Rugby weekend preview: Chance to shine for overlooked England stars
Luther Burrell will be one of the star attractions when Northampton take on title holders Saracens
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Your support makes all the difference.Northampton v Saracens (Today 3.15pm)
It should be quite a selling point: nine members of England’s World Cup squad, playing in front of a capacity crowd at one of the country’s most vibrant rugby stadiums.
Much of the interest surrounds players who, unfortunately in some cases and inexplicably in others, failed to make the cut for the main event. Luther Burrell, the centre who fell victim to the Sam Burgess obsession, starts in the Northampton midfield; Dylan Hartley returns to the Midlanders’ front row at hooker; and Maro Itoje, everyone’s top tip for a leading role at the next global gathering, moves from the Saracens engine room to the blind-side flank, where he will find himself alongside Billy Vunipola, the reigning England No 8.
Vunipola has not played since suffering a knee injury in the calamitous defeat by Wales and then speaking out of turn during a question-and-answer session with a couple of former Test players at a bash in London. Saracens, top of the table but not wholly pleased with their form, are hoping he does his talking on the pitch from now on.
Exeter v Leicester (5.30pm)
It says something for the form of the Exeter loose trio that Thomas Waldrom, the occasional England No 8 and last season’s top scorer, cannot find a starting place for the visit of his old club.
Rob Baxter, the West Country club’s head coach, is sticking with the Zimbabwean forward Don Armand in the middle of the back row, alongside the powerful Dave Ewers, who hails from the same neck of the African woods, and Julian Salvi, who will be relishing this shot at the Tigers having made the same move as Waldrom during the summer.
Leicester, second in the table with three wins from three, have cast the Tongan wing Telusa Veainu, such an eye-catching World Cup performer, in the full-back role.
Worcester v Newcastle (3pm)
Is it too early to see this game through the prism of relegation? Maybe, but if Newcastle draw a blank at Sixways after three horrible defeats and the shipping of 122 points, they will be short-priced favourites for the drop.
The Tynesiders have a couple of Samoans back in the mix – the wing Alesana Tuilagi, who was suspended during the World Cup for the hanging offence of running into an opponent while carrying the ball, and the lock Kane Thompson, who was banned just before it for thumping an opponent in a warm-up match.
London Irish v Bath (3pm)
It has not been a happy few weeks for Bath, but with Sam Burgess back where he belongs and sanity threatening to break out as a result, there are no obvious distractions as they seek a return to the attacking glories of last season. They have the back division to deliver something half-decent, even though George Ford, their principal playmaker, moves aside for the newly-acquired Wales international Rhys Priestland, who makes a first start for the club. With two big wings –Semesa Rokoduguni, Matt Banahan – and a couple of centres who can play a bit in Kyle Eastmond and Ollie Devoto, they should take some holding.
Yet on the evidence of their showing at Saracens last week, the Exiles are not quite as bad as their pointless status in the table suggests. They have Shane Geraghty back at outside-half – hooray! – and should be lively enough in the back row, with David Sisi lining up against the club who sent him to the Madejski Stadium on loan.
Wasps v Gloucester (Tomorrow, 3pm)
Gloucester are three places ahead of their rivals and have the excellent Greig Laidlaw back at scrum-half following his World Cup heroics with Scotland, but it is not hard to see where the real power resides. Wasps look full of running, especially with the exciting All Black back Charles Piutau making his debut at No 15.
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