MALLINDER SEEKING ANOTHER STEP FORWARD AT THE FALCONS - 12-09-2008

Northampton Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder says that he is looking for an improvement in performance during this weekend's Guinness Premiership Round 2 match at Newcastle Falcons.

The Saints travel to Kingston Park having already secured their first Guinness Premiership win of the season, but Mallinder says that the hard work is only just beginning.

"We know how hard it is going to be on Sunday," he said today. "Newcastle don't lose at home very often and have targeted their match against us as one they have to win. They have good players and have been boosted by Jonny Wilkinson's return from injury. So we have to be ready to knuckle down from the first whistle, work hard throughout the game, create some opportunities and take points when they are on offer."

Mallinder has made one change to the starting line up. Dylan Hartley comes in at hooker for Paul Shields, with the Irishman dropping to the bench. Meanwhile Hartley's front row partner Soane Tonga'uiha will make his 50th appearance for the club when he runs out at Kingston Park.

Tonga'uiha, selected in the Pacific Islanders 28-man squad for their November tour of Europe yesterday, joined the Saints in the summer of 2006 from Bedford Blues and has so far scored four tries.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Guinness Premiership Round 2
Franklin's Gardens
Sunday, September 14th, 2008
Kick off 3:00pm
15 Bruce Reihana (capt)
14 Chris Ashton
13 Jon Clarke
12 James Downey
11 Sean Lamont
10 Carlos Spencer
9 Lee Dickson
1 Soane Tonga'uiha
2 Dylan Hartley
3 Euan Murray
4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe
5 Christian Day
6 Neil Best
7 Scott Gray
8 Roger Wilson

Replacements
16 Paul Shields
17 Barry Stewart
18 Tom Smith
19 Alex Rae
20 Mark Hopley
21 Ben Foden
22 Stephen Myler

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