By Chris G
August 23 2002

The Saints play their final warm up game of the season, before things start for 'real' next Friday at Sale in the Zurich Premiership, against Parisian side Stade Francais at the new look Franklins Gardens on Saturday (kick off 3:00pm). Oriol Ripol and Steve Williams make their Gardens bows in a strong looking Saints lineup. A complete set of internationals fill the backs including a welcome return to action for Jonny Sleightholme. Ben Cohen recently returned from injury, and the mercurial Archie Brooks will be waiting on the bench as impact players if needed.

The forwards will miss the injured Johan Ackerman and Andy Blowers and the yet to come Mark Conners but it is still a very competent outfit. Dan Richmond gets the nod over Steve Thompson at hooker while 'Wally' still recovers from the dusting he got against Bayonne. On the bench in the forwards, apart from Wally the fast improving Matt Miles and Robbie Morris may well see action at some time while we see a return to the Gardens of Yardley Gobions Simon Helpher.

Saints: 15 Nick Beal, 14 Jon Sleightholme, 13 Peter Jorgensen, 12 John Leslie, 11 Oriol Ripol, 10 Paul Grayson, 9 Matt Dawson, 8 Mark Soden, 7 Budge Pountney, 6 Rob Hunter, 5 Steve Williams, 4 Jon Phillips, 3 Matt Stewart, 2 Dan Richmond, 1 Tom Smith.

Replacements - from:
Steve Thompson, Matt Miles, Robbie Morris, Chris Budgen, Simon Hepher, Ian Vass, Johnny Howard, Ben Russell, Mark Tucker, Chris Hyndman, Ben Cohen, James Brooks.

Stade coached by former South African head Nick Mallet, missed out on a European Cup spot this year but still have a side containing some of the best talent in France. Their starting lineup includes the likes of Christophe Dominici, Patrice Tabacco and that well named Frenchman Remy Martin while on the bench they can call on the calibre of players such as Fabien Galthie and the Argentine/Italian wizard Diego Dominguez

Stade Francais:
Emmanuelli, Blin, Marconnet, Sigoire, Chaffardon, Rabadan, Martin, Tabacco, Fillol, Berthe, Dominici, Carroll, Mytton, Lombard, Corleto.

Replacements from :
Landreau, Liddington, Marchois, Balat, Comba, Dominguez, Galthié, Liebenberg, Souply.

It promises to be a good close encounter, if you can get there and can get in, don't pass up the chance.