Premiership: Trio to celebrate milestones for Northampton Saints while Bath make eight changes

Northampton Saints stars Fraser Dingwall, Tom Collins and Tommy Freeman will reach milestones against Bath in Friday night’s Premiership clash at Franklin’s Gardens.

Northampton head into the fixture placed fourth in the Premiership, while Bath prop up the table after just four wins from 15 games.

Three milestones

Inside centre Dingwall skippers the side in what will be his 100th appearance for the Saints. He is joined the midfield by Matt Proctor, who returns to the side from injury as one of eight changes from the loss to Bristol.

Wings Collins and Freeman also celebrate landmarks, with the former earning his 100th Premiership appearance and the latter his 50th. James Ramm starts at full-back for the side. Tom James is at scrum-half for the hosts, with Fin Smith continuing at fly-half.

In the pack, Juarno Augustus returns to the number eight jersey, with Sam Graham moving to the openside flanker role and Angus Scott-Young rounding off the loose trio.

Alex Waller and Paul Hill are on either side of hooker Robbie Smith in the front-row, with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Alex Moon the locks.

Sam Matavesi will cover the back-row from the bench, with Tom Cruse, Ethan Waller, Alfie Petch, and Brandon Nansen the tight five forwards among the replacements. Callum Braley, James Grayson and Rory Hutchinson are the backline replacements.

Bath make eight changes

As for Bath, Johann van Graan has made eight changes to his team.

Winger Gabriel Hamer-Webb returns to action after a lengthy injury lay-off and starts alongside Matt Gallagher and Tom de Glanville in the back three.

Max Ojomoh and Jonathan Joseph combine in the midfield once again. Louis Schreuder comes in at scrum-half alongside fly-half Orlando Bailey.

In the pack, Dave Attwood returns to partner GJ van Velze. Van Graan has changed up his back-row, with Josh Bayliss, Chris Cloete, and Miles Reid all starting. Up front, D’Arcy Rae returns to the front-row alongside Beno Obano and captain Tom Dunn.

Ben Spencer starts from the bench and is joined by Will Butt and Richard de Carpentier as the backline replacements. The forward reserves are Tom Doughty, Juan Schoeman, Johannes Jonker, Josh McNally and Will Spencer.

Form: Northampton Saints’ three-game winning run in Gallagher Premiership Rugby came to an abrupt halt with their record defeat at Bristol Bears on Friday. The Saints have won their last six home games in Premiership Rugby since Leicester beat them at cinch Stadium in September. Bath Rugby are yet to record a victory in any competition in 2023. Bath have won just once away from home in Gallagher Premiership Rugby since February 2022: 17-10 at Newcastle on 5 November. Bath beat Northampton 27-14 at the Recreation Ground in October and have won on two of their last three visits to Franklin’s Gardens.

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The teams

Northampton Saints: 15 James Ramm, 14 Tom Collins, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Fraser Dingwall (c), 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Tom James, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Sam Graham, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Alex Moon, 4 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Robbie Smith, 1 Alex Waller
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Alfie Petch, 19 Brandon Nansen, 20 Sam Matavesi, 21 Callum Braley, 22 James Grayson, 23 Rory Hutchinson,

Bath: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Miles Reid, 7 Chris Cloete, 6 Josh Bayliss, 5 GJ van Velze, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 Tom Dunn (c), 1 Beno Obano 
Replacements: 16 Tom Doughty, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Josh McNally, 20 Will Spencer, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Will Butt, 23 Richard de Carpentier

Venue: cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Referee: Jack Makepeace
Assistant Referees: Harry Walbaum, Wayne Falla
TMO: Rowan Kitt