NEWS: Teams Up: Aviva Premiership Saints v Sale Sharks
By Happywifehappylife
March 2 2018
It's a wintry scene, but at the time of writing let's hope Saints can warm our 'cockles' as we welcome Sale Sharks to Franklins Gardens for another welcome traditional 3pm kick-off
Taken from t'Offy...
Tom Wood, Api Ratuniyarawa and Nafi Tuitavake all return to Northampton Saints’ starting line-up this weekend as they prepare to host Sale Sharks on Saturday. Technical coaching consultant Alan Gaffney and interim head coach Alan Dickens have made just three changes to the side that narrowly went down to Aviva Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs last weekend for the clash at Franklin’s Gardens, kick-off 3pm
Saints’ two clashes with the Sharks so far this season have come down to the final play of the game, with both sides notching up one win each so far, but the hosts are unbeaten on home soil in 2018 and Sale have not been victorious at Franklin’s Gardens since May 2006. Wood returns to the Saints back-row to partner up with Heinrich Brüssow and Teimana Harrison, while Ratuniyarawa has shaken off the knock which kept him out of last weekend’s trip to Sandy Park.
The titanic Fijian joins skipper Christian Day in the engine room, while the hosts’ front row remains unchanged meaning Campese Ma’afu, Mikey Haywood and Kieran Brookes will pack down together once again. Saints’ back-line is largely unchanged, but Ahsee Tuala makes the shift to fullback as Nafi Tuitavake – who grabbed the match-winning score the last time Northampton met Sale – comes in on the wing. Rob Horne and Luther Burrell continue in Saints’ midfield after impressing together over the last two weeks, and half-backs Piers Francis and Nic Groom are also retained. And Ken Pisi, who has five tries from six appearances in 2018, returns to take a spot amongst the replacements – Jamie Gibson also switching onto the bench.
There is no further update to the Club's statement from yesterday regarding the weather; our staff are still working around the clock to prepare Franklin's Gardens for tomorrow's game
SAINTS: 15 Ahsee Tuala 14 Nafi Tuitavake 13 Rob Horne 12 Luther Burrell 11 Ben Foden 10 Piers Francis 9 Nic Groom 1 Campese Ma’afu 2 Mikey Haywood 3 Kieran Brookes 4 Api Ratuniyarawa 5 Christian Day (capt) 6 Tom Wood 7 Heinrich Brüssow 8 Teimana Harrison Replacements 16 Reece Marshall 17 Francois van Wyk 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson 19 Michael Paterson 20 Jamie Gibson 21 Cobus Reinach 22 Stephen Myler 23 Ken Pisi
SALE SHARKS: 15 Mike Haley 14 Denny Solomona 13 Will Addison (capt) 12 Luke James 11 Marland Yarde 10 Sam James 9 Faf De Klerk 1 Ross Harrison 2 Rob Webber 3 WillGriff John 4 Bryn Evans 5 Andrei Ostrikov 6 Jono Ross 7 Ben Curry 8 Josh Strauss Replacements 16 Marc Jones 17 James Flynn 18 Halani Aulika 19 Josh Beaumont 20 Cameron Neild 21 Will Cliff 22 Byron McGuigan 23 Josh Charnley
NEWS: Teams Up: Aviva Premiership Saints v Sale Sharks
Posted by: Marching On (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 20:19
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Team's Up
Posted by: tedge (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 11:56
Injury update:
Alex Waller, James Craig and David Ribbans are all unavailable for selection.
No Mallinder ?
Tuala
Tuitavake
Horne
Burrell
Foden
Francis
Groom
Ma'afu
Haywood
Brookes
Ratuniyarawa
Day
Wood
Brussow
Harrison
Marshall, Van Wyk, Ford-Robinson, Paterson, Gibson, Reinach, Myler,Pisi
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2018:03:02:12:02:34 by tedge.
Alex Waller, James Craig and David Ribbans are all unavailable for selection.
No Mallinder ?
Tuala
Tuitavake
Horne
Burrell
Foden
Francis
Groom
Ma'afu
Haywood
Brookes
Ratuniyarawa
Day
Wood
Brussow
Harrison
Marshall, Van Wyk, Ford-Robinson, Paterson, Gibson, Reinach, Myler,Pisi
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2018:03:02:12:02:34 by tedge.
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: BrianB (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 12:25
Interesting stat that came with the team's up email from the club. With Wayne Barnes refereeing we have:
Played 25
Won 7
Lost 18
Played 25
Won 7
Lost 18
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: Saint Tim (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 13:05
Quote:BrianB
Interesting stat that came with the team's up email from the club. With Wayne Barnes refereeing we have:
Played 25
Won 7
Lost 18
Yes that is quite some stat isn't it! At what point does it become noticeable to the higher paid help at the RFU?
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: Stockers (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 13:08
Solved that Tim!
We can spend all afternoon shouting, "Oi! Wayne! Balance your averages!"
Such wit as this usually only emanates from The Shed....
We can spend all afternoon shouting, "Oi! Wayne! Balance your averages!"
Such wit as this usually only emanates from The Shed....
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: Saintsby (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 13:09
Oh and if by some chance (though doubtfull with waynetta in charge) we are in a similar position as last week v Exe with 3 minutes to and Mr Reinach has been subbed on PLEASE forwards do NOT let him have the pill on pain of a court marshall and firing squad. Up the jumper wind the clock down - simples
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: twsaint (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 13:15
Barnes will always give a penalty for holding on.
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: Shire (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 13:35
Anybody have ,or know where to find,stats for other refs and our outcomes?
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: shendy (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 13:48
As was discussed ad-nauseum a couple of years ago, we tended to get Barnes in bigger games, back at the time when we seemed unable to beat the top 4 sides.
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: BrianB (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 13:54
And we were unable to beat those sides because.....
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: tedge (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 14:01
Wrong thread for Barnes - anybody got any comments about the team selection ?
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: emerging shark (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 14:14
Any chance the match could be off? Quins off tonight. cheers...
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: lilyg (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 14:18
Mallider was ill after the Exeter game and given a few days off this week, so rested for tomorrow - so says Tom Vickers on Twitter
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: lilyg (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 14:21
Emerging Shark - i guess it will depend on the weather this afternoon and tonight. We are expecting some more snow, but the club are confident that it will still go ahead - the pitch has been covered. However, the safety of supporters getting to the ground may be the problem.
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: Eif Jones (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 15:23
Can't blame Wayne Barnes for our record this season in the Aviva and Europe
Played 22 Won 7
Played 22 Won 7
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: andysaint (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 15:30
Quote:tedge
Wrong thread for Barnes - anybody got any comments about the team selection ?
Not sure there is a lot to say. There are favourites and those not in that set of favourites are not and will not get a look in.
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: tedge (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 15:51
Quote:andysaintQuote:tedge
Wrong thread for Barnes - anybody got any comments about the team selection ?
Not sure there is a lot to say. There are favourites and those not in that set of favourites are not and will not get a look in.
Perhaps they are favourites because they are the best available ?
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: andysaint (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 15:56
Quote:tedgeQuote:andysaintQuote:tedge
Wrong thread for Barnes - anybody got any comments about the team selection ?
Not sure there is a lot to say. There are favourites and those not in that set of favourites are not and will not get a look in.
Perhaps they are favourites because they are the best available ?
Maybe so. Those not involved certainly know their place then.
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: Deesaint (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 16:08
Quote:andysaintQuote:tedgeQuote:andysaintQuote:tedge
Wrong thread for Barnes - anybody got any comments about the team selection ?
Not sure there is a lot to say. There are favourites and those not in that set of favourites are not and will not get a look in.
Perhaps they are favourites because they are the best available ?
Maybe so. Those not involved certainly know their place then.
Who would you change and why ?
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: Brackleysaint (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 16:10
Those not involved must accept that for whatever reason they are not good enough at present and just keep pushing on. That is the nature of team sport, always has been.
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: andysaint (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 16:21
Quote:DeesaintQuote:andysaintQuote:tedgeQuote:andysaintQuote:tedge
Wrong thread for Barnes - anybody got any comments about the team selection ?
Not sure there is a lot to say. There are favourites and those not in that set of favourites are not and will not get a look in.
Perhaps they are favourites because they are the best available ?
Maybe so. Those not involved certainly know their place then.
Who would you change and why ?
I would look at Nutley over Wood and Gibson on the bench. Wood or Gibson to start is fine but I do not see them coming off the bench to change the game.
I am not a fan of Tuitavake I do not see what he brings over and above Estelles and Collins.
If Grayson is available I’d have him on instead of Myler to the bench. Even when Francis is struggling at 10 to dictate the game Myler is not brought on.
Ludlam Onojaife and Moon should be given some time if from the bench. They are not progressing here.
There is no competition for places and no one pushing for selection it seems. We’ve got an inordinate number of players not playing rugby which Dickens realises but has failed to do anything about.
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: tedge (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 16:43
I reckon most would agree that the "favourites" team has improved noticeably since Gaffney came and that in general those who have been selected have justified it. IMO I can't see any logic at this stage of the season in choosing fringe squad players just for the sake of it. I think people are going to have to wait until next season with a new coaching regime to see how things pan out and what, if any future the unselected players have.
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: ElySaint (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 16:45
"Ludlam Onojaife and Moon should be given some time if from the bench. They are not progressing here.
There is no competition for places and no one pushing for selection it seems. We’ve got an inordinate number of players not playing rugby which Dickens realises but has failed to do anything about."
Agree with this, particularly your final sentence. Moon was brought into the bench last week, last minute but played zero minutes. The only unused replacement.
There is no competition for places and no one pushing for selection it seems. We’ve got an inordinate number of players not playing rugby which Dickens realises but has failed to do anything about."
Agree with this, particularly your final sentence. Moon was brought into the bench last week, last minute but played zero minutes. The only unused replacement.
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: SaintsMan87 (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 17:06
He’s a nice lad but nutley isn’t good enough that’s why he’s 25 and not playing 1st team rugby!
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: Walks11 (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 17:17
Quote:andysaintQuote:DeesaintQuote:andysaintQuote:tedgeQuote:andysaintQuote:tedge
Wrong thread for Barnes - anybody got any comments about the team selection ?
Not sure there is a lot to say. There are favourites and those not in that set of favourites are not and will not get a look in.
Perhaps they are favourites because they are the best available ?
Maybe so. Those not involved certainly know their place then.
Who would you change and why ?
I would look at Nutley over Wood and Gibson on the bench. Wood or Gibson to start is fine but I do not see them coming off the bench to change the game.
I am not a fan of Tuitavake I do not see what he brings over and above Estelles and Collins.
If Grayson is available I’d have him on instead of Myler to the bench. Even when Francis is struggling at 10 to dictate the game Myler is not brought on.
Ludlam Onojaife and Moon should be given some time if from the bench. They are not progressing here.
There is no competition for places and no one pushing for selection it seems. We’ve got an inordinate number of players not playing rugby which Dickens realises but has failed to do anything about.
Onajaife is getting good game time at Bedford so no reason to change that right now and I think the general feeling is that Estelles defence is pretty poor and Collins defence isn’t great either
Do we want Estelles shooting out of the line and Sale running riot out wide all game
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: Deesaint (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 17:22
And there in lies the quandary.
Are those players good enough to challenge for a place in the top 23.
If so they should be given game time
If not they should be shipped on and free up the salary cap.
A lot of people blame Wayne Smith for removing the academy.
But if there wasn't good enough quality coming through why would you keep it running ?
Why not use the funds to buy in better talent.
Fewer number higher quality.
Are those players good enough to challenge for a place in the top 23.
If so they should be given game time
If not they should be shipped on and free up the salary cap.
A lot of people blame Wayne Smith for removing the academy.
But if there wasn't good enough quality coming through why would you keep it running ?
Why not use the funds to buy in better talent.
Fewer number higher quality.
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: Nath-coys (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 17:30
Estelles is not good enough, he is a decent 7's player.
Poor in defence, poor under the high ball, poor in contact.
Moon is very young, getting on too the bench is still good for him. Being in the environment, seeing how people like Day prepare for a game.
Moon is also playing for Nottingham in the Chanpionship as well.
It really isn't as simple as chuck them all in.
Hopefully next year we will be pushing on the domestic front and maybe in Champions cup.
That will take the attention of our senior squad. So the young promising guys can get some good game time in the Anglo Welsh.
If you have a out and out superstar I can understand getting them in quickly, but most academy products need to be nurtured and brought through at the right speed.
Boyd will come in and hopefully build a really good environment round the team where the young guys are eager and ambitious wanting to learn all they can from the senior guys and the senior guys push the standards.
Poor in defence, poor under the high ball, poor in contact.
Moon is very young, getting on too the bench is still good for him. Being in the environment, seeing how people like Day prepare for a game.
Moon is also playing for Nottingham in the Chanpionship as well.
It really isn't as simple as chuck them all in.
Hopefully next year we will be pushing on the domestic front and maybe in Champions cup.
That will take the attention of our senior squad. So the young promising guys can get some good game time in the Anglo Welsh.
If you have a out and out superstar I can understand getting them in quickly, but most academy products need to be nurtured and brought through at the right speed.
Boyd will come in and hopefully build a really good environment round the team where the young guys are eager and ambitious wanting to learn all they can from the senior guys and the senior guys push the standards.
Re: Team's Up
Posted by: Stockers (IP Logged)
Date: 02/03/2018 17:56
It was interesting watching today's video interview with Francois Van Wyk where he commented that all the front row guys get together to discuss learnings from the last game and what they need to do to improve and also to plan how to approach the next game. Good to see players taking joint responsibility for performance improvements.
Re: NEWS: Teams Up: Aviva Premiership Saints v Sale Sharks
Posted by: Themanwho (IP Logged)
Date: 03/03/2018 08:01
Tom Stephenson has been clearing the pitch with the academy. Hope this isn’t a punishment
Re: NEWS: Teams Up: Aviva Premiership Saints v Sale Sharks
Posted by: Hantsaintsrus4 (IP Logged)
Date: 03/03/2018 10:28
Quote:Themanwho
Tom Stephenson has been clearing the pitch with the academy. Hope this isn’t a punishment
Stevo, Collins, Future ; if you don't play them now then when.
If a player has a weakness that has been identified then hopefully they are on a CPD scheme to eliminate that weakness. Again I name Jonny May who has listened and worked hard at his game. A certain Quins wing now at Sale not so. Collins could expose him today, if playing.
It is for the coaches to coach the improvement, it just has not been happening.
I would pick Stephenson every week, think back to his game before injuries, England caps etc. Others will disagree, I am understanding of that, but as others have said, either improve these players or let them get on with their careers elsewhere.
Re: NEWS: Teams Up: Aviva Premiership Saints v Sale Sharks
Posted by: greenwood (IP Logged)
Date: 03/03/2018 11:48
Barnes will always give a penalty for holding on.
Dems The Laws..
What should He give "A Face Off in The Neutral Zone" ?
Dems The Laws..
What should He give "A Face Off in The Neutral Zone" ?
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