Reihana leads Saints into battle
Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:56
New Zealander Bruce Reihana will lead Northampton Saints' first choice squad into battle when they take on the Australian Super 14 outfit, the Western Force, in a pre-season friendly at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday.
The Saints have named two 22-man squads for this weekend's matches - against Nottingham on Friday and the Force a day later.
The squad for Friday's game against Nottingham contains several of the players who reached the Plate Final of the Middlesex Sevens, including John Brake, Paul Diggin, Stuart Friswell, Owen Giles, Nick Greenhalgh and Will Harries.
Junior Saints Academy members Alex Waller and Ollie Storey are also in the 22, which is captained by Alan Dickens.
Reihana takes up the captain's role for Saturday's outing in a game which could see No.8 Roger Wilson making his first Saints appearance after being named in the 22-man squad.
Teams:
Northampton Saints - to face Nottingham:
Backs: John Brake, Alan Dickens (captain), Paul Diggin, James Downey, Nick Greenhalgh, Johnny Hampsey, Will Harries, Stephen Myler, Ollie Storey.
Forwards: Ben Broster, James Cannon, Stuart Friswell, Owen Giles, Mark Hopley, Courtney Lawes, Matt Lord, Rob Milligan, Liam Neale, Paul Shields, Barry Stewart, Jon Vickers, Alex Waller.
Date: Friday, August 22
Venue: The Bay
Kick-off: 19.30 (18.30 GMT)
Northampton Saints - to face the Western Force:
Backs: Joe Ansbro, Chris Ashton, Jon Clarke, Lee Dickson, Barry Everitt, Ben Foden, Sean Lamont, Nils Mordt, Bruce Reihana (captain), Carlos Spencer.
Forwards: Neil Best, Christian Day, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Joe Gray, Scott Gray, Dylan Hartley, Ben Lewitt, Euan Murray, Alex Rae, Tom Smith, Soane Tonga'uiha, Roger Wilson.
Date: Saturday, August 23
Venue: Franklin's Gardens
Kick-off: 13.30 (12.30 GMT)
Referee: Chris White
