Northampton Saints: Jim feels England’s Lawes needs another Saints shift
Pictures by Linda Dawson
SAINTS boss Jim Mallinder says it would be best for Courtney Lawes to have another Premiership game before returning to action for England.
The England lock ended six weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury by playing the full 80 minutes against Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday.
Lawes endured a mixed afternoon as Saints lost 27-24 but Mallinder confirmed he had come through unscathed.
The Six Nations takes a break next weekend, while Saints take on Sale at Franklin’s Gardens in the Premiership and Mallinder feels it would be wise for Lawes to get another 80 minutes under his belt after not playing since New Year’s Eve.
Mallinder said: “Courtney is tired but he is fine.
“We said he has got to train all week before he could play. He came in and did a rugby session on Tuesday and did a whole week’s training.
“He will go with England next week because he is in the 32-man squad. They train Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and those who have not played much rugby will be released on Wednesday so we will see if he is going to be one of those.
“It would probably make a lot of sense that Courtney get another game under his belt, it makes sense to get these players match fit.”
After only picking up a point at Kingsholm, Saints’ clash with Sale takes on vital importance, with victory needed to keep them in the play-off places.
Saints will be hoping Roger Wilson can shake off a thigh strain that forced him off in the second half, while winger Jamie Elliott lasted just seven minutes before suffering a hamstring problem.
Mallinder was able to use Calum Clark against Gloucester as he was released by England this week and he is hoping to have both Clark and Lawes available to face Sale.
Lawes came agonisingly close to scoring a try on his return as a second half come back was thwarted by a Freddie Burns penalty with five minutes left.
“It was a boost for us to have Courtney back this week and to get Calum Clark back as well,” said Mallinder. “We will see what happens next week.
“Courtney played well, it is always fairly tough when you have been out for a number of weeks. He came very close to a try and just lost the ball before the line. He will be really pleased and we are really pleased he has come through a full game.”
Report, reaction - see Full-time pull-out
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.