Internationals to turn out for Bath and Gloucester

Gloucester head coach George Skivington has named a number of internationals in his matchday 23 for Friday night’s West Country derby against Bath in Round 10 of the Gallagher Premiership.

Louis Rees-Zammit, Chris Harris and Stephen Varney have all returned from international duty with Ed Slater also returning to Cherry and White action, starting at lock alongside Alex Craig. Rees-Zammit is joined by Ollie Thorley and Jason Woodward in the back three with Willi Heinz and Billy Twelvetrees continuing their partnership at half back. Tom Seabrook starts alongside Harris in the midfield.

In the forwards, Val Rapava Ruskin, Henry Walker and Fraser Balmain make up the front row with the aforementioned partnership of Ed Slater and Alex Craig behind them at second row. Jordy Reid, Ruan Ackermann and Lewis Ludlow, who resumes the captaincy, make up the back row.

For Bath, Stuart Hooper has made just two changes to his starting XV with Josh Bayliss moving in to the second row for Josh McNally, who is unavailable for selection, and Taulupe Faletau returns to the Club from international duty with Wales to start at blind-side.

The front row remains unchanged from last Friday’s dominant display against Sale Sharks, with prop Tom Dunn – who made a massive 34 tackles – looking to put in another impressive performance. Mike Williams, Miles Reid, and Zach Mercer resume their positions in the second row, open-side and no.8 respectively to complete the pack.

Will Muir returns on the left-wing, with Semesa Rokodoguni and Tom de Glanville keeping their positions to make up the back three. Josh Matavesi and Max Clark pair up again in the centre, while Ben Spencer and Rhys Priestland will marshall the game from their customary spots.

BATH RUGBY SIDE TO FACE GLOUCESTER RUGBY

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 RUGBY SIDE TO FACE BATH RUGBY

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