Phil Dowson makes six changes to his Northampton Saints side as they travel to Leicester Tigers this weekend, with the Derby Day clash at Mattioli Woods Welford Road taking place this Saturday (12 October, kick-off: 5.30pm).
International duo Elliot Millar Mills and Temo Mayanvanua – Scotland and Fiji respectively – come into Saints’ tight five, while Angus Scott-Young marks the other change to Northampton’s forward pack amongst the back row.
In Saints’ backs, centre Tom Litchfield makes his first appearance of the season on Saturday, while James Ramm returns to the line-up to start on the wing. Meanwhile Saturday’s clash marks a second Premiership start for 19-year-old scrum-half Archie McParland.
Coming into Round 4 of the Gallagher Premiership off back-to-back home victories against Exeter Chiefs and Harlequins, Saints sit fifth in the league table – just one point behind this weekend’s hosts, Leicester.
The home side on the day took the bragging rights in last season’s two East Midlands Derbies, but the men in Black, Green and Gold will look to buck that trend as they go in search of a first win on the road this term and a first victory in Leicester since January 2023.
England Under-20s starlet McParland has featured in all of Saints’ clashes so far in the Premiership, and starts in Saints’ half-backs alongside five-time England international fly-half Fin Smith – who has made more successful tackles than any other back (40) in the Premiership so far this season.
Fresh from signing a contract extension earlier this week, Tommy Freeman starts alongside Ramm on Saints’ wings in Leicester, while captain George Furbank – who has assisted a try in every round of the Premiership so far this season – completes the back three at fullback.
Scotland international Rory Hutchinson partners Litchfield in Saints’ midfield for the first time since January, when the duo featured together against Aviron Bayonnais in the Investec Champions Cup.
Emmanuel Iyogun and Curtis Langdon start at loosehead prop and hooker respectively for the fourth consecutive league match, while tighthead Millar Mills features for Saints for the first time since helping Northampton lift the Premiership trophy at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham back in June.
Mayanavanua shifts into Saints’ starting line-up after a successful first outing of the season against Harlequins last weekend, while Chunya Munga – who has made more attacking ruck entries than any other player in the league so far (84) – starts alongside him in the second row.
Josh Kemeny makes his fourth competitive start in Black, Green and Gold alongside fellow Australian Scott-Young, while Sam Graham starts at No.8 for the third time this season to round off the forward pack.
Gavin Thornbury – who joined Saints on a short-term deal last month – is set to make his debut in Black, Green and Gold from amongst Northampton’s replacements, with England internationals Trevor Davison, Tom Pearson and Ollie Sleightholme also among those primed to enter the action from the bench in Leicester.
LEICESTER TIGERS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 4
Saturday 12 October, 2024
Kick-off: 5.30pm
15 George Furbank (c)
14 James Ramm
13 Tom Litchfield
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tommy Freeman
10 Fin Smith
9 Archie McParland
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Elliot Millar Mills
4 Temo Mayanavanua
5 Chunya Munga
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Angus Scott-Young
8 Sam Graham
Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Tom West
18 Trevor Davison
19 Gavin Thornbury – Northampton Saints debut
20 Tom Pearson
21 Henry Pollock
22 Jake Garside
23 Ollie Sleightholme
TIGERS TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Freddie Steward, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Dan Kelly, 12 Joseph Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Julián Montoya, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Harry Wells, 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Olly Cracknell.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 James Cronin, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Côme Joussain, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Will Wand.
Not available for selection:
Juarno Augustus, Emeka Atuanya, Alex Coles, Fraser Dingwall, George Hendy, Callum Hunter-Hill, Tom James, Tom Lockett, Alex Mitchell and Burger Odendaal.
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant referee: Jack Makepeace and Greg Macdonald
No.4: Jamie Leahy
TMO: Andrew Jack
