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| 8 January 2003, 4:39 pm |
| Four Former Injured Players Return For Biarritz European Showdown |
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Northampton Saints head coach Wayne Smith has had the luxury of four extra players to choose from for this weekend's Heineken Cup pool six game against Biarritz.
However, Smith could not select Budge Pountney, who suffered a groin injury last week, or Andrew Blowers (knee injury), as well as Bruce Reihana, Matt Lord and Darren Fox, who are not registered for this stage of the competition.
Matt Dawson and Grant Seely both return to the starting line-up following knee injuries, alongside Mark Connors after eight weeks out with a dislocated shoulder, and Ben Cohen following three weeks out of action with a quad strain.
Centre Chris Hyndman will get his first start in a European game on Saturday, and prop Matt Stewart returns to the starting XV after six weeks out with a rib injury.
But Smith has had to juggle his back-row in the absence of Pountney and Blowers, so Seely and Soden will start the game as the pack's flankers, with Connors at No 8. There will also be no real back-row cover on the bench.
The back-row predicament and Saints' last two home defeats have left Smith feeling edgy about Saturday's game, which is being broadcast live on BBC Grandstand.
Smith said: "Biarritz, the champions of France, are about to take us on in a crunch, top of the table Heineken Cup game. We are 'the few' taking on the might of France. The odds are stacked against us, and yet we know we have to fight on with spirit."
Northampton Saints
15 NICK BEAL
14 ORIOL RIPOL
13 Chris Hyndman
12 JOHN LESLIE (capt)
11 BEN COHEN
10 PAUL GRAYSON
9 MATT DAWSON
1 TOM SMITH
2 STEVE THOMPSON
3 MATT STEWART
4 STEVE WILLIAMS
5 Rob Hunter
6 Grant Seely
7 Mark Soden
8 MARK CONNORS
Replacements from:
Dan Richmond, Chris Budgen, Robbie Morris, Matt Miles, Johnny Howard, James Brooks, Mark Tucker and PETER JORGENSEN. |
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