A double injury blow has rocked the Northampton Saints camp ahead of their crucial Investec Champions Cup clash against Bordeaux Begles. The news comes as a major setback, with England international Fin Smith and James Ramm both forced to withdraw from the squad.
Initially, Smith was set to start at fly-half, while Ramm was named on the bench, but unfortunately, both players have succumbed to injuries. This late change has forced the Saints to reshuffle their lineup, with Frenchman Anthony Belleau stepping into Smith's role at number 10, and Toby Thame taking Ramm's place on the bench.
Despite these setbacks, the Saints are determined to put on a strong performance. Red-hot George Hendy will start at full-back, joined by Edoardo Todaro and Ollie Sleightholme on the wings. The midfield partnership of Tommy Freeman and Rory Hutchinson remains unchanged, with Belleau and Alex Mitchell forming a new half-back combination.
In the forwards, Henry Pollock starts at number eight, flanked by Tom Pearson and skipper Callum Chick. The second row sees JJ van der Mescht and Alex Coles continue their partnership, while Trevor Davison, Craig Wright, and Danilo Fischetti make up the front row.
The bench options for the Saints include forward replacements Robbie Smith, Emmanuel Iyogun, Elliot Millar Mills, Ed Prowse, Chunya Munga, and Sam Graham, with Archie McParland and Toby Thame providing cover for the backs.
This clash at the Stade Chaban-Delmas holds extra significance as it marks the first meeting between Northampton and Bordeaux since their thrilling Investec Champions Cup final last year, where the French side emerged victorious. A bonus-point win for either team will see them overtake Bristol Bears at the top of Pool Three, setting up an intriguing final round of group fixtures next weekend.
The updated Northampton Saints lineup is as follows:
Starting XV: 15. George Hendy, 14. Edoardo Todaro, 13. Tommy Freeman, 12. Rory Hutchinson, 11. Ollie Sleightholme, 10. Anthony Belleau, 9. Alex Mitchell, 8. Henry Pollock, 7. Tom Pearson, 6. Callum Chick (c), 5. JJ van der Mescht, 4. Alex Coles, 3. Trevor Davison, 2. Craig Wright, 1. Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16. Robbie Smith, 17. Emmanuel Iyogun, 18. Elliot Millar Mills, 19. Ed Prowse, 20. Chunya Munga, 21. Sam Graham, 22. Archie McParland, 23. Toby Thame
Venue: Stade Chaban-Delmas
Kick-off: 16:15 local time (15:15 GMT)
Officials: Referee - Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita), Assistant Referees - Robbie Jenkinson (Ire), Padraic Reidy (Ire), TMO - Olly Hodges (Ire)
Broadcast: France TV, beIN SPORTS, Premier Sports, SuperSport, FloRugby
Will the Saints be able to overcome these injuries and secure a crucial victory? Or will Bordeaux continue their dominance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
