After accrediting themselves well at Welford Road last Saturday, Saints this week travel to the Stade Pierre Antoine, home of the reigning French champions for one of the toughest possible opening matches in what has been called the ‘Pool of Death’ by many commentators.
Christian Day returns to the second row after missing the trip to Leicester, with Ken Pisi, Kahn Fotuali’i and Calum Clark all coming back into the starting line-up. There is also a first start for Australian prop Salesi Ma’afu, who makes his first team debut at tight-head prop.
Tom Mercey, Samu Manoa, Phil Dowson, Lee Dickson and Jamie Elliott all drop to the bench.
Saturday’s game is being shown live on Sky Sports 2 via the red button, with live commentary also available from BBC Radio Northampton.
And if you want live Opta stats as they happen, follow live text commentary or have your say on the action, look no further than www.saintslive.co.uk, the perfect companion however you’re watching the game!
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM TO PLAY CASTRES
Heineken Cup Round 1
Stade Pierre Antoine
Saturday, October 12th, 2013
Kick off 3:40pm UK time
15 Ben FODEN
14 Ken PISI
13 George PISI
12 Luther BURRELL
11 George NORTH
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Kahn FOTUALI’I
1 Alex CORBISIERO
2 Dylan HARTLEY (capt)
3 Salesi MA’AFU
5 Christian DAY
6 Tom WOOD
7 Calum CLARK
8 Sam DICKINSON
Replacements
16 Mike HAYWOOD
17 Alex WALLER
18 Tom MERCEY
19 Samu MANOA
20 Phil DOWSON
21 Lee DICKSON
22 James WILSON
23 Jamie ELLIOTT
