Toby Flood finally set for Newcastle Falcons return after injury
The former England fly-half has finally shaken off the hamstring injury which has been troubling him since his summer switch from Toulouse and has been named on the bench for the trip to Sandy Park.
The Falcons’ flying start to the season, which sees them lie second, has the champions on red alert.
“We’re now five weeks into the season and they are not in the top two by accident. Yes, you get the odd freak result here and there, but they are up there because they’ve played well, defended well, and they’ve stuck at what they do well. Looking at them, they are a massive threat to us,” admitted Exeter assistant coach Rob Hunter.
Dylan Hartley makes his return from a hand injury for Northampton at Gloucester where Piers Francis makes his debut at centre for Saints after his move from Auckland Blues.
Wales back row Justin Tipuric will miss tonight’s Pro14 derby against champions Scarlets with a back spasm as the Ospreys attempt to avoid a fifth successive defeat in the competition.
International team-mate Scott Baldwin sits out a second game with the hand injury he sustained being bitten by a lion.
The Scarlets are without Test centre Scott Williams and Wales prop Rob Evans and with John Barclay out too, Munster-bound second row Tadhg Beirne packs down at No8 for the first time for the region.