Premiership Preview: Saturday, Sunday
There’s three Premiership games on Saturday before one takes place on Sunday, with Exeter versus Gloucester the round’s standout match.
Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester
Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has stuck with the large nucleus of last weekend’s team that defeated Bristol at Ashton Gate.
Changes in the pack to face Gloucester see Dave Dennis and Dave Ewers come in for Ollie Atkins and Tom Lawday.
Behind the scrum, the sole change sees Nic White – impressive off the bench against the Bears – take over the number nine jersey from Stu Townsend.
White will team up with Gareth Steenson in forming an experience Exeter half-back pairing that will have to help stymie rivals Willi Heinz and Danny Cipriani, the latter of whom has been instrumental in Gloucester’s rise following his summer switch from Wasps.
Meanwhile, Gloucester have made five changes to the starting line-up that defeated Leicester Tigers last weekend.
Three of the changes are in the pack. Henry Walker makes his first start in the Premiership and Val Rapava Ruskin returns at loosehead to pack down alongside him. In the back-row, Ben Morgan comes in for Jaco Kriel.
In the backline, Henry Trinder returns in the midfield to replace Mark Atkinson and Charlie Sharples, currently the Premiership’s top try scorer, comes in for Matt Banahan on the wing.
Named amongst the replacements is South African hooker Jaco Visagie, who joined the club on loan this week.
Form: Exeter Chiefs’ only loss in any tournament this season was at Castres in Round 2 of the European Champions Cup. The Chiefs are unbeaten in their last twelve matches at Sandy Park in all tournaments since Worcester beat them there in Premiership Rugby in February. Gloucester have won their last two Premiership Rugby matches but have not won three in a row in the tournament for twelve months. Gloucester’s last three away fixtures in Premiership Rugby have ended in a draw, a loss and a win. The last nine clashes between the two clubs in Premiership Rugby have been evenly split with four wins apiece plus a draw. Two of Gloucester’s three previous victories at Sandy Park have been by a solitary point, in 2014 and 2015, whilst there was also a 27-all draw in October 2016.
The teams:
Exeter: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Alex Cuthbert, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Nic White, 8 Matt Kvesic, 7 Don Armand, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Dave Dennis, 4 Mitch Lees, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 1 Moray Low
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Billy Keast, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Tom Lawday, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Joe Simmonds, 23 Sam Hill
Gloucester: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Gareth Evans, 6 Freddie Clarke, 5 Ed Slater (c), 4 Tom Savage, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Henry Walker, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Josh Hohneck, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Aaron Hinkley, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Tom Hudson
Date: Saturday, November 24
Venue: Sandy Park
Kick-off: 13:00 GMT
Referee: Matthew O’Grady
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales, Dean Richards
TMO: Geoffrey Warren
Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints
The Sharks’ brotherhood turns out in full force against Northampton Saints as Premiership Rugby returns to the AJ Bell Stadium.
Included in the home team’s starting XV are two sets of brothers – Sam and Luke James, plus Rob and Jean-Luc du Preez. For Rob, it will be his third game for the Sharks but his first at home; for Jean-Luc, it’s his debut.
Josh Beaumont switches from number eight to the second-row, with Bryn Evans named on the bench against the Saints.
For Northampton, director of rugby Chris Boyd has made three changes to his starting XV for the trip to the AJ Bell Stadium.
The men in Black, Green and Gold head to Greater Manchester with four wins in their previous five matches in all competitions, having soundly beaten Wasps on their return to Premiership action last time out.
Tighthead prop Paul Hill starts in the front-row for the first time in the league this season, joining captain Alex Waller and hooker James Fish.
Alex Moon continues in the engine room after another impressive display last weekend, but Fijian lock Api Ratuniyarawa comes in to round off the tight five.
Meanwhile, flankers Tom Wood and Lewis Ludlam – the latter of whom signed a new contract at Franklin’s Gardens this week – will play either side of number eight Teimana Harrison to complete the pack.
Saints’ backline is largely unchanged with last weekend’s man-of-the-match Taqele Naiyaravoro keeping his place on the wing and George Furbank selected at fullback.
After both scoring tries against Wasps, Andrew Kellaway and Fraser Dingwall line up again for Northampton.
Luther Burrell starts at inside centre in the only backs change, while James Grayson and Cobus Reinach will look to control proceedings from the half-back berths.
Amongst the replacements there are three more changes of personnel as Francois van Wyk returns to the match-day squad to cover the front row alongside Reece Marshall and Ben Franks, plus Dom Barrow and Mitch Eadie will look to make an impact off the bench.
Form: Sale Sharks’ two victories in Premiership Rugby this season have both been at home, to Worcester in Round 2 and Newcastle in Round 6. The Sharks are unbeaten in their last three matches at AJ Bell Stadium in all tournaments since Wasps beat them there in Round 4 of Premiership Rugby. Northampton Saints have won four of their last five first team matches. The Saints won their most recent away game in Premiership Rugby at Bristol but have not won successive matches on the road in the same season since 2014/15. The Sharks have won their last two matches against The Saints in Premiership Rugby but have not won three in a row over Northampton since 2006. The Saints have won just once at AJ Bell Stadium in Premiership Rugby since 2012 – 32-12 in March 2017.
The teams:
Sale: 15 Sam James, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 James O’Connor, 12 Luke James, 11 Arron Reed, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Ben Curry, 6 Jono Ross (c), 5 James Phillips, 4 Josh Beaumont, 3 Will-Griff John, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 Joe Jones, 19 Bryn Evans, 20 Cameron Neild, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Kieran Wilkinson, 23 Paolo Odogwu
Northampton: 15 George Furbank, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 James Grayson, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Lewis Ludlam, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Alex Moon, 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 3 Paul Hill, 2 James Fish, 1 Alex Waller (c)
Replacements: 16 Reece Marshall, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Dom Barrow, 20 Mitch Eadie, 21 Jamie Gibson, 22 Alex Mitchell, 23 Ollie Sleightholme
Date: Saturday, November 24
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 13:00 GMT
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Jonathan Healy, Steve Lee
TMO: Claire Hodnett
Wasps director of rugby Dai Young will hand a Premiership debut to Ross Neal for Saturday’s Round Eight clash with Bristol Bears at the Ricoh Arena.
The 22-year-old back recently impressed in the Premiership Rugby Cup and is rewarded with a start on the right wing with Marcus Watson out with a grade-two groin tear.
Elsewhere in the back three, Rob Miller starts at full-back with Josh Bassett on the left wing, who is just three points shy of hitting the 200-mark for the club. Elliot Daly, Michele Campagnaro and Willie le Roux remain away on international duty.
Michael Le Bourgeois returns to the starting line-up to partner Juan de Jongh in the centres while Lima Sopoaga is joined by Craig Hampson in the half-back combination, as the latter prepares to face his old employers. Joe Simpson misses out with an ACL injury and is expected to be out for eight weeks.
Ben Harris, Tom Cruse and Jake Cooper-Woolley start in the front-row with Simon McIntyre (concussion), Tommy Taylor (concussion), Kieran Brookes (groin) and Will Stuart (neck) on the injury list, and Zurabi Zhvania on international duty with Georgia.
The big pair of Will Rowlands and James Gaskell continue their partnership in the second-row.
Ashley Johnson is handed the captain’s armband once again in the back-row next to Thomas Young and academy number eight Tom Willis, while Nizaam Carr misses out with a recurring shoulder knock. Nathan Hughes and Brad Shields are away on England duty as they prepare to take on Australia.
In the replacements, academy duo Will Porter and David Langley could be handed their first Premiership appearances if they come off the bench.
Meanwhile, Bristol have named an unchanged line-up ahead of the visit to Wasps.
Head coach Pat Lam has kept faith in the team that fell to a last-gasp defeat to unbeaten Exeter Chiefs last weekend as Steven Luatua and Charles Piutau successfully completed concussion protocols.
Siale Piutau returns from international duty with Tonga to be included among the replacements, while Bristol are boosted by the return of Harry Thacker and Ian Madigan from injury.
Form: Wasps are without a win in their last seven first team fixtures, their worst run since 2013. Wasps have lost two of their last three encounters at Ricoh Arena in Premiership Rugby. Bristol Bears have won only once in Premiership Rugby since the opening round – 20-13 at home to Harlequins in Round 4. Bristol have already won at the Ricoh Arena this season having beaten Wasps there in the Premiership Rugby Cup two weeks ago. The Bears have won just once away from home in Premiership Rugby since 2008, on a visit to Sale on New Year’s Day 2017. Wasps have won their last five fixtures against Bristol in Premiership Rugby whilst the Bears’ only victory over Wasps in the tournament since 2001 was at Memorial Stadium in 2006.
The teams:
Wasps: 15 Rob Miller, 14 Ross Neal, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Michael Le Bourgeois, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Craig Hampson, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Ashley Johnson (c), 5 James Gaskell, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Tom Cruse, 1 Ben Harris
Replacements: 16 Antonio Harris, 17 Tom West, 18 David Langley, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Ben Morris, 21 Will Porter, 22 Billy Searle, 23 Gaby Lovobalavu
Bristol: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Will Hurrell, 11 Ryan Edwards, 10 Callum Sheedy (cc), 9 Andy Uren, 8 Nick Haining, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Steve Luatua (cc), 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 Ed Holmes, 3 John Afoa, 2 Shaun Malton, 1 Yann Thomas
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Lewis Thiede, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 George Smith, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Siale Piutau
Date: Saturday, November 24
Venue: Ricoh Arena
Kick-off: 13:00 GMT
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Robert Warburton, Simon McConnell
TMO: Keith Lewis
Jonah Holmes returns to the Leicester team for their Premiership game against Saracens after winning his first cap with Wales last weekend.
He starts at full-back as George Worth reverts to the bench in the only change to the backline following defeat at Gloucester last Friday.
Brendon O’Connor comes into the back-row with Guy Thompson ruled out by the leg injury he suffered at Kingsholm, and Will Spencer starts alongside Graham Kitchener in the second-row.
Mike Williams makes his 50th Premiership appearance for the club since his arrival from Worcester Warriors in 2015.
Meanwhile, Alex Lozowski returns to the Saracens line-up for Sunday’s trip to Leicester Tigers.
The centre, who last featured for the Men in Black against Glasgow Warriors in the Heineken Champions Cup, starts on the wing in the only backs change.
France international Christopher Tolofua will pack down in the front-row alongside Richard Barrington and Christian Judge while the back five of the scrum remains unchanged from last weekend’s win over Sale Sharks.
Hooker Tom Woolstencroft is amongst the replacements as is Matt Gallagher who has recovered from a minor knock.
Form: Leicester Tigers have won two of their last three Premiership Rugby matches. The Tigers record at Welford Road in all tournament this season is won three, lost three. Saracens are unbeaten in their last eighteen first team matches since being knocked out of the European Champions cup by eventual winners, Leinster, last April. Saracens have not lost in Premiership Rugby since Exeter beat them at Sandy Park in March. Leicester’s 28-20 victory at Allianz Park in February ended a four-game losing run to Saracens in the tournament. It took Saracens 34 attempts and 46 years to win for the first time at Welford Road in 2010, but since then their record there is won six, drawn one, lost three.
The teams:
Leicester: 15 Jonah Holmes, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Gareth Owen, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Joe Ford, 9 Sam Harrison, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 6 Mike Williams, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Will Spencer, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs (c), 1 Greg Bateman
Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Gaston Cortes, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Mike Fitzgerald, 21 Ben White, 22 Tom Hardwick, 23 George Worth
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Alex Lozowski, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Max Malins, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Mike Rhodes, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Dom Day, 3 Christian Judge, 2 Christopher Tolofua, 1 Richard Barrington
Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 18 Hisa Sasagi, 19 Joel Kpoku, 20 Calum Clark, 21 Ben Earl, 22 Tom Whiteley, 23 Matt Gallagher
Date: Sunday, November 25
Venue: Welford Road
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: Greg Macdonald, Simon Harding
TMO: David Rose