Scrum Mobile
Popular: Scotland | Shane Williams | Cedric Heymans
Scrum Fantasy
Guinness Premiership - Round 10 Preview
Feedback Print
Saints out to heap more misery on Bath
Scrum.com
December 3, 2009

The Guinness Premiership hits Round 10 this weekend with Saracens still leading the way at the top of the pile.

The action kicks off on Friday as after their 39-6 away drubbing at the hands of Leicester, Leeds Carnegie face another testing task against a rejuvenated Harlequins side buoyed by an impressive 35-29 home victory against Gloucester.

Quins will be bolstered by the return of Gonzalo Tiesi to the bench but Ugo Monye has fallen ill and is replaced on the wing by Tom Williams.

Argentinean prop Juan Gomez is the only change to the Leeds Carnegie side that lost to Leicester. Youngster Joe Ford continues at fly half after making his Guinness Premiership debut last week in the absence of Ceiron Thomas.

Ominously for Leeds, Harlequins won both matches in last season's clashes and they have come out on top in four of their last six visits to Headingley Carnegie. Leeds have not won at home in the Guinness Premiership since 21 March 2008 when Newcastle were the visitors.

Gloucester will be looking to bounce back to winning ways against Newcastle after their 35-29 loss to Harlequins last weekend. The Cherries lie an unaccustomed ninth in the table having won only three times this season whereas Newcastle dropped to sixth after a humbling loss to Northampton.

Their cause has been aided by the return of injured duo Alex Brown and Luke Narraway, as well as their international stars. Brown has been out of action since dislocating a thumb in the Heineken Cup opener against Newport Gwent Dragons on October 9, while Narraway has yet to feature this season because of a back problem.

Brown's return is a timely one as he is able to step into the second row in place of Will James, who suffered a medial knee ligament injury in last weekend's clash with Harlequins. Narraway, meanwhile, has been included on the bench.

Elsewhere, Nicky Robinson reclaims the No.10 jersey from Freddie Burns, who misses out with a troublesome calf problem which it has been established requires surgery.

Alasdair Dickinson has recovered from injury but he has been named amongst the replacements but Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Lesley Vainikolo, Rory Lawson, Scott Lawson, Alasdair Strokosch and Akapusi Qera all start.

The Falcons have made five changes for Saturday's game. Springbok Gcobani Bobo starts at outside centre in place of ankle injury victim Rob Vickerman, with the only other change to the backs being at scrum half as Micky Young is replaced by Hall Charlton.

In the pack all three changes come in the back row, as Samoan international Filipo Levi, Tongan flanker Josh Afu and fit-again openside Brent Wilson all return to the starting XV.

Newcastle have won just one of their last seven clashes with Gloucester: 10-7 at Kingston Park in the Guinness Premiership in January.

London Irish will be looking to turn up the heat on league leaders Saracens when they take on Worcester Warriors. The Exiles boast a massive points difference of 108 thanks to Toby Booth's ethos of free-flowing try-scoring rugby.

Irish welcome back centre Seilala Mapusua from his international jaunt with Samoa and he replaces Mike Catt in midfield. There are two other changes to the side which triumphed at Bath, both of which occur in the front row, with Dan Murphy and Paulica Ion coming in at loose-head and tight-head prop respectively.

The visitors also come into the match in confident mood after holding leaders Saracens to their first draw of the season. But they have not beaten London Irish in the Premiership since a 20-15 victory at Madejski Stadium on 11 September 2005.

Ryan Powell has been ruled out with a rib cartilage injury, meaning Jonny Arr will wear the No.9 jersey in what will be only his fourth start for the Warriors. Callum Black, meanwhile, has been sidelined with a calf problem, so Adam Black earns a recall to the front row.

In the only other change to the side which drew with Sarries, Rico Gear returns on the right wing but Jack Gilding, Will Bowley, Ollie Frost and Scotland international Alex Grove all feature on the bench.

After a crushing 8-28 away win at Newcastle, Northampton will be the confident of turning over Bath, especially after the visitor's 0-16 home loss at the hands of London Irish.

The Saints, who lie third in the table, have won their last four matches in all competitions since their 15-29 reversal at Leicester on 31 October. Conversely, Bath's only win in their last ten matches was 21-11 over Ospreys at The Rec in the LV= Cup on 14 November and their only away win in the Guinness Premiership so far this season was 25-12 at Sale on 18 September.

If Bath have any positives to take, Northampton have not beaten them since a 33-18 victory at Franklin's Gardens in the Guinness Premiership on 16 September 2006.

Head coach Steve Meehan has made three changes to the side which succumbed so tamely to the Exiles. Nicky Little is preferred to Ryan Davis at fly-half, Michael Stephenson earns a recall on the right wing while Andy Beattie takes over from Ben Skirving at blindside flanker.

The bad news for Bath is that Scotland and Lions prop Euan Murray is fit to make his first appearance of the season for Northampton after recovering from an ankle injury sustained whilst on tour in South Africa during the summer. Santiago Bonorino is the man to make way.

Table topping Saracens lost their 100% winning record in the Guinness Premiership last Friday at Worcester, but remain the only unbeaten team following the 12-all draw at Sixways. Their only loss in their last 18 encounters in all competitions was 13-16 to Leicester at Vicarage Road in the Guinness Premiership on 19 April.

They face a confident Sale Sharks side who have now secured back to back victories in the Guinness Premiership, over Gloucester and Leeds.

As for the team news, Neil de Kock has been ruled out for Sarries through injury, while Justin Marshall is unavailable for selection because of a "prior commitment". As a result, Moses Rauluni will start at number nine. Academy starlet Luke Baldwin will provide cover from the bench as Kevin Barrett is away in Dubai on England Sevens duty.

Elsewhere, inside centre Adam Powell will make his first start of the season, while there are recalls for winger Noah Cato and lock Hayden Smith.

The Sharks, meanwhile, have been dealt a body blow with the news that England star Mark Cueto has failed a fitness test on his troublesome back injury. As a result, Marika Vakacegu will line out on the right wing, with Oriol Ripol providing cover from the bench.

Fourth placed Leicester host fifth places Wasps in our Game of the Week.

Wasps have a game in hand after refusing to take the field at a muddy Edgeley Park. The Tigers trounced Leeds 39-6 in their last outing and Wasps suffered a 22-6 drubbing against Saracens.

Wasps have won their last four matches against Leicester, but the Tigers have an excellent record at Adams Park, having won on four of their eight previous visits, and also securing two draws.

© Scrum.com
Feedback Print
Live Scores
Results
Fixtures
Sponsored Links
Download the ESPNscrum toolbar
Get all the rugby news direct to your browser
ESPNF1 - the best online motorsport coverage
With daily updated news, extensive photo coverage and a live tracker of each F1 Grand Prix
ESPNsoccernet - the world's site for the world game
Follow the 2010 World Cup with the latest news, features & live match coverage
Cricinfo - the home of cricket
Get the latest cricket news, features and live ball-by-ball coverage of all international matches
ESPNcricinfo footer panel button
The home of cricket
ESPN Classic logo
The greatest moments in rugby
ESPNsoccernet logo
World's site for the world game
© ESPN EMEA Ltd