Northampton v Munster: Teams
Northampton have named their team which will face Munster in Saturday's Heineken Cup clash at stadiumMK in Milton Keynes.
Last Updated: 20/01/12 1:12pm
![Jamie Elliott: Replacing Chris Ashton on the wing](https://e0.365dm.com/11/12/660x350/elliott_2693728.jpg?20111221073945)
Northampton have left Chris Ashton out of their team to face Munster in Saturday's Heineken Cup clash in Milton Keynes.
The England wing was not expected to be dropped despite having signed a deal to join Saracens at the end of the season.
His place in the starting line-up is taken by Jamie Elliott.
Munster have already qualified for the quarter finals, but with the Saints going for a place in the last eight of the Amlin Challenge Cup director of rugby Jim Mallinder said there was plenty of motivation within the squad at Franklin's Gardens.
"We're disappointed we're not in the Heineken Cup knockouts because we want to win every single game we can, but the Amlin Challenge Cup is a good competition and we used it as a good springboard a couple of years ago," he explained.
"We had a good result at the Scarlets last week, and if we attack with the same intensity and defend with the same passion and determination then we will have a good chance against a tough Munster outfit.
"The first game against us and the second game against Castres sum up what this Munster team is all about. They didn't win by much, but they won, and that's what the Heineken Cup is all about. They've got the players in their squad who know how to win and it will be a very difficult game.
"We are definitely going into the match with our minds focused very much on getting the win. We have had a good run recently and have some big matches coming up, and want to keep our momentum going," added Mallinder.
Meanwhile, Munster have made just one change in personnel to their starting XV, from the one that started against Castres last weekend.
Injury to Niall Ronan forces a reshuffle in the pack where Donncha O'Callaghan, Ronan's replacement after 14 minutes in the 26-10 win over Castres, will partner skipper Paul O'Connell in the second row.
Donnacha Ryan moves from lock to blindside flanker while Peter O'Mahony, who started at six against Castres, takes over on the openside from Ronan.
Otherwise it's a case of as you were in the starting XV but on the bench there's a first time inclusion in a Heineken Cup match day squad for Dave O'Callaghan while the ever reliable Mick O'Driscoll, with 196 Munster caps under his belt, makes his first appearance of this Heineken campaign on the bench.
Northampton Saints: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Jamie Elliott, 13 George Pisi, 12 James Downey, 11 Vasily Artemyev, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Phil Dowson, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 Samu Manoa, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Dylan Hartley (c), 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Doran Jones, 19 Christian Day, 20 Ben Nutley, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Scott Armstrong.
Munster: 15 Denis Hurley, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Peter O'Mahony, 6 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Damien Varley, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Denis Fogarty, 17 Marcus Horan, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Mick O'Driscoll, 20 Dave O'Callaghan, 21 Tomas O'Leary, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Danny Barnes.