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| 18 April 2003, 9:50 am |
| England Boys Drafted Into The Starting Line-Up For Newcastle Test |
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Northampton Saints' five current England squad players have all been drafted into the starting line-up for Easter Sunday's league match against Newcastle Falcons.
Prop Robbie Morris will make his second start in five days, Ben Cohen, Matt Dawson and Steve Thompson have moved up from the bench, and Paul Grayson will start the game at fly-half after recovering from a virus.
Lock Matt Lord and full-back Nick Beal make a return to the team after sitting out the victory against Bristol Shoguns on Wednesday with slight injuries. Mark Connors has been drafted into the second row after Steve Williams went off the pitch on Wednesday night with a cut to his head.
Head coach Wayne Smith said: "Newcastle's spirit has gone up and they have got some exceptional players. They are going to be tough competition, and they are playing at home.
"We have got to go for bonus points for the rest of this season, which means taking risks at times. It is our only avenue really. We have to fight to be in that top three otherwise we would not be true to ourselves and our people."
Sunday's match kicks off at the later time of 3pm. Club coaches will leave Franklin's Gardens at 9am, an hour earlier than the previously advertised time of 10am.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
15 NICK BEAL
14 ORIOL RIPOL
13 PETER JORGENSEN
12 JOHN LESLIE
11 BEN COHEN
10 PAUL GRAYSON
9 MATT DAWSON
1 TOM SMITH
2 STEVE THOMPSON
3 ROBBIE MORRIS
4 Matt Lord
5 MARK CONNORS
6 Darren Fox
7 BUDGE POUNTNEY (capt)
8 ANDREW BLOWERS
Replacements from:
Matt Miles, MATT STEWART, Chris Budgen, Rob Hunter, Mark Soden, Grant Seely, James Brooks, BRUCE REIHANA and Mark Tucker. |
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