Fly-halves return for vital Premiership matches
There are five Premiership matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday with Leicester Tigers’ game against Exeter Chiefs the standout fixture.
Saturday
Bath have confirmed their team to face Bristol Bears in ‘The Clash’ at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday.
A crowd of 60,000 is expected to descend on the home of England rugby as the two West Country rivals go head-to-head in Round 18 of the Premiership.
Nathan Catt and Tom Dunn continue in the front-row, with Max Lahiff coming into the fold at tighthead.
Dave Attwood returns to the starting line-up and will partner captain Charlie Ewels in the second-row. Tom Ellis and Sam Underhill occupy blindside and openside flanker respectively, with Zach Mercer completing the back-row at number eight.
Kahn Fotuali’i starts into the number nine shirt to replace Will Chudley, who misses out through injury. The Samoan will partner Rhys Priestland in the half-back combination.
Jonathan Joseph and Jamie Roberts form an experience midfield combination, with the in-form Ruaridh McConnochie on the left wing.
Joe Cokanasiga, who produced a man of the match performance in his last performance at Twickenham for England last month, continues on the right wing. Tom Homer completes the starting line-up at full-back.
Max Clark, who recently agreed a new contract with the club, could make his 50th appearance off the bench.
For Bristol, Alapati Leiua returns to the starting line-up ahead of the highly anticipated derby clash.
The winger, who has been missing through a four-game suspension, is one of seven changes to Pat Lam’s side for the Twickenham encounter.
Luke Morahan comes into the backline alongside Callum Sheedy and Harry Randall, while Luke Daniels switches to full-back.
In the pack, John Afoa (foot) and Jake Woolmore (ankle) return to fitness to start in the front-row, while Jordan Crane is named as co-captain at number eight.
James Lay is listed among the replacements and could make his Premiership debut for the club if he features.
The teams:
Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Ruaridh McConnochie, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Kahn Fotuali’I, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Tom Ellis, 5 Charlie Ewels (c), 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Max Lahiff, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Nathan Catt
Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Miles Reid, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Max Clark
Bristol: 15 Luke Daniels, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Siale Piutau (cc), 11 Alapati Leiua, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Jordan Crane (cc), 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Steve Luatua, 5 Chris Vui, 4 Ed Holmes, 3 John Afoa, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Jake Woolmore
Replacements: 16 Nick Fenton-Wells, 17 James Lay, 18 Lewis Thiede, 19 Jack Lam, 20 George Smith, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Tusi Pisi
Venue: Twickenham
Kick-off: 14:00 BST (13:00 GMT)
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe, Wayne Falla
TMO: Rowan Kitt
Over half of Saracens’ matchday 23 to face Newcastle Falcons at Allianz Park on Saturday have come through the club’s academy.
12 players involved in the Premiership clash have progressed from the youth setup, with seven starting.
Owen Farrell returns to club action and will captain the side in the absence of Brad Barritt. He forms a half-back partnership with Ben Spencer while Nick Tompkins and Max Malins also come into the backline.
Maro Itoje and George Kruis link-up in the second-row for the first time since starting England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland and Ben Earl earns a start in the back-row alongside Mike Rhodes and Schalk Burger.
Hooker Tom Woolstencroft and prop Vincent Koch are the other changes in the pack.
On the bench, loosehead Ralph Adam-Hale is in line for his third league appearance and it will be a special day for centre Dom Morris who is named in a Premiership 23 for the first time.
Meanwhile, former Ireland prop Rodney Ah You makes his Premiership debut on Saturday when in-form Newcastle travel to Saracens in search of their fourth successive victory.
Ah You joined from Ulster this season and has 126 PRO14 appearances to his name, the 30-year-old making a successful return to fitness during Monday’s 73-5 Premiership Rugby Shield victory over Sale Jets.
Chris Harris makes his 100th appearance for the Falcons, with his debut back in December 2014 seeing the Scotland centre scoring two tries against Saracens.
Samoan international Logovi’i Mulipola switches over to the loosehead side in light of Ah You’s inclusion, while Callum Chick comes into the team at number eight in place of Mark Wilson, who picked up a knock during the Falcons’ victory over Sale Sharks at St James’ Park.
Canadian international Evan Olmstead makes his first start of the season after re-joining the Falcons from Mitre 10 Cup winners Auckland, the only other change to the team seeing Alex Tait start at full-back in place of Simon Hammersley.
On the bench there is a return for lock Sean Robinson following a broken arm sustained in the away win over Northampton in early December, with Scotland centre Alex Dunbar also among the replacements after captaining the Falcons’ A-Team in Monday night’s 11-try rout.
The teams:
Saracens: 15 Max Malins, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Mike Rhodes, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Tom Woolstencroft, 1 Richard Barrington
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Ralph Adams-Hale, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Calum Clark, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Dom Morris, 23 Alex Lewington
Newcastle: 15 Alex Tait, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Toby Flood (c), 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Callum Chick, 7 John Hardie, 6 Gary Graham, 5 Andrew Davidson, 4 Evan Olmstead, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 George McGuigan, 1 Logovi’i Mulipola
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Sam Lockwood, 18 David Wilson, 19 Sean Robinson, 20 Will Witty, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Brett Connon, 23 Alex Dunbar
Venue: Allianz Park
Kick-off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: George Selwood, Steve Lee
TMO: David Rose
All Black fly-half Lima Sopoaga has recovered from injury to start for Wasps against Worcester Warriors in their crucial Premiership clash at Ricoh Arena on Saturday.
Sopoaga is back after fracturing his hand against Sale Sharks in February. Elsewhere in the starting line-up, Elliot Daly steps in for Juan de Jongh in the centres with Josh Bassett back on the left flank.
In the front-row Zurabi Zhvania gets the nod at loosehead prop next to Tom Cruse and Will Stuart while James Gaskell is in the second-row with captain Joe Launchbury, who scored against Warriors on the opening day of the season.
An all-international back-row comprises Brad Shields, Nizaam Carr and Nathan Hughes, while Sopoaga partners Joe Simpson in the half-backs.
Daly will link up with Fijian Gaby Lovobalavu in the centres while Willie le Roux, Marcus Watson and Bassett occupy the back three.
Rob Miller could make his 100th Wasps appearance from the bench while scrum half Craig Hampson is also back among the replacements.
For Worcester, Wales Grand Slam winner Josh Adams returns to Premiership action in the Midlands derby against Wasps at the Ricoh Arena.
Adams, who scored three tries in this season’s Six Nations, also got on the scoresheet when he returned to club action in the win at Bristol Bears two weeks ago in Warriors’ last domestic outing.
Adams was rested for last weekend’s European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Harlequins but he returns on the left wing in place of Bryce Heem, who has a foot injury, in the only change to Warriors’ back division.
England flanker Ted Hill, number eight Marco Mama, tighthead prop Nick Schonert and lock Anton Bresler all return from injury in the pack with Darren Barry, who came off the bench against Harlequins, starting alongside Bresler in the second-row.
Scotland international back-row forward Cornell du Preez is set for his first Premiership appearance since he suffered a fractured larynx against Wasps in the opening match of the season. Du Preez made his comeback as a replacement against Harlequins and he has again been named on the bench.
The teams:
Wasps: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Marcus Watson, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Gaby Lovobalavu, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Nathan Hughes,: 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Gaskell, 4 Joe Launchbury (c), 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Cruse, 1 Zurabi Zhvania
Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Ben Morris, 21 Craig Hampson, 22 Rob Miller, 23 Juan de Jongh
Worcester: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Tom Howe, 13 Ben Te’o, 12 Ryan Mills (c), 11 Josh Adams, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Marco Mama, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Darren Barry, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Callum Black
Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Gareth Milasinovich, 19 Andrew Kitchener, 20 Cornell du Preez, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Francois Venter, 23 Scott van Breda
Venue: Ricoh Arena
Kick-off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson, Philip Watters
TMO: Trevor Fisher
Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs
Matt Toomua and Mike Fitzgerald return to the Leicester Tigers team for the home game against Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership this Saturday.
Australia international Toomua lines up at full-back, with Jordan Olowofela moving to the wing in the only changes to the backline this week.
With Tonga international Sione Kalamafoni suspended, Fitzgerald joins Mike Williams in a reshuffled back-row where Brendon O’Connor starts at number eight in his 50th appearance in Premiership rugby.
Valentino Mapapalangi comes on to the bench and is in line for his first appearance since the Champions Cup tie with Scarlets in January.
England international scrum-half Ben Youngs is ruled out by a shoulder injury suffered at the end of the Six Nations and Jonah Holmes is sidelined by a knee injury.
Meanwhile, victorious last time out against Bath at Sandy Park, Exeter boss Rob Baxter names an unchanged back division for Saturday’s clash.
That means fly-half Joe Simmonds, a late call-up for that game, keeps his place with Gareth Steenson still sidelined with a calf problem.
In the pack, Baxter is forced to do without locks Jonny Hill, Mitch Lees and Sam Skinner due to knocks, so Ollie Atkins comes into the engine room alongside Aussie compatriot Dave Dennis.
On the bench, England international Ben Moon returns to first team duty after a shoulder injury, Sean Lonsdale and Richard Capstick offer back-up at both lock and in the back-row, while Ian Whitten also returns to the fray.
The teams:
Leicester: 15 Matt Toomua, 14 Jonny May, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 George Ford, 9 Sam Harrison, 8 Brendon O’Connor, 7 Mike Williams, 6 Mike Fitzgerald, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Will Spencer, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs (c), 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Valentino Mapapalangi, 20 Guy Thompson, 21 Ben White, 22 Gareth Owen, 23 Sam Aspland-Robinson
Exeter: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Nic White, 8 Matt Kvesic, 7 Don Armand, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Ollie Atkins, 4 Dave Dennis, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Sean Lonsdale, 20 Richard Capstick, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Sam Hill, 23 Ian Whitten
Venue: Welford Road
Kick-off: 16:30 local (15:30 GMT)
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace, Roy Maybank
TMO: Geoff Warren
Sunday
Northampton Saints v Gloucester
Director of rugby Chris Boyd has made four changes to Northampton Saints’ starting XV to take on Gloucester in Sunday’s Premiership clash.
The men in Black, Green and Gold welcome the third-placed Cherry and Whites to Franklin’s Gardens, with the race for the league’s play-off places hitting fever pitch with just five rounds of the season to go.
Saints have been defeated just once in any tournament at home since early December, and will be hoping to extend a run of home wins over Gloucester that stretches back to February 2013.
Boyd makes three changes in the pack to the side that played Clermont Auvergne last weekend in the European Challenge Cup, with Reece Marshall coming in at hooker to replace the injured James Fish.
There’s another switch in the front-row as Francois van Wyk starts at loosehead, but tighthead prop Paul Hill continues his run of starts.
Courtney Lawes moves up into the engine room to join Alex Moon, with flanker Heinrich Brüssow also selected alongside Lewis Ludlam and skipper Teimana Harrison in the back-row.
Meanwhile, Dan Biggar and Cobus Reinach will marshal Northampton’s backline from the half-back berths, with Rory Hutchinson and Piers Francis, who scored his first Saints try when the sides met at Kingsholm in September, starting together in the midfield for the third straight week.
The only change to the backs sees Ahsee Tuala come in on the wing, with Taqele Naiyaravoro and George Furbank rounding off the line-up.
Meanwhile, Gloucester make three changes to their starting line-up for Sunday’s Premiership fixture.
All of the changes are in the backline, where injuries to Jason Woodward, Tom Marshall and Ollie Thorley mean that the Cherry and Whites field a new back three comprising of Tom Hudson, Charlie Sharples and Matt Banahan.
With those exceptions, it’s the same starting line-up that took on Wasps at Kingsholm last time out.
Amongst the replacements, hooker Mike Sherry is named in a Gloucester matchday squad for the first time and Tom Savage returns. It’s a six-two split on the bench with Callum Braley and Tom Seabrook covering the backs.
Things are heating up in the chase for a top four finish, with the Saints looking to close the gap on Gloucester, which currently stands at nine points.
The teams:
Northampton: 15 George Furbank, 14 Ahsee Tuala, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison (c), 7 Heinrich Brüssow, 6 Lewis Ludlam, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Alex Moon, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Reece Marshall, 1 Francois van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Darren Dawidiuk, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 Jamie Gibson, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Luther Burrell, 23 Ken Pisi
Gloucester: 15 Tom Hudson, 14 Matt Banahan, 13 Billy Twelvetrees, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Charlie Sharples, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Willi Heinz (c), 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Jaco Kriel, 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Ed Slater, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Josh Hohneck
Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 Val Rapava Ruskin, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Freddie Clarke, 21 Jake Polledri, 22 Callum Braley, 23 Tom Seabrook
Venue: Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Matthew O’Grady, Paul Dix
TMO: David Grashoff