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North to make second comeback attempt alongside Saints' Springbok debutant

By Online Editors
Wales wing George North

George North is getting a second shot at a comeback after being withdrawn at the last minute last weekend in the Anglo Welsh Cup, and he will do so alongside a Springbok backrow.

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Heinrich Brüssow is poised to make his first appearance for Northampton Saints off the bench on Friday evening, with the hosts making five changes to the starting line-up from last week’s triumph over Sale Sharks.

The British & Irish Lion wing will make his injury comeback, while Ken Pisi – who has three tries in Saints’ last four matches – is on the other wing and Ahsee Tuala continues at fullback.

The hosts – who earlier this week announced Hurricanes boss Chris Boyd as their new Director of Rugby from next season – can advance to the knockout stages of the competition with a victory over Harlequins at Franklin’s Gardens, kick-off 7.45pm, having reached the semi-finals in three of the past five seasons.

Piers Francis returns to the No.10 jersey and will partner up with scrum-half Cobus Reinach, who starts his third straight game in the Black, Green and Gold.

Nafi Tuitavake, scorer of last week’s match-winning try against Sale Sharks, and Tom Stephenson are retained in Northampton’s midfield, but one change is made in the front row with Mikey Haywood coming in to join Francois Van Wyk and Kieran Brookes.

Jamie Gibson and Teimana Harrison – who were rested last weekend – return to the back row, but the Franklin’s Gardens faithful could capture a glimpse of Brüssow off the bench as he pulls on the Saints jersey for the very first time.

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The South Africa international joined up with the squad a fortnight ago and will hope to make an impact in the closing stages, as will Ben Foden, Mitch Eadie and Nic Groom who return to the replacements list after being rested last week.

“This game presents another tough test for us in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, a competition we are very keen to advance in,” said Saints technical coaching consultant Alan Gaffney.

“This is the first chance of the season to pick up some silverware, and we want to win everything that’s on offer to us as a Club.

“Harlequins will be a tough test, but we are confident we can continue to build the momentum we have created in recent weeks with another victory heading back into the Aviva Premiership.”

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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