Gloucester set to unleash Wales star on West rivals
GLOUCESTER head coach George Skivington knows his side will face “threats all over the park” when they meet Gallagher Premiership rivals Bath tonight.
Wales starlet Louis Rees-Zammit, 20, will return to club action after he took centre stage for his country in the Guinness Six Nations Championship with a superb match-clinching try against Scotland at Murrayfield.
With the Test schedule in a fallow week, Skivington has been able to utilise winger Rees-Zammit for the West Country showdown at the Recreation Ground.
Scotland centre Chris Harris is also available for the Cherry and Whites, along with Italy international Stephen Varney.
Wales forward Taulupe Faletau, meanwhile, will feature for Bath and is set to start at blindside flanker.
Bath come into the derby contest following a 27-22 victory away to Sale Sharks, while Gloucester continue to prop up the table and without a Premiership win since the end of November.
Despite Bath sitting in 10th place, Skivington is preparing his squad for another stern test.
“They were in the top four last year, but they have not had the start they would have wanted, similar to us,” he said.
“They have been established for a good while and I think for them it is just about finding their feet and getting a bit of momentum.
“I expect them to be fully charged up for the weekend so it should be a good match.”
Skivington added: “They have got threats all over the park and have a well-organised set-piece.
“They have got a good backline and Rhys Priestland runs it well so it’s about how do you stop it and how you deal with it than anything else.”
Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper has made just two changes to the starting XV.
Josh Bayliss moves to the second row for Josh McNally, who is unavailable after picking up a minor leg injury during training, and Faletau comes in at number six.
England centre Jonathan Joseph returns to the Bath squad on the bench, having completed a twoweek suspension for breaching coronavirus rules.
“We have had good selection conversations this week and every player has earned their right to be in the starting 15,” Hooper said.
“We have a squad with real strength in depth and our pack will again be a strong weapon on the pitch, with Taulupe coming in during the Six Nations fallow week.
“Josh McNally picked up a minor leg injury during training and is unavailable this weekend.”
Bath: 15. Tom de Glanville, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni,
13. Max Clark, 12. Josh Matavesi, 11. Will Muir, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Ben Spencer (c), 1. Juan Schoeman, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Christian Judge, 4. Josh Bayliss, 5. Mike Williams, 6. Taulupe Faletau, 7. Miles Reid, 8. Zach Mercer Replacements: 16. Jack Walker, 17. Jamie Bhatti, 18. Henry Thomas, 19. Tom Ellis, 20. Ethan Staddon, 21. Will Chudley, 22. Tian Schoeman, 23. Jonathan Joseph
Gloucester: 15. Jason Woodward 14. Louis Rees-Zammit 13. Chris Harris 12. Tom Seabrook 11. Ollie Thorley 10. Billy Twelvetrees 9. Willi Heinz 1. Val Rapava-Ruskin 2. Henry Walker 3. Fraser Balmain 4. Ed Slater 5. Alex Craig 6. Jordy Reid 7. Lewis Ludlow (c) 8. Ruan Ackermann Replacements: 16. Santiago Socino 17. Alex Seville
18. Jamal Ford-Robinson 19. Ollie Atkins 20. Freddie Clarke 21. Stephen Varney 22. George Barton 23. Henry Trinder