Bath Rugby face Harlequins on Saturday afternoon in Round 18 of the Gallagher Premiership as supporters are reintroduced for the first time in a pilot match since the Covid-19 pandemic (kick-off 14:00, live on BT Sport 1 and Channel 5).
Harlequins last seven fixtures have all been won by the home side on the day, whilst ‘Quins most recent defeat at Twickenham Stoop being 15-29 to London Irish on 15 February. Bath Rugby’s run of three successive victories since the restart ended with their 23-27 home defeat to Wasps on Monday.
Bath’s only defeat in their last four away games was 20-57 at Exeter in round 13 of Gallagher Premiership Rugby. Bath beat Harlequins 19-12 at the Recreation Ground in February but have not achieved a Premiership Rugby season’s double over the Londoners since 2014-15.
LAST TIME OUT
Bath Rugby won their third game in a row to move into the top four of Gallagher Premiership Rugby, downing Harlequins 19-12 at the Rec in February.
In rainy conditions in the West Country the home side started on the front foot, going ahead on 11 minutes as England man Ruaridh McConnochie crossed the line.
Rhys Priestland added a penalty but was then charged down by an in-form Alex Dombrandt and the No.8 easily dotted down to cut the deficit to 8-5.
After the break Marcus Smith converted his own score to put Harlequins in front, but McConnochie doubled his tally and Freddie Burns added a pair of penalties to seal the result.
MATCH DETAILS
Date: Saturday 5 September
Kick-off: 14:00
Competition: Gallagher Premiership
Where: Twickenham Stoop
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistants: Matthew Carley & Simon McConnell
TMO: Sean Davey
Citing Officer: Allister Hogg
Media coverage: BBC Radio Bristol, BT Sport 1 and Channel 5
CURRENT FORM
Northampton (H) – 30-17 (W)
Worcester (A) – 29-14 (L)
Saracens (A) – 38-24 (L)
Bath Rugby side to face Harlequins
15. Anthony Watson, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Cameron Redpath, 11. Ruaridh McConnochie, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Ben Spencer; 1. Beno Obano, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Will Stuart, 4. Elliott Stooke, 5. Charlie Ewels (C), 6. Josh Bayliss, 7. Miles Reid 8. Taulupe Faletau
Replacements
16. Jack Walker, 17. Lewis Boyce, 18. Christian Judge, 19. Josh McNally, 20. Tom Ellis, 21. Will Chudley, 22. Josh Matavesi, 23. Tom de Glanville
Harlequins side
15. Mike Brown, 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Nathan Earle, 10. Brett Herron, 9. Danny Care; 1. Joe Marler, 2. Scott Baldwin, 3. Simon Kerrod, 4. Matt Symons, 5. Glen Young, 6. Chris Robshaw (C), 7. Will Evans, 8. Alex Dombrandt
Replacements
16. Joe Gray, 17. Santiago Garcia Botta, 18. Will Collier, 19. Stephan Lewies, 20. Tom Lawday, 21. Martin Landajo, 22. James Lang, 23. Paul Lasike
