Completely changed front row for Bath in PREM derby clash

Bath Rugby have named a completely changed front row for their Gallagher PREM Round 10 derby against Gloucester Rugby tomorrow, Friday 23rd January.

Bath Rugby are chasing a PREM double over Gloucester Rugby this season. The sides meet here at Kingsholm Stadium tomorrow, Friday 23rd January, with the Blue, Black & White having taken the honours from the October meeting at The Rec | Photo © Richard Briggs

Props Francois van Wyk and Archie Griffin and hooker Dan Frost were on the bench for the Investec Champions Cup tie against Edinburgh Rugby last week but are in the starting XV for the big clash at Kingsholm Stadium (7.45pm).

The tight five is completed by Ted Hill alongside Quinn Roux, and Josh Bayliss, Ethan Staddon and Arthur Green form the back row.

Ben Spencer captains the side from scrum-half and is once again partnered by Finn Russell in the half-backs.

In the centre, Max Ojomoh is joined by Chris Harris.

Will Muir starts on the left wing, with Louie Hennessey named on the right.

Santi Carreras completes the starting XV at full-back.

Beno Obano, Kepu Tuipulotu and Thomas du Toit provide front-row power from the bench. They are joined by Guy Pepper, Sam Underhill and Charlie Ewels, who returns to the matchday 23.

Bernard van der Linde is in line to make his debut from the bench, pulling on the Blue, Black & White for the first time after injury ruled him out earlier in the season.

Henry Arundell completes the matchday 23.

Bath starting XV: 1 Francois van Wyk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Ted Hill, 5 Quinn Roux, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Ethan Staddon, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Ben Spencer, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Will Muir, 12 Max Ojomoh, 13 Chris Harris, 14 Louie Hennessey, 15 Santi Carreras.

Bath replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Henry Arundell, 23 Sam Underhill.

For the Cherry & Whites, on-loan hooker Will Crane continues in the front row before returning to Hartpury next week. He is flanked by Val Rapava Ruskin and Afo Fasogbon, who are the starting props.

Deian Gwynne comes into the second row to partner Mati Alemanno, with the loose trio consisting of James Venter, Lewis Ludlow and Will Trenholm.

Tomos Williams leads the side from scrum-half, with Charlie Atkinson at fly-half.

Josiah Edwards Giraud returns from injury, hoping to rediscover his early-season form alongside Seb Atkinson in midfield.

In the outside backs, Ollie Thorley has completed a suspension and is available again, joining Josh Hathaway and George Barton.

Kirill Gotovtsev, Cam Jordan and Jack Mann are all drafted into the matchday 23, joining George Knowles, Ciaran Knight, Mike Austin, Ross Byrne and Jack Cotgreave on the bench.

Gloucester starting XV: 1 Val Rapava Ruskin, 2 Will Crane, 3 Afo Fasogbon, 4 Deian Gwynne, 5 Matias Alemanno, 6 James Venter, 7 Lewis Ludlow, 8 Will Trenholm, 9 Tomos Williams, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 12 Seb Atkinson, 13 Josiah Edwards Giraud, 14 Josh Hathaway, 15 George Barton.

Gloucester replacements: 16 George Knowles, 17 Ciaran Knight, 18 Kirill Gotovtsev, 19 Cam Jordan, 20 Jack Mann, 21 Mikey Austin, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jack Cotgreave.

Bath United will be in action at The Rec on Saturday 24th January when they face England U20 – featuring several Blue, Black & White players – in a friendly.

Scott Kirk and Kieran Verden start in the hosts’ front row, with Jasper Spandler joining them at hooker.

Italy international and recent Bath 1st XV debutant Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi partners Will Jeanes in the second row.

The back row sees Jack Bennett, George Timmins and Thompson Cowan return to the Blue, Black &White after gaining valuable game time on loan.

Neil le Roux and Will Roue combine in the half-backs, and Will Butt captains the side from inside centre, alongside Jack Harrison at outside centre.

Completing the back line, Charlie Griffin and Jack Woods start on the wings and Austin Emens is at full-back.

The bench comprises Henry Bartlett, Alfie Griffin, Tom Hilton, guest Jamie Howick, James Maloney, Isaac Mears, Max Pearce, Alex Ridgway, Mikey Summerfield, Harry Walker and Claudius Wheeler.

Bath United starting XV: 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 5 Will Jeanes, 6 Jack Bennett, 7 George Timmins, 8 Thompson Cowan, 9 Neil le Roux, 10 Will Roue, 11 Charlie Griffin, 12 Will Butt, 13 Jack Harrison, 14 Jack Woods, 15 Austin Emens.

Bath replacements (named alphabetically): Henry Bartlett, Alfie Griffin, Tom Hilton, Jamie Howick, James Maloney, Isaac Mears, Max Pearce, Alex Ridgway, Mikey Summerfield, Harry Walker, Claudius Wheeler.

Bath’s Connor Treacey has been named England U20 captain for the upcoming U20 Six Nations campaign and he leads the side for the first time on Saturday.

The back-row forward previously captained the England U18 and U19 sides and earned the first of his seven U20 caps against Scotland in last year’s tournament.

Sixteen of the squad are set for their first matchday involvements as England U20 players in the uncapped fixture.

England U20 starting XV: 1 Oliver Scola (Northampton Saints), 2 Jimmy Staples (Harlequins), 3 Ollie Streeter (Harlequins), 4 Freddie Ogden-Metherell (Gloucester), 5 Patrick Hogg (Sale Sharks), 6 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints), 7 Tate Williams (Harlequins),  8 Connor Treacey (Bath), 9 Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens), 10 Luke Davidson (Saracens), 11 Sam Winters (Bath), 12 Will Knight (Gloucester), 13 Henry Lumley (Northampton Saints), 14 Tyler Offiah (Bath), 15 James Pater (Northampton Saints).

England U20 replacements: 16 Jerold Gorleku (Harlequins), 17 Oliver Spencer (Sale Sharks), 18 Sonny Tonga’uiha (Northampton Saints), 19 Dylan Hodkinson (Sale Sharks), 20 George Marsh (Leicester Tigers), 21 George Newman (Exeter Chiefs), 22 Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs), 23 George Pearson (Leicester Tigers), 24 James Linegar (Bath),  25 Seb Kelly (Sale Sharks), 26 Victor Worsnip (Bristol Bears), 27 Kealan Freeman-Price (Gloucester).

Kick-off at The Rec is at 2pm and admission is £5 for adults and £1 for juniors. All proceeds from this fixture will go to Bath Rugby Foundation.

For tickets, click here.