Sale vs Gloucester
Kickoff: 7:45pm Friday
These two teams came into the season with different expectations but perhaps those have flipped for this game. Gloucester had a disappointing first game against Saracens but won a thrilling match against Bristol last week. They will be looking to continue that momentum into this game. Sale will be looking to really get things going this season after a tight, messy win over Harlequins and a disappointing drubbing by Saracens. The Sharks are still struggling with injuries and will need to grind out some results before some key players return.
Team news:
Sale:
The Sharks make six changes to their XV for Friday. Both Curry brothers, Ford and Jean-Luc du Preez are all injured. Rob Du Preez moves to fly-half in place of George Ford. Nayacalevu drops to the bench so both centres have changed with Bedlow and Addison in the 12 and 13 shirts.
Gloucester:
Gloucester will be buoyed by the return of Val Rapava-Ruskin at prop. He will play alongside Blake and Fasogbon in the front row.It looks as though Gloucester are aiming for continuity to maintain the momentum from last Friday.
Line-ups:
Sale:
1. Mcintyre 2.cowan-Dickie 3.Opoku-Fudjour 4.Bamber 5.Beaument 6.Van Rhyn 7.Dugdale 8.Birch
9.Warr 10. R.Du-Preez(C) 11.Reed 12.Bedlow 13.Addison 14.Roebuck 15.Carpenter
Gloucester:
1.Val Rapava-Ruskin 2.Blake 3.Fasogbon 4.Clarke 5.Clark 6.Clement 7.Taylor 8.Mercer
9. Tomos Williams(C) 10.Anscombe 11.Llewellyn 12.Atkinson 13.Harris 14.Wade 15.Barton
Northampton vs Harlequins
Kickoff: 7:45pm Friday
Unfortunately for neutrals, the Harlequins injury issues amongst the backs means that Marcus Smith will play at fullback meaning there will be no Smith vs Smith fly-half battle. This would have been an uphill battle for Harlequins regardless but the mounting injuries mean that a result at the Cinch Stadium would be a big surprise. As for the Saints, after getting a first win of the season against Exeter, they could do with a statement win to entirely release the pressure and this could be a great chance to do just that.
Team news:
Northampton:
The Saints are still without Alex Mitchell due to a neck injury so James starts at scrumhalf. Ollie Sleightholme and Sam Graham come back into the starting XV. Look out for Henry Pollock making his first appearance of the season off of the becnch.
Harlequins:
Leigh Halfpenny and Cassius Cleaves joined the ever-expanding Harlequins injury list. Marcus Smith starts at 15 with Jarrod Evans lining up at fly-half. Tyrone Green is also still injured. Danny Care makes his first start of the season.
Line-ups:
Northampton:
1.Iyogun 2.Langdon 3.Davison 3.Davison 4.Munga 5.Coles 6.Kemeny 7.Pearson 8.Graham
9. James 10.Smith 11.Sleightholme 12.Hutchinson 13.Dingwall 14. Freeman 15.Furbank
Harlequins:
1.Baxter 2.Walker 3.Lamositele 4.Herbst 5.Lewies(C) 6.Kenningham 7.Evans 8.Cunninghham-South
9.Care 10.Evans 11.Beard . Anyanwu 13.Joseph 14.David 15.Smith
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