Preview: Harlequins v Northampton
Northampton Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder has rung the changes for his side's Aviva Premiership clash with Harlequins on Friday.
Northampton Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder has rung the changes for his side's Aviva Premiership clash with Harlequins on Friday.
The Saints secured a last-gasp victory over Gloucester in their opening Aviva Premiership encounter last weekend and Mallinder has jiggled his line-up in anticipation of another tough match.
Tom May moves from outside centre to the wing in place of Paul Diggin, with Jon Clarke coming into the midfield.
In the second row, Mark Sorenson drops down to the bench with Christian Day elevated into a starting berth. The front row sees two changes, with hooker Mike Haywood and prop Paul Doran Jones replaced by Andy Long and Alex Waller.
“It's going to be a tough challenge,” Mallinder said of the match.
“Harlequins played well last week against London Irish. They're a good side who have been together all summer with few disruptions from the World Cup. They have also put us under pressure over the past couple of years and of course came here and won in a tight game last season. So we know what they can offer, and they have some key players who can win the game for them.”
Quins will be without Tom Guest for the game, with the number eight suffering a horrific double break of his arm last weekend. Chris York replaces Guest, joining Will Skinner and skipper Chris Robshaw in the back row.
The only other change comes at prop, where Tim Fairbrother makes his first start having made his debut off the bench last time out. The Australian takes the place of try scorer James Johnston who drops in to the replacements.
Form: Harlequins began their Aviva Premiership Rugby campaign with a 29-24 victory over London Irish at Twickenham. Quins have lost their last two Premiership contests at the Twickenham Stoop but have not lost three in a row at the venue in the regular season since September 2006.
Northampton's only defeat in their last eight regular season matches in the Premiership was 15-27 at Gloucester on 19 April. Northampton have not lost a Friday evening encounter in the Premiership since a trip to Leicester in April 2006.
Harlequins won 16-13 in their most recent meeting with the Saints and have not won successive matches against the East Midlanders since season 2006/07, whilst Northampton beat Quins at the Stoop last September for the first time since 2004.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Ross Chisholm, 13 George Lowe, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Karl Dickson, 8 Chris York, 7 Will Skinner, 6 Chris Robshaw (capt), 5 George Robson, 4 Ollie Kohn, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Chris Brooker, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 James Johnston, 19 Charlie Matthews, 20 Luke Wallace, 21 Richard Bolt, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Sam Smith.
Northampton: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Tom May, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Noah Cato, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 Phil Dowson (c), 7 Ben Nutley, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Christian Day, 4 Samu Manoa, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Andy Long, 1 Alex Waller.
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Paul Doran Jones, 18 Tom Mercey, 19 Mark Sorensen, 20 James Craig, 21 Stuart Commins, 22 Ryan Lamb, 23 Scott Armstrong.
Date: Friday, September 9
Venue: The Stoop, Twickenham
Kick-off: 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT)