Phil Dowson has named his first side of the new Gallagher Premiership season, as Northampton Saints get their league campaign underway against last season’s finalists Sale Sharks this weekend.
The men in Black, Green and Gold – who reached their third Premiership semi-final in five seasons last term – go in search of their first league victory in Sale since 2017, where the results have gone the way of the home side for Saints’ last seven Premiership trips to the Salford Community Stadium.
And Dowson rings the changes as his side go in search of that elusive away victory on Sunday (15 October, kick-off: 1.30pm) – with Saints making six changes to the team that defeated Doncaster Knights 82-12 at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend.
Ethan Waller, Alex Coles and Angus Scott-Young all come into Northampton’s pack; Waller returns to make his third start of the season in Saints’ front row alongside hooker Curtis Langdon and prop Trevor Davison, while Coles returns from injury to pack down with Alex Moon in the second row.
Scott-Young will also make his third start of the term as he joins No.8 Sam Graham and last weekend’s Player of the Match Tom Pearson in Saints’ back row.
In the backs it is Tom James, Tommy Freeman and George Hendy who join Northampton’s starting XV; scrum-half James starts alongside Fin Smith in the half-back berths for the third time this season, while winger Freeman and fullback Hendy join James Ramm in the back three.
Saints’ centre pairing remains unchanged for the third week running with Fraser Dingwall – who takes on the captaincy this weekend – and Rory Hutchinson partnering there to complete the starting XV.
Amongst Saints’ replacements, Alex Waller could hit yet another milestone for Northampton on Sunday, as he is primed to become the Club’s ninth most-capped player in history if he makes his 357th appearance from the bench.
Meanwhile the likes of Robbie Smith, Elliot Millar Mills, Chunya Munga and James Grayson are also set to make an impact should they enter the action at Sale.
SALE SHARKS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 1
Sunday 15 October, 2023
Kick-off: 1.30pm
15 George Hendy
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Fraser Dingwall (c)
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 James Ramm
10 Fin Smith
9 Tom James
1 Ethan Waller
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Trevor Davison
4 Alex Moon
5 Alex Coles
6 Angus Scott-Young
7 Tom Pearson
8 Sam Graham
Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Alex Waller
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Tom Lockett
20 Chunya Munga
21 Archie McParland
22 James Grayson
23 Tom Seabrook
Not available for selection:
Juarno Augustus, Callum Braley, George Furbank, Emmanuel Iyogun, Tarek Haffar, Beltus Nonleh and Burger Odendaal.
International duty:
Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Alex Mitchell (all England), Sam Matavesi and Temo Mayanavanua (both Fiji).
SALE TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Sam James, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Rob du Preez (c), 9 Raffi Quirke; 1 Si McIntyre, 2 Tommy Taylor, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 JL du Preez, 7 Sam Dugdale, 8 Dan du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Caine, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 James Harper, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Josh Beaumont, 21 Gus Warr, 22 Tom Curtis, 23 Arron Reed.
Referee: Adam Leal
Assistant referees: Neil Chivers and Ryan Collier
No. 4: Peter Allan
TMO: Andrew Jackson
