After a handful of games in the Cup, Scotland U20 international Amena Caqusau will make his PREM Rugby debut in Northampton’s clash against Bristol at Ashton Gate on Saturday.
Caqusau will be hoping to make as spectacular an impact as recently capped Italian international, Edoardo Todaro, who has been a revelation in his first season as a first-team Saints player.
Todaro lines up on the other wing, with the back three completed by captain George Furbank, following the inclusion of Fin Smith at fly-half. Smith’s half-back partner for club and country, Alex Mitchell, has been rested, with Archie McParland handed the number nine jersey.
Fraser Dingwall’s absence through injury allows Toby Thame an opportunity in the centres, alongside Tom Litchfield.
Upfront, Emmanuel Iyogun and Trevor Davison make their first appearances in Black, Green and Gold in a month as they start in the front row at Ashton Gate, with Craig Wright staying on at hooker for Northampton this week.
Ed Prowse and JJ Van Der Mescht form Saints’ engine room partnership in Bristol, while Josh Kemeny is joined by Sam Graham and Callum Chick in the back row – with the latter ranking second in the league for post-contact metres (87) and fifth for carries (58) after five rounds.
There is also room for more returning faces on Saints’ bench, with Scotland international Rory Hutchinson and flanker Tom Pearson set to enter the action on Saturday.
NORTHAMPTON:
15 George Furbank (c)
14 Edoardo Todaro
13 Tom Litchfield
12 Toby Thame
11 Amena Caqusau – Gallagher PREM debut
10 Fin Smith
9 Archie McParland
1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Craig Wright
3 Trevor Davison
4 Ed Prowse
5 JJ Van Der Mescht
6 Josh Kemeny
7 Sam Graham
8 Callum Chick
Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Tom West
18 Cleopas Kundiona
19 Archie Benson
20 Tom Pearson
21 Tom James
22 Rory Hutchinson
23 James Pater