Newcastle v Saints: Teams

Adriaan Fondse will make his first start for Newcastle in Saturday's Aviva Premiership clash with Northampton.

Fondse arrived at the Falcons in November and has so far been limited to bench duty.

However he has been preferred to the benched Taiasina Tu'ifua in the second row as one of three changes following the loss to Sale.

Jeremy Manning and Richard Mayhew are also handed starts, while there is an additional positional switch with winger Luke Eves named at inside centre for the injured Corne Uys.

"We will certainly have our work cut out but it is at Kingston Park and we do play well there," said Falcons head coach Alan Tait.

Ruled out

Northampton have made just the one change of personnel to their line-up for the trip to Kingston Park.

With Tom Wood ruled out of the clash, Samu Manoa comes into the line-up. Manoa will start in the second row, with Courtney Lawes switching to the blindside and Phil Dowson starting on the openside.

Christian Day will take Manoa's spot on the bench, with Brian Mujati named among the replacements.

The match will also see 30-year-old Ireland No.8 Roger Wilson make his 100th appearance for Northampton.

"Roger is a quality player who has a positive influence on a game," said Saints boss Jim Mallinder.

"He has formed good partnerships with all of the other back row players and scrum-halves we have in our squad, and deserves the accolades that will come with his hundredth appearance."

Newcastle: 15 Greg Goosen, 14 Jeremy Manning, 13 James Fitzpatrick, 12 Luke Eves, 11 Suka Hufanga, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Jordi Pasqualin, 1 Grant Shiells, 2 Rob Vickers, 3 Euan Murray, 4 James Hudson, 5 Adriaan Fondse, 6 Richard Mayhew, 7 Will Welch, 8 Ally Hogg
Replacements: 16 Joe Graham, 17 Ashley Wells, 18 Dan Frazier, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Mark Wilson, 21 Taiasina Tu'ifua, 22 Chris Pilgrim, 23 Tom Catterick

Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Vasily Artemyev, 13 George Pisi, 12 James Downey, 11 Jamie Elliott, 10 Ryan Lamb, 9 Lee Dickson, 1 Soane Tonga'uhia, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 3 Paul Doran Jones, 4 Samu Manoa, 5 Mark Sorensen, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Phil Dowson, 8 Roger Wilson
Replacements: 16 Mike Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Christian Day, 20 Ben Nutley, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Scott Armstrong.