Preview - ECC Pool One, round six

Saints want four tries

Northampton Saints should confirm their place in the play-offs with a win over bottom-placed Viadana this weekend, but they need a bonus point to guarantee a home match in the next round.

Bristol are at home to French side Narbonne and a win to either side will put them into the mix as one of the best runners-up. Bristol (16 points) are in a healthier position than Narbonne (13), but the English club will be chasing five points.

VIADANA v NORTHAMPTON – Stadio Luigi Zaffanella
Friday, January 20 – 19:30 (18:30 GMT)

Scrum-half Johnny Howard has been selected on the wing for Northampton. The Academy product replaced Sean Lamont during last weekend’s game against Bristol Rugby and helped set up two tries and scored one of his own to add to Saints’ seven-try haul.

The visitors will need more of the same when their forward loaded squad arrives at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella tomorrow night. A quarter-final place is tantalisingly close for Saints but a five-point win is needed to secure a home draw.

“Johnny brought a bit of spark to the Bristol game and I have no qualms about him doing that again. People have been asked to stand up and be counted this season," said Director of Rugby Paul Grayson.

"The likes of Rhodri Daives, Jon Clarke and Johnny have done really well for us this year and bode well for creating a foundation for the future.”

Howard comes in place of Lamont with Ben Cohen moving into inside centre in place of the injured Luke Myring. John Rudd will start in the No 11 shirt. In the pack, Dylan Hartley will start at hooker, David Gerard at lock and Mark Soden at No 8.

Steve Thompson, Matt Lord and Daniel Browne have all been moved to the bench to rest injuries they have been carrying for a few weeks. David Quinlan and Sean Lamont have also been left out of the squad to give them another week to fully recover from the injuries – hamstring and ankle – they have been struggling with.

Viadana: 15 Adrian Durston, 14 Roberto Pedrazzi, 13 Sandro Ceppolino, 12 Claudio Spadaro, 11 Sami Pace, 10 Jaques Schutte, 9 Matteo Mazzantini, 8 Josh Sole, 7 Carlos Wannenburg, 6 Ben Daly, 5 Quint Geldenhuys, 4 Cristian Bezzi (c), 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Gigio Ferraro, 1 Matias Aguero,
Replacements: 16 Mario Savi, 17 Gnazi Rouyet, 18 Mario Vella, 19 Fili Filimoehala, 20 Daniel Stead, 21 Dimitri Tonni, 22 Andrea Accorsi,

Northampton Saints: 15 Bruce Reihana (c), 14 Johnny Howard, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 Ben Cohen, 11 John Rudd, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Mark Robinson, 8 Mark Soden, 7 Sam Harding, 6 Ben Lewitt, 5 David Gerard, 4 Damien Browne, 3 Chris Budgen, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Tom Smith.
Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson, 17 Brett Sturgess, 18 Matt Lord, 19 Daniel Browne, 20 Darren Fox, 21 Dan Richmond, 22 Mark Hopley.

Referee: David Rosich (France)
Touch judges: Hervé Dubes, Pascal Gauzere (both France)
Match commissioner: Vittorio Barzan (Italy)

BRISTOL v NARBONNE – Memorial Ground
Sunday, January 22 – 14:00 GMT

Bristol: 15 Danny Gray, 14 Sean Marsden, 13 Mark Denney, 12 Manu Contepomi, 11 Brian Lima, 10 Tommy Hayes, 9 Jake Rauluni, 8 Geraint Lewis, 7 Craig Short (c), 6 Richard Martin-Redman, 5 Ollie Hodge, 4 Mariano Sambucetti, 3 Martin Rospide, 2 Saul Nelson, 1 Alex Clarke.
Replacements: 16 Dave Hilton, 17 Neil Clark, 18 Darren Crompton, 19 Gareth Llewellyn, 20 Joe El Abd, 21 Rob Higgitt, 22 Shaun Perry.

Narbonne: 15 Frédéric Lartigue, 14 Julien Patey, 13 Jean-Phillipe Viard, 12 Cédric Desbrosse, 11 Julien Candelon, 10 Christopher Ruiz, 9 Grégory Mahé, 8 Bertrand Bedes, 7 David Hunter, 6 Frédéric Martinez, 5 Manuel Sierra, 4 Dwayne Haare, 3 Franck Tournaire, 2 David Zanini, 1 Arnaud Martinez.
Replacements: 16 Fabien Rofes, 17 Luc Ducalcon, 18 Renaud Palomera, 19 Andrew Springgay, 20 Julien Seron, 21 Lionel Mazars, 22 Jean-Paul Dubois.

Referee: Allen McDowell (Ireland)
Touch judges: Ger English, Ken Henley-Willis (both Ireland)
Match commissioner: Jonathan Dance (England)