Bath XV contains 11 starters from last year's Premiership Final

Powerhouse wing Joe Cokanasiga will make his 100th Premiership appearance at Allianz Park, Twickenham on Saturday, after being named in the Bath starting XV for Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership final against Leicester.

Bath’s leading try-scorer this season is one of 16 players in the matchday 23 to return to Twickenham after appearing in last year’s showpiece match, the 25-21 defeat to Northampton.

Sam Underhill (suspended), Ollie Lawrence (injured) and Orlando Bailey and Louis Schreuder (not selected) are the only current players not present in the matchday squad 12 months on, while Juan Schoeman, Matt Gallagher and Elliott Stooke have moved on.

The 27-year-old England international, who has crossed for 11 tries in all competitions, takes his place in a familiar back three, with Will Muir, who has 10 tries for the season, on the other wing, and Tom de Glanville at full-back.

Max Ojomoh is partnered in midfield by Cam Redpath, while the team will be led by Ben Spencer, who is bidding to become the first scrum-half to captain a side to victory in the Premiership final.

As expected, Spencer has the Gallagher Premiership’s leading points scorer, Finn Russell, outside of him. It is a 9-10 axis that has served Bath well, with a winning record of 85% in the Premiership when those two have started together as opposed to 42% when a different combination has played.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

26

22

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

80%

Upfront, Beno Obano will look to erase the memories of last year, when his first-half red card left Bath with a mountain to climb, after being named at loose-head.

Club warrior Tom Dunn, who is joint second with Muir for tries scored this season with 10, is the hooker and Springbok World Cup-winning tight-head Thomas du Toit completes the front row.

Last year’s final lock pairing of Quinn Roux and Charlie Ewels remains intact, with Roux set for his 50th appearance for the club.

Flankers Ted Hill and Guy Pepper retain their places in the back row, with Miles Reid slotting in at No.8, as one of two changes to the XV that started last week’s play-off win against Bristol, along with du Toit.

Bath’s replacements feature a six-two split with hooker Niall Annett set to make his last appearance for the Blue, Black and White before retiring. Meanwhile, prop Will Stuart will reach 100 appearances for Bath if called upon from the bench, with Francois van Wyk the other front row replacement.

Ross Molony, Josh Bayliss – who can cover the outside backs – and Alfie Barbeary are the other impact forwards ready to enter the action on Saturday, as will be scrum-half Tom Carr-Smith and full-back/fly-half Ciaran Donoghue.

Johann van Graan, Head of Rugby, said: “We have had an incredible journey over the last 48 weeks to get us to this moment in time. We trust our squad and the 23 players selected will represent our whole group of staff and players on Saturday at Twickenham. A final is a special occasion, and we are aiming to be the best version of ourselves.”

Bath Rugby Starting XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Miles Reid, 9 Ben Spencer ©, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Will Muir, 12 Cameron Redpath,13 Max Ojomoh, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville

Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Ciaran Donoghue, 23 Alfie Barbeary