Hutchinson and Dingwall return for Northampton Saints at Gloucester

December 22, 2023
667
Ultimate Rugby

Rory Hutchinson and Fraser Dingwall both return to Northampton Saints’ starting line-up this weekend, with pair both selected in the centres as the men in Black, Green and Gold head to Gloucester.

Saints get back into Gallagher Premiership action at Kingsholm on Saturday (23 December, kick-off: 3pm), taking on ninth-place Gloucester in Round 9 of the competition.

The last four clashes between the sides have been won by the home side on the day, with Saints’ last victory in Gloucester coming behind closed doors back in January 2021; and Northampton will be hoping to overturn that recent run of form at Kingsholm as they go in search of their fifth consecutive win, having downed Harlequins, Saracens, Glasgow Warriors and RC Toulon in the last four weeks.

George Furbank will lead Saints out in Gloucester and is joined in Northampton’s back three by a new-look wing pairing in Tommy Freeman and Tom Litchfield – with the latter starting on the wing for the first time in his Saints career.

Hutchinson returns from injury to start for Saints for the first time since Round 6 as he partners Dingwall in Northampton’s midfield, while Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith man Saints’ half-back berths once again.

Paul Hill provides the only change to the front row for Northampton as he joins prop Ethan Waller and hooker Curtis Langdon there, with locks Temo Mayanavanua and Alex Coles packing down behind them in the engine room – with the latter making his return after a two-week injury lay-off.

Saints name an unchanged back row for the festive clash, with Courtney Lawes, Tom Pearson and Sam Graham – who penned a new contract with the Club earlier this week – completing Northampton’s starting line-up.

Meanwhile there is space on Saints’ bench for the likes of Sam Matavesi, Chunya Munga, Juarno Augustus and Charlie Savala – who became Saint #2087 when he came off the bench against Toulon last week.

GLOUCESTER RUGBY vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Gallagher Premiership, Round 9

Saturday 23 December, 2023

Kingsholm Stadium

Kick-off: 3pm

15 George Furbank (c)

14 Tom Litchfield

13 Fraser Dingwall

12 Rory Hutchinson

11 Tommy Freeman

10 Fin Smith

9 Alex Mitchell