Injuries force Bath into five changes at Warriors

BATH Rugby have made five changes as they travel to the Midlands to take on Worcester Warriors today.

Dave Attwood, Jacques van Rooyen, Zach Mercer and Cooper Vuna replace the injured quartet of Matt Garvey, Nathan Catt, Sam Underhill and Ruaridh McConnochie.

Charlie Ewels starts in the second row of the pack, with Elliott Stooke reverting to the bench.

Underhill’s absence with an ankle ligament injury sees a reshuffle at the back of the scrum.

Francois Louw will pack down in his more usual position of openside flanker, with Zach Mercer, pictured, starting at number eight.

Will Chudley captains the team from scrum-half with Vuna – playing against his former club – the only change in the starting backline.

Josh Bayliss and Lucas Noguera are on the first-team bench for the first time in a while. Aled Brew is also back in the matchday 23 for the first time since fracturing a forearm in the autumn.

Worcester are close to full strength for what is a crucial clash given their current predicament.

The hosts are 11th in the league, on the same points as Newcastle and six adrift of the rest.

Warriors welcome back lock Michael Fatialofa (illness) and tighthead prop Nick Schonert (chest) to the starting team.

Ben Te’o will again partner Francois Venter in the centres.