George Makepeace-Cubitt will make his first appearance for Northampton Saints when they take on Bristol Bears on Friday (25 October, kick-off: 7.45pm), as the 20-year-old starts at Ashton Gate.
The fly-half joined Saints last season after excelling for England Under-20s, and Makepeace-Cubitt steps into Fin Smith’s role in Northampton’s half-back berths while the latter is away on England duty, having made his Championship debut for Saints’ partner club Bedford Blues two weeks ago.
Makepeace-Cubitt is one of ten new starters for Saints across the line-up from last week, as Director of Rugby Phil Dowson rings the changes for Northampton while several England internationals are away with the national side for a training camp ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.
Saints got back to winning ways last time out with a resounding 47-17 win over Sale Sharks, moving the men in Black, Green and Gold up to fifth in the Gallagher Premiership table, and they now travel to Bristol in search of their first away victory of the season – and a first win at Ashton Gate since 2021.
Lock Alex Coles will skipper Saints in Bristol in the absence of Club captain George Furbank, taking on the role for the third time in his career from Saints’ second row, while being joined in the engine room by Fiji international Temo Mayanavanua.
Tom West starts at loosehead prop for Saints, with hooker Curtis Langdon and tighthead prop Elliot Millar Mills – who was named in Scotland’s squad for the Autumn Nations Series yesterday – also returning to Saints’ starting XV to form a fresh-look front row.
Josh Kemeny starts at blindside flanker on Friday to make his sixth appearance in his debut season at Saints, while Tom Pearson and Henry Pollock retain their places at openside flanker and No.8 respectively.
Makepeace-Cubitt becomes Saint #2095 as he joins in-form scrum-half Tom James in Saints’ half-back berths, while centres Rory Hutchinson – who was also named in Scotland’s squad yesterday – and Tom Litchfield form Northampton’s midfield partnership outside them.
Saints call on a new-look back three for the clash with Bears, as George Hendy shifts to fullback with Tom Seabrook making his first appearance of the season on Northampton’s wing, and James Ramm – who assisted two of Saints’ tries last week while scoring one of his own – also comes into the starting line-up.
Meanwhile there is room on Saints’ bench for the likes of Emmanuel Iyogun, Angus Scott-Young and Archie McParland in Bristol, while 20-year-old hooker Craig Wright is set to make his Gallagher Premiership debut should he enter the action at Ashton Gate.
BRISTOL BEARS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 6
Friday 25 October, 2024
Kick-off: 7.45pm
15 George Hendy
14 James Ramm
13 Tom Litchfield
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tom Seabrook
10 George Makepeace-Cubitt – Saint #2095
9 Tom James
1 Tom West
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Elliot Millar Mills
4 Temo Mayanavanua
5 Alex Coles (c)
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Tom Pearson
8 Henry Pollock
Replacements:
16 Craig Wright
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Luke Green
19 Gavin Thornbury
20 Angus Scott-Young
21 Archie McParland
22 Charlie Savala
23 Jake Garside
BRISTOL BEARS TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Rich Lane, 14 Jack Bates, 13 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Kieran Marmion; 1 Jake Woolmore, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 James Dun, 5 Joe Batley, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Benjamin Grondona, 8 Fitz Harding (c).
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 George Kloska, 19 Joe Owen, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Sam Worsley, 23 Benjamin Elizalde.
Not available for selection:
Juarno Augustus, Emeka Atuanya, Fraser Dingwall, Sam Graham, Tom Lockett, Alex Mitchell, Burger Odendaal, Toby Thame and Robbie Smith.
International duty:
Trevor Davison, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Ollie Sleightholme and Fin Smith (all England).
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe and Harry Walbaum
No.4: Neil Chivers
TMO: Andrew Jackson
