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Two debutants on Bath bench for Premiership final repeat versus Saints
By Josh Raisey
Two Bath recruits, loosehead prop Francois van Wyk and flanker Guy Pepper, are poised to make their debuts on Friday against Northampton Saints after being named on the bench by Johann van Graan.
Van Wyk, 33, arrived from Leicester Tigers over the summer, while Pepper, 21, has joined from Newcastle Falcons. They will start on what is a 6-2 split on the bench.
The XV named by van Graan is not too dissimilar to the one that ran out at Twickenham against the Saints for their repeat meeting in the opening round of the Premiership.
The two changes in the pack see Will Stuart start at tighthead in Thomas du Toit's place, and Miles Reid take Sam Underhill's place at openside. Reid will be making his 100th Bath appearance at the Rec.
The two changes in the backline see Will Butt start at inside centre in the injured Cameron Redpath's place and Tom de Glanville fill in at fullback for the departed Matt Gallagher.
Bath XV
1 Beno Obano
2 Tom Dunn
3 Will Stuart
4 Quinn Roux
5 Charlie Ewels
6 Ted Hill
7 Miles Reid (100)
8 Alfie Barbeary
9 Ben Spencer ©
10 Finn Russell
11 Will Muir
12 Will Butt
13 Ollie Lawrence
14 Joe Cokanasiga
15 Tom de Glanville
Replacements
16 Niall Annett
17 Francois van Wyk (debut)
18 Archie Griffin
19 Jacques du Plessis
20 Guy Pepper (debut)
21 Louis Schreuder
22 Orlando Bailey
23 Jaco Coetzee
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Latest Comments
Willis is incredible and probably the best of the bunch but in Underhill and Earl we have two excellent alternatives.
Willis is solid in the lineout but I don't think Borthwick would pick a backrow without a 6'5" blindside.
Go to commentsAs an ABs fan there’s nothing to justify
The Boks are the best and just know how to win
And their depth is incredible now
And when they don’t they lose late on by one point
The rest of us aren’t too far away (some closer than others)
But in reality if we include England Argentina and now Aus rugby looks greatly competitive
Bongis knock on and Lomaxes double bank
These things happen
The fact is the ABs overall have evolved with new players and others like Aumua Vaai and Williams who have progressed immensely
But by and large although it has improved overall our second halves are a massive work in progress
So a B- is about right provided there is no loss to Italy
A loss drops it to C- !!
Remember we could have lost all three games to England but were just slightly better that’s all
Go to comments