Phil Dowson has made two changes to his Northampton Saints side as they embark on their last regular season home clash against Gloucester Rugby on Saturday (11 May, kick-off: 3.05pm).
Angus Scott-Young and Ollie Sleightholme provide the two edits to the side that narrowly fell to Leinster Rugby in last weekend’s 20-17 Investec Champions Cup semi-final, with Courtney Lawes again leading Saints out as they go in search of a home Premiership semi-final.
A bonus-point victory over ninth-place Gloucester would seal a first home semi-final since 2015 for Northampton.
Saints came out victorious in the dramatic 31-29 reverse tie at Kingsholm earlier this season, with tries from Alex Mitchell, Alex Coles, Curtis Langdon and a late winner from Tom Litchfield sealing the win that day.
This weekend, Alex Waller makes his 376th appearance for Saints as he starts at loosehead, with hooker Langdon and tighthead Trevor Davison joining him in the front row.
Alex Moon and Coles partner in Saints’ engine room again on Saturday while captain Lawes is joined by Angus Scott-Young and in-form No. 8 Juarno Augustus in Saints’ back row.
Scrum-half Mitchell and fly-half Fin Smith man Saints’ half-backs for the 13th time this season, with the latter the league’s second-highest points-scorer so far on 116 points ahead of Round 17.
Saints – who have averaged the second-most carry metres (432) in the league to date – name Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman in their midfield for the second week running as the Cherry and Whites come to town.
Sleightholme makes his return to Saints’ line-up to join George Hendy on the wings against Gloucester, while George Furbank completes the starting XV at fullback.
And Saints name plenty of firepower on their bench, with the likes of Emmanuel Iyogun, Sam Graham and Tom James all named amongst Northampton’s replacements – while Burger Odendaal is also set to make his return from injury should he enter the action on Saturday.
We’re expecting a full house at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday – tickets for the clash between Saints and Gloucester are completely SOLD OUT, so please allow plenty of time to get into your seat or place on the Terrace!
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Gallagher Premiership, Round 17
Saturday 11 May, 2024
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3.05pm
15 George Furbank
14 George Hendy
13 Tommy Freeman
12 Fraser Dingwall
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Alex Waller
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Trevor Davison
4 Alex Moon
5 Alex Coles
6 Courtney Lawes (c)
7 Angus Scott-Young
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Temo Mayanavanua
20 Sam Graham
21 Tom James
22 Burger Odendaal
23 Tom Seabrook
GLOUCESTER TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Josh Hathaway, 14 Alex Hearle, 13 Louis Hillman-Cooper, 12 Jack Reeves, 11 Jake Morris, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Stephen Varney; 1 Harry Elrington, 2 Santi Socino, 3 Ciaran Knight, 4 Arthur Clark, 5 Freddie Thomas, 6 Albert Tuisue, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 8 Jack Clement.
Replacements: 16 Sam Scarfe, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Danny Eite, 20 Rob Nixon, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Morgan Adderly-Jones, 23 Ioan Jones.
Not available for selection:
Callum Braley, Rory Hutchinson, Lewis Ludlam, Tom Pearson and James Ramm.
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Adam Leal and Dan Jones
No. 4: John Meredith
TMO: Rowan Kitt
