Northampton Saints
NEWS: Wasps v Saints Sunday 6th Jan KO 3pm
Could be a stinger!
By Happywifehappylife
January 4 2019
Director of rugby Chris Boyd has made four changes to his Northampton Saints line-up for this Sunday’s Gallagher Premiership clash at Wasps. The men in Black, Green and Gold head to the Ricoh Arena off the back of consecutive league victories over Worcester Warriors and Exeter Chiefs, and will be hoping to secure their first season’s double over the Coventry outfit since the 2013/14 season.
Flanker Tom Wood will lead Saints – bidding for their third away win in the Premiership this season – from the blindside.
Lewis Ludlam and No.8 Teimana Harrison continue in the line-up at the base of the scrum, while locks Courtney Lawes and David Ribbans are again selected together in the engine room.
Boyd has made two changes to his front row as props Francois Van Wyk and Ehren Painter come into the side, but hooker Reece Marshall is rewarded for an impressive all-around showing last weekend with another start.
Fraser Dingwall starts at outside centre in the only change to Northampton’s back-line, with Piers Francis ruled out through injury.
Luther Burrell starts alongside the 19-year-old in the midfield, with the in-form Cobus Reinach and Dan Biggar both retaining their spots in Saints’ half-back berths.
Ahsee Tuala, Tom Collins and Taqele Naiyaravoro make up the back three for the third game running, while there is room on the bench for Andrew Kellaway following his return from injury and scrum-half Alex Mitchell – who earlier this week signed a new contract with the Club.
Saints Team
15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Tom Collins
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Luther Burrell
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach
1 Francois van Wyk
2 Reece Marshall
3 Ehren Painter
4 David Ribbans
5 Courtney Lawes
6 Tom Wood (capt)
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison
Replacements:
16 James Fish
17 Alex Waller
18 Ben Franks
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Heinrich Brüssow
21 Alex Mitchell
22 James Grayson
23 Andrew Kellaway
Not available for selection:
Ken Pisi (shoulder), Nafi Tuitavake (neck), Andy Symons (knee), Harry Mallinder (knee), James Haskell (ankle), James Craig (concussion), Tom Emery (shoulder), Mikey Haywood (knee), Dylan Hartley (knee) and Piers Francis (shoulder).
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WASPS v NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 12
Sunday 6 January, 2019
Ricoh Arena
Kick-off: 3pm
15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Tom Collins
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Luther Burrell
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach
1 Francois van Wyk
2 Reece Marshall
3 Ehren Painter
4 David Ribbans
5 Courtney Lawes
6 Tom Wood (capt)
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison
Replacements:
16 James Fish
17 Alex Waller
18 Ben Franks
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Heinrich Brüssow
21 Alex Mitchell
22 James Grayson
23 Andrew Kellaway
Not available for selection:
Ken Pisi (shoulder), Nafi Tuitavake (neck), Andy Symons (knee), Harry Mallinder (knee), James Haskell (ankle), James Craig (concussion), Tom Emery (shoulder), Mikey Haywood (knee), Dylan Hartley (knee) and Piers Francis (shoulder).
Would guess that Dan Biggar is not fully fit and that could be why James Grayson is on the bench?
Can't argue with the rest though!
Quote:Hakuna Tuala
Bit harsh on Gibson in my opinion - he's been far more effective than Brussouw so far this season...
Can't argue with the rest though!
Thomas Young is lethal at the breakdown, Heinrich will be on to counter him winning late penalties
2 European games, a Prem Cup, a week off and then a possible Cup semi . All gives a chance for resting,rotation etc.
Good for Dingwall to be rewarded.
Good for Dingwall to be rewarded.[/quote
worth a punt, Alex needs a rest occasionally and worst case scenario they can come on at half time
COYS!!!!!!
Quote:tedge
Typically this is exactly the kind of fixture Saints would lose after mini comebacks. I will be interested to see if the new found confidence the players talk about will actually produce a performance 3 times in a row - we've not seen that for some time.
very true but caveat that on paper Wasps have a better side so we could put on a good display but still lose, bookies make Wasps 6.5 point favourites
however Wasps are lacking confidence of late and we are on an upward curve, so we may spring a surprise. I’m concerned about their forwards ball carrying, Will Rowlands in addition to Carr and Launchbury is a handful, watch out for Will Stuart off the bench too
Their back line is scary on paper
COME ON YOU SAINTS!
Church's Stand season ticket holder
EMRU Referee
Very surprised to see the front row has been changed, but in a positive way. I guess years of DW's stubbornness is hard to let go!
A win would be very helpful!!
Very bold to go with two different props from last week... Really looking forward to the game on Sunday.
Quote:charlieemeriau
Anybody knows what is up with Dom Barrow? He doesn't seem to feature in the team selection or the injuries list, apologies if I have missed previous thread on the subject.
Very bold to go with two different props from last week... Really looking forward to the game on Sunday.
well if he isn’t on the injured list and isn’t playing he either isn’t playing well, has personal issues or has been a naughty boy (I think he has form in the latter)
Quote:charlieemeriau
Very bold to go with two different props from last week... Really looking forward to the game on Sunday.
Chiefs changed their entire front row for us last week. we havnt had enough of the right players fit to do it, we will soon find out if we have now
Quote:Chris Hoddle
I noted in that Chris Boyd interview that the pitch was covered.
Potential frost for the next two nights
Quote:fair_weather_fanQuote:charlieemeriau
Very bold to go with two different props from last week... Really looking forward to the game on Sunday.
Chiefs changed their entire front row for us last week. we havnt had enough of the right players fit to do it, we will soon find out if we have now
Chiefs have 2 pairs of international props they can rotate at will - Williams & Moon are marginally the better unit in the scrum. They backed Francis & Hepburn to hold their own against Vunipola & Koch in the scrum, allowing Williams & Moon to come on early and pressure them when they were tired and best their opposite numbers when replacements were made. Against us, they backed themselves to get dominance early starting their best scrummagers. They were spot on both counts.
Boyd mentions "changing the picture" - what I think he means is "playing the referee" by trying to dial out a presumption that Saints will be at fault if the scrum keeps collapsing.
Quote:tedgeQuote:Chris Hoddle
I noted in that Chris Boyd interview that the pitch was covered.
Potential frost for the next two nights
The game's at Ricoh
Quote:SaintsDuncanQuote:tedgeQuote:Chris Hoddle
I noted in that Chris Boyd interview that the pitch was covered.
Potential frost for the next two nights
The game's at Ricoh
Yes I do know that - just explaining why a pitch might be covered !
Not in squad nor in list of unavailables.
Just curious...
Quote:Wilson PickettQuote:charlieemeriau
Anybody knows what is up with Dom Barrow? He doesn't seem to feature in the team selection or the injuries list, apologies if I have missed previous thread on the subject.
Very bold to go with two different props from last week... Really looking forward to the game on Sunday.
well if he isn’t on the injured list and isn’t playing he either isn’t playing well, has personal issues or has been a naughty boy (I think he has form in the latter)
Thanks, wonder why some journalist have asked about it...
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