Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Recap: Northampton Saints vs London Irish LIVE | Gallagher Premiership

RugbyPass Live Match Centre

Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the Gallagher Premiership match between Northampton Saints and London Irish at Franklin’s Gardens. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation from anywhere in the world in our Live Match Centre (click here).

London Irish boss Declan Kidney accepts his team will tackle a form side when they meet the Saints on Friday night. The Premiership resumes after a two-week break for European action during which time Saracens’ relegation from English rugby’s top flight was confirmed following their salary cap breaches.

Although Saracens, having been docked 35 points earlier this season, still faced a battle to avoid the drop, their fate has now been sealed. And it means that clubs like tenth-placed Irish and Leicester, in eleventh, can play the rest of this campaign with no fear of being demoted.

Irish head to Franklin’s Gardens, where Northampton have won their last five league games and are unbeaten there in Premiership action since April. Victory for Saints would take them top of the league above Exeter, with the Chiefs in action against Sale Sharks on Saturday.

(Continue reading below…)

Declan Kidney talks to RugbyPass about life as a director of rugby  

Video Spacer

Irish, meanwhile, have suffered seven successive losses in all competitions and their last league away win was almost four months ago. 

“Northampton are a team in good form, as shown by their position in the league table and securing qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions Cup,” Irish rugby director Kidney said. “We know it will be a challenge, but one that we are looking forward to.”

ADVERTISEMENT

New Zealand international Waisake Naholo lines up on the wing for Irish, while former Northampton player Stephen Myler, who made more than 300 appearances for Saints, starts at fly-half.

In the pack, there is a chance for prop Sekope Kepu, who makes a first start for the club, with Adam Coleman partnering skipper Franco van der Merwe at lock.

Northampton boss Chris Boyd has made eight changes for a return to league action following last weekend’s Champions Cup victory over Lyon.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fly-half James Grayson and centre Rory Hutchinson are among the starters as Saints go into action without their England Six Nations squad members. Other players called up include prop Ben Franks and number eight Mitch Eadie.

“We’ve spoken about Stevie (Myler) and his kicking is a real threat. He can nudge them over from anywhere,” Northampton prop Alex Waller said. “I haven’t spoken to Stevie this week yet, but I’m looking forward to playing against him. It’s always nice when you see your mates.”

NORTHAMPTON: 15. Ahsee Tuala; 14. Ollie Sleightholme, 13. Rory Hutchinson, 12. Piers Francis, 11. Taqele Naiyaravoro; 10. James Grayson, 9. Cobus Reinach; 1. Ben Franks, 2. Mike Haywood, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Alex Coles, 5. Api Ratuniyarawa, 6. Tom Wood, 7. Teimana Harrison (capt), 8. Mitch Eadie. Reps: 16. James Fish, 17. Alex Waller, 18. Ehren Painter, 19. Lewis Bean, 20. JJ Tonks, 21. Henry Taylor, 22. Andrew Symons, 23. Tom Collins 

LONDON IRISH: 15. James Stokes; 14. Waisake Naholo, 13. Curtis Rona, 12. Terrence Hepetema, 11. Ollie Hassell-Collins; 10. Stephen Myler, 9. Ben Meehan; 1. Harry Elrington, 2. Dave Porecki, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Franco van der Merwe (capt), 5. Adam Coleman, 6. Matt Rogerson, 7. Blair Cowan, 8. Albert Tuisue. Reps: 16. Ben Atkins, 17. Allan Dell, 18. Ollie Hoskins, 19. Steve Mafi, 20. Ben Donnell, 21. Nick Phipps, 22. Tom Stephenson, 23. Matt Williams.

WATCH: How the Saracens salary cap scandal could strengthen New Zealand rugby

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
AM 44 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

72 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Joe Marler has sold England down the river – Andy Goode Joe Marler has sold England down the river – Andy Goode
Search