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Rhys Webb to start for Bath this weekend

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Bath Rugby have thrown new signing Rhys Webb straight into the starting XV for the West Country derby against Bristol Bears on Sunday afternoon.

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Webb left Toulon mid-season under a cloud and is set to return to the Ospreys in 2020/21 season, but in the mean-time has taken up a short-term contract with the Premiership club.

The Blue, Black and White are also boosted by the return of Taulupe Faletau, Will Stuart and Beno Obano from international camps ahead of the weekend’s clash.

Both sides come into the match off the back of three straight Gallagher Premiership wins, with Bath Rugby looking to overturn the result from their early season meeting.

Will Stuart returns from England duty to replace Christian Judge at tighthead while Mike Williams comes back into the starting line-up for Tom Ellis, who moves to the bench.

Faletau comes in for Zach Mercer at No.8 to make up the pack. Beno Obano is the other notable change to the bench, returning to the squad from England camp.

BATH RUGBY SIDE TO FACE BRISTOL BEARS:

15. Tom Homer
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jackson Willison
12. Josh Matavesi
11. Ruaridh McConnochie
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Rhys Webb

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1. Lewis Boyce
2. Jack Walker
3. Will Stuart
4. Josh McNally
5. Elliott Stooke
6. Mike Williams
7. Francois Louw (C)
8. Taulupe Faletau

Replacements

16. Tom Doughty, 17. Beno Obano, 18. Christian Judge, 19. Tom Ellis, 20. Josh Bayliss, 21. Chris Cook, 22. Freddie Burns, 23. Max Wright

WATCH: The guys round up all the Guinness Six Nations and Premiership action. They discuss the shenanigans at the breakdown in England v Ireland among others. We also hear from Brad Shields on his injury and his quest to get back into Eddie’s England squad.

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NH 47 minutes ago
Harness Skelton's might and move Sua'ali'i: How the Wallabies can fix things for Test two

Nice one Nick. I was a fan of Joe’s appointment and think in general he has done well, and I even think the game plan last week was ok, but I am not sold he has gotten his selections right for this series. As everyone has detailed, the pack was too small last week. This week, he has brought in skelton and valetini which is an improvement physicality-wise but now the back 5 is out of balance with only one legitimate lineout option in Frost. The wallabies were poor in the lineout and it meant they couldn’t get into the lions 22 in the 1st half. Its also where most WBs tries originate from. Are they going to opt for a scrum every penalty they get? 3 man lineouts? And as you show, Suaalii is simply too hesitant in D. I guess drifting is better than biting in and taking yourself out of play, but he doesn’t do much more in that last clip. Maxy has 2 involvements in that play, suaalii none. At this rate, Chieka was quicker and better at integrating marika who had more to do to learn the game, than Joe with suaalii.


Do you think that Joe is hesitant to put Suaalii on the wing because he would be exposed in the backfield in terms of kicking, positioning etc? This is the only justification I can think of and also maybe why he has picked the likes of max, potter and kellaway over the likes of daugunu, pietsch and toole. The difference in selection philosophy between schmidt and rennie has come into clear focus to me recently in terms of brain vs braun, power vs graft, workrate vs impact. In my opinion, Schmidt needed to make a hard decision on starting skelton vs a backrow that had bobby and wilson in it and he hasn’t done that. I also feel like he is almost picking a team to minimise the loss rather than win. I think starting a tate, or a pietsch, or bell could’ve signalled some more intent.

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