Curtis Langdon and Tom Seabrook will make their first competitive appearances for Northampton Saints this weekend, as Cambridge Rugby head to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Saints stick with a blend of experience and youth on Saturday (16 September, kick-off: 3pm), with seven Senior Academy players set to start as newly-promoted Championship side Cambridge make the short trip to Northampton for the first time ever.
Phil Dowson makes seven changes to his side that were defeated by Ealing Trailfinders in the Premiership Rugby Cup opener, handing debuts to Langdon and Seabrook while the likes of Tommy Freeman and Ethan Waller are also set to make their first appearances of the season.
It will be a first run out in Black, Green and Gold for hooker Langdon as he joins props Waller and Elliot Millar Mills in a new-look front row, with Emeka Atuanya making his first start in a Saints shirt alongside Tom Lockett in the engine room behind them.
Loanee Theo Vukasinovic shifts to Northampton’s back row this weekend to join flanker Henry Pollock and No.8 Izaiha Moore-Aiono – who start together for the third week running.
James Grayson captains the side from fly-half and partners youngster Archie McParland in the half-back berths once again, while Freeman makes his first-ever competitive start in Saints’ midfield alongside Toby Thame.
Seabrook makes his debut on the wing for Northampton this weekend, joining Will Glister – who scored a brace on his competitive debut at Ealing last weekend – and George Hendy to complete the back three.
Alex Waller and Tom Cruse bring experience to Saints’ otherwise youthful bench, where Reuben Logan is set to make his first competitive appearance from amongst the replacements.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs CAMBRIDGE RUGBY
Premiership Rugby Cup, Round 2
Saturday 16 September, 2023
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 3pm
15 George Hendy
14 Will Glister
13 Tommy Freeman
12 Toby Thame
11 Tom Seabrook – Saint #2080
10 James Grayson (c)
9 Archie McParland
1 Ethan Waller
2 Curtis Langdon – Saint #2079
3 Elliot Millar Mills
4 Emeka Atuanya
5 Tom Lockett
6 Theo Vukasinovic
7 Henry Pollock
8 Izaiha Moore-Aiono
Replacements:
16 Tom Cruse
17 Alex Waller
18 Ed Prowse
19 Kayde Sylvester
20 Reuben Logan – Northampton Saints debut
21 Jake Garside
22 Joel Matavesi
23 Tom Litchfield
Not available for selection:
Callum Braley, Tarek Haffar, Paul Hill, Beltus Nonleh, Burger Odendaal, Ollie Sleightholme and Craig Wright.
International duty:
Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Alex Mitchell (all England), Sam Matavesi and Temo Mayanavanua (both Fiji).
CAMBRIDGE SIDE TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Joe Tarrant, 14 Joe Green, 13 Matt Hema, 12 Sam Hanks, 11 Eli Caven, 10 Steff James, 9 Toby Dabell; 1 Jake Elwood, 2 Ben Brownlie, 3 Matty Collins, 4 George Bretag Norris (c), 5 Gareth Baxter, 6 Noah Sloot, 7 Ben Adams, 8 Jared Cardew.
Replacements: 16 Morgan Veness, 17 Harry Morley, 18 Billy Walker, 19 Kieran Frost, 20 Matt Dawson, 21 Kieran Duffin, 22 Tom Hoppe, 23 Matty Williams.
Referee: Jonathan Cook
Assistant referees: Craig Maxwell-Keys and James Cornell
No. 4: Adam White
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