Amlin Challenge Cup final – Northampton v Bath preview

Northampton have made five changes to their starting line-up for tomorrow’s Amlin Challenge Cup final against Bath in Cardiff.
With two finals in eight days, http://www.888sport.com/rugby/rugby-betting.htm offer greats odds.
Jim Mallinder can count on England loosehead Alex Corbisiero who will make his first start since his return from injury while Tom Mercey comes in for the suspended Salesi Ma’afu and Calum Clark swaps places with Phil Dowson in the back row.
Lee Dickson gets the nod at scrum-half over Kahn Fotuali’i and Ken Pisi returns from injury to take his place on the right wing.
“We all work and graft throughout the year for opportunities like this,” said fly-half Stephen Myler.
“When you don’t win a trophy it can feel like it’s not been worthwhile. One piece of silverware can signify if you’ve been successful or not.”
“It’s been a number of years now that we’ve been so close. We’ve put ourselves into position and not quite got over the final hurdle.
“But we’ve been steadily improving, our squad is a lot stronger and we’ve given ourselves another opportunity.”
Meanwhile, Bath are boosted by the return of Springbok Francois Louw who will be making his first appearance since suffering ankle ligament damage against London Irish in March.
Francois Louw will partner Carl Fearns and Leroy Houston in the back row while youngster Tom Dunn starts at hooker as Eusebio Guinazu recovered from the concussion he suffered at Harlequins two weeks ago but is only fit for a place on the bench.
“I’m very excited to be in the side for this weekend,” said Louw. “It’s the final game of the season and these are the kind of games that any player lives for.
“It’s going to be a hell of a hard game, a relentless one, but this is where we want to be and this is the pressure we want to feel.
“To play in a final with so much emotion involved, so much resting on the game, and so much pressure, that’s what brings all the excitement. At the end of the day, we play to win. We want victories, we want silverware and we want to be champions. That’s what we strive for.”
Northampton: Ben Foden; Ken Pisi, George Pisi, Luther Burrell, George North; Stephen Myler, Lee Dickson; Alex Corbisiero, Mike Haywood, Tom Mercey; Samu Manoa, Courtney Lawes; Calum Clark, Tom Wood (Capt.), Sam Dickinson.
Replacements: Ross Mcmillan, Alex Waller, Gareth Denman, Christian Day, Phil Dowson, Kahn Fotuali’I, James Wilson, Tom Stephenson.
Bath: Nick Abendanon; Semesa Rokoduguni, Jonathan Joseph, Ollie Devoto, Anthony Watson; George Ford, Micky Young; Paul James, Tom Dunn, David Wilson; Stuart Hooper (Capt.), Dave Attwood; Carl Fearns, Francois Louw, Leroy Houston.
Replacements: Eusebio Guinazu, Nathan Catt, Anthony Perenise, Dominic Day, Guy Mercer, Peter Stringer, Gavin Henson, Horacio Agulla.