Phil Dowson makes three changes to his Northampton Saints side for Round 5 of the Premiership Rugby Cup, as Coventry Rugby make the trip to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Forwards Craig Wright, Tom Lockett and Josh Kemeny come into the starting line-up on Saturday (8 February, kick-off: 2.45pm), to face Coventry in a top-of-the-table clash that could decide who will secure a place in the competition’s quarter-final stage.
Saints took home the spoils when the sides met at Butts Park Arena earlier in the competition – leaving Coventry 19-10 winners that day – and will face another stern test against the Championship’s third-place side this weekend.
Angus Scott-Young captains Northampton again this weekend, taking on the reins for the third time in his career as he joins incoming Kemeny and one of last weekend’s try-scorers against Leicester Tigers, Fyn Brown, in Saints’ back row.
Props Tarek Haffar and Luke Green stay on in Saints’ front row, with England Under-20 hooker Wright starting alongside them there, while Ed Prowse retains his starting place at lock in Round 5 and is partnered by Lockett in the engine room.
Scrum-half Tom James – who scored a hat-trick against Tigers last time out – and fly-half George Makepeace-Cubitt remain in Saints’ half-back berths, with an unchanged centre partnership of Charlie Savala and Billy Pasco starting behind them.
And Northampton also remain unchanged in the back three, with wingers Tom Seabrook and Will Glister starting alongside fullback James Ramm.
Saints opt for a six-two split against Coventry with a mix of experience and youth named amongst the replacements – the likes of Elliot Millar Mills, Temo Mayanavanua, Iakopo Mapu, Jonny Weimann and Rafe Witheat will all look to make an impact off the bench.
Tickets for Saints vs Coventry remain available, with prices starting from £20 adult / £5 child* HERE.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs COVENTRY RUGBY
Premiership Rugby Cup, Round 5
Saturday 8 February, 2025
cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 2.45pm
15 James Ramm
14 Will Glister
13 Billy Pasco
12 Charlie Savala
11 Tom Seabrook
10 George Makepeace-Cubitt
9 Tom James
1 Tarek Haffar
2 Craig Wright
3 Luke Green
4 Ed Prowse
5 Tom Lockett
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Angus Scott-Young (c)
8 Fyn Brown
Replacements:
16 Henry Walker
17 Tom West
18 Elliot Millar Mills
19 Temo Mayanavanua
20 Archie Benson
21 Iakopo Mapu
22 Jonny Weimann
23 Rafe Witheat
Not available for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, Juarno Augustus, Alex Coles, George Furbank, Sam Graham, George Hendy, Callum Hunter-Hill, Emmanuel Iyogun, Tom Litchfield, Archie McParland, Chunya Munga, Burger Odendaal, Toby Thame, and Robbie Smith.
International duty:
Rory Hutchinson (Scotland), Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, Curtis Langdon, Alex Mitchell, Ollie Sleightholme, Fin Smith (all England), Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, Henry Pollock, Ollie Scola (all England U20s), and Reuben Logan (Scotland U20s).
COVENTRY TEAM TO FACE SAINTS:
15 Ryan Hutler, 14 David Opoku, 13 Daf-Rhys Tiueti, 12 Tom Hitchcock, 11 Jimmy Martin, 10 Tommy Mathews, 9 Sam Maunder; 1 Toby Trinder, 2 Jordon Poole, 3 Eliot Salt, 4 Obinna Nkwocha, 5 James Tyas, 6 Tom Ball, 7 Aaron Hinkley, 8 Senitiki Nayalo.
Replacements: 16 Will Biggs, 17 Jevaughn Warren, 18 Vilikesa Nairau, 19 Rhys Anstey, 20 Dan Okeke, 21 Josh Barton, 22 Charlie Robson, 23 Theo Mannion.
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
Assistant referees: Iain Kiy and James Clarke
No.4: Richard Steggall
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