BATH RUGBY versus BRISTOL BEARS Team news

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Created on Friday, 24 February 2023 17:14

Last Updated on Friday, 24 February 2023 17:23

Published on Friday, 24 February 2023 17:14

Written by LEWIS HANCOCK at the Recreation Ground & WILL CARPENTER with Bristol

Tom de Glanville is set to return to the Bath starting XV for tonight's Premiership derby against Bristol Bears at the Rec (1945ko).

The full-back has recovered from a fractured hand suffered in the Premiership Rugby Cup to take the 15 jersey in a fixture which saw him score the winning try with the clock in the red last season.

His inclusion sees Matt Gallagher switch to the left wing with Joe Cokanasiga continuing to operate on the right of the back three.

Max Ojomoh comes into the backline at inside centre, partnering Scotland returnee Cameron Redpath in the midfield, while the half-back duo of captain Ben Spencer and Piers Francis remains the same.

Hooker Niall Annett is in the front row alongside Beno Obano and D’Arcy Rae with Tom Dunn and Will Stuart named on the bench on their return from England duty.

Quinn Roux earns his first Premiership start since coming back from injury and partners Dave Attwood in the second row. Josh Bayliss starts at blindside flanker in a back row containing Sam Underhill and Miles Reid.

On the bench, Jaco Coetzee features in a matchday 23 for the first time this season.

Sam Jeffries makes his long-awaited return from injury for Bristol.

The flanker is back in action for the first time since September, after injuring his hamstring in the round two victory over Wasps.

Charles Piutau also returns from a period on the sidelines, joining Siva Naulago and Gabriel Ibitoye in a potent back three.

Joe Joyce is another returning from injury, replacing the absent Joe Batley in the second row. The Bristolian partners Chris Vui in the engine room.

Yann Thomas is named at loosehead for the derby clash, with scrum-half Harry Randall captaining the side for the first time.

Centre Sam Bedlow returns from injury to take his place among the system players.

Bath Rugby starting 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Cameron Redpath, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Piers Francis, 9 Ben Spencer ©; 1 Beno Obano, 2 Niall Annett, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Quinn Roux, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Miles Reid

Ready on the bench 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Will Stuart, 19 GJ van Velze, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Chris Cloete

Bristol Bears starting 15 Charles Piutau (72 apps) 14 Siva Naulago (20 apps) 13 Semi Radradra (47 apps) 12 James Williams (8 apps) 11 Gabriel Ibitoye (10 apps) 10 AJ MacGinty (17 apps) 9 Harry Randall (c) (94 apps); 1 Yann Thomas (103 apps) 2 Harry Thacker (93 apps) 3 Max Lahiff (60 apps) 4 Joe Joyce (161 apps) 5 Chris Vui (110 apps) 6 Sam Jeffries (56 apps) 7 Fitz Harding (44 apps) 8 Magnus Bradbury (15 apps)

Ready on the bench 16 Bryan Byrne (41 apps) 17 Jake Woolmore (126 apps) 18 George Kloska (21 apps) 19 Jake Heenan (87 apps) 20 Sam Lewis (8 apps) 21 Andy Uren (152 apps) 22 Sam Bedlow (58 apps) 23 Ioan Lloyd (72 apps)

Unavailable: Will Capon, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Joe Batley, John Hawkins, Ed Holmes, Steven Luatua, Will Porter, Callum Sheedy, Joe Jenkins, Piers O’Conor, Jack Bates, Deago Bailey.

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