Ben Cohen will start Sunday’s GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP game at outside centre as Saints take on table toppers Bristol Rugby. Cohen, who only returned to the side on Monday after a month out with a shoulder injury, has been moved to try to bolster a back-line that has further been disrupted by injuries to Mark Robinson and Ian Vass. Matthieu Bourret will start in Cohen’s place on the wing.
The one change to the pack sees Matt Lord come in for David Gerard, who has chicken pox. Damien Browne is on the bench.
Wing Sean Lamont said: “Last Monday was disappointing but we have to get on. There is still half a season to go and we know we can turn it around. We have got to stay positive. We have got the game-plan but at times we are just not carrying it out.
“Bristol are doing the basics well. They have got a good forward pack and the backs are living off it. They are a dangerous team that have been defending well. It will be really hard for us this weekend.”
Flanker Paul Tupai added: “Bristol are top of the table so it will be a good challenge. I think it is a good game to come into after the loss on Monday. That’s when you see the best from Saints like the Friday game against Wasps.”
Head coach Paul Grayson said: “We are at our best when we move the ball around quickly. We cannot back off from the way we want to play. I will accept the criticism that is levelled at me but we know where we want to go and we know what to do to win games.”
Northampton Saints
15 Paul Diggin
14 SEAN LAMONT
13 BEN COHEN
12 Robbie Kydd
11 Matthieu Bourret
10 CARLOS SPENCER
9 Johnny Howard
1 TOM SMITH
2 STEVE THOMPSON (capt)
3 Pat Barnard
4 Matt Lord
5 Christian Short
6 PAUL TUPAI
7 Darren Fox
8 Daniel Browne
16 Dylan Hartley
17 Chris Budgen
18 Damien Browne
19 Mark Easter
20 Chris Wyles
21 VAUGHAN GOING
22 Seamus Mallon
