Northampton need to maintain England's grip on the European Challenge Cup to qualify for next season's Heineken Cup, one year after they won promotion from the first division. They are favourites to defeat Bourgoin, winners of the inaugural tournament back in 1997, at the Twickenham Stoop and become the ninth English winners of the trophy in the past 10 seasons, but their head coach Jim Mallinder is expecting a tight contest.
The Saints have played four fixtures against French sides on their way to the final, passing 50 points three times, while Bourgoin have spent the season at the wrong end of the French Top 14 and having to grapple with financial problems.
"The French teams we have played so far have not had a massive interest in the Challenge Cup," said Mallinder, who has named the side that started the semi-final against Saracens on 1 May, Northampton's last competitive outing, which means the veteran prop Tom Smith will finish his playing career as a replacement. "Friday is different: both teams will be giving everything to win and Bourgoin are an experienced team in Europe, having played in a number of Heineken Cup campaigns."
Bourgoin defeated two English clubs, London Irish and Worcester, in the knock-out stages. "They are playing well at the moment and are high on confidence. Nobody expected them to get this far in the competition and they will be a hard side to beat," added Mallinder.
Bourgoin have international half-backs in Morgan Parra and Benjamin Boyet, while their captain, Julien Frier, is a survivor from the squad that won the Challenge Cup in 1997 by defeating Castres, along with the prop, Olivier Milloud, who misses tonight's game through injury. "Bourgoin showed against London Irish that it does not pay to underestimate them," said Mallinder. "But the Challenge Cup has been important for us this season. Success is measured by the trophies you win and we have a major opportunity to collect some silverware. We have more than 8,000 supporters going to the game and it should make for a terrific atmosphere."
Frier was an unused replacement in 1997. "I did not fully appreciate what being in a final meant back then," he said. "But it is now something that means a huge amount to me. We are close to achieving something really big and winning would be the perfect way to round off the season." Milloud added: "The Challenge Cup has been a breath of fresh air for us. I am convinced we are going to win."
Northampton Foden; Diggin, Clarke, Downey, Reihana (capt); Myler, Dickson; Tonga'uiha, Hartley, Murray, Fernandez Lobbe, Kruger, Best, Gray, Easter. Replacements Sharman, Smith, Day, Lawes, Dickens, Everitt, Ansbro.
Bourgoin Forest; Coetzee, Viazzo, David, Coux; Boyet, Parra; Tchougong, Genevois, Wihongi, Basson, Levast, Frier (capt), Jooste, Labit. Replacements Vigneaux, Cardinali, Genevois, Nicolas, Forest, Nicolas, Denos.
