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Landmark game for Beno Obano as Will Muir returns
By Jon Newcombe
Beno Obano will make his 150th appearance for Bath against Sale Sharks at The Rec this Saturday, while Will Muir is fit again to take his place on the wing after missing the last three games because of a knee injury.
Obano, who is in his 11th season at the club, is the only Bath player along with fly-half Finn Russell to be handed starts in all six Gallagher Premiership matches this season.
The Bath XV shows seven changes of personnel and one positional from last week's dramatic 26-24 win at Harlequins, with Obano packing down in the front row with retained hooker Tom Dunn and Thomas du Toit, who comes in at tight-head for England's Will Stuart.
Quinn Roux is partnered in the second row by Ross Molony for the second time this season, and the first since Leicester away in round two, while flankers Ted Hill and Guy Pepper, who moves to the openside, are joined in the back row by No.8, Mile Reid, who captains the side.
Reid has led Bath before, first wearing the armband up at Newcastle towards the end of the 2020/21 season, and takes on the responsibility this Saturday due to Ben Spencer being away with England.
Louis Schreuder makes his first start of the season as a result of Spencer's absence. The last time he and Russell started together in the blue, black and white hoops was away to Bristol, in Round 15 last season.
With Cam Redpath ruled out due to a leg injury, Wales U20 international Louis Hennessey is handed his first outing of the campaign outside of Will Butt in the centres.
In the back three, Muir is on one wing and Joe Cokanasiga is on the other, while in-form Tom de Glanville has shaken off a knock to line up at full-back.
Ethan Staddon could make his first Premiership appearance of the season from the bench.
Bath Rugby v Sale Sharks: 15 Tom de Glanville; 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Louie Hennessey, 12 Will Butt, 11 Will Muir; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Louis Schreuder; 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Miles Reid ©. Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Josh Bayliss, 20 Ethan Staddon, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Jaco Coetzee.
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Latest Comments
So did Ben Youngs, Tom Curry, Elliot Daly and a lot of other people who won't get picked for the Lions.
Go to commentsSo outwitting your opponent can include losing to your opponent. Go on…
I agree England’s world rankings were inflated by their easy WC draw.
Win ratios don’t seem to matter, when it suits our friends from the North. We’ve have had to endure a lot of chest thumping because of win ratios up to now. So I’m glad you’ve at least seen the light. Trophies matter. Of which England has none of those either.
Although I’m surprised just how satisfied you are with mediocrity between World Cups. Something you’ve been quite outspoken about re: the Boks and their supporters.
I don’t think England will do much better than 60% wins for the year. Which would make it 42%, 56% and 60% in 2022, 2023 and 2024 if my maths stacks up. Eddie at least achieved 71%, 89% and 70% in the 3 years before he left.
So I can’t agree that England has “a clearly defined style of play for the first time in a long time”. You’ve regressed since Eddie. Even razor who has less time than Borthwick under his belt, outwitted you and achieved 70% for the year with a less settled squad. You tried copying the Bok rush defence over the last year and the guy who brought it in is leaving. Already.
Too many ifs, buts and maybes. But I hope I’m wrong. Because 1. I can’t bear the idea of Ireland and France running completely rampant without some resistance from England. And 2. You’re only going to get more salty about the boks to make up for your misery (envy).
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