The half-way point of the Guinness Premiership’s busy festive period sees five changes to Worcester Warriors’ starting line-up for the visit to Northampton Saints as John Brain juggles his squad in search of rest and freshness.
The Sixways director of rugby brings Gavin Quinnell in at blindside with Drew Hickey returning at Number 8. The pack shuffle sees captain Pat Sanderson moving to openside, while Tom Harding and Kai Horstmann make way – the latter taking a place on the bench, having figured in every Warriors match this season.
In the backs, Ryan Powell starts at scrum-half, Gary Trueman completes a return to fitness after a double hernia op, at inside centre, and Shane Drahm is at full-back. The selection means there are places among the replacements for Matt Powell, Thomas Lombard and Thinus Delport.
Team: 01 Tevita Taumoepeau, 02 Aleki Lutui, 03 Chris Horsman, 04 Craig Gillies, 05 Tim Collier, 06 Gavin Quinnell, 07 Pat Sanderson (c), 08 Drew Hickey, 09 Ryan Powell, 10 James Brown, 11 Marcel Garvey, 12 Gary Trueman, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 14 Aisea Havili, 15 Shane Drahm
Replacements: 16 Darren Morris, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Phil Murphy, 19 Kai Horstmann, 20 Matt Powell, 21 Thomas Lombard, 22 Thinus Delport