Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers Premiership Preview

Leicester Tigers have named their team to play Bath and included back-rowers Tom Croft and Jordan Crane for the Aviva Premiership clash at The Rec.

Croft returns at flanker, with Crane at No8 as Tigers shuffle the pack for the final game of the regular league season and with a place in the semi-finals on the weekend of May 20/21/22 already secured.

On-loan prop Ellis Genge starts his first game in the Aviva Premiership after three games as a replacement.

In the backline, Jack Roberts is given a start at centre, with George Catchpole on the wing. Ben Youngs and Owen Williams continue in the half-back roles.

Academy prospect George Worth, capped by England Under-20s earlier this season, is included in the matchday squad for the first time.

Bath Rugby’s only victory in their last four Aviva Premiership Rugby matches was at home to Sale Sharks in the rearranged round 9 encounter.

Bath have lost just one of their last four fixtures at the Recreation Ground but have conceded a try bonus point in their last two.

Leicester Tigers have already ensured a twelfth successive participation in the play-offs, and have won their last three Aviva Premiership Rugby encounters since their reversal at Sale in round 18.

The last four encounters between the two clubs have been son by the home side on the day, whilst the Tigers most recent victory at Recreation Ground in Premriship Rugby came in March 2011.

Bath have named academy scrum-half Will Homer to make his first Aviva Premiership start and he will partner fly-half George Ford in the half-backs, with Ollie Devoto and Jonathan Joseph continuing in the midfield.

The back three is comprised of wings Matt Banahan and Semesa Rokoduguni, and Anthony Watson starts at fullback.

Francois Louw captains the team from the openside, and is joined in the back row by blindside Matt Garvey and number eight David Denton. Charlie Ewels and Dave Attwood are named in the second row once again, whilst the front row is also unchanged from last weekend’s match at Franklin’s Gardens: Nathan Catt at loosehead, Rob Webber at hooker and David Wilson at tighthead.

Retiring Club captain Stuart Hooper will lead the team out for one last time, allowing supporters at the Rec to say goodbye and show their appreciation to the inspirational skipper.

The Bookies have given Bath a 9 point start for this Match – with an offer of up to £200 in Bonus bets.

Match : Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Date : Saturday 7 May
Venue : Recreation Ground
Kick Off : 3.30pm
Live on: N.A
Match Officials
Referee :Craig Maxwell-Keys (18th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Peter Allan & Roger Baileff.
TMO: Trevor Fisher

Teams

Bath

15 Anthony Watson , 14 Semesa Rokoduguni , 13 Jonathan Joseph , 12 Ollie Devoto , 11 Matt Banahan , 10 George Ford , 9 Will Homer , 1 Nathan Catt , 2 Rob Webber , 3 David Wilson , 4 Charlie Ewels , 5 Dave Attwood , 6 Matt Garvey , 7 Francois Louw (c) , 8 David Denton

Replacements : 16 Tom Dunn , 17 Max Lahiff , 18 Kane Palma-Newport , 19 Dominic Day , 20 Leroy Houston , 21 Chris Cook , 22 Rhys Priestland , 23 Jeff Williams

Leicester Tigers

15 Mathew Tait , 14 Adam Thompstone , 13 Peter Betham , 12 Jack Roberts , 11 George Catchpole , 10 Owen Williams , 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Will Evans , 6 Tom Croft , 5 Sebastian de Chaves , 4 Ed Slater (c) , 3 Fraser Balmain , 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Ellis Genge

Replacements : 16 Harry Thacker , 17 Logovi’i Mulipola , 18 Greg Bateman , 19 Dom Barrow , 20 Laurence Pearce , 21 Jono Kitto , 22 Tommy Bell , 23 George Worth