Ellis Genge ready to unleash fire and brimstone on Bath

Lions and England prop Ellis Genge has returned to fitness in time to make the Bristol Bears starting XV against Bath on Saturday.

Ahead of last year’s semi-final at The Rec, the loose-head said he had ‘a personal vendetta’ whenever he played Bath, such is the rivalry between the two West Country clubs.

Genge was fired-up that day and is now ready to go again after missing last weekend’s emphatic bonus-point win at Gloucester due to a head injury.

Fellow Bristolian Jack Bates also returns to the Bears starting XV as Pat Lam makes just three changes for the short trip up the M4, with Argentina international Santiago Grondona replacing the injured Steven Luatua (calf) in the back row.

Joe Batley makes his 81st competitive appearance for the Bears in the second row, partnering Puma Pedro Rubiolo, while Academy fly-half Sam Worsley continues in the number ten shirt after his 19-point haul – and record number of conversions for the club in a Premiership fixture – last time out.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

2

Draws

0

Wins

3

Average Points scored

27

26

First try wins

20%

Home team wins

80%

Among the replacements, there’s a return for Josh Carrington after he missed round four with concussion.

Eighteen players are currently unaviailable due to injury.

Bristol: 15. Benjamin Elizalde (20 apps), 14. Jack Bates (54 apps), 13. Matias Moroni (1 app), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (55 apps), 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou (36 apps), 10. Sam Worsley (21 apps), 9. Kieran Marmion (57 apps); 1. Ellis Genge (62 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (48 apps), 3. George Kloska (70 apps), 4. Pedro Rubiolo (4 apps), 5. Joe Batley (80 apps), 6. Santiago Grondona (17 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (102 apps), 8. Viliame Mata (22 apps).

Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker (138 apps), 17. Jake Woolmore (174 apps), 18. Lovejoy Chawatama (11 apps), 19. Joe Owen (40 apps), 20. Ben Grondona (25 apps), 21. Oscar Lennon (14 apps), 22. Josh Carrington (5 apps), 23. Toby Fricker (38 apps).