Re: 'Sup for the Cup Final
Posted by: ninjafez (IP Logged)
Date: 15 March, 2019 12:07
Nine players from the Saracens Academy will start Sunday’s Premiership Rugby Cup final against Northampton Saints with a further five on the bench.
The tournament’s Breakthrough Player nominees Matt Gallagher and Tom Whiteley line-up in the backs and Joel Kpoku has returned from England Under-20s duty to slot into the second row.
The average age of the backline is 23-years-old, only upped by Argentina international Marcelo Bosch at outside centre, while a young pack is boosted by the experienced Calum Clark, Dom Day and Richard Barrington.
Openside flanker Sean Reffell has been an ever-present in the Premiership Rugby Cup and made a club-record 38 tackles in the semi-final win over Worcester Warriors. He’s joined in the back row by Ben Earl who was equally as impressive from Number 8 at Sixways and played a hand in Rotimi Segun’s score in the corner, along with opposite wing Ali Crossdale.
Dom Morris has been explosive throughout and Max Malins’ sparkling displays have helped Sarries get the go-forward needed to reach the club’s first final of the competition since winning it in 2015.
“These guys have earned the right to play in a final and we can’t wait to see them on the weekend,” coach Adam Powell said.
“It’s important for the young players to lead their environment when they’re together and this year they’ve done very well. They’ve really gelled as a unit and there’s been a great feeling all the way through the tournament.”
Saracens team to face Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens in the Premiership Rugby Cup final (KO 15H00):
FORWARDS: Richard Barrington (160), Christopher Tolofua (32), Christian Judge (15), Joel Kpoku (7), Dom Day (29), Calum Clark (34), Sean Reffell (7), Ben Earl (34).
BACKS: Matt Gallagher (30), Ali Crossdale (7), Marcelo Bosch (129), Dom Morris (10), Rotimi Segun (9), Max Malins (26), Tom Whiteley (24).
REPLACEMENTS: Joe Gray (6), Ralph Adams-Hale (6), Hayden Thompson-Stringer (30), Nick Isiekwe (54), Sione Vailanu (9), Henry Taylor (13), Tom Griffiths (3), Alex Lewington (21).
Ninjafez - supporting Sarries and cleaning their signs since 2006!
The tournament’s Breakthrough Player nominees Matt Gallagher and Tom Whiteley line-up in the backs and Joel Kpoku has returned from England Under-20s duty to slot into the second row.
The average age of the backline is 23-years-old, only upped by Argentina international Marcelo Bosch at outside centre, while a young pack is boosted by the experienced Calum Clark, Dom Day and Richard Barrington.
Openside flanker Sean Reffell has been an ever-present in the Premiership Rugby Cup and made a club-record 38 tackles in the semi-final win over Worcester Warriors. He’s joined in the back row by Ben Earl who was equally as impressive from Number 8 at Sixways and played a hand in Rotimi Segun’s score in the corner, along with opposite wing Ali Crossdale.
Dom Morris has been explosive throughout and Max Malins’ sparkling displays have helped Sarries get the go-forward needed to reach the club’s first final of the competition since winning it in 2015.
“These guys have earned the right to play in a final and we can’t wait to see them on the weekend,” coach Adam Powell said.
“It’s important for the young players to lead their environment when they’re together and this year they’ve done very well. They’ve really gelled as a unit and there’s been a great feeling all the way through the tournament.”
Saracens team to face Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens in the Premiership Rugby Cup final (KO 15H00):
FORWARDS: Richard Barrington (160), Christopher Tolofua (32), Christian Judge (15), Joel Kpoku (7), Dom Day (29), Calum Clark (34), Sean Reffell (7), Ben Earl (34).
BACKS: Matt Gallagher (30), Ali Crossdale (7), Marcelo Bosch (129), Dom Morris (10), Rotimi Segun (9), Max Malins (26), Tom Whiteley (24).
REPLACEMENTS: Joe Gray (6), Ralph Adams-Hale (6), Hayden Thompson-Stringer (30), Nick Isiekwe (54), Sione Vailanu (9), Henry Taylor (13), Tom Griffiths (3), Alex Lewington (21).
Ninjafez - supporting Sarries and cleaning their signs since 2006!
Re: 'Sup for the Cup Final
Posted by: Maroon Tyke (IP Logged)
Date: 15 March, 2019 12:15
From Saints board:
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SARACENS
Premiership Rugby Cup, Final
Sunday 17 March 2019
Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Furbank
14 Ahsee Tuala
13 Luther Burrell
12 Piers Francis
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 James Grayson
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Alex Waller (c)
2 Reece Marshall
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Moon
5 Api Ratuniyarawa
6 Tom Wood
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison
Replacements:
16 James Fish
17 Francois Van Wyk
18 Ben Franks
19 James Craig
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Cobus Reinach
22 Rory Hutchinson
23 Tom Collins
Not available for selection:
Andy Symons (knee), Harry Mallinder (knee), Mikey Haywood (knee), Dylan Hartley (knee), Ehren Painter (calf), Courtney Lawes (calf), Paddy Ryan (knee), James Haskell (toe), Fraser Dingwall (ankle), and David Ribbans
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SARACENS
Premiership Rugby Cup, Final
Sunday 17 March 2019
Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Furbank
14 Ahsee Tuala
13 Luther Burrell
12 Piers Francis
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 James Grayson
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Alex Waller (c)
2 Reece Marshall
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Moon
5 Api Ratuniyarawa
6 Tom Wood
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison
Replacements:
16 James Fish
17 Francois Van Wyk
18 Ben Franks
19 James Craig
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Cobus Reinach
22 Rory Hutchinson
23 Tom Collins
Not available for selection:
Andy Symons (knee), Harry Mallinder (knee), Mikey Haywood (knee), Dylan Hartley (knee), Ehren Painter (calf), Courtney Lawes (calf), Paddy Ryan (knee), James Haskell (toe), Fraser Dingwall (ankle), and David Ribbans
Re: 'Sup for the Cup Final
Posted by: Sarriebone (IP Logged)
Date: 15 March, 2019 12:18
Quote:Maroon Tyke
Not available for selection:
Andy Symons (knee), Harry Mallinder (knee), Mikey Haywood (knee), Dylan Hartley (knee), Ehren Painter (calf), Courtney Lawes (calf), Paddy Ryan (knee), James Haskell (toe), Fraser Dingwall (ankle), and David Ribbans
and they say 4G is bad for joints!
Re: 'Sup for the Cup Final
Posted by: Saint Tim (IP Logged)
Date: 15 March, 2019 12:38
We have not had a good time with injuries this year. Mind you it maybe forced the hand in giving so much game time to the youngsters!
Re: 'Sup for the Cup Final
Posted by: Wayoutwest (IP Logged)
Date: 15 March, 2019 12:40
That is a very strong saints team....Wow.
Re: 'Sup for the Cup Final
Posted by: Wayoutwest (IP Logged)
Date: 15 March, 2019 12:49
If saints don't win with that team at home then their confidence is going to take a hit given we are playing the kids.
Should be a great game though and we go in as underdogs.
Should be a great game though and we go in as underdogs.
Re: 'Sup for the Cup Final
Posted by: Abington Adam (IP Logged)
Date: 15 March, 2019 12:54
Good afternoon Sarries, Saints fan in peace here. We have certainly gone pretty much all out with our team selection, maybe it's a sign that we need the boost of some silverware far more than you do?! Fair play to you for sticking rigidly to the development ethos of the competition, and may your travelling fans enjoy their trip to the Gardens on Sunday.
COME ON YOU SAINTS!
Church's Stand season ticket holder
EMRU Referee
COME ON YOU SAINTS!
Church's Stand season ticket holder
EMRU Referee
Re: 'Sup for the Cup Final
Posted by: Superman wears Schalk Brits pyjamas (IP Logged)
Date: 15 March, 2019 13:20
I think Saints have a very good chance of beating us, but think they will have one eye on their Friday game against Tigers. Could be a chance to force an upset.
Re: 'Sup for the Cup Final
Posted by: SarrieSaint (IP Logged)
Date: 15 March, 2019 13:50
Really pleased and impressed with the coaches for backing the players that got them to the Final rather than fielding a Premiership 23 minus Internationals and injuries in an attempt to chase some silverware. Impressive too that they've resisted even the temptation to load the bench with main XV/23 players.
As ever delighted to see Vailanu and Griffiths in a squad. Hope both can make an impact. Also great to see Kpoku. By all accounts Clark has been working with the junior players a significant amount since arriving. This will be a game in which he'll need to be one of a few senior players to marshall their charges but also keep calm, this is not a game to lose anyone to the bin and given Northampton's own discipline has not been the best Sarries need to keep a lid on it.
The team unequivocally travel as under-dogs (wolves?) and I can see this being a very tough game but the reality is that's where you really learn something about your young players, against tough opposition.
COYSarries
As ever delighted to see Vailanu and Griffiths in a squad. Hope both can make an impact. Also great to see Kpoku. By all accounts Clark has been working with the junior players a significant amount since arriving. This will be a game in which he'll need to be one of a few senior players to marshall their charges but also keep calm, this is not a game to lose anyone to the bin and given Northampton's own discipline has not been the best Sarries need to keep a lid on it.
The team unequivocally travel as under-dogs (wolves?) and I can see this being a very tough game but the reality is that's where you really learn something about your young players, against tough opposition.
COYSarries
Re: 'Sup for the Cup Final
Posted by: Sara'sman (IP Logged)
Date: 15 March, 2019 14:53
The Fish is maintaining its high standard of accuracy: "Openside flanker Sean Reffell has been an ever-present in the Premiership Rugby Cup" - he didn't play at home to Wuss (Clark, Burger, Earl; Rhodes)!
Front 5 looks interesting, stronger starters than I'd anticipated and we get to see The Judge v Waller as I'd hoped would be the case a couple of weeks ago. Although it is good to see him back, I'm a little concerned that the Thompson-Stringer conversion to TH experiment continues (perhaps a sign that not all is well with Figallo, Walker and Sasagi (still with us?), - Lamositele should be back from the USA). Day/Kpoku the wrong way round?
Front 5 looks interesting, stronger starters than I'd anticipated and we get to see The Judge v Waller as I'd hoped would be the case a couple of weeks ago. Although it is good to see him back, I'm a little concerned that the Thompson-Stringer conversion to TH experiment continues (perhaps a sign that not all is well with Figallo, Walker and Sasagi (still with us?), - Lamositele should be back from the USA). Day/Kpoku the wrong way round?
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