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| 9 May 2003, 12:15 pm |
| Pountney Out Of Leeds Showdown |
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Northampton Saints' co-captain Budge Pountney will miss out on what could potentially be the club's last game of the season.
The former Scotland international failed a fitness test on a neck injury this morning and will not be able to take part in tomorrow's game against Leeds Tykes.
Darren Fox will move into the No 7 position, Mark Connors will go into the back-row from lock, and Steve Williams will start in the second row.
There are just 450 tickets left for tomorrow's league game which will determine whether Saints gain automatic European qualification and/or a Zurich Premiership semi-final place, or a Zurich Wildcard spot.
Leeds, however, will start the game on the same amount of league points, and have the same goals to play for as Saints.
Head coach Wayne Smith said: "Tomorrow's game is a great opportunity for us, but we have a very big obstacle in the way - Leeds. You have to admire the way in which Phil Davies and his team have learned the lessons at this level, and how they have applied them. To achieve the results they have this year shows not just character and spirit, but brains as well."
If Saints do win the game and finish fourth, it will be the team's last game of the season and last game for the club for Peter Jorgensen and Matt Stewart. It will also mark the last Northampton Saints match day for Kelvin Todd, Simon Hepher and Ian Vass, who are also leaving the club at the end of the season.
Northampton Saints
15 NICK BEAL
14 BRUCE REIHANA
13 PETER JORGENSEN
12 JOHN LESLIE (capt)
11 BEN COHEN
10 PAUL GRAYSON
9 MATT DAWSON
1 MATT STEWART
2 STEVE THOMPSON
3 ROBBIE MORRIS
4 STEVE WILLIAMS
5 Matt Lord
6 MARK CONNORS
7 Darren Fox
8 ANDREW BLOWERS
Replacements:
16 Matt Miles
17 Chris Budgen
18 Rob Hunter
19 Grant Seely
20 James Brooks
21 Mark Tucker
22 ORIOL RIPOL |
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