Northampton Saints vs Wasps

Coles limps off and JJ Tonks moves into the back row.

Several scrum resets deep in Saints' territory kill several minutes off the clock, and Sopoaga returns to the action.

Saints win a vital scrum penalty on halfway and Biggar sends it forward to the 22, where Saints go to work with a maul following the lineout. Another penalty swiftly follows with Wasps not rolling away – and it's right in front of the posts so Biggar calls for the tee...

Taylor and Coles enter straight after the try, replacing Mitchell and Ratuniyarawa. Raining hard now at the Gardens.

Biggar's kick from the right touchline just misses left of the posts. Unlucky.

Hobbs-Awoyemi makes his Saints return, replacing Francois van Wyk in the front row.

Proctor replaces Dingwall in the centres for Saints. Can the All Black help turn things around for Northampton?

Saints bang on the door with several carries five metres from the line, but Wasps come up with it again and Robson finds touch. Frustration for Northampton.

Big carry from Harrison and Wasps are pinged for not rolling away. Saints earn a lineout on the 22 and Fish hits his man. Francis trucks it up as Saints try to find some momentum. 

Things get a little scrappy as both teams turn the ball over in short succession. A rumble of thunder in the distance as the rain begins to fall. Saints have the put in to the scrum on halfway.

Fish and Franks enter the fray in place of Matavesi and Hill. Saints meanwhile knock-on close to their own line and Wasps have an opening.

Crazy passage of play as Saints lose the ball, Wasps break to halfway but can't gather a chip and Furbank returns the favour with a fantastic chip and chase down to the Wasps 5m line! Scrum Saints with the try line in sight.

Wasps knock on from the restart – the ball is greasy after a short shower at half-time. Saints keep hold of the ball and Will Rowlands concedes a penalty at the breakdown. A good start from the hosts. 

Ludlam has to check his run as Wasps slow the ball down, and is unlucky to knock-on with the pass behind him. Wasps make no mistake with the scrum on their own ball and Robson clears to touch close to halfway.

Wasps come in at the side and Biggar hits the penalty down into Wasps' 22 again. This would be a great time to score for Boyd's men.

Former Saint Kieran Brookes picks up a shoulder injury and is replaced by Jeff Toomaga-Allen for Wasps.

Saints defence is resolute but an offload from Shields sends Umaga through a gap to score. It's a muted celebration though with the pass clearly forward, and we come back for a Saints scrum.

A couple of penalties at scrum time go either way but Wasps ping the second down towards Saints' 22. Fekitoa is now back on the field following his yellow card as Wasps put the ball through the hands inside Saints' half.

Wasps win two quick penalties, but miss touch with the second and Furbank clears brilliantly into touch. It will be a Wasps lineout on halfway.

Biggar sends the resulting penalty into Wasps territory and Saints look to maul. Mitchell's pass goes astray and is gathered by Willis but Wasps then knock on and Saints have a scrum on the 22.

Saints are ticking now and Dingwall is hit again by Fekitoa, but this one looks high. Referee Karl Dickson and the TMO are taking a look...

Dingwall looks to make a break but is hit hard by Fekitoa and Wasps regather the ball. Saints get a great shove on but are penalised at the scrum and Umaga is able to clear for the visitors.

Kibirige and Young make good ground up the right wing and take Wasps all the way up inside Saints' 22. Courtney Lawes makes a brilliant try-saving tackle to prevent a score but Northampton now under the cosh as Wasps are awarded a scrum on the five-metre line.

A pretty frenetic opening quarter of an hour! Chris Boyd predicted a fast-paced opening clash – so far the Northampton boss is being proved correct with both sides full of energy and ambition. 

Saints again clean from the restart but make an error with the boot as Alex Mitchell's kick goes out on the full. Wasps knock-on following the lineout and Saints move the ball up to halfway.

Brilliant chase from Piers Francis off the restart and Saints pile the pressure on, eventually forcing a mistake as Dan Robson's kick is charged down and Saints earn a scrum in a very promising position. Wasps are now offside and Saints send on the tee for Biggar...

Clean lineout from Saints but Biggar is so unlucky to see his kick skip forward off the pristine turf and beyond the in-goal area, meaning Wasps will have the put-in to the scrum all the way back on Saints 22.

Saints look lively here carrying well early despite a knock-on deep in Wasps territory. Another penalty for Saints on halfway now and Biggar points to the posts...

We're underway at the Gardens as the sides exchange kicks and Furbank makes good ground. Saints win the first penalty of the game at the breakdown, just in front of halfway.

It's fair to say it feels a little strange without a boisterous home crowd this afternoon as the teams enter the field! Let us know where you're watching the game by tagging @SaintsRugby on twitter! COYS!! 

Two late changes for the hosts; Sam Matavesi is in for Mikey Haywood, who welcomed his second child yesterday. Meanwhile Harry Mallinder misses out with a knee injury, which means Taqele Naiyaravoro comes onto the bench. Tom Collins and James Fish come onto the bench.

We're back LIVE at the Gardens! Saints take on Wasps this afternoon after 163 long days without Gallagher Premiership rugby.