| Fellow international wing Sean Lamont has failed to recover from a sprained ankle that he suffered in the European Challenge Cup home game against Narbonne. Academy wing Paul Diggin will wear the No 11 shirt and return to the venue he made his first start nearly a year ago.
Centre Rhodri Davies has also returned to take the place of David Quinlan, who suffered a hamstring strain last week. Carlos Spencer is still out with a hand injury.
Hooker Steve Thompson will miss the Boxing Day GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP game against Sale Sharks with a heavily bruised leg – another legacy from the Narbonne game. A new-look front row sees Dan Richmond take his place with Pat Barnard and Tom Smith alongside him; the latter recovering in time from a dead leg.
The only other change is the swap of Darren Fox for Sam Harding.
Pountney added: “We have been unlucky in that nearly all the backline have got injured at the same time. It has left us struggling with numbers to select from. The guys who are fit will have to perform at the highest level and I have no doubt they will do that. There is no bigger challenge than Sale.”
Northampton Saints
15 BRUCE REIHANA (capt)
14 John Rudd
13 Jon Clarke
12 Rhodri Davies
11 Paul Diggin
10 Luke Myring
9 Johnny Howard
1 TOM SMITH
2 Dan Richmond
3 Pat Barnard
4 Damien Browne
5 DAVID GERARD
6 Ben Lewitt
7 Darren Fox
8 Daniel Browne
Replacements from:
Dylan Hartley, Chris Budgen, Colin Noon, Matt Lord, Alex Rae, Mark Easter, SAM HARDING, Grant Seely, MARK ROBINSON and Andy Vilk.
The bench will be decided tomorrow.
* Mark Soden has also been loaned to Coventry RFC as of today. | 
