Boss facing Saints selection poser

Mike Ruddock admits he faces one of the toughest selection headaches of his time at Sixways when he selects the Warriors team to face Northampton Saints on home soil on Boxing Day (kick-off 4.15pm).

Director of Rugby Ruddock will announce his starting line-up on Christmas Eve and could be set to call on fit again duo Matthew Jones and Chris Pennell for league action after they impressed in the Amlin Challenge Cup double header with Connacht.

Prop Matt Mullan is also back in full training and pushing for a Guinness Premiership return as Ruddock mulls over his options for the huge televised Christmas fixture.

“It’s one of my toughest selections in many ways,” said Ruddock.

“We have a number of players back and I thought Matthew Jones did very well out in Connacht, he is certainly putting his hand up.

“Chris Pennell also did very well in his two outings, having said that, he found the collisions quite tough after not a lot of rugby over the last eight to nine months.

“His play has been fantastic and so suddenly he is back in the mix. It is whether or not he has had enough rugby under his belt to face a game of this magnitude.

“Sammy Tuitupou is fine after the flu and barring any last minute problems we should be near full strength.

“Matt Mullan is also definitely back in the mix. If I am honest, he probably won’t start but could make the bench. He has trained fully this week and looks in good shape, he has spent a lot of time in the gym and he looks strong and powerful.

“We have got to look at our last three games in the Guinness Premiership and the panel that did well, you would say at the moment that Adam Black probably be favourite to start.

“But it is great to have someone like Matt on the bench and if he does come through and get some game time I know he will be keen to impress, not just for us but also the England selectors to remind them ahead of the Six Nations.

“Chris Cracknell has really settled in well, but at the moment he is still getting used to some of the names we have for plays.

“It will be similar to what he would have been involved with in other clubs, but every place has its own names for plays and he is constantly asking questions about calls, which is the right thing to do.

“This week Chris is probably going to struggle to be in contention this week. Moving on from there though, I would hope that we could start to think about him as a possible option after Boxing Day.”

The last handful of tickets are now on sale for the Northampton Saints clash at Sixways Stadium on Boxing Day. Call the Warriors Box Office on 01905 454183 to book your seat for the action.


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