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Northampton change entire XV for the visit of Bath, who include long-term absentee Max Clarke
By Online Editors
Northampton will line up against Bath on Wednesday with a completely fresh starting XV, as Chris Boyd rotates his side for the vital Gallagher Premiership clash. The Saints director of rugby is putting his faith in Northampton’s entire squad during this demanding block of fixtures with their top-four hopes in the balance.
Loosehead prop Nick Auterac is poised for his full debut since making the switch to Northampton from Harlequins, lining up in the front row with hooker James Fish and tighthead Owen Franks, while locks David Ribbans and Api Ratuniyarawa complete the tight five.
Club co-captain Teimana Harrison will lead out Saints at No8 jersey on a back row also featuring Courtney Lawes and JJ Tonks both starting in the flanker berths. Dan Biggar returns at No10 with scrum-half Henry Taylor by his side.
Harry Mallinder starts at full-back, with Ahsee Tuala – who scored a spectacular try against London Irish last time out off the bench – and Taqele Naiyaravoro on the wings. English duo Piers Francis and Fraser Dingwall round off the starting XV.
Bath have also made a raft of changes. After scoring his maiden Premiership try last time out versus Leicester, Tom de Glanville comes in for Anthony Watson at full-back in a team that sees Max Clark return from a long-term injury. The centre returns to the starting XV for the first time since the opening day of the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership campaign in October.
Gabriel Hamer-Webb will make his first appearance since facing Ulster away in the final round of the European Champions Cup, replacing Ruaridh McConnochie, who is named as a replacement. Josh Matavesi swaps in for Rhys Priestland, who is named on the bench, and will form a new partnership with Will Chudley, who replaces Ben Spencer at scrum-half.
Beno Obano, Jack Walker and Christian Judge all come in to make up a new front row partnership with Bath Rugby changing the entire forward pack. Will Spencer makes his second debut for the club, having re-joined in June from Leicester Tigers.
A notable return to the bench sees Miles Reid back into the fold having recovered from an ACL tear on the very first day of the season against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: 15. Harry Mallinder; 14. Ahsee Tuala, 13. Fraser Dingwall, 12. Piers Francis, 11. Taqele Naiyaravoro; 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Henry Taylor; 1. Nick Auterac, 2. James Fish, 3. Owen Franks, 4. David Ribbans, 5. Api Ratuniyarawa, 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. JJ Tonks, 8. Teimana Harrison (capt). Reps: 16. Sam Matavesi, 17. Francois van Wyk, 18. Ehren Painter, 19. Lewis Bean, 20. Tui Uru, 21. Tom James, 22. Rory Hutchinson, 23. Tommy Freeman.
BATH: 15. Tom de Glanville; 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Max Clark, 12. Cameron Redpath, 11. Gabriel Hamer-Webb; 10. Josh Matavesi, 9. Will Chudley; 1. Beno Obano, 2. Jack Walker, 3. Christian Judge, 4. Will Spencer, 5. Elliott Stooke, 6. Mike Williams, 7. Josh Bayliss (capt), 8. Zach Mercer. Reps: 16. Tom Dunn, 17. Lewis Boyce, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Charlie Ewels, 20. Miles Reid, 21. Ben Spencer, 22. Rhys Priestland, 23. Ruaridh McConnochie.
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Latest Comments
Nick I think a lot of teams 10,12 and 13 combo's suffer considerably when compared to the Carter, Nonu, Smith era. I cant think of any other world combo that comes close to that combo. 3 once in a generation players all doing their thing collectively. Carter is possibably the best ever player and Nonu and Smith are world class in any generation. Im old enough to remember the runner/playmaker 12s of yesteryear and rugby was much simpler then. The defensive systems of today are so studied and practiced that the space is no longer there in the midfield.
Under Foster the backs never quite looked as fluid as the Carter, Nonu, Smith trio and thats mainly due to Mounga, Jordie B and Reiko just not being close in standard to the other 3. Your recent article around the ABs 70%, shows clearly that Mounga is no Carter and that the 12 and 13 players who have replaced Nonu and Smith just arnt Nonu and Smith.
There is hope for Razor to develop that area next year and beyond but Razor has been more conservative at centre than any other area. So far Razor has avoided change but I think it will come. Both current centres are makeshift centres who grabbed the positions due to injury and have kept them.
Spot on around WJ and his skillset tho. He certainly has a few skill deficiencies compared to many 15s and I would be very happy for him to stay at 14, but also happy if he develops his kicking and playmaking from 15 as he brings something no one else does. He is very good at passing or offloading for his support tho.
JB is still playing 15 basically. We need someone to play 12. Not just play AT 12.
Go to commentsYou've given Aus and England 2 year "era's" in the previous post Nick, I'm sure Ireland can make a case of a 2-3 year dominant period (unless you're one where its all scratched out by a loss at the big dance, and that would be fair too).
Dominance also really has to be a about effort and ability. It's getting harder to dominate, so you're not as likely to see "clear" dominance, but that doesn't mean such a team isn't the same head and shoulders distance above the others in areas like effort and ability. The full team, organized offense and then defense, of that Ireland era hits both marks for me well ahead of everyone on what they were doing, if not done with the ease or such wide margins in the outcomes.
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