Premiership final: Same again from Northampton and Bath as Saints legends set to say goodbye in Twickenham thriller
Northampton Saints and Bath have named their teams for the Premiership final.
After a long and arduous season, it all comes down to Twickenham on Saturday when Northampton Saints and Bath fight it out for Premiership glory.
It promises to be a thrilling affair between two entertaining outfits, who finished first and second respectively in the table after the 18 regular season rounds.
Here’s how both sides will line up this weekend for the Premiership title decider at the home of English rugby, which sold-out in record time earlier this week.
Team news
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson has named a completely unchanged matchday 23 as the table-toppers head to their first Premiership final since 2014.
After finishing at the summit, the Saints then beat reigning champions Saracens 22-20 in last week’s semi-final clash at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Saints will bid farewell to several stalwarts of the club in the last match of the 2023/24 season, with Courtney Lawes leading on his 283rd and final game representing Northampton, while triple centurion Alex Waller, 122-time Saint Alex Moon and club captain Lewis Ludlam are also among those making a final bow.
England internationals Curtis Langdon, Trevor Davison, Alex Coles and Tom Pearson all retain their places in Northampton pack alongside captain Lawes and lock Moon, with number eight Juarno Augustus – who beat more defenders than any other player in the semi-finals (five) – also staying on to complete the forwards.
In-form scrum-half Alex Mitchell once again joins top-points scorer Fin Smith in the half-back berths for the final time this season and they will be key to Saints’ hopes.
Dowson sticks with a lethal back-three combination of Ollie Sleightholme, Tommy Freeman and George Furbank, with Fraser Dingwall and Burger Odendaal in midfield.
Back-row Ludlam will make his final appearances as a Saint from amongst Northampton’s replacements, while there’s also room for Sam Matavesi, Emmanuel Iyogun, Elliot Millar Mills, Temo Mayanavanua, Sam Graham, Tom James and George Hendy as Saints opt for a 6-2 bench split for the final against a dangerous Bath side.
Much like Northampton, Bath have named exactly the same matchday squad that won their semi-final as they look to complete a remarkable campaign at Twickenham.
Captain Ben Spencer will lead the Blue, Black and White for the final time this season and is joined in the half-backs by mercurial Scotland international Finn Russell.
In the pack, last week’s try-scorer Beno Obano keeps hold of the loosehead shirt, seeing Tom Dunn take the number two jersey and Thomas du Toit at tighthead prop.
Behind them, Quinn Roux and Charlie Ewels partner up once again in the second-row, the latter impressing in last week’s semi-final victory over Sale Sharks at home.
In-form Ted Hill
Across the back-row, the outstanding Ted Hill and Sam Underhill retain their positions as the two flankers, while Alfie Barbeary completes the pack at number eight.
Outside of Russell, fellow Scotsman Cameron Redpath and outside centre Ollie Lawrence provide plenty of talent in the midfield for Johann van Graan’s lethal outfit.
Completing the backline, Will Muir and Joe Cokanasiga continue their stronghold down the wings, with Matt Gallagher earning his final run out for Bath at number 15.
Also sticking with an unchanged bench after their impactful performance last week, Niall Annett, Juan Schoeman and Will Stuart are set to provide the power up front.
Elliott Stooke, Josh Bayliss and Miles Reid retain their replacement forward spots, whilst Louis Schreuder and Orlando Bailey are included again as backline options.
The teams
Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Tom Pearson, 6 Courtney Lawes (c), 5 Alex Coles, 4 Alex Moon, 3 Trevor Davison, 2 Curtis Langdon, 1 Alex Waller
Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Sam Graham, 21 Lewis Ludlam, 22 Tom James, 23 George Hendy
Bath: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Miles Reid
Date: Saturday, June 8
Venue: Twickenham Stadium
Kick-off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce, Anthony Woodthorpe
TMO: Tom Foley
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