Mallinder gambled by sending out his strongest available side eight days before the Premiership final and was rewarded not only with the trophy but his players’ clean bill of health. “We are feeling quietly confident, understanding fully the challenges Saracens will pose,” he said.
“We have the strongest squad we have ever had. I suppose we took a bit of a risk last week by naming such a strong squad but we came through with an important win, without serious injuries and with confidence high, so it has worked for us.”
Northampton upset the odds by beating Saracens in Hendon in last season’s semi-final, only to fold against Leicester once Hartley had gone.
This season they thrashed Sarries at Franklin’s Gardens and came from a long way down to gain a losers’ bonus point in the away game. They also made some significant signings last summer.
“Maybe we played our cup final two weeks early last year,” said Mallinder. “This season everything is going to plan and we are a better-equipped team. We’ve had the experience of an extra year and adding Kahn Fotuali’i, Alex Corbisiero and George North to any team is going to make it better.”
England’s team to face the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday is no better than fourth choice. There are three capped players – Joe Simpson, Jonathan Joseph and Charlie Sharples – with the princely total of 11 between them.
SARACENS have made three signings: Scotland lock Jim Hamilton and Argentina prop Juan Figallo from Montpellier and England seven-a-side wing Mike Ellery.
ENGLAND XV (v Barbarians): E Daly (Wasps); S Rokoduguni (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), S Hill (Exeter), C Sharples (Gloucester); H Slade (Exeter), J Simpson (Wasps); R Harrison (Sale), R Buchanan (Harlequins), K Sinckler (Harlequins), M Paterson (Sale), G Kitchener (Leicester, capt), J Gibson (Leicester), L Wallace (Harlequins), D Ewers (Exeter). Replacements: T Taylor (Sale), F Balmain (Leicester), W Collier (Harlequins), C Matthews (Harlequins), J Gaskell (wasps), D Robson (Gloucester), O Devoto (Bath), R Miller (Wasps).
Article source: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/477487/Brown-injury-boost-for-England
Dylan Hartley cheer for England coach Stuart Lancaster
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