Perpignan v Northampton: Teams

At Stade Aime Giral, Friday October 16, kick-off 8pm

Last updated: 16th October 2009  

Perpignan v Northampton: Teams

Geraghty: Inspirational against Munster

Related links

Teams

Also see

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder has called on his players to remain "calm and focused" when they take on Perpignan at Stade Aime Giral.

The Saints go into the game on the back of a sensational win over Munster, but Mallinder knows the trip to the south of France will be a completely different prospect.

And with a partisan home crowd likely to be roaring on the Top 14 champions, Mallinder wants his players to keep their cool.

Mallinder told the club's official site: "Although last Saturday was a superb occasion we have put it firmly behind us this week.

"Having said that, we will have to reproduce the attitude we took into the game with Munster to get a positive result against Perpignan in their own stadium.

"It is a hostile place to play and their fans will create an intense atmosphere. But it is up to us to remain calm and stay focused on what we have to do.

"Perpignan haven't been beaten at home this season and we are aware that they are the current Top 14 champions with a quality squad to match. But we took plenty of positives from the match against Munster and are approaching tomorrow's game in a good frame of mind."

Perpignan have made just four changes to their line-up following the shock 9-8 defeat to Italian outfit Treviso.

Nicolas Durand, Jean-Pierre Perez, Rimas Alvarez Kairelis and former England prop Perry Freshwater have all been recalled by director of rugby Jacques Brunel

Perpignan: 15 Jérôme Porical, 14 Farid Sid, 13 David Marty, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Julien Candelon, 10 Nicolas Laharrague, 9 Nicolas Durand, 1 Perry Freshwater, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 3 Nicolas Mas (capt), 4 Rimas Alvarez Kairelis, 5 Robins Tchale Watchou, 6 Gerrie Britz, 7 Jean-Pierre Perez, 8 Henry Tuilagi.
Replacements: 16 Marius Tincu, 17 Jérôme Schuster, 18 Kisi Pulu, 19 Guillaume Vilaceca, 20 Ovidiu Tonita, 21 Steve Meyer, 22 Florian Cazenave, 23 Christophe Manas

Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Bruce Reihana, 10 Shane Geraghty, 9 Lee Dickson, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 3 Santiago Bonorino, 4 Courtney Lawes, 5 Juandre Kruger, 6 Phil Dowson, 7 Neil Best, 8 Roger Wilson.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Regardt Dreyer, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 20 Mark Easter, 21 Alan Dickens, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Chris Mayor.

Heineken Cup Outright 2009/10 Win Outright: Northampton 25/1