Biggar faces the Dragons

DAN Biggar will line up against the Dragons for a third time this season after being named in the Northampton side to take on the men of Gwent at Franklin’s Gardens today (3pm).

Biggar has already featured in a pre-season outing and October’s round two Challenge Cup tie at Rodney Parade and is included in a strong line-up for the European clash in the East Midlands.

The former Ospreys favourite has returned to the Saints on the back of an impressive autumn series with Wales and will hope to continue that form as he looks to oust Gareth Anscombe from the No. 10 jersey for the Six Nations.

Both the Dragons and Saints have reacted to league defeats last weekend by making changes.

Bernard Jackman has made eight in all following his side’s 59-10 Leinster humiliation and with one eye on the festive derbies has opted to rest the majority of his Wales squad members.

There are 10 changes to the Saints line-up, although Saints head coach Chris Boyd is still able to field a formidable side.

While Ross Moriarty, Cory Hill, Tyler Morgan, Aaron Wainwright, Elliot Dee and the injured Leon Brown are missing, Hallam Amos is included and switches to his preferred full-back spot.

Arwel Robson was due to start at 10, but has picked up a hamstring issue so Josh Lewis returns.

G Furbank; O Sleightholme, R Hutchinson, L Burrell, T Naiyaravoro; D Biggar, A Mitchell; A Waller (capt), J Fish, B Franks, A Ratuniyarawa, A Moon, J Gibson, T Wood, T Harrison. Reps: R Marshall, W Davis, E Painter, D Ribbans, M Eadie, C Reinach, F Strachan, A Kellaway,

H Amos; D Howells, A Warren, J Dixon, Z Kirchner; J Lewis, T Knoyle; R Bevington, R Hibbard (capt), L Fairbrother, B Nansen, L Evans, H Keddie, N Cudd, O Griffiths. Reps: R Lawrence, A Jarvis, N Thomas, M Screech, H Taylor, J Benjamin, R Davies, J Williams.

Thomas Charabas (Fra).

Northampton: Dragons: Referee: