Wallaby Josh Kemeny starts at No6 for Saints as post-Lawes era begins

Australia flanker Josh Kemeny is set to make his competitive debut for Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton Saints on Friday against Bath at the Rec in the opening match of the season.

The two-cap Wallaby will start in the No6 shirt- a jersey that was held by Courtney Lawes last season. He will partner Tom Pearson and Sam Graham in a back row that also saw Lewis Ludlam depart over the summer.

Kemeny is the only debutant in Saints' starting XV for the repeat of last season's Premiership final, but there are three more on the bench.

The former Saracens duo, loosehead Tom West and lock Callum Hunter-Hill, will likely make their debuts with 23-year-old tighthead Luke Green, who has joined from San Diego Legion in the United States.

The match in the West Country will also mark the beginning of George Furbank's tenure as captain.

Northampton XV

15 George Furbank (c)

14 James Ramm

13 Fraser Dingwall

12 Rory Hutchinson

11 Ollie Sleightholme

10 Fin Smith

9 Tom James

1 Emmanuel Iyogun

2 Curtis Langdon

3 Trevor Davison

4 Angus Scott-Young

5 Chunya Munga

6 Josh Kemeny – debut

7 Tom Pearson

8 Sam Graham

Replacements

16 Robbie Smith

17 Tom West – Northampton Saints debut

18 Luke Green – Northampton Saints debut

19 Callum Hunter-Hill – Northampton Saints debut

20 Juarno Augustus

21 Archie McParland

22 Toby Thame

23 Tommy Freeman