Tigers have picked a strong team for the clash, with Freddie Steward returning from his rest period and Freddie Burns back at fly-half. Jack van Poortvliet is also set to play his 50th Tigers match, an impressive milestone for the young England No 9, also named as vice-captain. Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Matt Proctor, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Alex Mitchell, 1 Emmanuel Iyogun, 2 Sam Matavesi, 3 Alfie Petch, 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Alex Coles, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Lewis Ludlam (c), 8 Juarno Augustus; Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Alex Moon, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Tom James, 22 James Grayson, 23 Tom Collins Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Guy Porter, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 1 James Cronin, 2 Charlie Clare, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Ollie Chessum, 5 Calum Green, 6 George Martin, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (c); Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Phil Cokanasiga, 23 Chris Ashton Prediction: Leicester by six More from Rugby UnionSaracens v Gloucester RugbySaturday 24 September, 3pm kick-offSaracens’ first home game of the season will see their new West Stand surely rocking after a win over rivals Harlequins, as they welcome the Cherry and Whites.
” Teams Bristol Bears: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Rich Lane, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Harry Randall, 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Will Capon, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Ed Holmes, 5 Joe Joyce, 6 Chris Vui, 7 Jake Heenan (c), 8 Magnus Bradbury; Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 John Hawkins, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Henry Purdy London Irish: 15 Henry Arundell, 14 Will Joseph, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Benhard van Rensburg, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ben White, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 2 Isaac Miller, 3 Oliver Hoskins, 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Matt Rogerson (c), 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Chandler Cunningham-South; Replacements: 16 Joseph Vajner, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 Josh Caulfield, 20 Ben Donnell, 21 Caolan Englefield, 22 James Stokes, 23 Ben Loader Prediction: Bristol by 12 Northampton Saints v Leicester TigersSaturday 24 September, 2pm kick-off, coverage starts 2. 30pm on BT Sport 1Both teams come off the back of victories into this Midlands derby which should be a great contest, with Lewis Ludlam, Dan Biggar, Tommy Freeman and Courtney Lawes all set for returns for the hosts while Alex Mitchell continues his fine form at scrum-half.
Cameron Jordan, 20 Jordy Reid, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 23 Kyle Moyle Prediction: Saracens by 11 Worcester Warriors v Newcastle FalconsSaturday 24 September, 3pm kick-offDuhan van der Merwe’s first appearance this season is a small ray of sunshine at Sixways amid the ongoing turmoil at the club.
Their visitors, Newcastle, are keenly aware of the tumult and potential for the match to be retroactively scrubbed from the record, but head coach Dave Walder has insisted upon total focus on the match: “As the head coach of Newcastle there’s nothing I can do about that. What will be will be in terms of whether or not the result stands, and nobody is taking anything for granted. ”George McGuigan captains this side, enjoying a fine streak of three tries from the first two games of the campaign.
Exeter Chiefs v London Irish LIVE: Play-by-play updates from Sandy ParkAre you mad about Exeter Chiefs? If so, you could receive the latest club news straight to your phone by signing up to our FREE WhatsApp service. Exeter Chiefs writer John Evely will send you links to the breaking stories, direct to your mobile, via the easy-to-use app.
Theo McFarland continues to impress in the second row while Mako Vunipola and Jamie George return to add heft and skill. Gloucester’s task here feels a little tall, even if they’re bringing in new signing Albert Tuisue at No. 8 for his debut. Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Max Malins, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 8 Ivan van Zyl, 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Theo McFarland, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Andy Christie, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola; Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Manu Vunipola, 23 Josh Hallett Gloucester Rugby: 15 Lloyd Evans, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Ben Meehan, 1 Harry Elrington, 2 Jack Singleton, 3 Fraser Balmain, 4 Freddie Clarke, 5 Alex Craig, 6 Ruan Ackermann (c), 7 Harry Taylor 8 Albert Tuisue; Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Val Rapava-Ruskin, 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19.
i's guide to Premiership rugby round 3 - team news, fixtures, predictions and TV detailsThe third round of Premiership rugby beckons amid a week of financial uncertainty for both Worcester Warriors and Wasps as the focus shifts from administration and takeovers to matchdays. Saracens will look to ride the wave of last weekend’s hard-fought win at the Stoop back to their first home game of the season, as Newcastle seek to detach the emotion of the situation from performance at Sixways in seeking their first win of the season. Round two results Northampton Saints 38-22 London IrishBath Rugby 20-37 Sale SharksHarlequins 27-30 SaracensLeicester Tigers 36-21 Newcastle FalconsWasps 8-23 Bristol BearsWorcester Warriors 21-36 Exeter Chiefs Round three has some exciting matchups in store, including a star-studded East Midlands derby between Northampton and last season’s champions Leicester Tigers.
Irish take an exciting young team to Ashton Gate, with Henry Arundell, Will Joseph and Chandler Cunningham-South all starting as they hope to bounce back from defeat at Northampton last week. Director of rugby Declan Kidney has shrewdly talked up the credentials of his “in-form” opponents this week: “Bristol Bears have started the season with two wins from two games in the Gallagher Premiership and are a well-drilled outfit under Pat Lam.
Bath Rugby: The Official Website