Aviva Premiership: Myler to reach Saints milestone, Sharks make four changes

Danny Cipriani: Will start at fly-half for the Sharks at Franklin’s Gardens

Stephen Myler: In line to make his 200th appearance for Northampton on Friday

Northampton play host to Sale on Friday at Franklin’s Gardens in a meeting of two teams with early positive Aviva Premiership records.

Saints suffered a narrow defeat last Saturday, Billy Twelvetrees’ last-gasp penalty giving Gloucester a 26-24 success after Jamie Elliott’s late try had put the visitors in front.

As they look to get back to winning ways, the hosts hand Stephen Myler his 200th appearance for the club.

The 29-year-old fly-half has spent his entire rugby union career at Franklin’s Gardens, and since his debut in 2006 has racked up 1,536 points – putting him second on the club’s all-time points scoring list. He has also steered the team to six finals in six years, winning three of them.

Rugby director Jim Mallinder has made four changes from the side that faced Gloucester, with centre George Pisi, prop Alex Corbisiero, lock Courtney Lawes and flanker Phil Dowson all starting.

Winning note

Sale come into the contest on a high after beating London Wasps 26-22 last Friday. Mark Cueto and Danny Cipriani both scored tries for the Manchester club.

The visitors show four changes to their line-up, including handing a start at fly-half for Cipriani.

The England international comes in for the injured Nick Macleod while the Sharks have also lost Dwayne Peel with a hamstring injury. James Gaskell, who fractured a metatarsal in last week’s warm-up, is another player to be ruled out.

Josh Beaumont badly injured his knee early in the game and is a long-term casualty, whereas Macleod and Gaskell should be back by November.

Centres Johnny Leota and Sammy Tuitupou are both recovering from broken jaws but there better news concerning Tony Buckley, as he is nearing full fitness.

Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Jamie Elliott, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Sam Dickinson, 7 Phil Dowson, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Tom Mercey, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 1 Alex Corbisiero.
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Samu Manoa, 20 Tom Wood, 21 Kahn Fotuali’i, 22 James Wilson, 23 Ken Pisi.

Sale Sharks: 15 Tom Arscott, 14 Rob Miller, 13 Mark Cueto, 12 Andy Forsyth, 11 Tom Brady, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Mark Easter, 7 David Seymour, 6 Dan Braid (capt), 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Kirill Kulemin, 3 Vadim Colbilas, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Eifion Lewis Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Johnathan Mills, 20 Andrei Ostrikov, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Joe Ford, 23 Phil McKenzie.

Article source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/former-wales-rugby-star-gareth-6060792

Aviva Premiership: Myler to reach Saints milestone, Sharks make four changes