Calf injury rules Saints winger North out of trip to Bath

RULED OUT - George North, seen here receiving treatment after leaving the field in the first half of last week's win over Harlequins, is not fit to play at Bath on Friday (Picture: Linda Dawson)

The Wales wing is added to an injury list that includes Lee Dickson (groin), Dylan Hartley (shoulder), Alex Corbisiero (knee), Christian Day (calf) and Ethan Waller (hand).

But there is some good news for Saints, with Samoan wing Ken Pisi recovering from a shoulder injury to start at the Recreation Ground.

Jim Mallinder makes five changes to the team that beat Quins in last Friday’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final, with Ben Foden, Luther Burrell, Tom Wood, Courtney Lawes and Pisi back in the fray.

James Wilson, Tom Stephenson, Phil Dowson, James Craig and North are the men to drop out of the starting 15.

Bath are boosted by the return of England lock Dave Attwood, while Anthony Watson and George Ford are named in a backline full of pace.

Centre Kyle Eastmond misses out, with Ollie Devoto taking his place, while international props Paul James and David Wilson return to the starting 15.

Carl Fearns comes into the back row in place of the injured Matt Garvey while captain Stuart Hooper makes his 200th Premiership appearance in the game.

Teams

Bath: Abendanon; Watson, Joseph, Devoto, Banahan; Ford, Young; James, Webber, Wilson; Hooper, Attwood; Fearns, Mercer, Houston.

Replacements: Batty, Catt, Perenise, Day, Fa’osiliva, Stringer, Henson, Agulla.

Saints: Foden; K Pisi, G Pisi, Burrell, Elliott; Myler, Fotuali’i; A Waller, McMillan, Ma’afu; Manoa, Lawes; Clark, Wood, Dickinson.

Replacements: Haywood, Denman, Mercey, Craig, Dowson, A Day, Wilson, Collins.