Tigers v Saints (H) - Saturday 28th January 2023 - KO 14:00

[sam16111986]

Aye but I did post that a day or two back. Leaves Saints short at lock which hopefully benefits us.

Both their starting locks now unavailable, that's a shame

Along with their starting hooker, entire starting back row, starting 9, starting 10, backup 10 (unless Grayson is back from injury this week), starting 13 & starting wing/fullback & their other option for starting fullback (Furbank) may have to cover 10 for them.

If we don't get the job done we'll be in for some ridicule.

[TigerFeetSteve]

According to Rugby Inside Line they have only 5 of their strongest 15 available

https://twitter.com/RugbyInsideLine/sta ... uPPsw&s=19

That said if you read the replies it shows we probably only have 6.

[Pellsey]

According to Rugby Inside Line they have only 5 of their strongest 15 available

https://twitter.com/RugbyInsideLine/sta ... uPPsw&s=19

That said if you read the replies it shows we probably only have 6.

Martin wasn't mentioned either here... So we also only have 5?

I don't think we would be rediculed if we were to lose. It is pretty much B-Team vs B-Team.

[LE18]

No one has mentioned Collins, another flying winger.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Saints have signed former Wasps hooker Tom Cruise as injury cover (one assumes that is confirming Matavesi isn't coming back soon)

[Chobbsy]

Saints have signed former Wasps hooker Tom Cruise as injury cover (one assumes that is confirming Matavesi isn't coming back soon)

A very good player, or at least he used to be. I haven't seen him in a while

[TigerFeetSteve]

https://twitter.com/RugbyInsideLine/sta ... 8xc7Q&s=19

Confirmed Dingwall & Salakaia-Loto both banned for this weekend.

[trendylfj]

Their 2 red cards from the W/E have been banned so they won't be playing - even weaker Saints side now but not taking anything for granted

[Ian Cant]

Both sides will be up for it. Look at last season: we beat Saints easily in both league games but the Saints really should have won the semi as they butchered 2-3 try scoring opportunities.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Saints Injury update from here
https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/new ... -derby-day

Q: Are you able to give an update on some of the other players currently out through injury?
PD: Juarno [Augustus] is back training. He’s back doing contact this week and we’re making sure we build up that hamstring to the point where we don’t have any issues moving forward. James Grayson is back training as well, he’s fit and he’s back running. He’s out of his boot and he’s starting kicking this week as well, so that’s a very positive sign for Jimmy.

Just before that they talked about Tom Cruise joining and said Sam Matavesi was still injured too.


So officially their injury list last week week was:

Juarno Augustus, James Fish, James Grayson, Emmanuel Iyogun, Joel Matavesi and Sam Matavesi.

https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/new ... -rochelais



Based on this I'd say it's unlikely to see any returnees, possibly Augustus, but think probably not, he would be a big returnee for them if available

[Tigerbeat]

George Furbank will lead out Northampton Saints at Mattioli Woods Welford Road this weekend when the men in Black, Green and Gold face East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers.

Saints have won on four of their last seven Derby visits to Leicester in all competitions, but have found life on the road in the Gallagher Premiership difficult this term with just one win in the league so far.

Tigers meanwhile have lost just one of their last seventeen home games in the competition, but with the sides deadlocked in sixth (Northampton) and seventh (Leicester) on 29 points, Saturday’s clash (kick-off: 2pm, live on BT Sport) could prove pivotal in the race for the play-offs.

As a result of injuries, suspensions and international call-ups, Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes ten changes to Saints’ side which started last weekend against Stade Rochelais – with Furbank preferred at fly-half and entrusted with captaincy duties ahead of the blockbuster clash.

Tom James will start alongside him at scrum-half, making his 50th appearance for Northampton, while Matt Proctor returns to the visitors’ midfield to join Scotland centre Rory Hutchinson.

Two further changes come in the back-three; James Ramm is selected at full-back, with Ollie Sleightholme earning his first start in the league since November, and Courtnall Skosan continuing on the other wing.

Juarno Augustus returns from a hamstring injury to make his first appearance of 2023 for Northampton, and the South African No.8 lines up alongside Angus Scott-Young and Aaron Hinkley in the back row.

Alex Moon, statistically the Gallagher Premiership’s top tackler so far this season with a 92% success rate and 142 to his name, is selected in the engine room with England international Alex Coles.

Alex Waller starts at loosehead prop to make his 26th appearance against Leicester – tying the record held jointly by Alf Chalmers (1898-1911) and Tom Harris (1924-1937) for most East Midlands Derbies for Saints. He packs down with Paul Hill and hooker Mike Haywood in the front row.

Meanwhile, amongst the replacements Northampton opt for a 6-2 split, with Brandon Nansen, Karl Wilkins and Sam Graham all hoping to bring some physicality off the bench, and Tom Litchfield primed for his first league appearance since October if he enters the action.

LEICESTER TIGERS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 16
Saturday 28 January 2023
Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Kick-off: 2pm

15 James Ramm
14 Courtnall Skosan
13 Matt Proctor
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 George Furbank (c)
9 Tom James – 50th Saints Appearance

1 Alex Waller
2 Mike Haywood
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Moon
5 Alex Coles
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Aaron Hinkley
8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Ethan Waller
18 Alfie Petch
19 Brandon Nansen
20 Karl Wilkins
21 Sam Graham
22 Callum Braley
23 Tom Litchfield

Not considered for selection:
Tom Collins, Fraser Dingwall, James Fish, Emmanuel Iyogun, Courtney Lawes, Joel Matavesi, Sam Matavesi and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.

International Duty:
Tommy Freeman, Lewis Ludlam, Alex Mitchell, David Ribbans, and Fin Smith (all England).

[RagingBull]

Porter
Watson
Wiese
Martin
All back is great news

[TigerFeetSteve]

Indeed!

[Chobbsy]

George Furbank will lead out Northampton Saints at Mattioli Woods Welford Road this weekend when the men in Black, Green and Gold face East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers.

Saints have won on four of their last seven Derby visits to Leicester in all competitions, but have found life on the road in the Gallagher Premiership difficult this term with just one win in the league so far.

Tigers meanwhile have lost just one of their last seventeen home games in the competition, but with the sides deadlocked in sixth (Northampton) and seventh (Leicester) on 29 points, Saturday’s clash (kick-off: 2pm, live on BT Sport) could prove pivotal in the race for the play-offs.

As a result of injuries, suspensions and international call-ups, Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes ten changes to Saints’ side which started last weekend against Stade Rochelais – with Furbank preferred at fly-half and entrusted with captaincy duties ahead of the blockbuster clash.

Tom James will start alongside him at scrum-half, making his 50th appearance for Northampton, while Matt Proctor returns to the visitors’ midfield to join Scotland centre Rory Hutchinson.

Two further changes come in the back-three; James Ramm is selected at full-back, with Ollie Sleightholme earning his first start in the league since November, and Courtnall Skosan continuing on the other wing.

Juarno Augustus returns from a hamstring injury to make his first appearance of 2023 for Northampton, and the South African No.8 lines up alongside Angus Scott-Young and Aaron Hinkley in the back row.

Alex Moon, statistically the Gallagher Premiership’s top tackler so far this season with a 92% success rate and 142 to his name, is selected in the engine room with England international Alex Coles.

Alex Waller starts at loosehead prop to make his 26th appearance against Leicester – tying the record held jointly by Alf Chalmers (1898-1911) and Tom Harris (1924-1937) for most East Midlands Derbies for Saints. He packs down with Paul Hill and hooker Mike Haywood in the front row.

Meanwhile, amongst the replacements Northampton opt for a 6-2 split, with Brandon Nansen, Karl Wilkins and Sam Graham all hoping to bring some physicality off the bench, and Tom Litchfield primed for his first league appearance since October if he enters the action.

LEICESTER TIGERS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 16
Saturday 28 January 2023
Mattioli Woods Welford Road
Kick-off: 2pm

15 James Ramm
14 Courtnall Skosan
13 Matt Proctor
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 George Furbank (c)
9 Tom James – 50th Saints Appearance

1 Alex Waller
2 Mike Haywood
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Moon
5 Alex Coles
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Aaron Hinkley
8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Ethan Waller
18 Alfie Petch
19 Brandon Nansen
20 Karl Wilkins
21 Sam Graham
22 Callum Braley
23 Tom Litchfield

Not considered for selection:
Tom Collins, Fraser Dingwall, James Fish, Emmanuel Iyogun, Courtney Lawes, Joel Matavesi, Sam Matavesi and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.

International Duty:
Tommy Freeman, Lewis Ludlam, Alex Mitchell, David Ribbans, and Fin Smith (all England).

That is a pretty decent team, not shabby at all

[Tigerbeat]

Wiese is back!!!!