By Maverick
November 11 2005

Northampton Saints welcome London Wasps to Franklin's Gardens this Remembrance weekend. Maverick looks ahead to the game.

 

MATCH PREVIEW

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Vs
London Wasps

 

Saturday, 12^th November 2005

Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton

Kick Off 12.30pm

TEAM NEWS

Following Northampton Saints defeat to Saracens last weekend, Budge Pountney has made five changes to the side that will face Wasps this Saturday. In the forwards, Dan Richmond has two new front-row partners with Chris Budgen replacing the injured Tom Smith and Pat Barnard making his first Guinness Premiership start in place of Colin Noon. The locks remain unchanged whilst we see a re-jigging of the back-row. Darren Fox moves across the scrum to 6, replacing Grant Seely and Sam Harding returns at 7.

In the backs, Sean Lamont’s recall to the Scotland squad gives Paul Diggin his first chance to shine this season. Digger has been in fine form for the Wanderers and gets his just reward by taking the right wing berth. John Rudd moves to left wing and the final change sees David Quinlan back at centre, resuming his partnership with Jon Clarke.

London Wasps are similarly hit by International call-ups with Matt Dawson, Josh Lewsey and Mark van Gisbergen all at Twickenham. Hooker Rafa Ibanez has also been recalled to the French squad. Wasps are also struggling with a long injury list. This rules out starts for the likes of Joe Worsley and Simon Shaw. It was rumoured that Lawrence Dallaglio was struggling to be fit for Saturday however this proved to be unfounded and he takes his place at number 8.   

One to Watch  - Tom Voyce

FORM GUIDE

 

Saints have lost their last two matches, out-muscled up front by Bristol and Saracens. With just two wins from six, they currently sit 8^th in the Guinness Premiership table. Despite a vibrant back-line, Northampton have only averaged 16 points a game, conceding almost 23. In contrast, Wasps are 2^nd in the ladder, just behind the only team to have beaten them so far this season, Sale Sharks. They have averaged over 27 points a game (although they have played Leeds!) but have only the 5^th meanest defence in the competition, leaking roughly 20 points a game.

 

It’s a tough one to call, this one. The various call-ups and injuries for both sides point toward a close game and I guess the result will depend largely on how well the Saints pack stand up to what will a close examination from their Waspy counterparts. For some reason I have the smallest of small smidgens of confidence about this one. Saints to sneak a tight game by three.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Prior to Saturday’s game, Franklin’s Gardens will witness the annual wreath laying at the War Memorial in front of the Sturtridge Pavilion. Please get to your seats or place on the terrace in good time to play your part in this moving ceremony.

THE TEAMS

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS - 15 BRUCE REIHANA (capt)*, 14 Paul Diggin, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 DAVID QUINLAN, 11 John Rudd, 10 CARLOS SPENCER, 9 MARK ROBINSON, 1 Chris Budgen, 2 Dan Richmond, 3 Pat Barnard, 4 DAVID GERARD, 5 Damien Browne, 6 Darren Fox, 7 SAM HARDING, 8 Daniel Browne

Reps: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 Luke Harbut, 18 Matt Lord, 19 Ben Lewitt, 20 Johnny Howard, 21 Rhodri Davies, 22 Andy Vilk

LONDON WASPS –  15 James Brooks, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Ayoola Erinle, 12 Stuart Abbott, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Alex King, 9 Eoin Reddan, 1 Tim Payne, 2 Joe Ward, 3 Peter Bracken, 4 George Skivington, 5 Richard Birkett, 6 John Hart, 7 Tom Rees, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio (c)

Reps: 16 Ben Gotting, 17 Alistair McKenzie, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 Mark Lock, 20 Warren Fury, 21 Rob Hoadley, 22 Jeremy Staunton

Referee – Rob Debney