Carreras set for Bath debut vs former club as Lions stars return

Finn Russell and Will Stuart will make their first appearances of the season against Gloucester this Saturday, following their mandatory two-game rest period.

Bath’s returning Lions have both been handed starts, with Russell assuming the captaincy due to the absence of Ben Spencer from the matchday 23.

Meanwhile, Argentina’s Santi Carreras is set to make his Bath debut, against his former club, having been named on the bench alongside Springbok Thomas du Toit, another player who has been away on Rugby Championship duty.

Finn Russell hype reel

Hype reel for Bath and Scotland star fly-half, Finn Russell.

Finn Russell hype reel

Hype reel for Bath and Scotland star fly-half, Finn Russell.

In announcing their team, Bath did not make any reference to Spencer being injured, but he did take a blow to the face in the 28-16 win over Sale last Friday, when he delivered his second consecutive player of the match performance. Tom Carr-Smith replaces him at nine, with Neil le Roux providing scrum-half cover.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

5

Draws

0

Wins

0

Average Points scored

43

22

First try wins

80%

Home team wins

80%

Maybe it’s Gloucester’s playing style or the loss of three frontline locks to injury, but head coach Johann van Graan has defused his Bomb Squad and gone for a 5-3 split on the bench as Bath look to make it three wins out of three.

Bath team v Gloucester: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Ewan Richards, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Guy Pepper, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Josh Bayliss, 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Finn Russell ©, 11 Henry Arundell, 12 Max Ojomoh, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville.

Replacements: 16 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Miles Reid, 20 Alfie Barbeary, 21 Neil le Roux, 22 Santi Carreras, 23 Chris Harris.