British & Irish Lions star Finn Russell will make his 50th appearance for Bath Rugby when they take on Munster Rugby tomorrow, Saturday 6th December (8pm).
Finn Russell will make his 50th appearance for Bath Rugby when they face Munster Rugby at The Rec tomorrow, Saturday 6th December | Photo © Richard Briggs
The 33-year-old fly-half is set to play a pivotal role for the Blue, Black & White against the Irish side at The Rec in Investec Champions Cup Round 1.
Beno Obano will remain at loosehead after Bath’s winning performance against Saracens in the Gallagher PREM on Sunday 30th November.
Will Stuart will come in for Thomas du Toit at tighthead, the South African waiting to provide his impact from the bench.
Tom Dunn will turn out at hooker.
Quinn Roux and Charlie Ewels will complete the tight five.
Flanker Josh Bayliss, who was man of the match against Sarries, remains in the starting XV, on the blindside. Guy Pepper will return to Bath action, taking the openside, and Miles Reid will complete the starting forwards set-up at number 8.
Ben Spencer will captain Bath from scrum-half.
Having come from the bench last weekend, Cameron Redpath and Max Ojomoh will combine in the midfield as tomorrow’s centre partnership.
Henry Arundell and Joe Cokanasiga will man the wings, with Tom de Glanville at full-back.
Joining du Toit as a replacement front-rower will be Kepueli Tuipulotu and Francois van Wyk.
Ross Molony, Ted Hill and Sam Underhill will take the remaining replacement forwards spots, with Tom Carr-Smith and Santi Carreras named as backs cover.
Bath starting XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Miles Reid, 9 Ben Spencer, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Henry Arundell, 12 Cameron Redpath, 13 Max Ojomoh, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville.
Bath replacements: 16 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Santi Carreras, 23 Sam Underhill.
Munster head coach Clayton McMillan has made five changes to his side following their defeat by DHL Stormers at Thomond Park, Limerick, on Saturday 29th November in the United Rugby Championship.
Summer arrivals Dan Kelly and JJ Hanrahan will come into the backline.
Michael Milne, Jean Kleyn and John Hodnett will start in the pack.
Michael Ala’alatoa is set for his Munster debut as a replacement after joining until the end of the season from French outfit ASM Clermont Auvergne.
Fellow replacement Alex Kendellen, who made his return from injury by turning out for University College Cork last week, is set for his first Munster appearance since the United Rugby Championship Round 1 win over Scarlets in September.
Shane Daly, Diarmuid Kilgallen and Thaakir Abrahams will start in an unchanged back three, with Kelly and Tom Farrell in midfield.
Craig Casey and Hanrahan will start in the half-backs.
Milne, Diarmuid Barron and John Ryan will pack down in the front row. Kleyn and Tom Ahern will start in the engine room.
Captain Tadhg Beirne, Hodnett and Gavin Coombes will be in the back row.
Lee Barron, Jeremy Loughman and Ala’alatoa will provide the front-row back-up, with Edwin Edogbo, Ruadhán Quinn and Kendellen completing the forward cover.
Ethan Coughlan and Alex Nankivell will be the backline replacements.
Munster starting XV: 1 Michael Milne, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 3 John Ryan, 4 Jean Kleyn, 5 Tom Ahern, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 John Hodnett, 8 Gavin Coombes, 9 Craig Casey, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 12 Dan Kelly, 13 Tom Farrell, 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 15 Shane Daly.
Munster replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Jeremy Loughman, 18 Michael Ala’alatoa, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Ruadhán Quinn, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Alex Nankivell, 23 Alex Kendellen.
Bath United will face England U20 at The Rec on Saturday 24th January (2pm). The match will form part of England’s preparations for the U20 Six Nations and will aid the Blue, Black & White’s build-up to their next block of PREM Rugby Cup ties.
Johann van Graan, Bath’s head of rugby, said: “This is our third match against England U20. It’s a valuable fixture for both sides and will give players match minutes ahead of the PREM Rugby Cup and U20 Six Nations.
“Remaining match fit is key to keeping the depth in our squad, so being able to provide the players with this opportunity against England’s emerging young talent is great.
“Plenty of our players came through the England age-grade system so it’s clear what the pathway can do.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming the England side back to The Rec and we hope to see our supporters there.”
Bath season-ticket holders have until noon on Friday 9th January to claim a free ticket to the United versus England U20 match. Tickets are currently on general sale, priced £5 for adults and £1 for juniors; booking fees apply and the East Stand will not be open for the game. All ticket proceeds will be donated to the Bath Rugby Foundation.
Meanwhile, a trio of Bath players are taking part in the three-day England U18 development camp, which got under way today, Friday 5th December.
Involved at Pennyhill Park in Bagshot, Surrey, are Georgia Faosiliva, Max Hooper and Declan Treacey.
Forwards: Seva Batikora (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College), Kwame Bekoe (Leicester Tigers, Norwich School), Charlie Bray (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School), Fin Charles (Leicester Tigers, Denstone College), Tom Dargan (Saracens, Harrow School), Josh de Waal (Gloucester Rugby, St Edward’s School Oxford), Tiane Elone (Saracens, Mill Hill School), Georgia Faosiliva (Bath Rugby, Hartpury College), Jordan Ikeh (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar School), Henry Johnson (Leicester Tigers, Oakham School), Freddie Jones (Saracens, Sutton Valence School), Ben Koolen (Gloucester Rugby, Bloxham School), Kajetan Lewandowski (Leicester Tigers, Brooksby College), Jack Lewis (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys), Euan Oakes (Newcastle Red Bulls, Gosforth Academy), Lawrence Ogbonnaya (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar School), Aiden Reid (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys), Charles Rotimi (Saracens, Campion School), Teddy Smith-Milne (Gloucester Rugby, Clifton College), Mawgan Talling (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College), George Tonga’uhia (Northampton Saints), Harry Westlake (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge Community College), Ellis Woolrych (Harlequins, St John’s School Leatherhead).
Backs: Will Bayston (Sale Sharks, Sedbergh School), Charlie Bosanko (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College), Ajay Edwards (Newcastle Red Bulls, Durham School), Sonny Goode (Northampton Saints, Bloxham School), Archie Guyver (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College), Oli Hewitt (Gloucester Rugby, Bromsgrove School), Max Hooper (Bath, Beechen Cliff School), Zac Jones (Saracens, Mill Hill School), Samuel Marshall (Harlequins, Whitgift School), Will Moore (Bristol Bears, Clifton College), Ollie Myall (Leicester Tigers, Oxford College), Caspar Reeves (Bristol Bears, Taunton School), Hugh Shields (Northampton Saints, Northampton School for Boys), Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers, Rugby School), Charlie Tamani (Northampton Saints, Finborough School), James Townsend (Leicester Tigers, Warwick School), Declan Treacey (Bath, Beechen Cliff School), Jack Tyler (Harlequins, Cardinal Newman Catholic School), Kai Wilkinson (Gloucester Rugby, St Edward’s School Oxford), Krystof Wood (Gloucester Rugby, Bromsgrove School).
Following the conclusion of the PREM Next Gen and RFU ACE leagues, England U18 will return to camp on Wednesday 25th February ahead of a fixture against France at Chinnor RFC on Saturday 14th March as they gear up for the U18 Six Nations Festival.
