Head of Rugby Johann van Graan has made nine changes for Bath Rugby’s trip to Leicester Tigers in Round 19 of the Gallagher Premiership.
There are three alterations to the backline which started against Bristol Bears. Ruaridh McConnochie, Jonathan Joseph and Orlando Bailey are all recalled with Ben Spencer, Cameron Redpath, Matt Gallagher and Tom de Glanville continuing their starting roles.
HUBOO MATCH PREVIEW: LEICESTER TIGER (A)
The pack sees Tom Dunn and Will Stuart return to the front row alongside Beno Obano. The trio have only lined up five times from the beginning of a game together since the 2020 Premiership semi-final.
A fresh second row sees Josh McNally and GJ van Velze pair up while Fergus Lee-Warner lines up at blindside flanker for the first time in a Bath shirt. Number 8 Jaco Coetzee is selected from the outset and Sam Underhill retains the seven jersey.
On the bench, Alfie Barbeary is set for his first Bath appearance. The 22-year-old joined the Blue, Black and White on a long-term deal in November and has been working hard with the medical team to rehabilitate his hamstring since.
bath rugby team to play Leicester Tigers
Bath Rugby: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Ruaridh McConnochie, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Ben Spencer ©; 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Josh McNally, 5 GJ van Velze, 6 Fergus Lee-Warner, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Jaco Coetzee
Impact players: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Miles Reid, 20 Alfie Barbeary, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Max Ojomoh, 23 Chris Cloete
THE OPPOSITION
Leicester Tigers: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Matt Scott, 12 Jimmy Gopperth, 11 Harry Simmons, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Tom West, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 3 Joe Heyes, 4 George Martin, 5 Cameron Henderson, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Jasper Wiese
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Charlie Atkinson, 23 Guy Porter
Content & Images from – Bath Rugby
