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Northampton Saints have lost a duo of England internationals due to ‘illness’.
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Api Ratuniyarawa will start Northampton Saints’ clash against Sale Sharks this afternoon, with Tom Wood ruled out this morning through illness.
The 33-year-old Fiji international comes into the second row, while Courtney Lawes shifts to flanker to cover for the absent Wood, and Lewis Bean takes Ratuniyarawa’s spot amongst the replacements – wearing No.19.
Paul Hill is also ruled out through illness and Owen Franks takes his place on the bench.
Northampton Saints director of rugby Chris Boyd has been able to call on the cavalry this weekend, with the likes of Courtney Lawes, George Furbank and Cobus Reinach all returning from injury against Sale Sharks.
The men in Black, Green and Gold travel to Manchester in round six of the Gallagher Premiership with four wins from five matches so far to their name, although they face a tough challenge on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) having won just twice at the AJ Bell Stadium in league action.
Boyd makes ten changes to the line-up that went down to Pro14 champions Leinster last weekend in Dublin, with Lawes returning from a hamstring problem that has kept him out of action since mid-November to take his place at lock.
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Alex Moon also is named in the second row, while Club co-captain Alex Waller, Mikey Haywood and Ehren Painter all come into a new-look tight five.
Lewis Ludlam kept his place in the Northampton pack, although he shifts to flanker to make room for co-captain Teimana Harrison at number eight to round off a back row packed with international experience.
World Cup winner Reinach shakes off the knee injury that kept him out of last weekend’s trip to Dublin to re-join Dan Biggar in the half-back axis, while Rory Hutchinson also returns at inside centre to link up with Matt Proctor in Saints’ midfield.
Taqele Naiyaravoro keeps his place on the wing but Tom Collins – Northampton’s top try-scorer so far this season – and Furbank return to complete an electric back three.
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15 George Furbank
14 Tom Collins
13 Matt Proctor
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach
1 Alex Waller (co-capt)
2 Mike Haywood
3 Ehren Painter
4 Alex Moon
5 Api Ratuniyarawa
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Lewis Ludlam
8 Teimana Harrison (co-capt)
Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Francois Van Wyk
18 Owen Franks
19 Lewis Bean
20 Mitch Eadie
21 Connor Tupai
22 Piers Francis
23 Ahsee Tuala
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments