Northampton boosted by injury news

England internationals Matt Dawson and Ben Cohen have given Northampton a huge Heineken Cup boost by being passed fit for Saturday’s crucial home clash against Biarritz.

But while scrum-half Dawson and wing Cohen both return, injuries sideline flankers Budge Pountney (groin) and Andrew Blowers (knee).

It means Saints coach Wayne Smith has been forced to shuffle his back-row resources.

Grant Seely will play at blindside flanker, with Mark Soden wearing the number seven jersey and fit-again former Australian Test player Mark Connors completing the back-row trio.

Dawson has not featured since suffering a knee injury when Northampton ended Leicester’s five-year unbeaten home league record in early December.

Cohen, meanwhile, hurt his knee before the Powergen Cup sixth round game at Orrell three weeks later, and sat out Saints’ successive Premiership home defeats against Gloucester and London Irish.

In addition to absentees Pountney and Blowers, three players – Bruce Reihana, Matt Lord and Darren Fox – are not eligible for the Heineken Cup group stages.

Centre Chris Hyndman gains his first European start, and prop Matt Stewart is back following six weeks out nursing a rib injury.

But the back-row situation is a major worry, highlighted by Smith having no suitable bench cover.

Smith has yet to finalise the replacements, but his substitute forwards could be two props and two hookers.

“Biarritz, the champions of France, are about to take us on in a crunch, top-of-the-table Heineken Cup game,” said Smith.

“We are the few taking on the might of France. The odds are stacked against us, and yet we know that we have to fight on with spirit.”