Northampton Saints will be led out by Dan Biggar for the first time this Saturday, as the Wales fly-half captains the side when London Irish head to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens for the Gallagher Premiership clash. Tickets for the Round 2 match – that kicks off at 2pm in Northampton – are still available online from £22 adults / £8 junior*, with the game also available to watch via the PRTV Live streaming service.Saints have lost to London Irish in the Premiership just once since 2015 and, having won their last five home matches at cinch Stadium, will be hoping to carry on that record this weekend. Captain Biggar lines up alongside Alex Mitchell in the half-back berths for the clash with the Exiles, while Scotland international Rory Hutchinson returns to the side to partner Matt Proctor in the midfield.After scoring a brace of tries last weekend, Tom Collins shifts to the wing for Saturday’s match and joins Ollie Sleightholme and England fullback George Furbank in the back three. Meanwhile, props Alex Waller and Paul Hill retain their places in the front row this weekend and are joined there by Fiji hooker Sam Matavesi, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Alex Moon packing down behind them in the engine room. Alex Coles shifts from lock into the back row on Saturday alongside flanker Aaron Hinkley and No. 8 Juarno Augustus to round off the line-up. Mike Haywood, Emmanuel Iyogun, Angus Scott-Young and Courtnall Skosan are amongst the men in Black, Green and Gold primed to make an impact from the replacements – while there is also a potential competitive Saints debut for scrum-half Callum Braley should he enter the action. NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs LONDON IRISHGallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 2Saturday 17 September 2022cinch Stadium at Franklin’s GardensKick-off: 2pm15 George Furbank14 Ollie Sleightholme13 Matt Proctor12 Rory Hutchinson11 Tom Collins10 Dan Biggar (c)9 Alex Mitchell1 Alex Waller2 Sam Matavesi3 Paul Hill4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto5 Alex Moon6 Alex Coles7 Aaron Hinkley8 Juarno AugustusReplacements:16 Mike Haywood17 Emmanuel Iyogun18 Alfie Petch19 Brandon Nansen20 Angus Scott-Young21 Callum Braley22 Tom Litchfield23 Courtnall SkosanNot considered for selection:Matthew Arden, Callum Burns, Fraser Dingwall, Sam Graham, Tommy Freeman, Joseph Gaffan, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, David Ribbans, Frankie Sleightholme, and Karl Wilkins.Referee: Luke PearceAssistant referees: Andrew Jackson and John MeredithNo.4: Dean RichardsTMO: Sara Cox
Northampton Saints will be led out by Dan Biggar for the first time this Saturday, as the Wales fly-half captains the side when London Irish head to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens for the Gallagher Premiership clash.
Tickets for the Round 2 match – that kicks off at 2pm in Northampton – are still available online from £22 adults / £8 junior*, with the game also available to watch via the PRTV Live streaming service.
Saints have lost to London Irish in the Premiership just once since 2015 and, having won their last five home matches at cinch Stadium, will be hoping to carry on that record this weekend.
Captain Biggar lines up alongside Alex Mitchell in the half-back berths for the clash with the Exiles, while Scotland international Rory Hutchinson returns to the side to partner Matt Proctor in the midfield.
After scoring a brace of tries last weekend, Tom Collins shifts to the wing for Saturday’s match and joins Ollie Sleightholme and England fullback George Furbank in the back three.
Meanwhile, props Alex Waller and Paul Hill retain their places in the front row this weekend and are joined there by Fiji hooker Sam Matavesi, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Alex Moon packing down behind them in the engine room.
Alex Coles shifts from lock into the back row on Saturday alongside flanker Aaron Hinkley and No. 8 Juarno Augustus to round off the line-up.
Mike Haywood, Emmanuel Iyogun, Angus Scott-Young and Courtnall Skosan are amongst the men in Black, Green and Gold primed to make an impact from the replacements – while there is also a potential competitive Saints debut for scrum-half Callum Braley should he enter the action.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs LONDON IRISH Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 2 Saturday 17 September 2024 cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens Kick-off: 2pm
15 George Furbank 14 Ollie Sleightholme 13 Matt Proctor 12 Rory Hutchinson 11 Tom Collins 10 Dan Biggar (c) 9 Alex Mitchell
1 Alex Waller 2 Sam Matavesi 3 Paul Hill 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 5 Alex Moon 6 Alex Coles 7 Aaron Hinkley 8 Juarno Augustus
Not considered for selection: Matthew Arden, Callum Burns, Fraser Dingwall, Sam Graham, Tommy Freeman, Joseph Gaffan, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, David Ribbans, Frankie Sleightholme, and Karl Wilkins.
Referee: Luke Pearce Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson and John Meredith No.4: Dean Richards TMO: Sara Cox
STARTING XV: 15 Chris Ashton [13] 14 Harry Potter [42] 13 Matt Scott [48] 12 Guy Porter [45] 11 Nemani Nadolo [37] 10 Jimmy Gopperth [1] 9 Ben Youngs (vc) [283] 1 James Cronin [1] 2 Charlie Clare [53] 3 Dan Cole (vc) [291] 4 Harry Wells [157] 5 Calum Green [91] 6 George Martin [40] 7 Ollie Chessum [31] 8 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [60]
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Joe Taufete’e * 17 Francois van Wyk [18] 18 Joe Heyes [101] 19 Olly Cracknell [1] 20 Tommy Reffell [79] 21 Jack van Poortvliet [48] 22 Phil Cokanasiga [1] 23 Kini Murimurivalu [37]
* Leicester Tigers senior debut
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 George Wacokecoke, 12 Pete Lucock, 11 Nathan Earle, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Josh Barton; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Will Welch (captain), 7 Jamie Blamire, 8 Carl Fearns.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Maddison, 17 Conrad Cade, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Sebastian de Chaves, 20 Connor Collett, 21 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Mateo Carreras.
Bath Rugby have made five changes to the starting XV for Saturday’s Round 2 Gallagher Premiership match against Sale Sharks at The Rec.
Wesley White will earn his debut for the club from openside flanker and Lewis Boyce comes in at loosehead prop.
England wing Joe Cokanasiga makes his return to the side with Will Muir selected on the left wing, while Jonathan Joseph returns to partner Cameron Redpath in the centre.
After playing 80 minutes at Ashton Gate in Round 1, Tom Dunn continues at hooker and Aranos Coetzee is set for his home debut from tighthead.
Dave Attwood and Josh McNally pair up in the second once again, and the back row also contains Josh Bayliss and Jaco Coetzee.
Captain Ben Spencer and Piers Francis partner in the half-back positions and Tom de Glanville completes the backline at full-back.
Among the impact players, Tom Doughty and Juan Schoeman are set for their first appearances of the season as is England prop Will Stuart.
GJ van Velze and Louis Schreuder are in line for their Bath Rugby debuts.
BATH RUGBY SIDE TO PLAY SALE SHARKS
THE OPPOSITION
15 Luke James, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Sam James, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Simon McIntyre, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Cobus Wiese, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Ben Curry (c), 8 Dan du Preez
Replacements
16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 James Harper, 19 Jono Ross, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Tom Curtis, 23 Aaron Reed
Newcastle Falcons have made two changes to their team for Saturday’s trip to Gallagher Premiership champions Leicester Tigers.
George Wacokecoke starts at outside centre for the 3pm kick-off at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, with fit-again Carl Fearns coming in at No 8.
That change sees Sean Robinson pushing forward from the back row to the second row, with the Falcons travelling to Leicester for the second time in three weeks after scoring four tries in a 42-28 pre-season defeat on August 26.
Back-rower Connor Collett takes up a place on the bench having overcome injury, while Argentina wing Mateo Carreras is also among the replacements after returning from Rugby Championship duty in New Zealand.
Selecting a starting XV containing 14 English-qualified players, 10 of whom have had an association with the Falcons’ academy, head coach Dave Walder believes his side can kick on after starting their season with an attacking bonus point from their home loss against Harlequins.
“We were never in control of the game last weekend but we did pretty well to score five tries against a good side, and ultimately come away with a bonus point,” he said, referencing the 40-31 defeat.
“Of course we’re disappointed with the way we lost it, having battled back so well to take the lead, but the attitude from the boys was great and there’s lots we can build on.
“This weekend will be a different kind of challenge in terms of how Leicester play compared to Harlequins, but for how we approach our own game there won’t be a massive change. We’ll stick to what we’re about, and we’re building and implementing a few things which will take a little time to really bed in.”
Preparing to face a Tigers side who kicked the ball more than any other team last weekend, Walder said: “Leicester are obviously the champions and are committed to a certain style of playing, and they’ve had success from it, so I can’t see them changing.
“We know what’s coming and have got to make sure we deal with it, but at the same time we’ll throw a few things of our own at them.”
Facing a fixture load which sees his side playing seven games in the month of September, Walder added: “We’ve got three away games in the space of eight days so it’s a challenging time for us, and we could do with a few bodies back.
“We might have to bring in a couple of lads to help with the couple of midweek cup games we have coming up, but Leicester on Saturday is the prime focus and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Saturday’s game is being live-streamed on PRTV live.
Newcastle Falcons team to face Leicester Tigers (Saturday, 3pm, Mattioli Woods Welford Road)
15 Alex Tait, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 George Wacokecoke, 12 Pete Lucock, 11 Nathan Earle, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Josh Barton; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Will Welch (captain), 7 Jamie Blamire, 8 Carl Fearns.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Maddison, 17 Conrad Cade, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Sebastian de Chaves, 20 Connor Collett, 21 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Mateo Carreras.
Not available for selection: Adam Brocklebank, Callum Chick, Luke Coulston, Matthew Dalton, Matt Deehan, Gary Graham, Matias Moroni, Logovi’i Mulipola, Chidera Obonna, Matias Orlando, Tom Penny, Guy Pepper, Vereimi Qorowale, Charlie Smith, Sam Stuart, Philip van der Walt, Michael Young.
Leicester Tigers: 15 Chris Ashton, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Guy Porter, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 James Cronin, 2 Charlie Clare, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Harry Wells, 5 Calum Green, 6 George Martin, 7 Ollie Chessum, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (captain).
Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Olly Cracknell, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Jack van Poortvliet, 22 Phil Cokanasiga, 23 Kini Murimurivalu.
