Four changes as Saints gear up for French test

Saints have made four changes to the team for Saturday’s European Champions Cup clash against Racing Metro in Paris, with big guns Dylan Hartley, George North, Kahn Fotuali’i and Calum Clark all returning to the starting line-up.
By Tom Vickers
Published 17th Oct 2014, 13:22 BST
BACK IN THE STARTING LINE-UP - Saints winger George NorthBACK IN THE STARTING LINE-UP - Saints winger George North
BACK IN THE STARTING LINE-UP - Saints winger George North

Hartley, Clark, Fotuali’i and George North were part of a stellar replacements list for the 43-10 demolition of Sale Sharks last weekend, but they are thrust into the starting 15 in Paris.

Mike Haywood, Jon Fisher, Lee Dickson and Jamie Elliott are the men to drop out.

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Fisher, who was forced off at the break against Sale, is not in the matchday squad, but Haywood, Dickson and Elliott add strength from the bench.

Alex Corbisiero (shoulder) and Sam Dickinson remain sidelined.

Meanwhile, Racing Metro have named former Saints prop Brian Mujati on the bench for the Pool 5 tussle. Another ex-Saint, Juandre Kruger, starts in the second row.

Irish star Jonny Sexton has shrugged off an injury and will start at fly-half, while Wales centre Jamie Roberts is also named in the first 15.

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Saints team to play Racing Metro (Saturday, October 17, ko 6.15pm): Ben Foden; Ken Pisi, George Pisi, Luther Burrell, George North; Stephen Myler, Kahn Fotuali’i; Alex Waller, Dylan Hartley, Salesi Ma’afu, Courtney Lawes, Christian Day, Calum Clark, Tom Wood, Samu Manoa

Replacements: Mike Haywood, Ethan Waller, Gareth Denman, James Craig, Phil Dowson, Lee Dickson, James Wilson, Jamie Elliott

Racing Metro: Dulin; Imhoff, Dumoulin, Roberts, Andreu; Sexton, Machenaud; Brugnaut, Lacombe, Ducalcon; Kruger, Van der Merwe; Lauret, La Roux, Claassen.

Replacements: Maurouard, Ben Arous, Mujati, Charteris, Gerondeau, Phillips, Gooseneck, Audrin.

Related topics:Paris