Phil Dowson has named his Northampton Saints side to travel to Twickenham Stadium on Saturday (27 April, kick-off: 3.05pm), as they take on Harlequins in the Big Summer Kick Off.
Saints sit top of the Gallagher Premiership after claiming a 40-17 victory over Leicester Tigers in the East Midlands derby last weekend, heading into Round 16 five points clear at the top of the league table.
The men in Black, Green and Gold scored five tries against Harlequins in the reverse fixture at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, with scores from Ollie Sleightholme, Lewis Ludlam, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles sealing a dramatic 36-33 victory.
Ludlam leads Saints at Twickenham, with Courtney Lawes and Sam Graham returning to the starting line-up to join the Saints captain in the back row.
Dowson rings the changes in front of them in the tight five; Emmanuel Iyogun, Sam Matavesi and Trevor Davison make up a fresh front row, while Temo Mayanavanua and Tom Lockett pair up in the engine room to make their first appearances at HQ for Northampton.
Fin Smith returns to the starting XV to join Mitchell in the half-back berths, with Tom Litchfield shifting to inside centre to allow Tommy Freeman to start in Northampton’s midfield.
George Furbank reprises his role at fullback against Harlequins and is joined in Saints’ back three with Sleightholme and James Ramm to complete the starting line-up.
And Northampton opt for a 6-2 split on their bench this weekend, with the likes of Tarek Haffar, Chunya Munga, Angus Scott-Young, Juarno Augustus and Fraser Dingwall all set to enter the action at Twickenham.
HARLEQUINS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 16
Saturday 27 April, 2024
Kick-off: 3.05pm
15 George Furbank
14 James Ramm
13 Tommy Freeman
12 Tom Litchfield
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Trevor Davison
4 Temo Mayanavanua
5 Tom Lockett
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Lewis Ludlam (c)
8 Sam Graham
Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Tarek Haffar
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Chunya Munga
20 Angus Scott-Young
21 Juarno Augustus
22 Tom James
23 Fraser Dingwall
Not available for selection:
Callum Braley, George Hendy, Paul Hill, Rory Hutchinson, Burger Odendaal and Tom Pearson.
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: Joe James and Jonathan Healy
No. 4: Jonathan Cook
TMO: Andrew Jackson
