Elliott gets the nod as Saints head to Clermont without North
Jamie Elliott will step into void left by George North as Saints seek to secure a Champions Cup quarter-final win Clermont Auvergne on Saturday.
With North, the tournament’s current top scorer with seven tries, advised by a neurologist to rest until the end of April after being knocked unconscious in last Friday’s win against Wasps, Elliott will line up on the wing.
Luther Burrell also returns to the starting line-up after being rested for last week’s Aviva Premiership game, with Tom Stephenson dropping to the bench.
The third change comes in the pack, with Sam Dickinson replacing Christian Day, who is fit enough to take his place on the bench after being withdrawn at half-time against Wasps with a hamstring strain.
George Pisi, another doubt after breaking his little finger in the league win, will partner Burrell in midfield, with the former Clermont centre making his 100th Saints appearance in the process.
Saints: Wilson; K Pisi, G Pisi, Burrell, Elliott; Myler, Dickson; Corbisiero, Hartley (c), Ma’afu; Manoa, Lawes; Wood, Clark, Dickinson.
Replacements: Haywood, A Waller, Denman, Day, Fisher, Fotuali’i, Stephenson, Tuala.