1
Underhill and Faletau combine in all Test Bath back row unit
By Kim Ekin
England's Sam Underhill and Wales' Taulupe Faletau return to Bath's starting XV for their West Country clash against Bristol Bears this weekend.
Openside flanker Underhill has recovered from illness to feature at seven while Faletau, who starred for Wales at Twickenham last weekend, takes his place at No.8.
Underhill had been unavailable for selection since suffering his latest head knock in the January 22 Heineken Champions Cup defeat to Leinster.
That injury ruled the 25-year-old out of selection by Eddie Jones for the Six Nations and it was only last weekend following a five-week layoff that he was considered for Bath selection. However, having been named on the bench on Friday lunchtime, Underhill was missing when the game went ahead the following day at Kingston Park after he wound up not travelling due to the illness.
Scotland's Josh Bayliss completes the all international back row and will captain Bath in the first match between the two sides at the Rec with supporters for two years.
Tom Doughty comes in to start at hooker alongside Valeriy Morozov and D’Arcy Rae. Mike Williams and Ewan Richards complete the pack.
Returning from suspension, Semesa Rokoduguni is back on the wing with Tom de Glanville and Will Butt continuing in the back three. Max Clark partners Jonathan Joseph in the midfield and Ben Spencer links up with Danny Cipriani at half-back for the second game running.
On the bench, Orlando Bailey returns to the 23 while Ma’afu Fia could make his home debut.
BATH TEAM VS BRISTOL BEARS
15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Max Clark, 11 Will Butt, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Valeriy Morozov, 2 Tom Doughty, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 4 Mike Williams, 5 Ewan Richards, 6 Josh Bayliss ©, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Taulupe Faletau
REPLACEMENTS:
16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Lewis Boyce, 18 Ma’afu Fia, 19 Will Spencer, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Joe Cokanasiga
Trending on RugbyPass
2
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner
3
Let's be real about these All Blacks
4
Why World Cup winner doesn’t blame All Black for leaving New Zealand
5
Latest Comments
No just because the personal is much better than last year. I've shown no antagonism of Crusader players, you must be confusing me with someone else.
I have critized Razor for picking players he knows occasionally?
I said I'm not surprised because of his style, he's more a grinder player like Cane, not going to show up on peoples radar until you see how bad the other choices are. This year players like Clarke have been on fire and just show a bit more.
Are you one of those posters continually taking it easy on Razor because he doesn't have his Crusaders stars available? Do you think the rugby world is going to up to him suddenly once Mo'unga returns? lol
Go to commentsJohn you have been beating this drum for a couple of years, if you get proven right get back to us.
The last recent and decent Aussie coach was Ewen McKenzie, he was undermined and forced out by a couple of slimy Aussie players who were given a free pass when they should have been disciplined.
So our history since McQueen is very checkered and it seems to make little difference whether we have an Aussie coach or a Kiwi coach. The players have been entitled for a long time and we had to hit bottom to get them back into reality and to stop thinking it is all about them.
Cheika was an OK coach but his 'go our and destroy the opposition' tactic worked for a while and then didn't.
Please give me a list of great Aussie coaches that I have missed.
Go to comments