Northampton v Sale: George North sits out despite predicted return
Last Updated: 23/12/16 10:03pm
Jim Mallinder has challenged Northampton to atone for last weekend's nine-try Leinster mauling when they face Sale Sharks on Friday night.
Saints' rugby director Mallinder admitted "we let the club down" in the 60-13 Champions Cup hammering at the hands of Leinster in Dublin - and has demanded an immediate response.
"Interestingly, it's not been that difficult to find a reaction, because we all know that we let the club down," said Mallinder.
"You don't want to go out ever to play as we did, we got well beaten by a better side.
"But we know that we can improve, and that's what we've got to do. In a way we've got to put that behind us, we've not gone through it with a tooth comb.
"I'm really disappointed, really disappointed for our fans, who made that effort to get out there and support the team.
"But there's only one thing we can do now, and as players and as coaches we've just got to pull together, get out there and put in a performance that we and the fans can be proud of."
George North will again sit out for the Aviva Premiership clash at Franklin's Gardens, despite Northampton earlier in the week having predicted his return to action.
The 24-year-old has not played since Saints' 19-11 loss to Leicester on December 3. During the game, the Wales winger was felled by an aerial challenge, but passed a head injury assessment and returned to play.
The Concussion Management Review Group (CMRG) ruled on Wednesday that Northampton should not have let North return to the field, however the club avoided any sanction.
Saints prop Alex Waller will make his 200th Northampton appearance on Friday, while Argentine wing Juan Pablo Estelles makes his Premiership debut on the left wing.
Louis Picamoles, Christian Day, Courtney Lawes and club captain Tom Wood all return to the starting line-up, as Saints bid to improve on their current standing in ninth place. They are without suspended England captain Dylan Hartley.
Sale boss Steve Diamond has made just one change to his starting XV, with Mike Phillips slotting in at scrum-half.
Josh Beaumont and Kieran Longbottom will feature from the bench, with recent rugby league convert Denny Solomona starting on the right wing.
Diamond admitted in a clash of two out-of-sorts teams the winner will be wholly decided by attitude and application on the night.
"You've got two teams coming together with no form on Friday night, so whoever turns up and plays well will win the game," said Diamond.
Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 Luther Burrell, 12 JJ Hanrahan, 11 Juan Pablo Estelles, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Nic Groom, 1 Alex Waller, 2 Mikey Haywood, 3 Kieran Brookes, 4 Courtney Lawes, 5 Christian Day, 6 Tom Wood (c), 7 Teimana Harrison, 8 Louis Picamoles.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Jamie Gibson, 21 Tom Kessell, 22 James Wilson, 23 Nafi Tuitavake.
Sale Sharks: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Sam James, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Josh Charnley, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Mike Phillips; 1 Ross Harrison, 2 Rob Webber, 3 Halani Aulika, 4 Bryn Evans, 5 Andrei Ostrikov, 6 Cameron Neild, 7 Magnus Lund (c), 8 TJ Ioane.
Replacements: 16 Neil Briggs, 17 James Flynn, 18 Kieran Longbottom, 19 Josh Beaumont, 20 Jonathan Mills, 21 David Seymour 22 James Mitchell, 23 Tom Arscott.
