Bath Rugby take on Leicester Tigers at Welford Road tomorrow afternoon behind closed doors in Round 15 of the Gallagher Premiership (kick-off 16:30, BT Sport 3). Here’s a closer look at our domestic rivals…
Leicester Tigers have slipped to successive Gallagher Premiership Rugby defeats at Saracens and at Exeter, but at Welford Road they have won their last four matches in all competitions. Bath Rugby have lost just twice in the last six rounds of Gallagher Premiership Rugby, at home to Bristol in round 12 and away at Exeter in round 13.
Bath’s two away wins on the road this season in Premiership Rugby were at London Irish in December and Worcester in February. Bath have won their last three matches against The Tigers in Premiership Rugby, our best run in league play against the East Midlanders since winning four in succession in the old Division One between 1990 and 1992. Bath have won on their last two visits to Welford Road and have never won three in succession at the famous old venue, which they have been visiting since 1913.
MATCH DETAILS
Date: Saturday, August 22nd
Kick-off: 16:30
Competition: Gallagher Premiership
Where: Welford Road
Referee: Karl Dickson.
Assistants: Anthony Woodthorpe & Hamish Smales.
TMO: David Grashoff
Citing Officer: Tony Diprose.
Media coverage: BBC Radio Bristol, BT Sport 3
LEICESTER TIGERS CURRENT FORM
Exeter Chiefs (A) - 26-13 (L)
Saracens (A) - 24-13 (L)
Worcester Warriors (H) - 14-8 (W)
LAST TIME OUT
Bath Rugby edged out Leicester Tigers in the Gallagher Premiership with a 13-10 win at the Rec earlier this season with Tom Homer scoring two tries to get a much needed win in a low-scoring Premiership encounter.
Homer's try in the corner put the hosts ahead after four minutes but the Blue, Black and White could only find a two-point lead at half-time, with Tom Hardwick slotting over a penalty for Tigers.
After the break, a Rhys Priestland penalty for Bath followed by Leicester scrum-half Ben White burrowing his way over from a ruck helped give the visitors a 10-8 advantage.
However, Homer powered over with 10 minutes left to secure a home win for the Blue, Black and White.
WORD FROM THE LEICESTER TIGERS CAMP
Steve Borthwick said: "They are a very good team. They have had a good squad for several years now with lots of internationals throughout that team. They have lots of depth in that side so we know they come here off the back of a good win last week so we know it's going to be a great challenge this weekend."
BATH RUGBY SIDE TO FACE LEICESTER TIGERS
15. Anthony Watson, 14. Semesa Rokoduguni, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Cameron Redpath, 11. Ruaridh McConnochie, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Ben Spencer; 1. Lewis Boyce, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Will Stuart, 4. Josh McNally, 5. Charlie Ewels (C), 6. Tom Ellis, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Taulupe Faletau
REPLACEMENTS
16. Jack Walker, 17. Beno Obano, 18. Christian Judge, 19. Elliott Stooke, 20. Josh Bayliss, 21. Will Chudley, 22. Josh Matavesi, 23. Tom de Glanville
LEICESTER TIGERS SIDE TO FACE BATH RUGBY
15. Zack Henry, 14. Harry Potter, 13. George Worth (vc), 12. Guy Porter, 11. Harry Simmons, 10. Johnny McPhillips, 9. Ben White (C); 1. Nephi Leatigaga, 2. Jake Kerr, 3. Joe Heyes, 4. Tomás Lavanini, 5. Blake Enever, 6. George Martin, 7. Luke Wallace (vc), 8. Thom Smith
Replacements
16. Charlie Clare, 17. Ryan Bower, 18. Dan Cole, 19. Cameron Henderson, 20. Jordan Coghlan, 21. Jack Van Poortvliet, 22. Tom Hardwick, 23. Freddie Steward
