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Recap: Northampton Saints vs London Irish LIVE | Gallagher Premiership
By RugbyPass
Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the Gallagher Premiership match between Northampton Saints and London Irish at Franklin’s Gardens.
Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation from anywhere in the world in our Live Match Centre (click here).
London Irish boss Declan Kidney accepts his team will tackle a form side when they meet the Saints on Friday night. The Premiership resumes after a two-week break for European action during which time Saracens' relegation from English rugby's top flight was confirmed following their salary cap breaches.
Although Saracens, having been docked 35 points earlier this season, still faced a battle to avoid the drop, their fate has now been sealed. And it means that clubs like tenth-placed Irish and Leicester, in eleventh, can play the rest of this campaign with no fear of being demoted.
Irish head to Franklin's Gardens, where Northampton have won their last five league games and are unbeaten there in Premiership action since April. Victory for Saints would take them top of the league above Exeter, with the Chiefs in action against Sale Sharks on Saturday.
(Continue reading below...)
Declan Kidney talks to RugbyPass about life as a director of rugby
Irish, meanwhile, have suffered seven successive losses in all competitions and their last league away win was almost four months ago.
"Northampton are a team in good form, as shown by their position in the league table and securing qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions Cup," Irish rugby director Kidney said. "We know it will be a challenge, but one that we are looking forward to."
New Zealand international Waisake Naholo lines up on the wing for Irish, while former Northampton player Stephen Myler, who made more than 300 appearances for Saints, starts at fly-half.
In the pack, there is a chance for prop Sekope Kepu, who makes a first start for the club, with Adam Coleman partnering skipper Franco van der Merwe at lock.
Northampton boss Chris Boyd has made eight changes for a return to league action following last weekend's Champions Cup victory over Lyon.
Fly-half James Grayson and centre Rory Hutchinson are among the starters as Saints go into action without their England Six Nations squad members. Other players called up include prop Ben Franks and number eight Mitch Eadie.
"We've spoken about Stevie (Myler) and his kicking is a real threat. He can nudge them over from anywhere," Northampton prop Alex Waller said. "I haven't spoken to Stevie this week yet, but I'm looking forward to playing against him. It's always nice when you see your mates.”
NORTHAMPTON: 15. Ahsee Tuala; 14. Ollie Sleightholme, 13. Rory Hutchinson, 12. Piers Francis, 11. Taqele Naiyaravoro; 10. James Grayson, 9. Cobus Reinach; 1. Ben Franks, 2. Mike Haywood, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Alex Coles, 5. Api Ratuniyarawa, 6. Tom Wood, 7. Teimana Harrison (capt), 8. Mitch Eadie. Reps: 16. James Fish, 17. Alex Waller, 18. Ehren Painter, 19. Lewis Bean, 20. JJ Tonks, 21. Henry Taylor, 22. Andrew Symons, 23. Tom Collins
LONDON IRISH: 15. James Stokes; 14. Waisake Naholo, 13. Curtis Rona, 12. Terrence Hepetema, 11. Ollie Hassell-Collins; 10. Stephen Myler, 9. Ben Meehan; 1. Harry Elrington, 2. Dave Porecki, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Franco van der Merwe (capt), 5. Adam Coleman, 6. Matt Rogerson, 7. Blair Cowan, 8. Albert Tuisue. Reps: 16. Ben Atkins, 17. Allan Dell, 18. Ollie Hoskins, 19. Steve Mafi, 20. Ben Donnell, 21. Nick Phipps, 22. Tom Stephenson, 23. Matt Williams.
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Latest Comments
It might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
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