Teams Up: Saints v Wasps - Premiership Cup
By Saint Ted
September 27 2019
Northampton Saints have made nine changes to their side for this weekend’s Premiership Rugby Cup clash against Wasps. The competition’s defending champions return to home soil for the first time this season to lock horns with their midlands rivals, after a defeat away at Sale Sharks last time out. Director of rugby Chris Boyd won two out of three matches against Wasps during his first season at the helm, and the Kiwi has rung the changes with five new faces in his back-line taking to the Franklin’s Gardens turf (kick-off: 3pm, live on BT Sport).
After an excellent showing against Sale, Ollie Sleightholme is the only survivor from last week in the back three, with Tom Collins and Taqele Naiyaravoro set to add some experience and firepower.
Centre Rory Hutchinson returns for the men in Black, Green and Gold following his maiden Scotland call-up during the summer – he partners Andy Symons in midfield, who plays for the first time since picking up a knee injury during the first half of last season.
James Grayson retains his place at fly-half with Henry Taylor his half-back partner after impressing off the bench against the Sharks, meanwhile Boyd also shuffles his pack with four changes to Saints’ forwards.
Alex Waller captains the side at loosehead prop in a new-look front three, as James Fish and Ehren Painter are also given their chance to start.
Lock David Ribbans returns to action in the engine room alongside Lewis Bean, with England under-20 international Alex Coles switching into the back row alongside Tom Wood and Mitch Eadie.
Amongst the replacements, flanker JJ Tonks and scrum-half James Mitchell are set to make their full Club debuts if they come off the bench, with the likes of Teimana Harrison, Fraser Dingwall, and Ryan Olowofela also hoping to make an impact during the second half.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs WASPS
Premiership Rugby Cup, Round 2
Saturday 28 September, 2019
Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 Tom Collins
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Rory Hutchinson
12 Andrew Symons
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 James Grayson
9 Henry Taylor
1 Alex Waller (c)
2 James Fish
3 Ehren Painter
4 David Ribbans
5 Lewis Bean
6 Alex Coles
7 Tom Wood
8 Mitch Eadie
Replacements:
16 Michael van Vuuren
17 Ben Franks
18 Paul Hill
19 JJ Tonks
20 Teimana Harrison
21 James Mitchell
22 Fraser Dingwall
23 Ryan Olowofela
Referee: Michael Hudson
Assistant Referees: Alex Thomas and Wayne Falla
TMO: David Grashoff
Not available for selection:
Harry Mallinder (knee), Dylan Hartley (knee), Alex Mitchell (knee), Reece Marshall (hamstring), Mikey Haywood (knee), Jamie Gibson (shoulder), Heinz Brüssow (ankle), and Paddy Ryan (knee)
International duty:
Dan Biggar (Wal), Piers Francis (Eng), Courtney Lawes (Eng), Lewis Ludlam (Eng), Api Ratuniyarawa (Fiji), Cobus Reinach (SA), and Ahsee Tuala (Sam).
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Wasps team to face Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens this Saturday (3pm)
Wasps (First-team appearances)
15 Marcus Watson (30)
14 Paolo Odogwu (0)
13 Sam Spink (2)
12 Michael Le Bourgeois (15)
11 Josh Bassett (105)
10 Jacob Umaga (8)
9 Sam Wolstenholme (1)
1 Zurabi Zhvania (24)
2 Tom Cruse (63)
3 Biyi Alo (1)
4 Tim Cardall (4)
5 Charlie Matthews (14)
6 Brad Shields (c) (15)
7 Nizaam Carr (37)
8 Sione Vailanu (1)
Replacements
16 Gabriel Oghre (7)
17 Tom West (12)
18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (0)
19 Thibaud Flament (1)
20 Jack Willis (36)
21 Henry Clement (1)
22 Rob Miller (103)
23 Owain James (8)
27/09/2019 12:16
Is it just me or do most of the players look like they've had their heads squashed in a vice on that Offy
link?
Coles at 6 is an interesting one. That pack is pretty big.
Quote:tedge
Well my message has disappeared but never mind. I repeat that this is an exceptionally interesting selection and I look forward to seeing Symons effective debut and Coles at 6. Shame that Mallinder is still missing and what's happened to Alex Moon this season ?
That was me Tedge, I've got a crack down my phone so it's a complete lottery as to if I've hit merge or delete
Hopefully they can put on a good show for those of us their and those watching on TV. Hopeful of the win and building that winning mentality.
Quote:Agree on that. Far better to kick it off the park I think as ourScrummy
I am really interested to see what Lewis Bean can do. And I would not want to be kicking long to our back three if I was a wasp.
Coles and Wood in the back row plus the seconds really looks very tasty, and Eadie’s no slouch either.Having a more beefy 6 will go a long way to rebalancing our pack since we dont have a big 8.
BTW is Tim Cardall ex of this parish?