RugbyRebels

SALE SHARKS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 1
Sunday 15 October, 2023
Kick-off: 1.30pm

SALE
15 Joe Carpenter
14 Tom Roebuck
13 Sam James
12 Sam Bedlow
11 Tom O’Flaherty
10 Rob du Preez (c)
9 Raffi Quirke
1 Si McIntyre
2 Tommy Taylor
3 Nick Schonert
4 Ernst van Rhyn
5 Jonny Hill
6 JL du Preez
7 Sam Dugdale
8 Dan du Preez
  
Replacements:  
16 Ethan Caine
17 Ross Harrison
18 James Harper
19 Cobus Wiese
20 Josh Beaumont
21 Gus Warr
22 Tom Curtis
23 Arron Reed

SAINTS
15 George Hendy
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Fraser Dingwall (c)
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 James Ramm
10 Fin Smith
9 Tom James

1 Ethan Waller
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Trevor Davison
4 Alex Moon
5 Alex Coles
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Tom Pearson
8 Sam Graham

Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Alex Waller
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Tom Lockett
20 Chunya Munga
21 Archie McParland
22 James Grayson
23 Tom Seabrook

Not available for selection:
Juarno Augustus, Callum Braley, George Furbank, Emmanuel Iyogun, Tarek Haffar, Beltus Nonleh and Burger Odendaal.

International duty:
Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Alex Mitchell (all England), Sam Matavesi and Temo Mayanavanua (both Fiji).

Interesting that Quirke goes straight into the starting XV, having been solidly behind Warr at the end of last season. Hopefully he's had a really good off-season and got his body back into full fitness again.

Puja

Great to see Coles back playing.

Number of notable absentees for Saints through injury already. Real shame to see neither of their young looseheads play. Centres may remain a problem and poor Freeman still can't get a go at 15.

Sale look pretty strong. Taylor is a good third choice hooker. Yeah I'll echo Puja as well and say I'm surprised Warr is benching, hoping that means Quirke is back to his very best.

I’m still struggling with the magnificence of Saints’ No6’s name.

Beasties wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 1:02 pm I’m still struggling with the magnificence of Saints’ No6’s name.

Hells bells!!! I hadn't noticed that.

Fingers crossed for Quirke. From an England POV his good form would be very welcome.

These look 2 pretty evenly matched sides.

Good to see Archie McParland involved - he's been really good in pre season and the cup matches.

Think I'd have put Seabrook on the wing and Freeman at 15, but there we go.

Hard match to call - both teams look decent and similarly shorn of players to the WC and injury.

p/d wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 1:06 pm

Beasties wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 1:02 pm I’m still struggling with the magnificence of Saints’ No6’s name.

Hells bells!!! I hadn't noticed that.

I enjoyed the roller coaster that is guessing his nationality.
Angus: good solid Scotsman that spent his youth stalking deer in the borders whilst drinking Iron Bru.
Scott: good solid Aussie who grew up stealing and surfing.
Young: ah, he’s English with a singularly inability to pass to any flyhalf’s midriff.

Close game in the end. Saints kept coughing up the ball in promising positions. Could have been a win if we held onto the ball.

Early signs are reasonably positive in terms of our defence improving.

Saints very poor in the red zone. Failure to convert cost them dear.

Impressed with Carpenter. Not a big guy but very good in the air, excellent with the ball and a solid kicking game.