Three changes for Saints for first Champions Cup clash in RSA

December 13, 2024
271
Ultimate Rugby

Northampton Saints will break new ground this weekend as they take to the field in South Africa for the first time in the Investec Champions Cup, facing Vodacom Bulls in Round 2 of the competition on Saturday (14 December, kick-off: 3pm (local time) / 1pm (UK time).

Saints met Bulls for the first time in the two clubs’ histories in the quarter-finals of last season’s European competition, where Saints ran out 59-22 winners at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

That win saw men in Black, Green and Gold through to their first Champions Cup semi-final since 2011 – and while the sides clash in the pool rounds this term, Northampton will be hoping to produce another victory to maintain their place at the top of Pool 3 at Loftus Versfeld this weekend.

George Furbank returns to Saints’ line-up after a week’s rest to captain Northampton in Pretoria, linking back up with fellow England internationals Ollie Sleightholme and Tommy Freeman in the back three.

Scotland’s Rory Hutchinson starts for Saints at inside centre against Bulls, with last week’s skipper Fraser Dingwall shifting to outside centre for the Round 2 clash – while England duo Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith continue on for Saints at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.

Saints name an unchanged tight five this weekend, with Emmanuel Iyogun, Curtis Langdon and Elliot Millar Mills forming the front row in South Africa and Temo Mayanavanua and Tom Lockett partnering in the engine room for the men in Black, Green and Gold.

Alex Coles moves into the starting line-up against Bulls to make his first start of the season in Saints’ back row, joining in-form duo Henry Pollock and Juarno Augustus there this weekend.

And Northampton name a six-two split on the bench for the clash at Loftus Versfeld, with the likes of Tarek Haffar, Trevor Davison and Tom Pearson all set to enter the action, while Archie McParland and George Hendy provide Saints’ cover in the backs.

VODACOM BULLS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Investec Champions Cup, Round 2

Saturday 14 December, 2024

Loftus Versfeld

Kick-off: 3pm local (1pm UK time)

15 George Furbank (c)

14 Tommy Freeman

13 Fraser Dingwall

12 Rory Hutchinson

11 Ollie Sleightholme

10 Fin Smith

9 Alex Mitchell