We want to change the narrative

TOMMY GUNNING TO SEND A MESSAGE

- BY ADAM HATHAWAY

TOMMY FREEMAN is on a revenge mission in Bordeaux tomorrow aiming to strike an early blow for the English ahead of the Six Nations.

Freeman lines up at centre for Northampton in the Champions Cup against holders Bordeaux-Begles, who beat Saints 28-20 last season in a Cardiff final that finished in a dust-up.

Henry Pollock was at the centre of an on-pitch scrap post-match and the subject of taunts from the French side on social media the day after. Bordeaux-Begles, boasting France wings Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud, are 11-point favourites for this clash but Saints revel in acting as gatecrashers, as they showed by toppling Leinster in Dublin in last season's semi.

Both sides have won their opening two matches in pool four, but tomorrow's winner will take a huge step towards the latter stages by sealing a likely top seed spot.