Hanrahan handed first Saints start against Scarlets

JJ Hanrahan will start for Saints for the first time in Saturday’s Champions Cup clash with Scarlets at Franklin’s Gardens (kick-off 7.45pm).
FIRST START - JJ Hanrahan replaces Stephen Myler at fly-half for the Champions Cup clash with Scarlets on SaturdayFIRST START - JJ Hanrahan replaces Stephen Myler at fly-half for the Champions Cup clash with Scarlets on Saturday
FIRST START - JJ Hanrahan replaces Stephen Myler at fly-half for the Champions Cup clash with Scarlets on Saturday

Hanrahan, who joined from Munster during the summer, comes in at 10 with Stephen Myler dropping to the bench.

Lee Dickson also gets a start as the Saints skipper continues his scrum-half rotation with Kahn Fotuali’i, who joins Myler on the replacements list.

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Mike Haywood takes the place of Dylan Hartley, who is not involved at all, while Ken Pisi returns as he replaces Jamie Elliott.

Matt Williams is the replacement hooker for Saints’ first game in this season’s Champions Cup.

Meanwhile, Scarlets have made four changes to the team that narrowly lost to Leinster last weekend.

Michael Tagicakibau moves to the right wing with Canadian World Cup player DTH van der Merwe making a return to action for what will be his third Scarlets appearance.

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Steve Shingler has recovered from a toe injury that kept him out of last week’s game.

In the pack, Samoan international Maselino Paulino will make his first start for the region with Lewis Rawlins moving to the replacements bench.

Centre Gareth Owen is in the side as he makes his 50th Scarlets appearance.

Saints: Foden; K Pisi, G Pisi, Burrell, North; Hanrahan, Dickson (c); A Waller, Haywood, Brookes; Craig, Day; Gibson, Wood, Dickinson.

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Replacements: Williams, E Waller, Hill, Paterson, Harrison, Fotuali’i, Myler, Tuala.

Scarlets: Thomas; Tagicakibau, Owen, Parkes, van der Merwe; S Shingler, G Davies; Evans, Phillips, Edwards; Ball, Paulino; A Shingler, J Davies, Barclay (c).

Replacements: Myhill, John, Taylor, Price, Rawlins, Davies, King, Williams.