Saints team to play Nottingham

Angus Scott-Young will captain Northampton Saints for the first time in his career on Saturday (9 November, kick-off: 5.15pm), as the men in Black, Green and Gold continue their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Nottingham Rugby.

Saints started their Cup campaign brightly last week, scoring five tries in a romping 31-12 victory over local rivals Leicester Tigers, and now return to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens to face Nottingham – a side they have not met in a competitive fixture since 2008.

With James Craig leading the coaching team for the Round 2 clash, Saints ring the changes ahead of facing Nottingham – handing 18-year-old Rafe Witheat his senior debut on the wing, with four further debutants in Ollie Scola, Archie Benson, Billy Pasco and Toby Cousins named amongst the replacements.

Scott-Young will captain Northampton on the occasion of his 53rd appearance in Black, Green and Gold, joining last week’s debutant Fyn Brown and Senior Academy starlet Reuben Logan in the back row.

Ahead of them, Will Spencer and Gavin Thornbury form Northampton’s engine room against Nottingham, while last week’s Man of the Match Tarek Haffar starts at loosehead prop again this weekend to join England Under-20s hooker Craig Wright and tighthead prop Luke Green in the front row for Saints.

After an impressive outing there in last weekend’s win over Leicester, George Makepeace Cubitt and Archie McParland will call the shots from Northampton’s half-backs once more against Nottingham – with the latter one of six Saints named in England A’s squad ahead of their upcoming clash against Australia A earlier this week.

Centres Charlie Savala and Tom Litchfield take up their roles in Northampton’s midfield again as Nottingham come to town, with a fresh-look back three of Jake Garside, debutant Witheat and one of last week’s five try-scorers Ewan Baker completing the starting line-up.

And besides Saints’ four debutants, there is also space amongst the replacements for hooker Nathan Langdon, prop Tom West, lock Ed Prowse and scrum-half Jonny Weimann.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs NOTTINGHAM RUGBY

Premiership Rugby Cup, Round 2

Saturday 9 November, 2024

Kick-off: 5.15pm

15 Ewan Baker

14 Rafe Witheat – Saint #2102

13 Tom Litchfield

12 Charlie Savala

11 Jake Garside

10 George Makepeace-Cubitt

9 Archie McParland

1 Tarek Haffar

2 Craig Wright

3 Luke Green

4 Will Spencer

5 Gavin Thornbury

6 Fyn Brown

7 Angus Scott-Young (c)

8 Reuben Logan

Replacements:

16 Nathan Langdon

17 Tom West

18 Ollie Scola – Northampton Saints debut

19 Ed Prowse

20 Archie Benson – Northampton Saints debut

21 Jonny Weimann

22 Billy Pasco – Northampton Saints debut

23 Toby Cousins – Northampton Saints debut

Not available for selection:

Juarno Augustus, Emeka Atuanya, Sam Graham, Tom Lockett, Alex Mitchell, Burger Odendaal, Toby Thame and Robbie Smith.

International duty: Alex Coles, Trevor Davison, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Ollie Sleightholme and Fin Smith (all England), Rory Hutchinson and Elliot Millar Mills (both Scotland), and Temo Mayanavanua (Fiji).

Referee: Dan Jones

Assistant referees: Hamish Grant and Jamie Leahy

No. 4: Richard Steggall