Preview: Bath v Northampton

Northampton have rotated their squad for Tuesday's rearranged Guinness Premiership meeting with Bath at the Recreation Ground.

Northampton have been forced to rotate for Tuesday's rearranged Guinness Premiership meeting with Bath at the Recreation Ground.

The Round 13 clash was originally called off due to adverse weather conditions in January, and then again postponed when the Saints reached the LV= Cup final.

It is a second outing in four days for the Saints and Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder has had his hands tied for selection due to the requirements of the England Senior and Saxons Elite Playing Squads. However, he says that he has confidence in the team that has been chosen for the game.

“Bath have had a good run of results in the past few months and are playing well,” he said.

“We are certainly expecting a tough game at the Rec tomorrow evening. But there is a good mood in the squad ahead of the game. We have confidence that the team that we have named can get a positive result at Bath.”

Meanwhile, Bath Head Coach Steve Meehan is eager for his side to follow up their impressive beating of Sale with the scalp of Saints.

“We were a little bit rusty against Sale but it was a good performance leading into tomorrow night and the match with Wasps at Twickenham on Saturday,” said Meehan, who is without the injured Butch James for the midweek game.

“With a new owner coming in was a week that none of us have experienced before and there were some basic errors in the first 20 minutes I think as a result. But, the players got that out of their systems and then really played well.

“It was a great start for the new chairman and a nice way to send Andrew off.”

Form: Northampton won 15-13 when the two teams met at Franklin's Gardens in round ten, but the Saints' only victory at The Rec in their last six visits in all competitions was 17-9 in the Guinness Premiership on 10 September 2005. Bath host Sale Sharks on Saturday, whilst Northampton entertain Gloucester on the same day. The Saints have won four of their last five away games in the Guinness Premiership.

The teams:

Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Joe Maddock, 13 Shontayne Hape, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Michael Stephenson, 10 Nicky Little, 9 Michael Claassens (capt), 8 Luke Watson, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Ben Skirving, 5 Stuart Hooper, 4 Danny Grewcock, 3 David Wilson, 2 Lee Mears, 1 David Barnes.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Dixon, 17 Nathan Catt, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Scott Hobson, 20 Daniel Browne, 21 Scott Bemand, 22 Tom Cheeseman, 23 Matt Banahan.

Northampton: 15 Barry Everitt, 14 Paul Diggin, 13 Joe Ansbro, 12 Jon Clarke, 11 Bruce Reihana, 10 Shane Geraghty, 9 Alan Dickens, 8 Mark Hopley, 7 Neil Best, 6 Mark Easter, 5 James Cannon, 4 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe (capt), 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Brett Sharman, 1 Regardt Dreyer.
Replacements: 16 Andy Long, 17 Euan Murray, 18 Soane Tonga'uiha, 19 Juandre Kruger, 20 Roger Wilson, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 James Downey, 23 Grant Pointer.

Date: Tuesday, April 20
Kick-off: 20:00 BST
Venue: Recreation Ground
Referee: JP Doyle