Premiership Preview: Saturday and Sunday

There's three games on Saturday followed by two on Sunday as the Premiership continues, with the big match seeing Saracens host Exeter.

Saturday

Bath vs Harlequins

Ben Tapuai returns to Bath’s starting line-up on Saturday when they take on Harlequins in the Premiership at the Recreation Ground.

Tapuai takes his place at inside centre alongside Matt Banahan, who switches to number 13. James Wilson switches to full-back in an otherwise unchanged back three, with Jack Wilson and Aled Brew occupying the wing positions.

Freddie Burns, who has scored 54 points in his last three games, continues at fly-half with Kahn Fotuali’i completing the half-back combination.

There are no changes in the pack from last weekend’s 18-22 victory against London Irish. Beno Obano, Tom Dunn and Anthony Perenise continue in the front row, whilst Luke Charteris and Elliott Stooke form the lock partnership.

Matt Garvey captains the side at blindside flanker, with Zach Mercer and Paul Grant at openside flanker and number eight respectively.

Meanwhile, there are two changes to the Quins starting XV that lost to Exeter Chiefs last weekend. Charlie Walker is named on the wing – as Alofa Alofa moves to the centres – while Lewis Boyce starts at loosehead prop. 

Among the replacements, Kyle Sinckler returns from suspension while Cameron Holenstein and Ian Prior will look to make their debuts for the club. 

Ahead of the match, Harlequins Director of Rugby, John Kingston said: “As at Exeter last week, we will go into the game as huge underdogs particularly as Bath will be able to call upon their released England contingent.

"The squad put in a huge effort at Sandy Park and were unlucky not to come away with anything. A similar group will need to replicate that commitment and more to secure victory against Bath on Saturday. The challenge is one we are really looking forward to.”

The teams:

Bath: 15 James Wilson, 14 Jack Wilson, 13 Matt Banahan, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Kahn Fotuali’i, 8 Paul Grant, 7 Zach Mercer, 6 Matt Garvey (c), 5 Elliott Stooke, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Levi Douglas, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Josh Lewis, 23 Darren Atkins

Harlequins: 15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Charlie Walker, 13 Alofa Alofa, 12 James Lang, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Jono Kitto, 8 Mat Luamanu, 7 James Chisholm, 6 Ben Glynn, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Charlie Matthews, 3 Will Collier, 2 Dave Ward, 1 Lewis Boyce
Replacements: 16 Elia Elia, 17 Cameron Holenstein, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Dino Lamb, 20 Archie White, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Henry Cheeseman, 23 Gabriel Ibitoye

Venue: Recreation Ground
Kick-off: 12:45 GMT
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson, Philip Watters
TMO: David Rose

Leicester vs Worcester

Harry Thacker and Pat Cilliers return to the Leicester Tigers front row for Saturday’s fixture against Worcester Warriors at Welford Road.

After a bonus-point win over Sale Sharks last Sunday, Tigers bring Cilliers back into the team at tighthead prop, with Thacker taking over from Tom Youngs at hooker.

Brendon O’Connor also returns to the starting line-up, swapping places with Will Evans who is among the replacements this week.

Telusa Veainu makes his 50th appearance for the club while Barrow is named as captain after reaching the same landmark in his last league appearance, at Newcastle last month.

Mathew Tait returns to the matchday squad after recovering from an ankle injury and Ben White returns to the 23 after sitting out the match against the Sharks.

Meanwhile, Worcester have kept faith with the side which dispatched Northampton last time out to claim their first league win of the season.

Bryce Heem will again be looking to cause problems on the wing after his hat-trick against Northampton and lines up with Chris Pennell and Josh Adams in the back three.

Jackson Willison partners Ryan Mills in midfield, while the half-back combination sees Jono Lance paired with Francois Hougaard.

Ethan Waller is given his third Premiership start of the season alongside Jack Singleton and Nick Schonert in the front row, while Donncha O’Callaghan captains the side at lock next to Will Spencer

Sam Lewis starts at openside flanker after signing a new contract earlier this week, while Alafoti Faosiliva and GJ van Velze are also named in the back row.

David Denton returns to the bench, as does Kurt Haupt.

The teams:

Leicester: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Nick Malouf, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Gareth Owen, 11 Adam Thompstone, 10 Joe Ford, 9 Sam Harrison, 8 Valentino Mapapalangi, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 6 Mike Williams, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Dom Barrow (c), 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Greg Bateman
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Mike Fitzgerald, 20 Will Evans, 21 Ben White, 22 Tom Hardwick, 23 Mathew Tait

Worcester: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 GJ van Velze, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Alafoti Faosiliva, 5 Will Spencer, 4 Donncha O‘Callaghan (c), 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Jack Singleton, 1 Ethan Waller
Replacements: 16 Kurt Haupt, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Gareth Milasinovich, 19 Christian Scotland-Williamson, 20 David Denton, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Sam Olver, 23 Dean Hammond

Venue: Welford Road
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Greg Macdonald
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace, Simon McConnell
TMO: Mark Lewis

Sale vs Northampton

Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond has urged his side to turn the promise of some fine recent Premiership displays into points ahead of the visit of Northampton Saints to the AJ Bell Stadium.

The Sharks produced an excellent display at Leicester last Sunday, running in four tries and proving a constant attacking threat before being edged out 35-27 following a late Tigers fightback.

It meant rather than the five-point haul the Sharks’ display at Welford Road arguably merited, they instead had to settle for a single try bonus point.

However, back on home soil this weekend, the Sale boss believes if his players can tighten up their discipline and maintain their superb offensive game, the Sharks can gain their just rewards.

New arrivals Rohan Janse van Rensburg, who has joined on a three-month loan from the Lions, and Marland Yarde could combine in the side for Saturday.

And the Sale boss believes the arrival of two such talented back-line players will only help add to the firepower at the Sharks’ disposal.

Meanwhile, Northampton have made three changes to the backline from the team that faced Worcester Warriors last weekend; Juan Pablo Estelles and Rory Hutchinson come into the squad while Ben Foden moves in to the starting line-up.

James Grayson makes his first ever start for Saints at fly-half while Jamal Ford-Robinson comes into the front row for an injured Kieran Brookes.

The teams:

Sale: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Sam James, 12 Mark Jennings, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Ben Curry, 6 Jono Ross (c), 5 Andre Ostrikov, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 James Flynn, 18 Halani Aulika, 19 George Nott, 20 Cameron Neild, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Rohan van Rensburg, 23 Will Addison

Northampton: 15 Harry Mallinder, 14 Juan Pablo Estelles, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Tom Stephenson, 11 Ben Foden, 10 James Grayson, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Jamie Gibson, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Sam Dickinson (c), 4 Michael Paterson, 3 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Alex Waller
Replacements: 16 Reece Marshall, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Alex Moon, 20 Mitch Eadie, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Tom Collins

Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: John Meredith, Wayne Falla
TMO: Trevor Fisher

Sunday

London Irish vs Wasps

London Irish have made three changes to the starting line-up which faced Bath last Sunday as they prepare to host Wasps.

Ollie Hoskins starts in the front row alongside captain David Paice and Ben Franks.

Teofilo Paulo returns from injury to feature in the second row with Franco van der Merwe, and Mike Coman makes a start in the back row alongside Blair Cowan and Max Northcote-Green who extended his contract with the men in green together with Johnny Williams earlier this week.

Blair Cowan continues to switch to number eight in place of Ofisa Treviranus who is on international duty with Samoa.

Luke McLean and Fergus Mulchrone extend their centre partnership, with Ben Meehan and Tommy Bell at scrum-half and fly-half respectively. And Alex Lewington, James Marshall and Joe Cokanasiga feature in an exciting back three.

Wasps welcome back Danny Cipriani who is named on the bench and in line to make his first appearance for the club since sustaining a knee injury against Harlequins in mid-September.

There are two changes to Wasps’ starting back-line from last weekend’s bonus point win over Newcastle Falcons, with Joe Simpson named at scrum-half and Gaby Lovobalavu at inside centre. Kyle Eastmond, who made an impressive 40-minute return from injury last Saturday, is following return-to-play protocols after his HIA.

In the pack, Nizaam Carr makes his first Premiership start for Wasps having impressed from the bench against Newcastle Falcons.

The teams:

London Irish: 15 James Marshall, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Fergus Mulchrone, 12 Luke McLean, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Tommy Bell, 9 Ben Meehan, 8 Blair Cowan, 7 Max Northcote-Green, 6 Mike Coman, 5 Teofilo Paulo, 4 Franco van der Merwe, 3 Ollie Hoskins, 2 David Paice (c), 1 Ben Franks
Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Petrus Du Plessis, 19 Sebastian De Chaves, 20 Conor Gilsenan, 21 Scott Steele, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Tom Fowlie

Wasps: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Gaby Lovobalavu, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Thomas Young, 6 James Haskell, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 James Gaskell, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Ashley Johnson (c), 1 Simon McIntyre
Replacements: 16 Nathan Charles, 17 Ben Harris, 18 Marty Moore, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Guy Thompson, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Rob Miller

Venue: Madejski Stadium
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales, Nigel Carrick
TMO: Stuart Terheege

Saracens vs Exeter

Fly-half Max Malins will make his first Premiership start for Saracens, with the England U20 playmaker coming into the side with Owen Farrell and Alex Lozowski away on international duty.

In the backs, Alex Goode starts at full-back with Nathan Earle and Chris Wyles named on the wing. At centre, Marcelo Bosch partners skipper Brad Barritt, whilst in the halves, Max Malins will be partnered by scrum-half Ben Spencer.

Up front, Richard Barrington starts at loosehead prop, and is joined by Schalk Brits (hooker) and Vincent Koch (tighthead prop). At lock, Will Skelton continues in the second-row and is partnered by George Kruis whilst in the back-row, Calum Clark starts at blindside flanker with Schalk Burger packing down on the opposite flank – Jackson Wray returns to the side at number eight.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs make two changes in the pack as Aussie international Greg Holmes comes in at tighthead for Moray Low, while Matt Kvesic replaces Julian Salvi in the back-row. Behind, there is just one change in personnel with Sam Hill giving the nod at inside centre alongside Ian Whitten.

On the bench, Shaun Malton offers back-up to skipper Jack Yeandle at hooker, while Hill’s elevation into the starting line-up means his void is filled by former Saracens winger James Short, who this week became a dad for the first time.

The teams:

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Nathan Earle, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Max Malins, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Calum Clark, 5 George Kruis, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Richard Barrington
Replacements: 16 Christopher Tolofua, 17 Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Mark Flanagan, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Nick Tompkins, 23 Mike Ellery

Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Nic White, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Don Armand, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 1 Ben Moon
Replacements: 16 Shaun Malton, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Moray Low, 19 Toby Salmon, 20 Sam Skinner, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Joe Simmonds, 23 James Short

Venue: Allianz Park
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe, Roy Maybank
TMO: David Sainsbury