Irish defence needs a marshall

PLAYMAKER James Marshall demands Irish muscle-up or face further humiliation when they meet Northampton today.

With memories of their opening day victory over Harlequins fading fast, Marshall's Exiles missed 38 tackles during last week's 36-7 hammering by Sale, while conceding five tries for a second successive week following the previous 37-7 loss at Exeter.

Marshall insists the warning lights are heeded, telling TRP: “They were definitely reality checks after that good win over Harlequins.

“We may have got away with a few mistakes in the Championship but you're punished so much more heavily at this level – three mistakes at Sale and we're 21-0 down in 20 minutes. We've got to stay in contests for longer against these teams.

“There were 38 missed tackles against Sale, which is pretty much unheard of at this level. It meant they were easily getting over the gain line and we were never able to turn that pressure around to attack them.

“Northampton are a classy side and looked strong and physical against Leicester and Bath over the last couple of weeks.

“They like to get stuck into you and use their big pack to get around the corner and carry as hard as they can, then once they get momentum they'll look to play off that. We're going to have to shut them down.

“Against Harlequins, I thought we were really physical and were winning those big collisions, so that's what we must do to have a chance to win.”

Despite a traumatic fortnight, former All Black Marshall has been impressed with his first taste of Premiership Rugby after joining Irish from the Hurricanes last year.

Marshall, a Super Rugby title winner in 2016, said: “It's a really good competition with a great structure that fans can easily understand and I've been impressed by the quality of what I've seen so far.

“Previously it felt the Premiership was all about defence and set-piece, but teams here have good attacks now and are playing with the ball a lot more.”

Centre Johnny Williams returns for Irish as one of five changes. Fiji wing Napolioni Nalaga is set for his full debut, while a newlook pack spearheaded by skipper Ben Franks sees Petrus Du Plessis replacing Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi at tighthead, the latter sustaining a ruptured Achilles in the trip to Sale.

Josh McNally comes in at blindside, while Conor Gilsenan gets the nod at openside and Blair Cowan switches to No.8.

In-form Northampton make just one change to the side which beat Bath with Sam Dickinson coming in for Teimana Harrison who has a shoulder injury.

Dylan Hartley (hand), Mitch Eadie (ankle) and Piers Francis (jaw) are the other significant injury absentees, although Hartley and Francis are close to full fitness. Tom Wood and Stephen Myler are nearing full fitness and are among the travelling reserves.

TEAMS

IRISH: Bell, Lewington, Tikoirotuma, Williams, Nalaga, Marshall, McKibbin; Franks (c), Porecki, Du Plessis, van der Merwe, De Chaves, McNally, Gilsenan, Cowan

Replacements: Paice, Elrington, Hoskins, Paulo, Schatz, Steele, Tonks, Ojo

NORTHAMPTON: Tuala, North, Horne, Burrell, Collins, Mallinder, Groom; Waller, Haywood, Hill, Paterson, Ribbans, Lawes (c), Gibson, Dickinson

Replacements: Marshall, Ma'afu, Brookes, Day, Ludlam, Reinach, Grayson, Foden