Northampton Saints face Exeter Chiefs in top of the table clash

Northampton Saints are off on their travels for a hotly anticipated top of the table clash against the Exeter Chiefs, as they look to cement their place at the summit.

The Saints are currently on a six game winning run, including last weeks statement 21-17 victory over Sale Sharks, but they will be keen to make it seven in Devon.

Wins against Saracens, Gloucester and Harlequins have helped guide Phil Dowson’s side to the top of the table over the festive period, the first time they have been at the summit since 2019.

Much has been made of the Chiefs home form in recent times, but Northampton boss Sam Vesty said his side were not thinking about that ahead of the game.

“It’s the same (as any other game), it still starts at nil-nil and it lasts 80 minutes. I think that’s the mindset that you’ve got to have and we focus on ourselves and doing what we want to do and putting that on the park,” said Vesty.

They also boast an impressive record at Sandy Park as they have beaten the Chiefs on two of their last three visits to the South West, but will they make it three from four on Saturday?

In team news, Phil Dowson has given full-back George Furbank the captains arm band this week, and Furbank will link up with Ollie Sleightholme and Tom Litchfield in the back three.

Dowson has resisted the urge to start Tommy Freeman at outside centre this week, as Rory Hutchinson and Burger Odendaal line-up in the midfield. Fin Smith again gets the nod at fly-half, but he will be partnered up with Callum Braley who makes his first Premiership start of the season at scrum-half.

Up front, Tarek Haffar makes his first Premiership start too, as he joins Cornwall-native Sam Matavesi and Trevor Davison in the front row. Alex Moon and Chunya Munga line up in the second-row as Alex Coles slots in at flanker this weekend in place of Courtney Lawes. Angus Scott-Young and Sam Graham complete the starting line-up.

Dowson has opted for a tasty looking bench this week as Curtis Langdon, Tom Pearson, Alex Mitchell, Fraser Dingwall and the afore mentioned Freeman are all listed.

For the Chiefs, they will be looking to defend their fortress again this weekend as they look to maintain their 14-month unbeaten run at home, but it will be anything other than a walk in the park against table-toppers Northampton.

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However, Rob Baxter insists his new-look young team should ‘be delighted’ by moments like these.

“The last thing I said to the players was this is a top of the table clash. This is brilliant, there’s no pressure here, this is just fun, this is just great. Every single one of you should be delighted by playing in these kind of games because the lads are enjoying it.” said Baxter

Rob Baxter’s men are also in something of a purple patch themselves ahead of this top of the table clash, with wins in four of their last five matches in all competitions.

Last week’s win against Bristol was yet another huge statement from this young group, who are punching well above their weight this season. A win on Saturday would also see them leapfrog the Saints and move into first place in the table, but can they take this opportunity?

In team news, Baxter has made five changes to the side that beat Bristol last weekend.

Jack Yeandle returns to the side at hooker, and he is sandwiched between Nika Abuladze and Josh Iosefa-Scott in the front row. Lewis Pearson comes in for Rusi Tuima in the second-row, and Pearson will again link-up with skipper Dafydd Jenkin in the engine room.

Jacques Vermeulen returns to the starting team and he features alongside Ethan Roots and Greg Fisilau in the back-row.

In the back division, Stu Townsend and Harvey Skinner will continue their blossoming half-back partnership. Joe Hawkins returns to the starting line-up in place of Ollie Devoto. The Welsh international will feature alongside man of the moment Henry Slade in the centres, and Tommy Wyatt returns to the side at full-back.

The red hot Immanuel Feyi-Waboso again features on the wing, as does Ben Hammersley after his cameo in the 15 jersey last week.

On the bench, in-form prop Ehran Painter will look to make an impact against his former employer.

TEAMS IN FULL:

Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank (c), 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Tom Litchfield, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Callum Braley; 1 Tarek Haffar, 2 Sam Matavesi, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Alex Moon, 5 Chunya Munga, 6 Alex Coles, 7 Angus Scott-Young, 8 Sam Graham

Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Tom Pearson, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Fraser Dingwall, 23 Tommy Freeman

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Tommy Wyatt, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ben Hammersley, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Stu Townsend; 1 Nika Abuladze, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 4 Lewis Pearson, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 8 Greg Fisilau

Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Ehren Painter, 19 Rusi Tuima, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 Zack Wimbush