Northampton Saints have been forced to withdraw two players just hours before their Investec Champions Cup showdown with reigning champions Union Bordeaux-Bégles.
Phil Dowson’s team will have to make do without British & Irish Lion and England star Fin Smith and winger James Ramm for the replay of last year’s final at Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas.
A club statement reads: “Fin Smith and James Ramm have both been withdrawn from Northampton Saints’ side to face Union Bordeaux-Bégles in the Investec Champions Cup this afternoon through injury.
“Smith is replaced at fly-half by Anthony Belleau (wearing No. 10), while Ramm’s place on the bench will be taken by Toby Thame (wearing No. 23).”
REVISED NORTHAMPTON SAINTS TEAM:
15 George Hendy, 14 Edoardo Todaro, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Alex Mitchell, 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Craig Wright, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Alex Coles, 5 JJ Van Der Mescht, 6 Callum Chick (c), 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Henry Pollock
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Emmanuel Iyogun, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Ed Prowse, 20 Chunya Munga, 21 Sam Graham, 22 Archie McParland, 23 Toby Thame