Premiership
Smith, Ribbans and Freeman all return for Saints against Sale
Fin Smith, David Ribbans and Tommy Freeman all return from international duty to start for Northampton Saints in this weekend’s Gallagher Premiership clash against Sale Sharks.Fourth hosts second in the league on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, with the men in Black, Green and Gold looking to stay inside the play-off places with a victory on home soil.Saints have lost just once in Northampton in this season’s Premiership, and enter this weekend’s match leading the competition in tries, assists, offloads, defenders beaten, clean breaks and gainline success. However, the Sharks have won on three of their last five trips to the Gardens and have proved an extremely tough nut to crack this term, winning ten of their 13 matches so far.Phil Dowson’s side are boosted by the returns of Smith, Ribbans and Freeman – who all come straight into the side after being released by England earlier this week.Smith starts at fly-half for Northampton and will partner scrum-half Tom James, with Fraser Dingwall – another welcome returnee in the hosts’ midfield after a two-game suspension – lining up alongside Matt Proctor.Freeman is named on the wing, while the in-form James Ramm (who has won back-to-back cinch Player of the Month awards for the Club) keeps his place and skipper George Furbank switches to fullback to round off the backline.Juarno Augustus has made more metres (493) with ball in hand than any other forward in this season’s Premiership so far, and is named at No.8 – with Angus Scott-Young and Aaron Hinkley joining him in Saints’ back row.Northampton opt for a front row of Alex Waller (making his 250th appearance in the Gallagher Premiership), Paul Hill and hooker Robbie Smith, and Ribbans slots into the engine room alongside Alex Moon. The tight five will be looking to halt a Sale pack which has produced the most maul tries and won the most scrum penalties in the competition this season.Amongst the replacements for Saints, Tom Collins is set for his first Premiership appearance since early January, while the likes of Rory Hutchinson, Sam Graham and Alex Coles will also be hoping to make an impact off the bench.NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SALE SHARKSGallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 17Saturday 18 February 2023cinch Stadium at Franklin’s GardensKick-off: 3pm15 George Furbank (c)14 Tommy Freeman13 Matt Proctor12 Fraser Dingwall11 James Ramm10 Fin Smith9 Tom James1 Alex Waller – 250th Gallagher Premiership appearance2 Robbie Smith3 Paul Hill4 David Ribbans5 Alex Moon6 Angus Scott-Young7 Aaron Hinkley8 Juarno AugustusReplacements:16 Tom Cruse17 Ethan Waller18 Alfie Petch19 Alex Coles20 Sam Graham21 Callum Braley22 Rory Hutchinson23 Tom CollinsNot considered for selection:Callum Burns, Joseph Gaffan, Mike Haywood, Emmanuel Iyogun, Joel Matavesi, Sam Matavesi, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Ollie Sleightholme.International Duty:Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, and Alex Mitchell (all England).SALE SHARKS TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Sam James, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Arron Reed, 10 Rob Du Preez, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Cobus Wiese, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Jono Ross (c), 7 Tom Curry, 8 Jean-Luc Du PreezReplacements: 16 Ethan Caine, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Josh Beaumont, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 George Ford, 23 Tom RoebuckReferee: Ian TempestAssistant referees: Nick Wood and Jamie LeahyNo.4: Gregg DawsonTMO: Claire Hodnett
Fin Smith, David Ribbans and Tommy Freeman all return from international duty to start for Northampton Saints in this weekend’s Gallagher Premiership clash against Sale Sharks.
Fourth hosts second in the league on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, with the men in Black, Green and Gold looking to stay inside the play-off places with a victory on home soil.
Saints have lost just once in Northampton in this season’s Premiership, and enter this weekend’s match leading the competition in tries, assists, offloads, defenders beaten, clean breaks and gainline success. However, the Sharks have won on three of their last five trips to the Gardens and have proved an extremely tough nut to crack this term, winning ten of their 13 matches so far.
Phil Dowson’s side are boosted by the returns of Smith, Ribbans and Freeman – who all come straight into the side after being released by England earlier this week.
Smith starts at fly-half for Northampton and will partner scrum-half Tom James, with Fraser Dingwall – another welcome returnee in the hosts’ midfield after a two-game suspension – lining up alongside Matt Proctor.
Freeman is named on the wing, while the in-form James Ramm (who has won back-to-back cinch Player of the Month awards for the Club) keeps his place and skipper George Furbank switches to fullback to round off the backline.
Juarno Augustus has made more metres (493) with ball in hand than any other forward in this season’s Premiership so far, and is named at No.8 – with Angus Scott-Young and Aaron Hinkley joining him in Saints’ back row.
Northampton opt for a front row of Alex Waller (making his 250th appearance in the Gallagher Premiership), Paul Hill and hooker Robbie Smith, and Ribbans slots into the engine room alongside Alex Moon. The tight five will be looking to halt a Sale pack which has produced the most maul tries and won the most scrum penalties in the competition this season.
Amongst the replacements for Saints, Tom Collins is set for his first Premiership appearance since early January, while the likes of Rory Hutchinson, Sam Graham and Alex Coles will also be hoping to make an impact off the bench.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SALE SHARKS
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 17
Saturday 18 February 2023
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Furbank (c)
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Matt Proctor
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 James Ramm
10 Fin Smith
9 Tom James
1 Alex Waller – 250th Gallagher Premiership appearance
2 Robbie Smith
3 Paul Hill
4 David Ribbans
5 Alex Moon
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Aaron Hinkley
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Tom Cruse
17 Ethan Waller
18 Alfie Petch
19 Alex Coles
20 Sam Graham
21 Callum Braley
22 Rory Hutchinson
23 Tom Collins
Not considered for selection:
Callum Burns, Joseph Gaffan, Mike Haywood, Emmanuel Iyogun, Joel Matavesi, Sam Matavesi, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Ollie Sleightholme.
International Duty:
Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, and Alex Mitchell (all England).
SALE SHARKS TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Sam James, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Arron Reed, 10 Rob Du Preez, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Cobus Wiese, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Jono Ross (c), 7 Tom Curry, 8 Jean-Luc Du Preez
Replacements: 16 Ethan Caine, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Josh Beaumont, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 George Ford, 23 Tom Roebuck
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Nick Wood and Jamie Leahy
No.4: Gregg Dawson
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Content & Images from – Northampton Saints Rugby
Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top14 side Toulon.
The explosive centre, who starred for his country during the recent World Cup, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year.
He will join up with Alex Sanderson’s Sharks squad ahead of the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season.
Waisea, 33, said: “I’ve watched the Premiership for a long time and it’s always been in the back of my mind that I would love to play there one day and experience rugby in England.
“Now that opportunity has arrived and I’m really, really happy and grateful. I’m so excited to get over there and join the boys and see how I can contribute to the team.
“I have spoken to Telusa Veainu and he only has positive things to say about the club and about Manchester.
“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the guys I’ve played against, like Tom Curry and George Ford. But I also know there are a lot of really talented young players in the Sale Sharks squad and I’m excited to share my experience and help them develop as much as I can.
“I told Alex that it’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years of my career and it’s something I’m passionate about.”
Nayacalevu, who stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 16st 7lb, spent ten years at Top14 side Stade Français before making the switch to Toulon in 2022.
He has won 34 caps for Fiji, slotting in at both centre and on the wing, and captained his country at last year’s World Cup, where the Pacific Islanders made the quarter-finals, losing 30-24 to England in Marseille.
He also famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Phil Brantingham to join Saracens
Prop-forward Phil Brantingham will leave Newcastle Falcons in the summer to join Saracens.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games for his home town club, and leaves with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at the Falcons.
Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “Phil has done well for us and we made him a good offer to stay here.
“We respect his decision and wish him all the best for his move in the summer, but between now and then he will be fully committed to finishing the season strongly for Newcastle Falcons.”
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that forward Cobus Wiese will leave the club at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
The 26-year-old lock has played almost 80 games for the club and scored five tries since joining from the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2020/21 season.
He played a key role last year as Sale reached the Premiership final, and this season he has featured a further 13 times for Alex Sanderson’s side.
Alex said: “Cobus will be missed by all of us on so many levels. He’s the most polite and courteous of people off the field, but the most wildly excitable man on the field, and on a night out.
“To say Cobus wears his heart on his sleeve is to do him a disservice with regards to his emotional commitment for which his body has paid the price on occasion.
“He leads by example and has earnt the respect and adoration of the group both on a professional and a personal level. We wish him every success and happiness with his move back home.”
Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Cobus for his contribution to the club and the team during his time here and we wish him all the very best for the future.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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