Changes aplenty as Bath bolstered for Wasps test

David Skippers

There’s two matches scheduled for Monday in the Premiership as London Irish take on Saracens before Bath clash with Wasps in a crucial game.

London Irish v Saracens

London Irish have confirmed their matchday squad to host Saracens at The Stoop for Round 17 of the Premiership.

Declan Kidney has named nine players in the starting XV who have come through, or are still in, the London Irish Academy, whilst also handing debuts to Agustin Creevy and Dan Norton, if the latter is required from the replacements.

Will Goodrick-Clarke and Lovejoy Chawatama accompany debutant Argentina international Creevy in the front-row, with Ben Donnell and Chunya Munga combining in the second-row.

Jack Cooke will look to continue his good run of form from blindside flanker and Isaac Curtis-Harris is named at openside flanker. Matt Rogerson completes the pack from number eight and captains the side.

Rory Brand starts at scrum-half, after making his Premiership debut in Irish’s previous fixture, and is joined in the half-backs by Jacob Atkins. Matt Williams and Curtis Rona form the centre partnership.

Ross Neal and James Stokes start on either wing, with Tom Parton set to wear the 15 jersey.

Meanwhile, Saracens make 12 changes to their starting XV for this encounter.

Richard Barrington, Manu Vunipola and Elliot Daly keep their places at loosehead prop, fly-half and outside centre respectively after helping a young Sarries side overcome Gloucester in midweek.

The team is otherwise not too dissimilar to the one that hosted Harlequins in the London derby in Round 15.

Bar the introduction of Barrington, the pack is the same with hooker Jamie George and World Cup winner Vincent Koch making up the front-row and Maro Itoje lining up in the second-row alongside Callum Hunter-Hill.

Jackson Wray edges closer to 250 Saracens appearances on the flank while Billy Vunipola and Mike Rhodes also feature.

Another heading towards a significant milestone, Alex Goode returns at full-back after a two-game absence. His fellow back three companions Sean Maitland and Alex Lewington crossed for tries in their last outing.

Wales international Aled Davies and captain Brad Barritt complete the backline.

Form: London Irish have slipped to five successive Gallagher Premiership Rugby defeats since beating Gloucester 24-20 at Madejski Stadium in February. The Exiles most recent ‘home’ win at Twickenham Stoop was 45-24 against Wasps in May 2000. Saracens’ last four league matches have all been won by the home side on the day. Saracens have won just once away from home in Gallagher Premiership Rugby since November: 27-21 at Northampton on 29 February. Saracens have won their last seven encounters with London Irish since the Exiles 22-13 victory at Allianz Park in February 2014. The two clubs have met just once before at The Stoop with Saracens running out 41-27 victors in April 2000.

The teams:

London Irish: 15 Tom Parton, 14 James Stokes, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Matt Williams, 11 Ross Neal, 10 Jacob Atkins, 9 Rory Brand, 8 Matt Rogerson (c), 7 Isaac Curtis-Harris, 6 Jack Cooke, 5 Chunya Munga, 4 Ben Donnell, 3 Lovejoy Chawatama, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke
Replacements: 16 Matt Cornish, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 Sebastian de Chaves, 20 TJ Ioane, 21 Caolan Englefield, 22 Phil Cokanasiga, 23 Dan Norton

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Manu Vunipola, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Jackson Wray , 6 Mike Rhodes, 5 Callum Hunter-Hill, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Jamie George, 1 Richard Barrington
Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Sam Crean, 18 Josh Ibuanokpe, 19 Joel Kpoku, 20 Calum Clark, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Juan Pablo Socino, 23 Dom Morris

Venue: Twickenham Stoop
Kick-off: 13:00 BST
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant Referees: Greg Macdonald, Mike Hudson
TMO: Stuart Terheege

Bath v Wasps

Bath have made 12 changes to their side as they prepare for the visit of play-off rivals Wasps at the Rec on Bank Holiday Monday.

Director of rugby Stuart Hooper has made a host of changes from the side who claimed the 18-3 win against Northampton Saints on Wednesday.

Beno Obano retains his place in the side after earning a man-of-the-match medal last time out and is joined by Tom Dunn and Will Stuart in the front-row, while Josh McNally and Charlie Ewels replace Will Spencer and Elliott Stooke respectively.

Zach Mercer moves from number eight to openside, accompanied by Sam Underhill at blindside with Taulupe Faletau at the back of the pack.

Rhys Priestland and Ben Spencer reignite their partnership at fly-half and scrum half respectively as they both return to the starting line-up.

Gabriel Hamer-Webb returns to the fold after impressing last time out against Northampton Saints, as does Ruaridh McConnochie, who replaces Semesa Rokoduguni.

Josh Matavesi is back in midfield, partnered with Jonathan Joseph. Anthony Watson comes back in for Tom de Glanville at full-back.

A notable return sees Max Green on the bench as the scrum-half returns from injury.

Meanwhile, Wasps have opted to keep the majority of their side from midweek as the likes of Tommy Taylor, Joe Launchbury, Brad Shields and Malakai Fekitoa remain in the XV.

Shields is joined once again by Jack Willis and Thomas Young in a strong back-row while it’s also the same half-back combination as Dan Robson and Jacob Umaga combine.

In midfield there’s a start alongside Fekitoa for Ryan Mills while Lima Sopoaga comes in for the benched Matteo Minozzi at full-back, with Marcus Watson and Zach Kibirige on the wings.

Form: Bath Rugby have won all three fixtures since the return to rugby but have not won four in succession in Gallagher Premiership Rugby since November 2016. Bath have lost just once at the Recreation Ground in Premiership Rugby since November: 13-19 to Bristol Bears in round 12. Wasps’ five-game winning run in Gallagher Premiership Rugby ended with their 11-20 reversal to Sale at the Ricoh Arena on Tuesday. Wasps have lost only once away from home since December: 9-18 at Leicester in Premiership Rugby in February. Wasps gained a first victory over Bath since 2017 when the two clubs last met at Ricoh Arena in November. Wasps have lost on their last two visits to the Recreation Ground, in January 2019 in the European Champions Cup and in May 2019 in Premiership Rugby.

The teams:

Bath: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Ruaridh McConnochie, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Zach Mercer, 5 Charlie Ewels (c), 4 Josh McNally, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Lewis Boyce, 18 Christian Judge, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Miles Reid, 21 Max Green, 22 Max Clark, 23 Tom de Glanville

Wasps: 15 Lima Sopoaga, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Jack Willis, 5 James Gaskell, 4 Joe Launchbury (c), 3 Biyi Alo, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Tom West
Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Tom Willis, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Jimmy Gopperth, 23 Matteo Minozzi

Venue: Recreation Ground
Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant Referees: Christophe Ridley, Sara Cox
TMO: Luke Pearce

Bath