Ben Spencer declared fit to lead Bath on historic day for Tom Dunn

Bath captain Ben Spencer has been passed fit to play in this Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux after overcoming a minor shoulder injury.

Johann van Graan said during the week that he would only select players who were able to play the full 80 minutes, or 100 if the tie goes to extra time, and admitted Spencer was ‘touch and go’ to run out at Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Métropole.

Everyone of a blue, black and white persuasion will be relieved to see Spencer in the team at nine, as Bath would have been left with Tom Carr-Smith as their only fit senior scrum-half had he not made it.

Former Bulls man Bernard van der Linde is out, having undergone surgery on the ankle injury he sustained in the narrow PREM defeat to Northampton last weekend, which left England Students scrum-half Isaac Mears on standby to make his club debut in the most pressurised of situations.

In a match-up between both last year’s Challenge Cup and Champions Cup winners, Bath have their first-choice half-back partnership in place, with Finn Russell, the competition’s top points scorer, named at 10.

With Max Ojomoh and Cam Redpath ruled out because of injury, Ollie Lawrence and Louie Hennessey fill the midfield berths.

Out wide, Will Muir and Henry Arundell take the wing slots, with Santi Carreras in the back field at 15.

Tom Dunn will make history at hooker when he pulls on the blue, black and white jersey for a 266th time, marking the most Bath Rugby appearances in the professional era.

Dunn takes his place in the front row between props Beno Obano and Thomas du Toit, while Quinn Roux and Charlie Ewels lock down the second row.

On the flank, Josh Bayliss makes his 150th appearance in a Bath shirt, joined by Guy Pepper and Alfie Barbeary to complete the forwards set-up.

Bath Rugby: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Josh Bayliss (150), 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 9 Ben Spencer (c), 10 Finn Russell, 11 Will Muir, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 13 Louie Hennessey, 14 Henry Arundell, 15 Santi Carreras

Replacements: 16 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Tom de Glanville, 23 Miles Reid