Smith to earn 50th cap in Champions Cup opener against Castres

December 06, 2024
332
Ultimate Rugby

Fin Smith will mark a half-century of appearances for Northampton Saints as the men this weekend in Black, Green and Gold kick-off their Investec Champions Cup campaign against Castres Olympique at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday (7 December, kick-off: 3.15pm).

It will mark the first time the Top14 side have made the trip to Northampton since 2017, when Saints ran out 28-21 victors thanks to scores from Stephen Myler, Tom Wood and a brace of tries from Teimana Harrison.

Saints reached the semi-finals of last season’s European competition, with an unbeaten run in the tournament seeing them past Glasgow Warriors, RC Toulon, Aviron Bayonnais, Munster Rugby (twice) and Vodacom Bulls, before they were narrowly defeated 20-17 by Leinster Rugby in an historic clash at Croke Park.

Fraser Dingwall will lead Northampton in the absence of club captain George Furbank – who takes a week’s rest following his involvements with England during the Autumn Nations Series.

Alex Mitchell and Tommy Freeman both make their return to Saints’ backs against Castres, starting at scrum-half and wing respectively.

Half-centurion Smith stays on alongside Mitchell at fly-half for Northampton, with James Ramm also coming into the back three at fullback to join winger Ollie Sleightholme for Saints.

Tom Litchfield is the other unchanged Northampton back, retaining his place at outside centre for Saints as he joins captain Dingwall in the midfield.

Props Emmanuel Iyogun and Elliot Millar Mills, plus hooker Curtis Langdon, form the front row for the men in Black, Green and Gold against Castres, while a fresh-look second row partnership of Temo Mayanavanua and Tom Lockett start behind them in the engine room.

Saturday marks a first Investec Champions Cup appearance for 19-year-old flanker Henry Pollock as he starts in Saints’ back row for the Round 1 clash, with Angus Scott-Young and No.8 Juarno Augustus completing the line-up.

There will be more European debuts from amongst Northampton’s replacements, with Craig Wright, Luke Green and Archie McParland all set for their first Investec Champions Cup action against Castres. Saints will also welcome a new face on Saturday, as back rower Iakopo Mapu – who signed on until the end of the season last month – is set to make his Saints debut from the bench.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs CASTRES OLYMPIQUE

Investec Champions Cup, Round 1

Saturday 7 December, 2024

cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens

Kick-off: 3.15pm

15 James Ramm

14 Tommy Freeman

13 Tom Litchfield

12 Fraser Dingwall (c)

11 Ollie Sleightholme

10 Fin Smith – 50th Saints appearance

9 Alex Mitchell