European Rugby Champions Cup: Northampton Saints v Benetton Treviso preview

Northampton Saints will be looking to seize the initiative in Pool Five of the European Rugby Champions Cup when they host Benetton Treviso at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday.

The European double-header looks to have fallen kindly for Saints, who claimed a bonus-point triumph in Italy last weekend as they raced in six tries in a 38-15 win.

With a host of international players returning after a gruelling autumn international series, the visit of Trevsio, who are yet to win a match this season, comes at the perfect time for Saints director of rugby Jim Mallinder.

The likes of Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and Tom Wood were kept in reserve in Italy, coming on as second-half replacements as Northampton cruised to the Pool Five summit courtesy of tries from Samu Manoa, Alex Waller, Ben Foden, Luther Burrell, George Pisi and a penalty try.

Saints find themselves level on points with Racing Metro Paris following their 19-19 stalemate against Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium and Mallinder will be eager to clinch another maximum points victory and pile the pressure on the French heavyweights.

Given the nature of their opposition Mallinder has again taken the opportunity to ring the changes, with eight rotations from last weekend’s run-on side.

England internationals Burrell, Foden and Lee Dickson drop to the bench, with James Wilson, Pisi and Kahn Fotuali’I given starting berths.

Returning North

The fit-again George North returns on the left wing in place of Jamie Elliott, while there are another four changes in the pack.

Alex Waller is replaced by brother Ethan, with Mike Haywood moving among the replacements as England hooker Hartley steps up to lead the side.

Hartley’s international colleague and line-out target Lawes returns at the expense of Christian Day, while Wood is back in the starting line-up with Phil Dowson moving to No 8.

Treviso have also made a series of changes as they attempt to cause an upset in the Midlands.

Luca Morisi and Enrico Bacchin form an all-new centre partnership, while Edoardo Goro is promoted from the bench and will join Joe Carlisle in the half-backs; the former Wasps fly-half was the lone standout for Treviso last weekend.

In the pack there are a number of concerns for the visitors, who are yet to name a hooker, although Davide Giazzon and Salesi Manu have been dropped with Matteo Zanusso and Matteo Muccignat coming into the front row.

Elsewhere up front, Simone Favaro, Alessandro Zanni and Dean Budd are all omitted with Meyer Swanepoel, Francesco Minto and Matthew Henry Laumanu forming the back row at Franklin’s Gardens.

Northampton Saints: 15 James Wilson; 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Tom Stephenson, 11 George North; 10 Steve Myler, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i; 1 Ethan Waller, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 4 Sam Dickinson, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 Calum Clark, 7 Tom Wood, 8 Phil Dowson
Replacements: 16 Mikey Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Christian Day, 20 Samu Manoa, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Luther Burrell, 23 Ben Foden

Benetton Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward; 14 Simone Ragusi, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Enrico Bacchin, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia; 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Edoardo Gori; 1 Matteo Zanusso, 2 TBC, 3 Matteo Muccignat, 4 Antonio Pavanello (capt), 5 Marco Fuser, 6 Meyer Swanepoel, 7 Francesco Minto, 8 Mathew Henry Luamanu
Replacements: 16 Amar Kudin, 17 Josè Francisco Novak, 18 Romulo Acosta, 19 Tomas Vallejos, 20 Marco Lazzaroni, 21 Simone Favaro, 22 Ruggero Trevisan, 23 James Ambrosini