Northampton v Worcester: Teams
Northampton have named three new signings in their first XV for Sunday's Premiership opener.
Last Updated: 06/09/09 4:57pm
Northampton have named three new signings in their starting line-up for Sunday's Guinness Premiership clash with Worcester.
Phil Dowson, Shane Geraghty and Santiago Bonorino are all set make their bows at Franklin's Gardens, as the Saints welcome the Warriors in a re-match of last year's opening day fixture, which the hosts won 21-13.
The Saints have had a promising set of warm-up matches, but director of rugby Jim Mallinder has warned his side not to take anything for granted.
"We had a positive pre-season, but that won't matter if we do not get a good result on Sunday afternoon," he said.
"Our players are ready, though. They have worked well over the past few weeks and there were several tough decisions to make over selection for this game.
"As ever we have focused fully on this game and are not looking ahead of ourselves. The most important thing is to get the Guinness Premiership off to a good start and we will be putting in every effort to achieve that on Sunday."
Boost
Back-row forward Kai Horstmann returns to the Worcester starting XV, meanwhile, for the first time since damaging ribs against Brive in the European Challenge Cup in April.
But the 28-year-old has now been declared fully fit for the big clash at Franklin's Gardens, where he will line up alongside skipper Pat Sanderson and Tom Wood in the back row.
Director of rugby Mike Ruddock also names new French signing Olivier Sourgens in the front row alongside Matt Mullan and Aleki Lutui.
Highly-rated centre Greg King will join Scotland A international Alex Grove in the centres, with Sam Tuitupou and Dale Rasmussen both ruled out injured.
Fly-half Willie Walker, who completed his move from Gloucester in the summer, links up with scrum-half Ryan Powell and speedsters Miles Benjamin and Marcel Garvey are named on the flanks.
"The new season has come around very quickly and we are really looking forward to it," Ruddock said.
"It's a tough trip for us first day and a big challenge, but one we intend to face head on. We will go with the right attitude; we didn't play well on the first day last season and know we must perform this time."
Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Paul Diggin, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 Shane Geraghty, 11 Bruce Reihana, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 3 Santiago Bonorino, 4 Courtney Lawes, 5 Juandre Kruger, 6 Phil Dowson, 7 Neil Best, 8 Roger Wilson
Replacements: 16 Regardt Dreyer, 17 Brett Sharman, 18 Alex Waller, 19 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 20 Scott Gray, 21 Alan Dickens, 22 James Downey, 23 Chris Ashton.
Worcester: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Marcel Garvey, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Greg King, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Willie Walker, 9 Ryan Powell, 1 Matt Mullan, 2 Aleki Lutui, 3 Olivier Sourgens, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 5 Craig Gillies, 6 Tom Wood, 7 Pat Sanderson (capt), 8 Kai Horstmann
Replacements: 16 Adam Black, 17 Chris Fortey, 18 Tevita Taumoepeau, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 James Collins, 21 Jonny Arr, 22 George Crook, 23 Rico Gear.