100 up for Joe Cokanasiga

The flying winger made his debut for the Blue, Black and White in 2018 after joining the club from London Irish.

This weekend’s Investec Champions Cup Round 4 fixture will also be significant for Ross Molony as he prepares to face his former club.

The towering second-row enjoyed a hugely successful spell with Leinster playing more than 180 games for Leo Cullen’s side before making the switch to the Blue, Black and White in the summer.

Molony is one of three changes to the Bath side that put in an impressive performance whilst securing a bonus point 40-21 win against ASM Clermont Auvergne at The Rec on Sunday in Round 3 of the competition.

The Dubliner comes into the Bath engine room alongside Quinn Roux. In front of the two locks, the two other changes to the starting XV from last weekend sees hooker Niall Annett and prop Will Stuart forming the front row with Beno Obano.

Ted Hill, Miles Reid, and Alfie Barbeary, at number 8, complete the pack.

Captain Ben Spencer and Finn Russell, fresh from registering 15 points against Clermont, are the half-backs with Max Ojomoh and Ollie Lawrence starting as the two centres.

Ruaridh McConnochie and Cokanasiga will occupy the wing positions with Tom de Glanville retaining the number 15 jersey.

Thomas du Toit, scorer of two tries last Sunday against the French opponents, is named among the impact players off the bench. The South African is joined by hooker Tom Dunn and fellow prop Francois van Wyk. Charlie Ewels, Josh Bayliss and Jaco Coetzee are the other forwards whilst backs Louis Schreuder and Orlando Bailey complete the six-two split.

TEAM

Bath Rugby Starting XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 9 Ben Spencer ©, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Ruaridh McConnochie, 12 Max Ojomoh, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville

Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Jaco Coetzee

MATCH DETAILS

Fixture: Leinster Rugby v Bath Rugby
Date: Saturday 18 January 2025
Time: 17:30
Location: Aviva Stadium
Competition: Investec Champions Cup
Round: Pool Stage, Round 4
Coverage: Premier Sports, BBC Radio Bristol and Somerset (radio commentary), X (written commentary)

Referee: Luc Ramos (Fra)
Assistant Referees: Thomas Charabas (Fra) & Jonathan Gasnier (Fra)
TMO: Julien Castaignede (Fra)