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'I don't think fans understand some of the consequences' – Peter O’Mahony on the worrying trend in modern rugby
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England discard Max Ojomoh returns to club duty for 7th sell-out
By Jon Newcombe
Another 14,500-crowd will watch reigning PREM Rugby Cup champions Bath attempt to move a step closer to securing a place in this season’s semi-finals with a win against arch-rivals Bristol.
Despite the game being scheduled on a busy Six Nations Saturday, those rugby-mad locals with tickets have been rewarded for thier loyalty with the prospect of seeing Max Ojomoh in action.
While deemed surplus to requirements by England, Ojomoh is thrust into Bath’s midfield for a game they realistically need to win to maintain the defence of the title they won at Exeter last March.
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A defeat without any bonus points would leave them two points behind last year’s runners-up the Chiefs, who occupy second place in Pool A with only two games left to play. Only the top two in each pool go through to the knockout stages.
Ojomoh has been selected at 13, with Exeter-bound Will Butt, the side’s captain, named at inside centre.
Amongst the other changes, last year’s Cup-winning captain Ewan Richards returns to the second row after a spell on the sidelines.
With no prospect of progressing beyond the pool phase, bottom-of-the-table Bristol have named 10 academy players in their squad.
However, there is still plenty of experience in the matchday 23, with England A’s Harry Randall captaining the side at scrum-half.
Joe Jenkins will make his first start since October after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Max Pepper takes on his brother Guy’s club from the wing.
Bath Rugby: 15 Austin Emens, 14 Charlie Griffin, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Will Butt, 11 Will Muir, 10 Will Roue, 9 Bernard van der Linde; 1 Scott Kirk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Ewan Richards, 6 Ethan Staddon, 7 Thompson Cowan, 8 Arthur Green.
Replacements: 16 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 17 Ioan Emanuel, 18 Mikey Summerfield, 19 Jack Bennett, 20 George Timmins, 21 Ieuan Davies, 22 James Linegar, 23 Chris Harris
Bristol Bears: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Max Pepper, 13 Benjamin Elizalde, 12 Joe Jenkins, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Sam Worsley, 9 Harry Randall; 1 Louie Trevett, 2 Harry Thacker, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 James Dun, 5 Steele Barker, 6 Joe Owen, 7 George Taylor, 8 John Edwards.
Replacements: 16 Tomas Gwilliam, 17 Sam Grahamslaw, 18 Sam Scott, 19 Ethan Surrey, 20 Kieran Hill, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Charlie Powell, 23 Ollie Harris
