FIVE CHANGES TO STARTING XV THAT BEAT SALE AT THE STOOP IN ROUND ONE.

Head of Rugby Paul Gustard has named his squad for Harlequins’ first away fixture of the Gallagher Premiership season at Northampton on Friday evening (kick-off: 19:45).

Following last week’s 51-23 victory over Sale at The Stoop in the first round of Premiership fixtures, Chris Robshaw leads a strong side at Franklin’s Gardens with four changes to the starting XV from last week.

In the scrum there are first starts of the season for Ben Glynn, Archie White and James Chisholm while Charlie Walker will play on the right wing.

Gustard said: "There were a lot of good things about last week’s win against Sale but it was one win. We have won nothing more than that match and we are under no illusions about the challenges and quality in the competition.

"Franklin's Gardens is always a tough place to get a result.  It will be Saints first home match of the season and they will want to perform in front of their supporters. 

“There are talented players throughout their squad, they are well coached and we as a group are looking forward to finding a way to get the result we want.”

Harlequins team to play Northampton Saints (Harlequins appearances)

15. Aaron Morris (18)
14. Charlie Walker (87)
13. Joe Marchant (57)
12. Ben Tapuai (1)
11. Nathan Earle (1)
10. Marcus Smith (29)
9. Danny Care (245)

1. Joe Marler (169)
2. Elia Elia (17)
3. Will Collier (127)
4. Matt Symons (1)
5. Ben Glynn (21)
6. Archie White (21)
7. Chris Robshaw (Captain, 258)
8. James Chisholm (56)

Game Changers

16. Max Crumpton (1)
17. Mark Lambert (235)
18. Phil Swainston (10)
19. Stan South (17)
20. Renaldo Bothma (7)
21. Charlie Mulchrone (19)
22. James Lang (23)
23. Paul Lasike (1)

Not considered for selection

Lewis Boyce
Mike Brown
Rob Buchanan
Demetri Catrakilis
Jack Clifford
Alex Dombrandt
James Horwill
Josh Ibuanokpe
Dino Lamb
Mat Luamanu
Josh McNulty
George Merrick
Francis Saili
Kyle Sinckler
Luke Wallace

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS v HARLEQUINS

15 Ahsee Tuala
14 Ken Pisi
13 Luther Burrell
12 Piers Francis
11 Tom Collins
10 Dan Biggar
9 Cobus Reinach

1 Alex Waller (c)
2 James Fish
3 Ben Franks
4 David Ribbans
5 Courtney Lawes
6 James Haskell
7 Heinrich Brüssow
8 Teimana Harrison

Replacements:
16 Dylan Hartley
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Ehren Painter
19 Api Ratuniyarawa
20 Jamie Gibson
21 Alex Mitchell
22 Andy Symons
23 Harry Mallinder

Not available for selection:
Dom Barrow (hamstring), Alex Coles (knee), James Craig (concussion), Paul Hill (shoulder), Rory Hutchinson (knee), Reece Marshall (foot), Toby Trinder (foot), Tom Wood (groin), and Charlie Davies (foot).

That's almost a  full team not considered for selection, and it wouldn't, IMHO, be a bad one at a push…. OK more forwards than backs but Wallace is almost a wing now.... ;D

Could do with a few of those injured getting back fit. Explains the A League selection the other night.  Auterac just not considered currently. Glad to see we went with White and never put Ward at 7

Think Ward offers more than crumpton on the bench personally, but then again he was fine last week.

Shame about Brown being injured.

Pleased to see Chisholm start. I know I'm in a minority, and I've only watched the highlights back, not the full match, but I didn't think Bothma was that great really. Not bad, but I didn't see the performance that quite a few were raving about.

Interesting choice of terminology - not ' considered ' for selection . begs the question injured , or not picked on merit - I think the Saints way is more informative

I did enjoy Tapui and Marchant last week , so pleased he's kept that combination  and the bench looks better than we've had for a while .

Good strong team , no excuses with those on the park , odds a bit against us having lost 6 times on the bounce at Franklins Gardens , but not many in that team will  have experienced that so fingers crossed we can nick one at long last.

COYQ

If I was to make a guess I would say that Brown may have requested to miss this game in order to play his 300th game at home rather than away.

Just a theory but he certainly did not seem to have picked up any injuries last week.

That would be completely out of character for Brown. When fit, he wants to play.

Could England rest periods come into the equation in terms of the number of games he can play?

Agreed would certainly be out of character so maybe as you mentioned there might be some sort of rest period implication and he has chosen to take his now in order to do his 300th at home.

At the same time he could have just picked up a knock in training and they do not want to risk him  :)