Match preview

22 February 2013, 11:56am

Webber to captain Bath Rugby

England hooker Rob Webber has been chosen to captain Bath Rugby for the first time as they prepare to face Northampton Saints on Saturday in the Aviva Premiership at Franklin's Gardens, kick-off 15.00.

Webber, who spent the first half of the season injured, has quickly established himself in the Bath team with performances full of aggression in the loose and accuracy in the tight. He will be joined in the front row by Charlie Beech and Anthony Perenise, while the powerful lock partnership of Dominic Day and Dave Attwood is set to continue as Stuart Hooper nurses a sore neck and Ryan Caldwell recovers from a hip operation. With Francois Louw also out of action, Mat Gilbert slots into the back row with Carl Fearns and Ben Skirving.

Tom Heathcote, who has spent the week training with Scotland, comes into the fly-half berth in place of the injured Stephen Donald and partners the experienced Peter Stringer in the half-backs.

The rest of the back-line is unchanged from that which beat London Irish at the Rec last weekend. Nick Abendanon provides security and excitement at fullback, with Horacio Agulla and Tom Biggs outside him on the wings. Kyle Eastmond and Matt Banahan continue developing their centre partnership, with the former league man again selected in the inside centre channel.

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Bath Rugby team to face Northampton Saints:

15. Nick Abendanon

14. Horacio Agulla

13. Matt Banahan

12. Kyle Eastmond

11. Tom Biggs

10. Tom Heathcote

9. Peter Stringer

1. Charlie Beech

2. Rob Webber (c)

3. Anthony Perenise

4. Dominic Day

5. Dave Attwood

6. Carl Fearns

7. Mat Gilbert

8. Ben Skirving

Replacements

16. Ross Batty

17. Nathan Catt

18. Kane Palma-Newport

19. Will Spencer

20. Nick Koster

21. Michael Claassens

22. Sam Vesty

23. Semesa Rokoduguni