George Hendy is set to make his return to Northampton Saints’ starting line-up for the first time this season, as the 22-year-old starts against Sale Sharks on Friday (18 October, kick-off: 7.45pm).
Despite last weekend’s disappointing 24-8 loss to Leicester Tigers, Phil Dowson’s side come into Round 5 of the Gallagher Premiership unbeaten in Northampton this season, and go in search of their 12th consecutive victory on home soil in the Premiership – somewhere they have not lost a match in almost 12 months.
There are eight changes to Saints’ side to take on Sale, with short-term signing Gavin Thornbury and Senior Academy starlet Henry Pollock among those coming into the starting line-up to make their first league starts in Black, Green and Gold.
International duo Robbie Smith and Trevor Davison also come into Saints’ forward pack, at hooker and tighthead prop respectively, to join Emmanuel Iyogun in the front row, while Chunya Munga partners incoming Thornbury at lock behind them.
Tom Pearson comprises Northampton’s only other change in the pack as the 24-year-old starts at openside flanker alongside Angus Scott-Young – who makes his 50th appearance in Black, Green and Gold at blindside flanker – and incoming No. 8 Pollock in Saints’ back row.
Tom James recovers from concussion to return at scrum-half on Friday and joins fly-half Fin Smith in Saints’ half-back berths for the fourth time this season.
Outside them, Tommy Freeman shifts into the centres for the clash with Sale to partner Rory Hutchinson there, while Ollie Sleightholme and Hendy start on Saints’ wings alongside George Furbank who capatins the side from fullback.
And there is space among Northampton’s replacements for the likes of Curtis Langdon, Elliot Millar Mills, Josh Kemeny and James Ramm – while Tarek Haffar is set to make his first appearance of the season should he enter the action on Friday.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SALE SHARKS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 5
Friday 18 October, 2024
Kick-off: 7.45pm
15 George Furbank (c)
14 George Hendy
13 Tommy Freeman
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Tom James
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Robbie Smith
3 Trevor Davison
4 Gavin Thornbury
5 Chunya Munga
6 Angus Scott-Young – 50th Saints appearance
7 Tom Pearson
8 Henry Pollock
Replacements:
16 Curtis Langdon
17 Tarek Haffar
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Callum Hunter-Hill
20 Josh Kemeny
21 Archie McParland
22 Tom Litchfield
23 James Ramm
SALE TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Si McIntyre, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Hyron Andrews, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Curry (c), 8 Dan du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Caine, 17 Tumy Onasanya, 18 James Harper, 19 Ben Bamber, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Tom Curtis, 23 Luke James.
Not available for selection:
Juarno Augustus, Emeka Atuanya, Alex Coles, Fraser Dingwall, Sam Graham, Tom Lockett, Alex Mitchell, Burger Odendaal and Toby Thame.
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson and Simon Harding
No. 4: Hamish Grant
TMO: Rowan Kitt
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