Louw leads from the openside flank, alongside blindside Matt Garvey and number eight David Denton. The last time the trio featured together in the back row was in the away victory against Wasps in mid-December.

Charlie Ewels and Dave Attwood will look to continue their successful partnership in the second row, with two wins from two starts together this season. Up front, David Wilson comes into the tighthead role, with Rob Webber at hooker and Nathan Catt at loosehead.

In the backs, Rhys Priestland is named at fly-half having been deployed at fullback in his last two outings, with Chris Cook partnering him from scrum-half.

Anthony Watson returns to action at fullback, with Jeff Williams another new face in the backline – where he makes his second Aviva Premiership start of the season – opposite fellow wing Matt Banahan. Last week’s try-scorer, Ollie Devoto, is paired in the midfield with outside centre Jonathan Joseph.

NOTE: Supporters travelling to Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday are advised to allow plenty of travel time. As well as the rugby kicking-off at 15.15, Northampton Town FC are also at home and kick-off at 15.00, so traffic is expected to be particularly heavy leading up to the game.

Bath Rugby team to face Northampton Saints

15 Anthony Watson
14 Jeff Williams
13 Jonathan Joseph
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Matt Banahan
10 Rhys Priestland
9 Chris Cook
1 Nathan Catt
2 Rob Webber
3 David Wilson
4 Charlie Ewels
5 Dave Attwood
6 Matt Garvey
7 Francois Louw (c)
8 David Denton

Replacements

16 Tom Dunn
17 Nick Auterac
18 Max Lahiff
19 Dominic Day
20 Leroy Houston
21 Will Homer
22 George Ford
23 Max Clark

Louw returns to lead Bath Rugby at Saints

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