Thomas du Toit has been brought back into the Bath Rugby starting XV for the big clash with Edinburgh Rugby at The Rec tomorrow, Friday 16th January (8pm).
Bath Rugby will complete their Investec Champions Cup Pool 2 fixtures tomorrow, Friday 16th January, when they entertain an Edinburgh Rugby side who are giving a debut to wing Malelili Satala | Photo © SNS Group/Edinburgh Rugby
The versatile South African prop will play at tighthead as the Blue, Black & White take on the United Rugby Championship outfit in Investec Champions Cup Round 4, knowing that victory will see them finish on top of Pool 2 to guarantee a home tie in the Round of 16 and increase their chances of a home quarter-final, should they reach that stage.
Edinburgh will come to Somerset a point behind Bath, who lead the mini league after two wins – over Munster Rugby and Castres Olympique – and one defeat, to RC Toulon, from their previous three matches.
And although the visitors acknowledge that they have a very tough test ahead of them if they are to upset Johann van Graan’s men and win the group, they say they are hungry for the challenge.
The match is undoubtedly the Blue, Black & White’s biggest since last season’s Gallagher Premiership final.
Du Toit will pack down with Beno Obano and Tom Dunn.
Quinn Roux and Ross Molony will remain in the second row, Guy Pepper will come into the starting XV after being on the bench in the Round 3 success at Castres last week, and Sam Underhill will return on the openside.
Alfie Barbeary – who was named player of the match both at Castres and in the Gallagher PREM win over Exeter Chiefs on Saturday 3rd January – will complete the pack at number 8.
Ben Spencer and Finn Russell will remain as half-backs, the former captaining the hosts from scrum-half.
Ollie Lawrence will return, pairing up in the centre with Max Ojomoh.
Henry Arundell will move across to the left wing, Joe Cokanasiga coming into the starting line-up on the right.
Tom de Glanville will start at full-back.
Dan Frost, Francois van Wyk and Archie Griffin will provide their power from the bench, alongside Ted Hill and Miles Reid.
Tom Carr-Smith, Santi Carreras and Cameron Redpath will complete the replacement set-up.
Bath starting XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Guy Pepper, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 9 Ben Spencer, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Henry Arundell, 12 Max Ojomoh, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville.
Bath replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Miles Reid, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Santi Carreras, 23 Cameron Redpath.
Wing Malelili Satala will make his Edinburgh debut as one of six changes to the Scottish side’s starting line-up.
The summer signing will step in for Duhan van der Merwe, who has a calf injury.
Satala’s selection marks a poignant runout for the 21-year-old, who was born in Edinburgh while his father, former Fiji international Apolosi ‘Apo’ Satala, was representing the club.
Now, more than two decades after his father became Edinburgh player #1,048, Satala junior is set to continue the family legacy.
Scotland international Harry Paterson will return from injury to start at full-back in place of the rested Wes Goosen, and Piers O’Conor will slot into the midfield for the injured Matt Currie.
In the pack, British & Irish Lions hooker Ewan Ashman gets the nod over Harri Morris after his try-scoring performance in the 26-24 win over Gloucester Rugby in Round 3 last week.
Explosive Scotland international Ben Muncaster (number 8) and Tom Dodd (blindside flanker) will start in the back row in place of the rested Magnus Bradbury and Liam McConnell.
Scrum-half Ben Vellacott will skipper the travellers in Bradbury’s absence.
In the back three, Satala will be joined by British & Irish Lion Darcy Graham and Paterson, while James Lang will continue at inside centre, partnered by O’Conor in the midfield.
Ross Thompson will again play at fly-half, forming the half-back pairing with Vellacott.
The front row will see loosehead James Whitcombe – impressive in the win over the Cherry & Whites – and tighthead Ollie Blyth-Lafferty pack down either side of Ashman, with locks Callum Hunter-Hill and Glen Young completing the tight five.
In the back row, Dodd and Muncaster will be joined by 20-year-old flanker Freddy Douglas, who retains his spot at openside after a defensive masterclass against Gloucester that saw him win five turnover penalties and be named player of the match.
Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt said: “We’re really excited to give Malelili his chance tomorrow night.
“He’s a player with genuine X factor and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the jersey on such a massive stage. He’s worked hard for this opportunity.
“While we’ve had to manage the load after a massive physical shift from the group, this selection is a testament to the depth we’ve built here.
“We’re bringing in players who’ve been knocking on the door and training at a high level, and they now have the platform to make a real statement.
“We know exactly what’s at stake regarding the knockout stages and we’re under no illusions about how strong a team Bath are, particularly at home.
“However, the boys are incredibly hungry for this challenge and are looking forward to representing Edinburgh at such an iconic ground in a real European showdown.”
Edinburgh starting XV: 1 James Whitcombe, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 5 Glen Young, 6 Tom Dodd, 7 Freddy Douglas, 8 Ben Muncaster, 9 Ben Vellacott, 10 Ross Thompson, 11 Malelili Satala, 12 James Lang, 13 Piers O’Conor, 14 Darcy Graham, 15 Harry Paterson.
Edinburgh replacements: 16 Harri Morris, 17 Mikey Jones, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Euan McVie, 20 Connor Boyle, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Jack Brown.
Last season, Bath got the better of Edinburgh on their way to winning Europe’s Challenge Cup. A good omen ahead of tomorrow’s encounter, perhaps, with the Blue, Black & White among the favourites to lift the Champions Cup this time around?
