Saints name side for trip to Exeter Chiefs

Phil Dowson has named his first side of 2024, with Northampton Saints travelling to Exeter Chiefs in Round 11 of the Gallagher Premiership this Saturday (6 January, kick-off: 3pm). 

The men in Black, Green and Gold have won their last six matches in all competitions, most recently defeating Sale Sharks 21-17 to put themselves top of the league over the festive period – the first time they had been top of the Premiership pile since November 2019. 

Exeter and Saints have enjoyed an even run of form against each other in recent seasons, with the last eight fixtures between the two clubs evenly split to four wins apiece, while Saints have won two of their last three visits to Sandy Park. 

George Furbank – who signed on again with Saints earlier this week – leads the side for the tenth time in his career, looking to keep his unbeaten run as captain as he is joined by Ollie Sleightholme and Tom Litchfield in the back three at Sandy Park. 

Rory Hutchinson and Burger Odendaal man Saints’ centres again this Saturday, while Callum Braley makes his first appearance of the season to start at scrum-half for Northampton alongside Fin Smith in the half-back berths. 

Loosehead prop Tarek Haffar will make his first Premiership start as he packs down alongside Sam Matavesi and Trevor Davison in the front row, with Alex Moon and Chunya Munga behind them in the engine room. 

Alex Coles – who also signed a contract extension to remain at the Club this week – starts at blindside flanker this weekend and joins openside flanker Angus Scott-Young and No.8 Sam Graham to complete Saints’ starting line-up. 

And Dowson names a strong bench of replacements for the trip to Chiefs, with the likes of Curtis Langdon, Tom Pearson, Alex Mitchell, Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman all set to make an impact should they enter the action at Sandy Park. While Emmanuel Iyogun is named in Saints’ matchday 23 for the first time in the Premiership this term, as he prepares to make his return from a groin injury that has kept him sidelined since September. 

EXETER CHIEFS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 11
Saturday 6 January, 2023
Sandy Park
Kick-off: 3pm

15 George Furbank (c)
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Burger Odendaal
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tom Litchfield
10 Fin Smith

9 Callum Braley

1 Tarek Haffar
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Trevor Davison
4 Alex Moon
5 Chunya Munga
6 Alex Coles
7 Angus Scott-Young
8 Sam Graham

Replacements:
16 Curtis Langdon
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Temo Mayanavanua
20 Tom Pearson
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Fraser Dingwall
23 Tommy Freeman

Not available for selection:
Juarno Augustus, George Hendy, Paul Hill, Tom James (suspended), Lewis Ludlam, James Ramm, Tom Seabrook and Alex Waller.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant referees: George Selwood and Neil Chivers
No. 4: Paul Dix
TMO: David Rose