win we would most likely be facing Sarries in the Semi final
Wasps still have a lot to play for - I think who is facing who in Semis May change several times over course of afternoon

Sarries have rested a lot after last week, 3rd choice half backs for example. Unsurprisingly Alex Goode has been rested after his marathon drinkathon in full kit which I thought was brilliant.

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JohnI
17/05/2019 22:19

Not surprising Rob Baxter has chosen a strong team, he not only wants to win the game but also by beating us he probably considers their chances of winning the semi final increases by playing Quinn’s who haven’t exactly been on fire in their last few matches.
This match is winnable but we need to be in it from the start and now to be playing catch up to a strong side.

COYS

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