Sale Sharks vs Northampton Saints

Both sides exchange grubbers and with just a couple of minutes left, Saints are going to run out of time here. They still are looking for that bonus point score.

Saints building phases but not making ground as Sale hold firm. 

Grayson has a knock to his hip, and on comes Dingwall with Mallinder moving to 10.

Northampton sense there is something to be had out of this game, and Sale moving slowly to the lineout here, and as they go off their feet again at the following breakdown, Mallinder sends a penalty into touch.

Rob Du Preez is on for Sale and kicks off straight into touch, so it's a Saints scrum – and another huge shove somehow doesn't earn them a penalty, but they get another chance.

Yet another penalty as Sale go off their feet and Saints are into the corner. Try certainly needed here for the visitors.

Franks, Auterac, Marshall and Ribbans on now for Saints.

Saints throw everyone into the maul again and win another penalty as that rumbles towards the line! They will have another chance...it goes down again but Tempest awards that one to Sale.

Taylor over the ball again as Sale go in at the side and yet another penalty for Northampton. A lot of chat from Sharks and Tempest moves it up ten. Meanwhile that's Taylor's last action as Mitchell comes on.

Sharks in at the side, and Grayson pumps the resulting penalty into the corner. But Fish's throw is not straight and possession changes hands. Some movement on the Saints bench with several replacements getting ready.

Hammersley, under pressure from Tuala and Mallinder, slices one out on the full and Saints have a lineout on the 22. JJ Tonks flies into contact across the gainline, and Saints have a good position here. 

Saints' Isiekwe rises highest to claim a lineout, but Francis can't find Grayson and the visitors are knocked backwards slightly. 30 minutes left to play.

Knock-on from Sale on the floor and Saints recover possession in a promising position, just outside the 22. Yet another scrum is reset with the pitch cutting up a bit, and the ball does not come out of the next one with Northampton coughing up possession.

MacGinty's conversion is missed from out wide. Saints need a response here.

Penalty to Sale this time as Saints pinged for holding on. Sharks' lineout is collected by Ross but Van der Merwe is going nowhere and De Klerk takes charge.

Teimana Harrison is off for Saints with a knock, and is replaced for the second half by JJ Tonks.

Back underway then at the AJ Bell Stadium as James Grayson kicks off!

COME ON YOU SAINTS!!

Scrum penalty for Northampton! The set piece has looked good so far for Saints and they can clear the danger here as the clock ticks into the red.

Proctor is so nearly through a gap after fast hands from Northampton! But the centre knocks on and Sale hoof it clear, before Mallinder returns it. Van Rensberg goes through a gap for Sale and this is dangerous, before Saints are let off by a forward pass.

Scrum down for a Saints put in just inside their own half. Francis trucks it up but is held by Curry. Taylor boxes and then as Hammersley returns it, the scrum half gets over the ball and wins a penalty! Grayson hits it to just outside the 22.

Shoulder charge from Jono Ross on Mallinder off the ball earns Saints a shot at goal. Grayson confidently steps up but it just drifts right.

Unlucky for Saints as the ball is just fumbled from the lineout as Isiekwe transfers to Moon. There's one, then two, then three scrum resets, before Sale put in again and this time get it out before clearing through MacGinty.

Scrum penalty won by Paul Hill and Grayson heads to the corner once again.

Saints have their tails up now and Wood applies some pressure to earn a turnover in midfield. Northampton scrum inside Sale's half.

Taylor's box kick is charged down but Isiekwe does well to recover and Taylor clears this time and Proctor steals it! Grayson looks for Collins in the corner, but it's just out of reach. Suspicion of a deliberate knock on from Hammersley, but the referee lets it go.

Another penalty for Saints as Sale collapse the maul, and Grayson is right up to the 5m line now.

Taylor is played illegally and Saints are awarded a penalty. Grayson goes to the corner, and meanwhile George Furbank will not be returning from his HIA.

Great turnover from Fish and Grayson clears into space, but as the ball comes back Sale get a hand on the return and scramble it back on their side. A couple of strong carries get them up to the line, and from there they earn a scrum put in as the ball is unplayable.

Hill pops up in the scrum, and while the tighthead doesn't agree with the decision, the penalty goes to Sale and MacGinty goes for the posts again. He pushes this one to the right of the posts however and the score stays at 10-0.

Sale look to break Saints' line but it is stern defence this time from Northampton; good line speed and physicality gets its reward as Sam James throws a forward pass.

Francis is penalised for crossing as Collins cuts in behind him, allowing the Sharks to clear again. Disappointing outcome for the visitors.

Saints' first scrum is very strong and they have some momentum. Moon and Ratuniyarawa truck it up, with Saints looking for some space. 

Furbank gets a very nasty looking knock to the head and stays down. Let's hope he's ok. Harry Mallinder is warmed up and off the bench for Saints, with Furbank off for an HIA.

Grayson unlucky as the linesman's flag goes up – that ball did not look out on the full. Sale go to the maul and win another penalty to clear their lines.

Sharks make a few early carries in midfield before De Klerk boxes and Furbank finds touch well.

Just five minutes until we’re underway at the AJ Bell Stadium, and both Northampton and Sale are back in the sheds making their final preparations.

Looking for the game on TV? All matches played behind closed doors this season will be broadcast live on BT Sport – tonight we’re on BT Sport Extra, so head over to BT Sport and hit the red button to watch along live (but stick with our live text too, obviously!)

Some words from the boss from midweek ahead of this game…

“We were so disappointed with the way we finished last season that there's a real air of having an opportunity to start again,” said Boyd. “We just want to play good footy.

“Year two was a total disappointment really. We went from fourth in year one to eighth in year two, and that's unacceptable.

“We just want to get the foundations of our game back again and play some code and do the best we can.

“The saving grace (towards the end of last season) was that in patches we played reasonably well but in other patches we were terrible, so we know the recipe is there and we've just got to mix it up the right way.

“The end of last season was really disappointing and there's a bit of a resolve that it's not good enough and the only people who can do something about it is us.”

And now Chris Boyd’s first matchday 23 of the season for Northampton Saints…

SAINTS: Furbank, Tuala, Proctor, Francis, Collins, Grayson, Taylor; Waller (c), Fish, Hill, Moon, Ratuniyarawa, Isiekwe, Wood, Harrison
Replacements: Marshall, Auterac, Franks, Ribbans, Tonks, Mitchell, Dingwall, Mallinder

It’s a first competitive appearance in nine months for Club co-captain Alex Waller, who is back from a nasty achilles injury. Saints also welcome the likes of Tom Wood, Nick Auterac and Harry Mallinder back from the treatment table in the 23. George Furbank, David Ribbans and Alex Mitchell also return from international duty for Northampton, and No.10 James Grayson will be looking to control the game from the fly-half berth.

Here’s how our hosts line-up this evening…

SHARKS: L James, Solomona, S James, J V Rensburg, Hammersley, MacGinty, De Klerk; Morozov, Van der Merwe, Oosthuizen, Wiese, JL du Preez, Ross (c), B Curry, D du Preez
Replacements: Langdon, Rodd, Cooper-Woolley, Phillips, Postlethwaite, Cliff, R du Preez, McGuigan

Did you miss the big news from this morning? Director of Rugby Chris Boyd has extended his contract at Franklin’s Gardens and is set for at least two more seasons at the helm.

To read the full story, CLICK HERE.

Good evening and welcome to the AJ Bell Stadium for the opening Gallagher Premiership fixture of the season for the men in Black, Green and Gold! Northampton Saints take on Sale Sharks looking to get their league campaign off to a flying start in Manchester – just four weeks on from the conclusion of last season.