Taulupe Faletau back from injury to start for Bath

Adam Kyriacou

There’s four games on the schedule in the Premiership on Saturday with one on Sunday as the final round of 2019 plays out over the weekend.

Saturday

Northampton Saints v Gloucester

Director of rugby Chris Boyd has made just three changes to his side as Northampton Saints welcome Gloucester to a sold-out Franklin’s Gardens.

Piers Francis, Tom Wood and Francois van Wyk all return to the starting line-up for the men in Black, Green and Gold, while both Rory Hutchinson and Lewis Ludlam will bring up a half-century of appearances for the club on Saturday.

The hosts will be looking to preserve their 100 percent home winning record in the Premiership this season, having won their last four league matches at Franklin’s Gardens – but the Cherry & Whites were the last visiting side to leave Northampton with a victory in the competition back in April.

England international Francis returns at inside centre in an otherwise unchanged backline for Saints, with Hutchinson switching outside into the 13 jersey.

George Furbank, Tom Collins and Taqele Naiyaravoro are all named again in Northampton’s back three, with Dan Biggar and Cobus Reinach hoping to run the show from the half-back berths.

Loosehead prop van Wyk comes into the front-row to join Mikey Haywood and Ehren Painter, with the only other change to the pack seeing Wood – who missed Saints’ defeat to Sale Sharks through illness – return to take his spot at flanker alongside Ludlam.

That means that while Alex Moon keeps his place at lock, Courtney Lawes shifts back into the engine room, and club co-captain Teimana Harrison leads out Northampton in the number eight jersey.

Saints are also given a boost amongst their replacements, with the likes of lock David Ribbans and scrum-half Henry Taylor set to make their injury returns from the bench.

Looking to build on last weekend’s bonus-point victory at home to Worcester, Gloucester make three changes to their starting line-up for Saturday.

It’s their final fixture of 2019 and both teams will be looking to consolidate their positions in the top six of what is a congested league table, the Cherry and Whites in fifth place trailing the Saints in second by just three points.

The one change to the Gloucester backline sees Charlie Sharples come in for Ollie Thorley while, in the pack, Josh Hohneck and Jamal Ford-Robinson replace Val Rapava-Ruskin and Fraser Balmain respectively. Ford-Robinson will be making his first return to his former club.

Form: Northampton Saints have lost their last three matches in all competitions, but in Gallagher Premiership Rugby they are the only club remaining with a one hundred percent home winning record this season. The Saints have won their last four matches at Franklin’s Gardens in Premiership Rugby, all with maximum points. Gloucester Rugby’s 36-3 victory over Worcester Warriors on Friday ended a three-game losing run in Gallagher Premiership Rugby. The Cherry & Whites’ only away win in their last ten trips in all competitions was 18-16 at Sale in Round 1 of Premiership Rugby. Gloucester have won three of their last four fixtures against Saints in Premiership Rugby and were the last side to defeat Northampton at home in the tournament on 7 April.

The teams:

Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 Tom Collins, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Teimana Harrison (c), 7 Lewis Ludlam, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Alex Moon, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Francois van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Api Ratuniyarawa, 20 David Ribbans, 21 Henry Taylor, 22 Andrew Symons, 23 Ahsee Tuala

Gloucester: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Louis Rees-Zammit, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Willi Heinz (c), 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Lewis Ludlow, 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Josh Hohneck
Replacements: 16 Todd Gleave, 17 Alex Seville, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Freddie Clarke, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 23 Matt Banahan

Venue: Franklin’s Gardens
Kick-off: 14:00 GMT
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: Jonathan Healy, Tim Wigglesworth
TMO: Sean Davey

Bath v Sale Sharks

Bath make two changes to the side that beat London Irish 38-10 at the Madejski Stadium last week, with Taulupe Faletau and Francois Louw returning for this game with fourth placed Sale Sharks at the Rec.

Louw returns to captain the side, whilst Faletau makes his comeback from an injury sustained in Wales’ Rugby World Cup training camp earlier in the summer.

Beno Obano, Tom Dunn and Will Stuart maintain their spots in the front-row, with Josh McNally and Elliott Stooke again starting at lock.

Tom Ellis retains his place in the back-row with Louw replacing Sam Underhill and Faletau coming in for Josh Bayliss.

The backline that scored four of the six tries last week are unchanged, with Will Chudley and Rhys Priestland commanding the nine and 10 channels.

Anthony Watson and Semesa Rokoduguni will occupy the wide passages with Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Joseph in midfield, whilst Tom Homer props up the back three.

Meanwhile, Sale boss Steve Diamond has made just one change to his starting XV this week, with Simon Hammersley the only omission from the side that beat Northampton Saints last weekend.

The full-back is replaced by Denny Solomona due to an injury sustained during the Round Six match. Solomona takes the 14 shirt for this game with Chris Ashton moving to full-back as cover for the first time this season.

Other notable changes to the matchday 23 are the inclusion of Jean-Luc du Preez after the completion of his three-match ban. He is also joined amongst the replacements by Rob Webber, who makes a timely return from injury to face his former club at the Rec.

Form: Bath Rugby’s five game losing run in all competitions ended with their 38-10 victory at London Irish on Sunday, their first maximum point victory in Gallagher Premiership Rugby this season. Bath have lost their last three matches at the Recreation Ground in all competitions but have not lost four in succession at the venue in the professional era. Sale Sharks’ three game losing run in all competitions ended with their 22-10 defeat of the round five table toppers, Northampton Saints. The Sharks have not won successive matches in Premiership Rugby since January and have lost their last four away games in all competitions. Sale’s only defeat in their last five fixtures against Bath was by a single point in 65 at the Recreation Ground in February 2018. The Sharks have not won at Bath since March 2014.

The teams:

Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Anthony Watson, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Will Chudley, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Francois Louw (c), 6 Tom Ellis, 5 Elliott Stooke, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Lewis Boyce, 18 Christian Judge, 19 Matt Garvey, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Aled Brew

Sale Sharks: 15 Chris Ashton, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Sam James, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Byron McGuigan, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Jono Ross (c), 5 James Phillips, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 Jean-Luc du Preez, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Will Cliff, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Marland Yarde

Venue: Recreation Ground
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant referees: Adam Leal, Phil Watters
TMO: Claire Hodnett

Worcester Warriors v London Irish

Worcester Warriors wing Tom Howe will make his first Premiership appearance of the season against London Irish in a Sixways sell-out on Saturday.

Howe scored a hat-trick of tries against Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby Cup in October and he crossed again in the Challenge Cup against Dragons two weeks ago to take his Warriors’ career try tally to 21 in 32 appearances.

Howe gets his seasonal Premiership debut because Melani Nanai took a knock to a shoulder in last week’s match against Gloucester at Kingsholm.

The inclusion of Howe is the only change Warriors director of rugby Alan Solomons has made to his starting XV.

There is one change to the bench with Richard Palframan coming into the squad as replacement tighthead prop.

Hooker Matt Moulds, who captained Warriors for the first time at Gloucester, will have the honour of leading out the side for a match that has attracted a full house for the club’s Christmas fixture.

Meanwhile, in the London Irish front-row, prop duo Allan Dell and Lovejoy Chawatama are joined by Samoa international Motu Matu’u, who is at hooker.

Franco van der Merwe and Adam Coleman are named in the second-row, with Van der Merwe captaining the side.

Matt Rogerson starts at blindside flanker, with Blair Cowan at openside flanker and Fiji international Albert Tuisue completing the pack at number eight.

Nick Phipps joins Stephen Myler in the half-backs and Tom Stephenson partners Curtis Rona in the centres.

Ollie Hassell-Collins starts from one wing, as debutant Belgium Tuatagaloa makes his first competitive appearance for the Exiles on the other wing and Alivereti Veitokani wears the 15 shirt.

Form: Worcester Warriors have lost their last two matches, at Dragons in the European Challenge Cup and at Gloucester in Gallagher Premiership Rugby. The Warriors have lost just one of their last six home games at Sixways in Premiership Rugby: 20-24 to current top of the table Exeter Chiefs in Round 3. London Irish are without a win in their last four first team games since beating Bayonne in round 2 of the European Challenge Cup. The Exiles’ record in their last five away games in Premiership Rugby is won two, drawn one, lost two. The last five meetings between the two clubs have all been won by the home side on the day whilst London Irish’ most recent success at Sixways was 20-18 in September 2013.

The teams:

Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Ashley Beck, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Tom Howe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Matt Moulds (c), 1 Callum Black
Replacements: 16 Isaac Miller, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 GJ Van Velze, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Jamie Shillcock

London Irish: 15 Alivereti Veitokani, 14 Belgium Tuatagaloa, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Tom Stephenson, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Albert Tuisue, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Matt Rogerson, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Franco van der Merwe (c), 3 Lovejoy Chawatama, 2 Motu Matu’u, 1 Allan Dell
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 George Nott, 20 Steve Mafi, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Bryce Campbell, 23 James Stokes

Venue: Sixways
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe, Jamie Leahy
TMO: David Rose

Harlequins v Leicester Tigers

Scrum-half Danny Care will become the only Harlequins player to have played in every edition of Big Game, in a repeat of the club’s first ever Big Game in 2008, facing Leicester Tigers at the home of English rugby.

Paul Gustard, and his coaching team, have named an unchanged pack from the side that beat Wasps last weekend at the Ricoh Arena, with only two changes in the backs.

American centre Paul Lasike replaces the injured James Lang at 12, while Fijian international winger Vereniki Goneva makes his first Premiership start for Harlequins against his former club.

Meanwhile, Kyle Eastmond and Jaco Taute return to the Leicester line-up for the trip to Twickenham Stadium.

The duo team up at centre for this weekend’s Round Seven clash with Noel Reid reverting to the bench and Manu Tuilagi sitting out this weekend as the only changes to the backline following the game against Exeter Chiefs last Saturday.

In the forwards, there is a place for Sam Lewis in the back-row alongside Jordan Taufua and Sione Kalamafoni, with Calum Green moving into the second-row alongside Tomas Lavanini after Will Spencer’s head-knock against the Chiefs.

Form: Harlequins have won their last two Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches, their 28-22 success at Wasps on Saturday being their first maximum point win in the competition since March. This is Harlequins’ 12th ‘Big Game’ match at Twickenham Stadium where their record is won six, drawn two, lost three. Leicester Tigers’ solitary victory in their last nine Premiership Rugby matches was 16-13 at home to Gloucester in round 3. The Tigers have won on three of their last four visits to Twickenham Stadium, whilst they drew 26-all there against Harlequins in ‘Big Game 1′ in 2008. Harlequins’ 23-19 victory over Tigers at Twickenham Stoop in May ended a five-game losing run against the East Midlanders. The last time the two clubs met at Twickenham Stadium resulted in a 30-23 Harlequins victory in the Premiership Rugby final in 2012.

The teams:

Harlequins: 15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Paul Lasike, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Tom Lawday, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 James Chisholm, 5 Matt Symons, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Elia Elia, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Jack Musk, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Will Collier, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Brett Herron, 23 Gabriel Ibitoye

Leicester Tigers: 15 Telusa Veainu, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Jordan Taufua, 6 Sam Lewis, 5 Calum Green, 4 Tomás Lavanini, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Tom Youngs (c), 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Nephi Leatigaga, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Ben White, 22 Noel Reid, 23 George Worth

Venue: Twickenham
Kick-off: 16:30 GMT
Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Andrew Jackson, Roy Maybank
TMO: Rowan Kitt

Sunday

Exeter Chiefs v Saracens

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter has recalled many of those frontline stars who were given last weekend off for their game with Saracens.

Back into the pack come England duo Alec Hepburn and Luke Cowan-Dickie in the front-row, as well as Dave Dennis, Dave Ewers and free-scoring number eight Sam Simmonds.

Behind, Nic White and Joe Simmonds return at half-back, while Henry Slade’s leg injury means Ian Whitten reverts back into the midfield alongside Devoto with Jack Nowell restored on the right wing.

Baxter’s Chiefs come into the tussle, sitting top of the standings following last weekend’s victory over Leicester Tigers, while Saracens, on the other hand, sit rock bottom, having been docked 35 points and hit with a £5.3 million fine after being found guilty of breaching the league’s salary cap regulations.

Meanwhile, Billy Vunipola will make his 100th Premiership appearance for Saracens on Sunday.

The number eight has scored 16 tries in 69 league games for the Men in Black and features in a back-row with one change from last weekend’s victory over Bristol Bears.

Long-serving Jackson Wray returns to the starting XV at openside flanker with young Nick Isiekwe completing the trio on the blindside.

The front-row of Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Vincent Koch remains the same while there is an alteration in the boiler which sees Will Skelton selected alongside Maro Itoje.

Scotland international Duncan Taylor comes into the centre to partner Brad Barritt for the only amendment to the backline.

Max Malins keeps his place at full-back following two tries and a man-of-the-match display against Bristol and will link up with Sean Maitland and Elliot Daly once again in the back three.

Half-back duo Ben Spencer and Owen Farrell, both from the Academy, have made a combined 362 outings for the club.

Form: Exeter Chiefs have won their last six first team matches since their 17-20 reversal at home to Bristol Bears in Round 4 of Gallagher Premiership Rugby, the Chiefs’ only home defeat in any competition since April. Saracens have won their last five Gallagher Premiership Rugby fixtures since their opening weekend defeat at home to Northampton Saints. Saracens’ only two away defeats in any competition this season were both in the European Champions Cup, at Racing 92 and at Munster. Exeter’s only victory in their last four encounters with Saracens was at Sandy Park in round 10 last season. Saracens’ most recent victory at Sandy Park came in September 2016.

The teams:

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Nic White, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Dave Dennis (c), 3 Harry Williams, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Don Armand, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Sam Hill

Saracens: 15 Max Malins, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Duncan Taylor, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Jackson Wray, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 George Kruis, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Nick Tompkins

Venue: Sandy Park
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley, Paul Dix
TMO: Geoffrey Warren

Bath