Preview: Northampton v Newcastle
Newcastle welcome back club captain Carl Hayman on Saturday, as they make the Guinness Premiership trip to Northampton.
Newcastle welcome back club captain Carl Hayman on Saturday, as they make the Guinness Premiership trip to Northampton.
Director of Rugby Steve Bates makes just one personnel change from the side which defeated Wasps in their last league outing back on January 3, as Danny Williams comes on to the right wing.
There is one positional switch from that line-up as Springbok Gcobani Bobo moves inside to the centres in place of Rob Vickerman, with the Falcons looking for a repeat of their 19-13 victory at Franklin's Gardens from almost a year ago.
With Newcastle unbeaten in league action all year, and having won three of their last four Guinness Premiership away games their cause has been further boosted by the return of prop Jon Golding from a rib injury.
Hooker Rob Vickers and scrum-half Micky Young are back on board after England Saxons duty, while Tim Swinson and James Hudson both return from injury in the second row.
The club's leading points scorer Jimmy Gopperth starts after being rested from Cup duty in recent weeks, with Bates saying: “We're really excited about Saturday's trip to Northampton, and about being back in the Guinness Premiership again.
“On the injury front we are at just about full strength, barring a few minor niggles, and everyone seems to be in good spirits. Training has been very lively during the week, there is a buzz about the place and we're going down to Northampton expecting a cracking game.”
Buoyed by his side's away form after winning three of their last four on the road in league action, Bates said: “We've been talking a lot about the win at Wasps in our last Guinness Premiership outing, and looking to build on what was a very strong away performance.
“Northampton is one of the very toughest places to go in the country, but our guys are keen to measure themselves against teams of that quality.
“The Saints are playing some good rugby at the moment, but having watched their last few games I don't think they've necessarily shown anything that we can't cope with if we play as well as we can do. I'm expecting it to be a really close and hard-fought game, but at the same time we do have a lot of respect for them and for what they have done so far this season.
“We won there last year but we're in even better shape now, so there's no reason why we shouldn't go down there and repeat the trick.”
Meanwhile, Saints Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder wants his team to take their LV= Cup form back into the Guinness Premiership this weekend.
Northampton return to league action fresh from reaching the semi-finals of the Anglo-Welsh tournament. But with Newcastle the only team to have won at Franklin's Gardens last season Mallinder says that the stadium will not have any fears for the Falcons.
“Newcastle's away form is excellent this season,” the Saints boss, whose side is skippered by returning Saxon Phil Dowson.
“They have won at places like Wasps, London Irish and Bath, and they know how to win here as well. Last season they hit us with three quick tries and then held us out for the rest of the game.
“However over the past two weeks we have beaten strong Sale and Leicester sides in the LV= Cup, and I want this momentum to continue back into the league. The next few Guinness Premiership matches are crucial for us if we are to consolidate our place in the top four and we have to make playing at home count for us.”
Form: Northampton won 28-8 when the two teams met in the Guinness Premiership on 27 November and are aiming for a first season's double over Newcastle in the Premiership since 2001/02. The Saints have won 12 of their last 13 matches in all competitions since the end of October. They have been victorious in their last 16 home games at Franklin's Gardens, whilst their only defeat in the last 46 competitive encounters at the ground was 13-19 to Newcastle on 28 February 2009. The Falcons have slipped to successive defeats over the past two weeks in the LV= Cup but won 12-6 at Wasps on 3 January in their most recent match in England. The Falcons have won three of their last four away games in the Premiership.
The teams:
Northampton: 15 Bruce Reihana, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Neil Best, 6 Phil Dowson (capt), 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Brett Sharman, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Andy Long, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Darren Morris, 19 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 20 Mark Easter, 21 Alan Dickens, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Chris Mayor.
Newcastle: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Danny Williams, 13 Gcobani Bobo, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 Charlie Amesbury, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Micky Young, 8 Filipo Levi, 7 Brent Wilson, 6 Josh Afu, 5 Tim Swinson, 4 James Hudson, 3 Carl Hayman (capt), 2 Rob Vickers, 1 Jon Golding.
Replacements: 16 Alex Walker, 17 Micky Ward, 18 Grant Shiells, 19 Mark Sorenson, 20 Peter Browne, 21 Chris Pilgrim, 22 Rob Miller, 23 Rob Vickerman.
Date: Saturday, February 13
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Franklin's Gardens
Referee: Dave Pearson