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Just one Bath change as they look to reach a first final since 2015
By Liam Heagney
Johann van Graan has made just a single change to his starting Bath XV for this Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership semi-final at home to Sale, promoting Alfie Barbeary from the bench to start at No8 with Josh Bayliss dropping to the replacements.
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Bath blew away an understrength Northampton 43-12 in their last outing on May 18 to clinch second place on the table and secure a knockout-stage fixture at The Rec.
Now looking to reach a first Premiership final since 2015, their South African boss has opted to keep the faith by selecting that entire match day 23 again, the only change being the upgrade given to Barbeary.
The selection, which has Miles Reid named as the 23rd man, means Bath will go into the tie with a six/two forwards/backs split on their bench, a tactic that is the same as Sale who have confirmed the comeback-making Tom Curry as their 23rd man for the semi-final.
Bath (vs Sale, Saturday): 15. Matt Gallagher; 14. Joe Cokanasiga, 13. Ollie Lawrence, 12. Cameron Redpath, 11. Will Muir; 10. Finn Russell, 9. Ben Spencer; 1. Beno Obano, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Quinn Roux, 5. Charlie Ewels, 6. Ted Hill, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Alfie Barbeary. Reps: 16 Niall Annett, 17. Juan Schoeman, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Elliott Stooke, 20. Josh Bayliss, 21. Louis Schreuder, 22. Orlando Bailey, 23. Miles Reid.
