Semesa Rokoduguni returns, Stuart Hogg set for debut

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Semesa Rokoduguni returns to the Bath starting line-up as they face last season’s Premiership runners-up Exeter Chiefs on Friday evening at the Rec.

Will Stuart and Jamie Roberts link up with the winger in the starting XV for their first home game of the Premiership campaign.

Rokoduguni joins Aled Brew and Tom Homer in the back three, with Roberts partnering Max Wright in the midfield.

Rhys Priestland and Will Chudley start in the half-back pairing, as the scrum-half faces his former side under the Friday night lights.

Stuart comes into the front-row alongside Tom Dunn and Beno Obano, whilst Charlie Ewels captains the side from the second-row. McNally starts alongside Ewels at lock, with Mike Williams and Tom Ellis on the flanks. Zach Mercer, a try-scorer last week, completes the pack at number eight.

For Exeter, director of rugby Rob Baxter is able to call upon some notable faces for the clash. Dave Ewers returns in the back-row having overcome an infection to a wound in his head, while England international Ben Moon also returns in the front-row.

Behind, Sam Hill – fresh from a short cameo off the bench against Harlequins last weekend – comes into the centre, while on the wing Alex Cuthbert makes his first appearance since June’s Premiership final at Twickenham, and there is a Chiefs debut for summer signing Stuart Hogg at full-back.

It will be Hogg’s first introduction to the Premiership, but Baxter is confident the Scotland and two-time British & Irish Lions tourist will be able to take everything in his stride.

“I like to think having quality players available are what allows you to move on more than anything else,” he said. “We’re delighted to have Stuart here with us. His attitude has been fantastic from minute one. He was texting me not long after the World Cup game again Japan, letting me know what his plans were, and that he wanted to get straight into training with us.”

On the bench, there is also a welcome return to the first-team fold for scrum-half Stuart Townsend, who will be hoping to get his first competitive action since injuring his knee against Gloucester in the Champions Cup last December.

Form: Bath have lost just one of their last eight home games in Gallagher Premiership Rugby: 29-31 to Harlequins at the Recreation Ground on 2 March. Bath were defeated at Bristol last Friday but have not begun a Premiership Rugby campaign with a pair of losses since season 2009-10. Exeter Chiefs’ only defeats in their last six Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures were both to Saracens, in round 21 and last season’s Final at Twickenham. The Chiefs have won three of their last four away games in Premiership Rugby. Exeter have won their last eight matches against Bath in all competitions since Bath’s 13-10 victory at Sandy Park in Premiership Rugby three years ago.

The teams:

Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Max Wright, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Will Chudley, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Tom Ellis, 6 Mike Williams, 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 Josh Bayliss, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Alex Cuthbert, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Dave Dennis, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 1 Ben Moon
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Tom Hendrickson

Date: Friday, October 25
Venue: Recreation Ground
Kick-off: 19:45 BST (18:45 GMT)
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe, Paul Dix
TMO: Sean Davey

Bath