Semi Radradra returns for Bristol’s trip to Harlequins

David Skippers

Three Premiership fixtures are scheduled to take place on Saturday with Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints hosting Bristol Bears, Gloucester and Worcester Warriors before Sunday sees Sale Sharks face off with Wasps.

Saturday

Harlequins v Bristol Bears

Star outside centre Semi Radradra returns to the Bristol Bears starting line-up ahead of the Boxing Day showdown with Harlequins.

The Fijian international is set for his first outing of the campaign as Bristol visit the Twickenham Stoop looking for a third successive victory in the Premiership.

The Bears make five changes from the line-up that beat Connacht last weekend. Radradra is the only tweak to the backline, while Yann Thomas, John Afoa and Will Capon come into the front-row.

Dan Thomas is also named in the pack, while Steven Luatua skippers the side for his first Premiership outing of the season.

International duo Kyle Sinckler and Ben Earl are given a mandatory two-week rest and won’t be available for the round four encounter.

Meanwhile, Harlequins head of rugby Paul Gustard has made six changes to the side that faced Racing 92 last weekend. Loosehead prop Jordan Els comes in for his first start of the season in place of England prop Joe Marler, who is rested this week.

Second-row Dino Lam returns to fitness to earn his first start of the season after being named on the bench against Racing last week, rotating into the starting line-up in place of academy lock Hugh Tizard, who has impressed over the last few weeks.

On the blindside flank, James Chisholm comes in for Tom Lawday, who takes up a spot as one of the club’s impact players. Scotland centre James Lang starts at outside centre alongside Australian international Ben Tapuai.

Ross Chisholm starts on one wing while academy player Louis Lynagh earns his first Premiership start in the 14 jersey, having debuted in the competition in the final game of the 2019/20 season away to Leicester Tigers.

Amongst the replacements, centre Lennox Anyanwu is set to make his first senior club appearance should he enter the field of play. Alongside Anyanwu, Argentinian international scrum-half Martin Landajo returns from injury to take up the 21 jersey.

Form: Harlequins have won their last two Premiership Rugby matches, both on the road at Northampton and Gloucester and have not won three in a row in the competitions since March 2019. The Londoners have lost their last three fixtures at Twickenham Stoop in Premiership Rugby and have not lost four successive home games in the tournament since season 2009/10. Bristol Bears have won their last two Premiership Rugby matches but both fixtures against Worcester and Northampton were played at Ashton Gate. The Bears have lost their last two away games in the tournament, but both were to Wasps at the Ricoh Arena. Bristol beat Harlequins 28-15 the last time the two clubs met in March and have not won successive encounters against Quins in Premiership Rugby since 2006. Bristol won on their most recent visit to the Twickenham Stoop in October, but that match was against London Irish. They have not beaten Harlequins on their home patch since a victory in the European Cup in December 2007 whilst their most recent victory there in Premiership Rugby was in September 2001.

The teams:

Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 James Lang, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Ross Chisholm, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c), 7 Will Evans, 6 James Chisholm, 5 Glen Young, 4 Dino Lamb, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Jordan Els
Replacements: 16 Elia Elia, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Hugh Tizard, 20 Tom Lawday, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Lennox Anyanwu, 23 Tyrone Green

Bristol: Bears: 15 Max Malins, 14 Siva Naulago, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Piers O’Conor, 11 Ioan Lloyd, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Steven Luatua (c), 5 Ed Holmes, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 John Afoa, 2 Will Capon, 1 Yann Thomas
Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Joe Joyce, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Alapati Leiua, 23 Niyi Adeolokun

Venue: Twickenham Stoop
Kick-off: 14:00 GMT
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson, Andrew Jackson
TMO: Wayne Barnes

Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester

True to his word, it is a powerful Exeter Chiefs line-up which the club’s director of rugby, Rob Baxter, has assembled for their festive fixture with Gloucester at Sandy Park.

After being forced to withdraw from last weekend’s Champions Cup clash with Toulouse due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the club, Baxter has named a competitive unit for this fixture.

In the back-line, Stuart Hogg starts at full-back with flyers Olly Woodburn and Tom O’Flaherty joining him in the back three.

Ian Whitten starts at outside centre alongside Ollie Devoto, who will wear the number 12 jersey, while Joe Simmonds captains the team from fly-half with Jack Maunder slotting in at scrum-half.

In the forwards, the impressive Sam Simmonds continues at number eight with Jannes Kirsten and Dave Ewers packing down on the flanks while Sam Skinner and Jonny Gray start in the second-row.

Luke Cowan-Dickie is the hooker and he starts alongside props Harry Williams and Ben Moon in the front-row.

Meanwhile, Gloucester head coach George Skivington has selected a largely unchanged team from the side that beat Ulster 38-34 in the Champions Cup at Kingsholm last time out.

Jonny May and Fraser Balmain come in and are the only two changes to the starting XV with Tom Seabrook also joining the matchday 23 on the bench.

Val Rapava-Ruskin, Jack Singleton and Fraser Balmain make up the front-row with Ed Slater and Matias Alemanno continuing their second-row partnership behind them.

It’s an unchanged back-row with Jordy Reid starting at blindside flanker, Ruan Ackermann at number eight and Lewis Ludlow resuming the captaincy from the openside flank.

In the backs, Charlie Chapman and Lloyd Evans continue to link up at half-back with the trusty centre combination of Mark Atkinson and Chris Harris outside them.

May returns and will make up a speedy back three with Kyle Moyle and Louis Rees-Zammit.

Form: Exeter Chiefs have gained maximum points from the opening three rounds of Premiership Rugby, only one other side has begun a new campaign with four successive bonus point victories – Saracens in 2018/19. Exeter have lost just once at Sandy Park in any competition since February – 19-22 to London Irish in Round 21 of Premiership Rugby. Gloucester’s only victory in their last six Premiership Rugby fixtures (excluding the walkover against Northampton) was 40-24 at home to Wasps on 28 November. The Cherry & Whites have won only once away from home in any competition since October 2019 – 44-15 at Worcester in Round 14 of Premiership Rugby last season. The Chiefs’ only defeat in their last five fixtures against Gloucester in Premiership Rugby was 17-24 at Kingsholm in February 2019. Gloucester beat Exeter at Sandy Park in the European Cup in December 2018 but have not been successful there in Premiership Rugby since a single point victory in January 2015.

The teams:

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Joe Simmonds (c), 9 Jack Maunder, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Sam Skinner, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ben Moon
Replacements: 16 Jack Yeandle, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Don Armand, 20 Richard Capstick, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Tom Hendrickson

Gloucester: 15 Kyle Moyle, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Jonny May, 10 Lloyd Evans, 9 Charlie Chapman, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Ed Slater, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Jack Singleton, 1 Val Rapava-Ruskin
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Seb Nagle-Taylor, 21 Toby Venner, 22 George Barton, 23 Tom Seabrook

Venue: Sandy Park
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant referees: Sara Cox, Neil Chivers
TMO: David Rose

Northampton Saints v Worcester Warriors

Co-captain Lewis Ludlam and Wales international Dan Biggar return to Northampton Saints’ starting XV as they close out 2020 against Worcester Warriors.

The pair slot straight back into the line-up after shaking off injuries and make up two of eight changes to Chris Boyd’s side for the Boxing Day clash at Franklin’s Gardens.

With almost 2,000 Saints appearances across the matchday 23, Northampton will hope that experience helps them end a challenging year on a high note.

Ludlam will co-captain the side with loosehead prop Alex Waller, as the latter forms an unchanged front-row alongside hooker Sam Matavesi and tighthead Paul Hill.

Nick Isiekwe shifts back to the engine room this week to join the returning David Ribbans at lock, while England internationals Courtney Lawes and Teimana Harrison pack down with Ludlam in a seasoned back-row.

Biggar steps back into the Northampton 10 shirt for the second time this season as he partners Alex Mitchell in the half-back berths, while Rory Hutchinson and Fraser Dingwall’s gritty performances in Dublin last weekend see them retain their places in Saints’ midfield.

Ahsee Tuala and Matt Proctor are two fresh faces in a new-look back three, with George Furbank returning to full-back for the festive fixture.

Scrum-half Tom James also keeps his place in the matchday 23 after scoring his first Saints try against Leinster last time out, and is named in the replacements alongside the likes of Mikey Haywood, Owen Franks, Tom Collins, and Taqele Naiyaravoro.

Meanwhile, tighthead prop Nick Schonert and former England flanker Matt Kvesic will return from injury lay-offs for Worcester Warriors in the Boxing Day match.

Schonert has not played since the victory over London Irish in the opening round on November 21 but has now recovered from the ankle injury he sustained in training and comes straight into the starting XV.

Kvesic has also regained fitness after suffering a shoulder injury at Bristol Bears four weeks ago and also starts with Marco Mama, who started at openside against Ospreys last Saturday, switching to number eight.

There is a new combination in the second-row where Justin Clegg and Andrew Kitchener team up for the first time since the Challenge Cup match against Dragons 12 months ago.

Francois Hougaard and Billy Searle renew their half-back partnership having been used as replacements against Ospreys.

Prop Ethan Waller and hooker Niall Annett, who also came off the bench last week, also start with Waller’s fellow loosehead Marc Thomas in line to make his first Premiership appearance for Warriors as a replacement.

Form: Northampton Saints’ most recent victory in Premiership Rugby was at London Irish on August 22. The Saints’ only victory at Franklin’s Gardens in any tournament in 2020 came on January 12, beating Benetton there in the European Champions Cup. Worcester Warriors have lost their last two Premiership Rugby fixtures since beating London Irish by a single point at Sixways on the opening weekend. The Warriors have won only once away from home in Premiership Rugby since November 2019 (excluding the walkover against Sale), and that was at London Irish in September. The Saints have won their last five fixtures against the Warriors since Worcester’s 30-15 home win in November 2017. Worcester have not been victorious at Franklin’s Gardens since a 10-9 win there in Premiership Rugby on New Year’s Day 2007.

The teams:

Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 Matt Proctor, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Ahsee Tuala, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 Lewis Ludlam (cc), 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Nick Isiekwe, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Paul Hill, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Alex Waller (cc)
Replacements: 16 Mikey Haywood, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Alex Moon, 20 Shaun Adendorff, 21 Tom James, 22 Tom Collins, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro

Worcester Warriors: 15 Melani Nanai, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Nick David, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Marco Mama, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Ted Hill (c), 5 Andrew Kitchener, 4 Justin Clegg, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Ethan Waller
Replacements: 16 Beck Cutting, 17 Marc Thomas, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Joe Batley, 20 Cornell du Preez, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Oli Morris

Venue: Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 16:30 GMT
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant referees: Paul Dix, Jamie Leahy
TMO: Nigel Carrick

Sunday

Sale Sharks v Wasps

England international Tom Curry returns to the Sale Sharks’ starting line-up as Paul Deacon names his side to face Wasps at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The newly appointed head coach makes eight changes to the Sale squad selected to face Edinburgh in the Champions Cup last weekend, as five internationals return to the squad.

Valerey Morozov and Coenie Oosthuizen are back in the Sharks’ pack on Sunday and bring a wealth of experience to the front-row alongside the rampant Akker van der Merwe at hooker.

An unchanged lock partnership of Matt Postlethwaite and JP du Preez provides stability amidst a number of injuries in the second-row. Cobus Wiese, who has previously been named by the Sharks at lock, lines up in place of Jono Ross at blindside flanker. The South African continues to impress in the back-row and will be complimented this week by a welcome return to action for international’s Curry and Daniel du Preez.

Faf de Klerk captains the side again in the absence of Ross and lines up at half-back with AJ MacGinty as the pair look to orchestrate a first home victory under Deacon. The Sharks deploy an abrasive centre partnership in Sam Hill and Rohan Janse van Rensburg but the combative pair will have plenty of flair outside them as Marland Yarde and Luke James are named on the wings, with Sam James retaining the 15 shirt.

Meanwhile, Lee Blackett has made three changes to his Wasps side for Sunday’s fixture on the road.

Will Rowlands returns to form the second-row partnership with James Gaskell while Tom West comes into the front-row alongside Tom Cruse and Kieran Brookes.

The only change in the back-line sees Michael Le Bourgeois swap his place on the bench for the number 12 shirt, with Jimmy Gopperth making way.

Joining Gopperth amongst the replacements are the returning Dan Robson, Tommy Taylor, Juan De Jongh and Simon McIntyre.

Form: Sale Sharks’ only defeat in the first three rounds of Premiership Rugby was to newly promoted Newcastle at Kingston Park on November 27. The Sharks have lost just once at AJ Bell Stadium in Premiership Rugby since August (excluding the walkover against Worcester) and that was to Bath on September 13. Wasps’ only win in their last four Premiership Rugby was 23-20 at home to Bristol in Round One. Wasps’ only defeat away from home in any competition since February was 24-40 at Gloucester in Round Two of Premiership Rugby. Sale Sharks have won their last three Premiership Rugby against Wasps since Wasps’ 31-13 victory at AJ Bell Stadium in September 2018, their only victory in 11 previous visits to the venue in all tournaments.

The teams:

Sale Sharks: 15 Sam James, 14 Luke James, 13 Roahn Janse van Rensburg, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Faf de Klerk (c), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Cobus Wiese, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Matt Postlethwaite, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Valerey Morozov
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Will-Griff John, 19 James Phillips, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Tom Roebuck

Wasps: 15 Lima Sopoaga, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Michael Le Bourgeois, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Will Porter, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 7 Thomas Young (c), 6 Ben Morris, 5 James Gaskell, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tom Cruse, 1 Tom West
Replacements: 16 Tommy Taylor, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 19 Levi Douglas, 20 Tom Willis, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Jimmy Gopperth, 23 Juan de Jongh

Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Jack Makepeace, Anthony Woodthorpe
TMO: Ian Tempest