Three changes for Saints ahead of Sale Sharks clash

Phil Dowson has made just three changes to his Northampton Saints side ahead of their return to the Gallagher PREM this weekend, when Sale Sharks are the visitors on Saturday (20 December, kick-off: 3pm).

Edoardo Todaro, Toby Thame and Emmanuel Iyogun all come into the starting line-up for the sold-out Round 7 match, as Saints go in search of their fifth win of the PREM season so far.

The last six fixtures between Northampton and Sale have been won by the home team on the day, with Saints claiming a 47-17, 21-17 and 38-34 in the last three outings at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

Saints – who lead the way for dominant carries, post-contact carry metres and dominant tackles across the league – sit in third in the PREM table, just three point behind league leaders Bath Rugby after six rounds.

Incoming Italy winger Todaro partners last week’s hat-trick scorer George Hendy on Northampton’s wings this weekend, with club captain George Furbank rounding off the back three at fullback.

Thame’s impact off the bench last weekend earns him a spot in Saints’ midfield for the clash with Sharks and he partners Fraser Dingwall in the centres at cinch Stadium, while British & Irish Lions half-backs Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith start inside them at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.

Loosehead prop Iyogun marks the only change to Saints’ front row, with hooker Craig Wright and tighthead prop Trevor Davison starting alongside him there.

Alex Coles and JJ Van Der Mescht reprise their roles at lock to form Northampton’s engine room, and are joined in the forward back by an unchanged back row of Josh Kemeny, Tom Pearson and Henry Pollock.

Dowson opts to return to a five-three bench this weekend, with the likes of Italy’s Danilo Fischetti, Zimbawe’s Cleopas Kundiona and England’s Ollie Sleightholme all primed to enter the action – while there is a welcome return for Tommy Freeman amongst the replacements, as the British & Irish Lion makes his first appearance in Black, Green and Gold since October.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS vs SALE SHARKS

Gallagher PREM, Round 7

Saturday 20 December, 2025

cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens

Kick-off: 3pm

15 George Furbank (c)

14 George Hendy

13 Toby Thame

12 Fraser Dingwall

11 Edoardo Todaro

10 Fin Smith

9 Alex Mitchell

1 Emmanuel Iyogun

2 Craig Wright

3 Trevor Davison

4 Alex Coles

5 JJ Van Der Mescht

6 Josh Kemeny

7 Tom Pearson

8 Henry Pollock

Replacements:

16 Robbie Smith

17 Danilo Fischetti

18 Cleopas Kundiona

19 Chunya Munga

20 Callum Chick

21 Tom James

22 Tommy Freeman

23 Ollie Sleightholme

Not considered for selection:

Emeka Atuanya, Will Glister, Curtis Langdon, Tom Litchfield, Tom Lockett, James Ramm, Charlie Ulcoq, and Tom West.