SARRIES v NORTHAMPTON Preview
By TheSaracens.com
August 31 2026
First of all a very big welcome to Nick who is the newest member of our editorial team. Please show him your appreciation for his preview After Friday’s warm up act here comes the main event, the start of the 2026/27 competitive season. It is fair to say that last season as a whole was (massive understatement coming up) a tricky one for Saracens, and nowhere was this more evident than in the Prem Cup. 3 wins out of 8, 2 of which came against a weak Newcastle side, was a poor return for a talented group. That set of results also included losses home and away to our opponents in Round 1 of this year’s competition, Northampton Saints.
Anyway, enough dwelling on the past. The Prem Cup is meant to be all about the future and for Saracens it could well be a bright one. For a number of years we have heard about what a special group of young players we have coming through and I think we are all hopeful that this is the year those predictions bear fruit. In the last few years we have used this competition as a proving ground for youngsters, alongside some of the older players who are in need of game time either through injury or being out of favour in the “A” side. This is a trend I expect to continue through the new season. Hopefully we can see players being rewarded for strong performances with a chance to run out in the league.
Saints are another side that have used the competition to get minutes into their talented youngsters and I won't pretend to be able to predict a potential starting 15 for them. Instead, I have picked out a couple of players to keep an eye on that look to have something about them.
James Pater - much like our own second row production line, Northampton seem to be able to rustle up quick, elusive and slightly gangly back 3 players almost at will. Pater is another in that mould and could well end up being the best of the lot. He was outstanding for England U20 last season and is still only 19. Able to play at fly half, wing and full back, I have no doubt that his emergence factored in to Saints’s decision to allow Furbank to leave.
Aiden Ainswoth-Cave - at 6ft 6inches and over 17 stone at only 20 years of age, Ainsworth-Cave certainly has the raw materials as an up and coming lock/back row. He has been pretty much an ever present for England U20 and has even been handed the captain’s armband. Like a lot of these modern young forwards he combines size with a surprising turn of pace and could prove to be a real handful.
As for Sarries, trying to pick a side for the first game of the season is always a tricky one so I have gone with the side I would like to see (injuries permitting).
- Brantingham
- Hadfield
- Beaton
- Sodeke
- Auvaa
- Eke
- Knight
- Michelow ©
- James
- Davidson
- Rawlings
- Va’enuku
- Hall
- Wilson
- Keylock
- Clarke
- Nairau
- Weilbach
- Adegbemile
- Hammick
- Stewart-Harris
- Finch
- Kava
Whatever happens on the pitch I am just buzzing to be back at StoneX and for the return of the Men in Black.
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Quote:ComeOnSarries
Thank you for the write up. I found it very interesting just how strong a team Sale have named for their PRC game against Bath, very few up and coming youngsters in their 23! I do wonder given how little rugby there is before the Prem starts at the end of September whether Sarries might also surprise with a few big names.
I wouldn't be surprised if we did see a couple of bigger names. I do hope we stick with using the cup as a development comp however. Thats why I picked a team I would want to see, more than expect to see, as frankly I have no real idea who we will go with!
From what i can see Sale havent played any pre-season games and have another Prem Cup game next week. We still have another 2 friendly fixtures before the league kicks off to give players some minutes, so are in a slightly different place.
Ve’anaku (?) and Hall would be an interesting centre pairing.
Not sure whether Theo’s apprentice is ahead of Kennedy Sylvester in the second row rankings?
Certainly hoping to see more of big Tayo who looked really promising last term.
Pater will be a massive threat if playing, he broke our hearts with two outstanding conversions in the away game last year when we had it in bag.
I like the look of your selected squad a lot but even with a view to it being a development competition I think you need a bit of experience in there and realistically you definitely need a little more leadership.
I'm also not sure when the Internationals start to become available.
I'd be tempted to go with a mix of your team and the one that played the first friendly. Start both Brackens and the Hartley/Hall combo with Davidson if that's possible. If not put Farrell at 10 and see what he can get out of the young players.
Give Rawlings another go on the wing. Stick Daly at FullBack.
That front row would be good to see. I'm a little unsure what Beatons situation is currently.
I definitely wouldn't have Nairau on the bench though. He was blowing hard after about 20 starting and subbed not long after. Too big a risk as a bench player.
Stick one of Tizard/Isiekwe with Sodeke and give Barbeary another run at 8 as he's apparently a player a bit like Billy who doesn't like to train but needs playing time to keep him fit.
The one thing that Saints have had that we lack is a clear gameplan that all the players buy into and seem equally adept in performing whether that's senior squad, wider or Academy.
I suspect that will be the biggest difference. It should still be a good game and it's great to have them back.
I expect it's a number of things not least wanting to get off with a bang at home after a poor last season. Also with a number of new players in important positions getting them actual game time will be important. Ofc if Bath kids do a number on them it will all look a bit different.
Quote:PaulHerox
Good preview and welcome Nick.
I like the look of your selected squad a lot but even with a view to it being a development competition I think you need a bit of experience in there and realistically you definitely need a little more leadership.
I'm also not sure when the Internationals start to become available.
I'd be tempted to go with a mix of your team and the one that played the first friendly. Start both Brackens and the Hartley/Hall combo with Davidson if that's possible. If not put Farrell at 10 and see what he can get out of the young players.
Give Rawlings another go on the wing. Stick Daly at FullBack.
That front row would be good to see. I'm a little unsure what Beatons situation is currently.
I definitely wouldn't have Nairau on the bench though. He was blowing hard after about 20 starting and subbed not long after. Too big a risk as a bench player.
Stick one of Tizard/Isiekwe with Sodeke and give Barbeary another run at 8 as he's apparently a player a bit like Billy who doesn't like to train but needs playing time to keep him fit.
The one thing that Saints have had that we lack is a clear gameplan that all the players buy into and seem equally adept in performing whether that's senior squad, wider or Academy.
I suspect that will be the biggest difference. It should still be a good game and it's great to have them back.
I can get on board with adding some experience but I dont want any fully fit 1st teamers anywhere near the Prem Cup team personally.
For me that means certainly no Bracken, Hartley or Barbeary. We have seen how quickly injuries can mount and we need players generally playing less minutes. I also wouldn't risk Faz as we only have 2 senior 10s.
RE Nairau - I dont think he was subbed due to being blown out. We had 3 front rows to get through and they all played 25 to 30mins each.
We have 2 further friendly games to get minutes in legs and should be using this competition for player development imo
Quote:PaulHerox
Sarrov the Sale selection is interesting. They've gone really strong including Lozo at 10.
I expect it's a number of things not least wanting to get off with a bang at home after a poor last season. Also with a number of new players in important positions getting them actual game time will be important. Ofc if Bath kids do a number on them it will all look a bit different.
Smacks a bit of panic from Sanderson to me. He knows he is under pressure and needs results. Apart from the internationals, who i dont think he can pick yet, that looks like a 1st XV to me.
As you say, a loss wouldn't look too clever
The predicted team on the preview may be quite accurate