Brooks comes into the Saints side for former Bedford Blues team-mate Soane Tonga’uhia, one of six changes made by head coach Paul Grayson from the team that narrowly lost to Gloucester last time out.

In the backs Carlos Spencer is back at fly-half with captain Bruce Reihana at full-back. Frenchman Matthieu Bourret comes onto the wing with Stephen Myler dropping to the bench. David Quinlan still has not recovered from his illness meaning that Robbie Kydd and Seamus Mallon continue their partnership in the centres.

Up front Christian Short returns to the second row after a week’s absence and there is a first Saints start for former French international Christian Labit.

29 year-old Brooks, who played at Bedford for six years and is in the middle of a two-year contract at Air New Zealand Cup province Tasman, is relishing the opportunity of playing in top-flight English rugby.

“I’m here to play games,” he said. “I’m not here to make up the numbers so I’m pleased that the coaches have put faith in me and am looking forward to playing at the weekend.

“I am looking forward to it. I don’t think it’ll be a particularly fast game but it won’t be rolling around in the mud for 80 minutes either! I’ve been training very hard to stay fit.

“I know quite a few of the guys and have played with some of them and against others. There have been no problems slotting in and they’ve made me feel very welcome.”

Brooks made his club debut in the Travis Perkins Club v Country Challenge against Argentina and held his own in the scrum against powerful opponents. It was this performance that caught the eye and some committed training, according to Grayson.

“For a guy who hadn’t played for a few months John did a fantastic job on a skating rink and he’s been extremely good in training,” he said. “He’s forced his way into the reckoning by what he’s been doing on a daily basis.

“First and foremost he’s a scrummager and there’s no better place to showcase your stuff than on the park.

“Soane Tonga’uhia and Dylan Hartley had been thrown in a little bit and have both done brilliantly. We’ve defended scrums on our own line without too much trouble but sometimes it’s difficult to keep it going, especially against a good scrummaging team like Gloucester.“

After having arrived initially for six-weeks, Brooks is registered with the Saints until the end of the season. But he’s not looking any further than that.

“I haven’t even thought that far,” he says. “I’m going back to New Zealand at the end of the season anyway for the next Air New Zealand Cup. I’m just worrying about this weekend.

“It’s enjoyable to have a bit of a challenge. There’s plenty of spirit in the team.”

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY BATH
The Recreation Ground, Saturday, March 10, 2007, kick-off 2:15pm
(Internationals in CAPS)
15 BRUCE REIHANA (capt)
14 Matthieu Bourret
13 Seamus Mallon
12 Robbie Kydd
11 BEN COHEN
10 CARLOS SPENCER
9 MARK ROBINSON
1 TOM SMITH
2 Dylan Hartley
3 John Brooks
4 Damien Browne
5 Christian Short
6 Paul Tupai
7 Darren Fox
8 CHRISTIAN LABIT

Replacements from:
MATIAS CORTESE, SOANE TONGA’UHIA, Chris Budgen, Matt Lord, DAVID GERARD, Ben Lewitt, Mark Hopley, Johnny Howard, Stephen Myler, Vaughan Going.

Favourites at 2 to 5, Bath Rugby are undefeated at the Rec in their last seven matches but Northampton Saints, 7/4 to win, will not be fazed by a trip to Bath as the Saints’ last eight matches have all been won by the away side on the day.  Northampton have won three of their last four games on the road in all competitions since November.

Bath 2 to 5 favourites
Northampton 7 to 4
draw 18 to 1
Handicap betting – Bath v Northampton (+7pts)

 To place a bet on this game please visit www.coral.co.uk/rugby for all the betting odds as well as all other Guinness Premiership and 6 Nations matches this weekend.  Open a new account and win a £10 FREE BET and for the month of March Coral.co.uk will double that and provide Northampton Saints with £20 for every account opened.