European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 5: Northampton Saints v Racing Metro preview
Last Updated: 24/01/15 7:29pm
Northampton Saints have made three changes for Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash with Racing Metro at Franklin’s Gardens.
Saints were defeated by Racing Metro in the opening round of this season’s European Rugby Champions Cup but have since racked up four successive victories to leave them level on points with the Paris club at the head of Pool 5.
Ben Foden’s season-ending injury sees James Wilson come in at full-back, while there are two changes in the front row as Alex Corbisiero and Salesi Ma’afu pack down on either side of captain Dylan Hartley.
Racing Metro maintained their unbeaten run last weekend with a nine-try demolition of Treviso and have made three changes for the trip to the Aviva Premiership champions.
Wales international Jamie Roberts returns to the starting line-up, partnering Henry Chavancy in midfield, while Teddy Thomas replaces Marc Andreu on the left wing.
The final change comes in the front row, where tighthead Luc Ducalcon gets the nod ahead of former Northampton prop Brian Mujati.
Northampton have won their last five home games against French teams in Europe’s top tier and the prize for the victors on Saturday will be a home quarter-final, while the loser will still be a strong contender to claim one of the best runner-up places.
Northampton Saints: 15 James Wilson, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson; 1 Alex Corbisiero, 2 Dylan Hartley (c), 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 4 Sam Dickinson, 5 Christian Day, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Calum Clark, 8 Samu Manoa.
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Phil Dowson, 20 Teimana Harrison, 21 Kahn Fotuali’I, 22 Tom Stephenson, 23 Jamie Elliott.
Racing Metro: 15 Benjamin Lapeyre, 14 Juan Imhoff, 13 Henry Chavancy, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Benjamin Dambielle, 9 Maxime Machenaud; 1 Eddy Ben Arous, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski (c), 3 Luc Ducalcon, 4 Luke Charteris, 5 Francois van der Merwe, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 7 Bernard le Roux, 8 Antione Claasen.
Replacements: 16 Virgile Lacombe, 17 Julien Brugnaut, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Juandre Kruger, 20 Camille Gerondeau, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Johannes Goosen, Camille Chat.
