Friday 26 September 2014 12:45, UK
Following the thrills and spills of Round Three, with Leicester Tigers being comprehensively thumped by Bath and Saracens maintaining their unbeaten record, the Aviva Premiership is back with another set of intriguing fixtures.
With the autumn internationals beckoning and the 2015 Rugby World Cup just about visible on the horizon the England selection subplots continue to unfurl, none less so than at Franklin’s Gardens, which will surely be centre of Stuart Lancaster’s attention as Northampton Saints clash with Bath.
Saracens, matched only by Bath in winning all three matches to date, put their unbeaten record on the line as Sale Sharks visit Allianz Park, while Leicester Tigers aim to recover from their drubbing with a home fixture against London Irish.
Bath laid down an impressive warning salvo with their 45-0 demolition of Leicester last week, but a visit to face to reigning Premiership champions Northampton will prove an entirely different test for Mike Ford’s men.
Their five-try victory sees Bath sit at the summit, though, Northampton’s riposte to defeat against Wasps, beating Newcastle Falcons 35-10, coupled with the fact the West Country side have not beaten Saints since 2011 leaves the hosts considerable favourites.
In the corresponding fixture last season Bath led 13-0 only for Northampton to come back and win 43-25, the Saints also overturned a half-time deficit to defeat the West Country outfit in last season's European Challenge Cup final.
It is a clash away with England incumbents and challengers alike with Northampton's Alex Corbisiero, Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Luther Burrell and Ben Foden all out to lay down markers.
Lancaster will also be tracking the progress of Bath forwards Rob Webber, David Wilson and Dave Attwood as well as fly-half contender George Ford and fellow backs Kyle Eastmond, Jonathan Joseph and Semesa Rokoduguni.
There is a boost for the Saints ahead of the arrival of the early season pace-setters, with England forwards Wood and Corbisiero back in action while Stephen Myler is fit to regain his familiar No 10 jersey.
Following their resounding success against the Tigers, Ford has only made changes where forced with Alafoti Fa’osiliva and Olly Woodburn coming into the starting XV for the injured Carl Fearns and Matt Banahan.
Strongly tipped by many as champions-elect, Saracens are riding the crest of a wave and their form shows no signs of dipping as Sale Sharks make the trip to Greater London.
Sarries only defeat at Allianz Park since the 2013 Premiership Rugby semi-final came against London Irish in Round 13 last season while the Sharks have been defeated in their last two away games, at London Irish and at Gloucester, but have not lost three in a row on the road in 2014.
Saracens have won their last six Premiership Rugby fixtures against Sale, since the Sharks 28-22 victory at Edgeley Park on 2nd January 2011, but Steve Diamond’s side did end a sequence of four defeats with their 46-8 eclipsing of London Welsh at AJ Bell Stadium last time out.
Mark McCall has been dealt a blow with news that England fly-half Owen Farrell will miss the “next few weeks” with a leg injury having only just returned to action.
In Farrell’s absence veteran Charlie Hodgson proved a more than able deputy and will resume his half-back partnership with Neil de Kock as Brad Barritt keeps the captaincy from midfield, where he is joined by Duncan Taylor.
Jamie George makes his 100th appearance for the club at just 23-years-old; he is hooker in a pack which includes flankers Jacques Burger and Jackson Wray (blindside) as well as Ernst Joubert and James Johnston, who makes his first start of the season.
Sale director of rugby Diamond has made three changes to his side with Will Addison replaced by Mark Jennings at centre, while Alberto de Marchi and Eifion Roberts come into the pack for Ross Harrison and Vadim Cobilas.
Leicester will aim to salvage pride on Saturday as London Irish travel to Welford Road a week after the Tigers suffered their heaviest Premiership defeat.
After surrendering 45 points to Bath without a single reply, director of rugby Richard Cockerill concluded: “We got our backsides smacked”.
Cockerill also shouldered the burden of responsibility having picked the team, but his task has not been made any easier this week with news of an injury for England hooker Tom Youngs, while there is also concern over the fitness of lock Geoff Parling.
A return to Welford Road, where they've not lost since November 2013, comes at a welcome time for Cockerill’s men, who will be looking to continue their formidable home record against the Exiles, who last won there in 2003.
Irish will take heart from narrowly missing out on beating Premiership finalists Saracens last weekend though, falling 36-32 at the Madejski Stadium.
Leicester’s growing injury list continues to prove a concern for Cockerill, who hands a season debut to Miles Benjamin, while Blaine Scully, Tom Bristow, Sebastian de Chaves, Jamie Gibson and summer signing Laurence Pearce, who made his comeback from injury in the 'A' League this week, all come into the squad.
Meanwhile, there is just one change to the side which pushed Sarries to the brink last time out, with Brian Smith giving Scotland international Kieran Low his first start of the campaign with Ofisa Treviranus omitted.
