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Northampton boss Jim Mallinder has made five changes to his starting XV for Friday’s clash with Gloucester
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Mallinder has wielded the axe after the Saints’ 41-7 defeat to Castres last weekend
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Gloucester have also made five changes to their starting line-up
Northampton Saints return to Aviva Premiership action against Gloucester at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday night.
Saints have made five changes to the starting line-up with George Pisi and Lee Dickson joining the back line while Mikey Haywood, Calum Clark and Christian Day return to the pack, with Day set for his first Aviva Premiership action of the season.
Gloucester Rugby make five changes to their starting line-up with Mark Atkinson reclaiming the inside centre berth, which sees Billy Twelvetrees moves across to fly-half to replace Billy Burns.
The rest of the visitors changes are in the pack with Richard Hibbard returning at hooker while Mariano Galarza is back in the boiler room alongside Tom Savage.
In the back row, Jacob Rowan and Ben Morgan replace Matt Kvesic and Lewis Ludlow respectively.
Did you know?
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Northampton Saints have won just two of their last six matches in all competitions, but at Franklin’s Gardens have been victorious their last two
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Saints are unbeaten in their last five Premiership Rugby encounters with Gloucester since Gloucester’s 26-24 victory at Kingsholm in September 2013
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Gloucester Rugby have recorded just a solitary success in Aviva Premiership Rugby this season: away at Sale in round 3
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The Cherry & Whites are unbeaten in their last five away games in all tournaments
What the coaches say
“Over the last three weeks, we’ve improved. Our performances have got better and better. And now it’s a case of going back into what we know is a huge game for us against a team that has had a similar start to us this season, but a team who we know have got very good players.”
– Director of Rugby David Humphrey
Prediction
Saints had an up and down couple of games in Europe and still haven’t clicked into gear yet this season. Meanwhile, Gloucester had their usual good time in the Challenge Cup, winning two from two, but this will be a different task entirely. We’re not overly convinced by Saints but we think at home they should take a narrow win.
Northampton by 5
Line-Ups
Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 James Wilson, 13 George Pisi, 12 Harry Mallinder, 11 George North, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Calum Clark, 6 Tom Wood (c), 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller
Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Michael Paterson, 20 Jamie Gibson, 21 Tom Kessell, 22 Rory Hutchinson, 23 Ahsee Tuala
Gloucester: 15 James Hook, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Jonny May,; 10 Billy Twelvetrees, 9 Greig Laidlaw (c), 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Jacob Rowan, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 Mariano Galarza; 4 Tom Savage, 3 John Afoa; 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paddy McAllister
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Cameron Orr, 18 Salesi Ma’afu, 19 Joe Latta, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Henry Purdy
