Fly-half Fin Smith will make his Northampton Saints debut this weekend, as the men in Black, Green and Gold welcome Bristol Bears in Round 8 of the Gallagher Premiership.
The hosts saw a two-game winning run in the league ended last weekend at Bath Rugby, although Saints have only lost once at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in any competition since February.
Bears come into the clash (which kicks off at 3pm on Saturday and will be broadcast on PRTV Live) on a three-game losing run but have a strong recent record in Northampton, winning three times on their last four visits in the league.
Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes eight changes in total to his line-up in total from last week’s defeat, with England Under-20 international George Hendy earning his first Premiership start at full-back.
Matt Proctor shifts over to the wing to make room for fit-again Rory Hutchinson at centre, while Ollie Sleighholme – who has scored five tries in six league appearances so far this term – rounds off the back three.
Fraser Dingwall is also selected in the midfield and will captain Saints on home soil, with Alex Mitchell named at scrum-half and Smith pulling on the Northampton No.10 jersey for the first time following his arrival at the Club from Worcester Warriors earlier this month.
There are five changes to the hosts’ pack as loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun and hooker Mike Haywood join Paul Hill in the front row.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto continues at lock but Alex Moon returns to engine room alongside him, while there are two further changes to the back row as flankers Sam Graham and Aaron Hinkley both start the clash, with Juarno Augustus selected at No.8 for the third straight match.
Meanwhile Angus Scott-Young, Ethan Waller and Brandon Nansen all return to the matchday 23 for Saints amongst the replacements, with Tom Collins also hoping to extend his try-scoring run to four matches if he enters the action from the bench.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs BRISTOL BEARS
Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 8
Saturday 29 October 2022
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Hendy
14 Matt Proctor
13 Fraser Dingwall (c)
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Mike Haywood
3 Paul Hill
4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5 Alex Moon
6 Sam Graham
7 Aaron Hinkley
8 Juarno Augustus
Replacements:
16 Sam Matavesi
17 Ethan Waller
18 Alfie Petch
19 Brandon Nansen
20 Angus Scott-Young
21 Tom James
22 James Grayson
23 Tom Collins
Not considered for selection:
Matthew Arden, Dan Biggar, Tommy Freeman, Aston Gradwick-Light, Ethan Grayson, Courtney Lawes, George Patten, and Karl Wilkins.
International duty:
Alex Coles, George Furbank, Lewis Ludlam, and David Ribbans.
Referee: Hamish Smales
Assistant Referees: Greg Macdonald and Phil Watters
No.4: Gareth Holsgrove
TMO: David Rose
BRISTOL TEAM TO PLAY SAINTS
15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren; 1 Jake Woolmore, 2 Harry Thacker, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 Joe Batley, 5 Joe Joyce (c), 6 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Fitz Harding.
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Jay Tyack, 19 Chris Vui, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Will Porter, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Jack Bates.
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