Breaking News: Lamb and Doran-Jones start for Saxons
Saints pair Ryan Lamb and Paul Doran-Jones will both start for England Saxons against Scotland A.
Doran-Jones had a superb game for Saxons as they beat Ireland Wolfhounds at Exeter’s Sandy Park and will again anchor the scrum at Galashiels on Friday night (7.30pm).
Lamb was an unused replacement against Ireland, but Saxons coach Jon Callard has given him a chance with Gloucester’s Freddie Burns dropping to the bench.
The Saxons make a total of eight changes to their starting line-up following last weekend’s 23-17 win against Ireland Wolfhounds.
There are first starts in the backline for Jonathan Joseph and wing Jonny May – replacing Matt Hopper (Harlequins) and Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby) - with Nick Abendanon in at full back for the suspended Delon Armitage (London Irish).
Ed Slater replaces London Irish’s Matt Garvey in the second row, Nick Wood and Chris Brooker are in for Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors) and Joe Gray, and Tom Johnson is at No.8 in place of Thomas Waldrom.
“We need to back up that performance against the Wolfhounds by getting it right away from home against Scotland this week,” said England Saxons coach Jon Callard.
“The endeavour and energy we showed last week at Exeter was first class but not everything was absolutely spot on and we need to improve our accuracy and execution.
“We always planned to make changes over the course of these two games and it means there are more chances for those who’ve been playing well in the Aviva Premiership and in Europe this season.
“As we saw last week, Thomas Waldrom and Matt Banahan stepped back up to train with the senior squad after 80 minutes for the Saxons so the potential opportunities for this group are very clear.”
Slater, 23, made 43 first team appearance for Tigers since signing from Championship side Nottingham in 2010 before being called up by the Saxons.
Joseph, 20, has already appeared 34 times for Irish and was part of the England Under 20 squad that reached last year’s IRB Junior World Championship final in Italy.
The major positional talking point is in the back row where Johnson – a popular second-half replacement on his home ground last weekend – appears at No.8 at this level for the first time with Callard’s enthusiastic backing.
The Saxons coach said: “Tom’s versatility is a major strength and his great leadership qualities will be a big asset. He wants to play anywhere and he’ll bring lots of energy to the position.”
Sale Sharks full back Rob Miller and Bath Rugby prop Kane Palma-Newport, 21, will travel to Scotland with the squad as cover.
England Saxons
15 Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)
14 Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
13 Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
12 Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers)
11 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
10 Ryan Lamb (Northampton Saints)
9 Ben Spencer (Saracens)
1 Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)
2 Chris Brooker (Harlequins)
3 Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints)
4 Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
5 George Robson (Harlequins)
6 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks, captain)
7 Andy Saull (Saracens)
8 Tom Johnson (Exeter)
Replacements
16 Joe Gray (Harlequins)
17 Rupert Harden (Gloucester Rugby)
18 Kearnan Myall (Sale Sharks)
19 David Seymour (Sale Sharks)
20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish)
21 Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
22 Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors)
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Woman’s body found after ‘suicide’ in Northampton hotel room
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Exclusive: PM David Cameron says Northamptonshire Police Commissioner role is “a big job for a big local figure”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.