Northampton vs Sale - Sat 3pm

[Puja]

Saints: Furbank (c); Freeman, Proctor, Dingwall, Ramm; F Smith, James; A Waller, R Smith, Hill; Ribbans, Moon; Scott-Young, Hinkley, Augustus.

Replacements: Cruse, E Waller, Petch, Coles, Graham, Braley, Hutchinson, Collins.

Sale Sharks: Carpenter; O’Flaherty, S James, Tuilagi, Reed; R Du Preez, Warr; Rodd, Ashman, Schonert; Wiese, Hill; Ross (c), T Curry, JL Du Preez.

Replacements: Caine, McIntyre, Oosthuizen, Beaumont, Dugdale, Quirke, Ford, Roebuck

[FKAS]

Quirke and Ford on the bench? Boo, blooming killjoy Sanderson. Do your patriotic duty and get them starts, England need them.

Tom Curry back is potentially good news for the England side.

There's a couple of annoyed England squad members on both sides who might want to put in a performance and remind Borthwick what they can do here.

[fivepointer]

Good to see T Curry back and Ford on the bench.

[16th man]

Ford! Finally.

Him and Quirke for a 15 minute burst at the end of the game could be exciting.

[Puja]

Disappointed no Ford and Quirke starting from an England perspective, although understandable. Warr and Du Preez have been great for them and that gives them the latitude to bring their injured back carefully and slowly.

TCurry, on the other hand, straight back in. Suspect he's got word from England that that's what's needed if he wants back in the squad. Would actually rather he was given more time to recover, tbh.

Puja

[16th man]

TCurry, on the other hand, straight back in. Suspect he's got word from England that that's what's needed if he wants back in the squad. Would actually rather he was given more time to recover, tbh.

Puja

Absolutely agree, but this is a big game for Sale to start to really lock up a home semi, and the massive improvement having one or both of the Currys playing makes to being able to execute the successful playing style, means it an understandable shout.

[Adam_P]

Very harsh on James Grayson, who returned from a long injury last week and performed well - immediately bumped by Smith.

Back row battle could be good this game.

[Banquo]

just hope Tom Curry doesn't knock Jack Willis out of the starters

Think Manu will be pretty fired up as well

[jngf]

just hope Tom Curry doesn't knock Jack Willis out of the starters

Think Manu will be pretty fired up as well

Me too, Imo Jack Willis is a better 7 than T Curry and L Ludlam is a better 6. That’s not to say T Curry is not great all round flanker just that we have better specialists now than him imo. If Willis or Ludlum had to pull out I imagine T Curry would start for England again.

[FKAS]

Very harsh on James Grayson, who returned from a long injury last week and performed well - immediately bumped by Smith.

Back row battle could be good this game.

He doesn't seem to be rated by Saints does he Grayson. If he left he would probably find a club that would offer him better than third choice 10.

Imagine being in the position where you can tell Jack Willis you've got 50 mins to empty the tank then you're coming off for Tom Curry who's going to go full throttle for half an hour.

[twitchy]

Manu.

[Mellsblue]

Harsh, imo

[FKAS]

It's a nasty one. I think the ref is spot on, there could have been some mitigation for him falling but that would be reaching a bit. Borthwick has now got the opportunity to call up Seb Atkinson though ...

[Mellsblue]

Yep, ref is spot on… it’s the law that is harsh.

[Mellsblue]

Sale by 82

[Mellsblue]

I wish Ashman were English and Hill Scottish.

[Mellsblue]

I’m glad T Curry is English.

[twitchy]

Crazy game.

[Banquo]

just hope Tom Curry doesn't knock Jack Willis out of the starters

Think Manu will be pretty fired up as well

Me too, Imo Jack Willis is a better 7 than T Curry and L Ludlam is a better 6. That’s not to say T Curry is not great all round flanker just that we have better specialists now than him imo. If Willis or Ludlum had to pull out I imagine T Curry would start for England again.

pretty sure Curry will be starting if he gets thru today ,rightly.


Saints having a mare but Sale so smart.

[Mellsblue]

I’m glad Freeman is English and I’m perplexed he’s not playing for England.

[Banquo]

great try- Freeman great gas. Should be in England 23 imo

[Banquo]

thatll teach me to big him up

[Mellsblue]

thatll teach me to big him up

Ha! Was thinking exactly the same.

[Mellsblue]

Feeding?!?!?!? F. King. Hell.

[FKAS]

I'd have Freeman in for Malins though those last two kicks out on the full weren't pretty.

Wow, that's a novelty a scrum half done for feeding.