Forgotten Welsh hooker to make first start since neck surgery

Wales hooker Scott Baldwin will make his first start since neck surgery when Harlequins make the Gallagher Premiership trip to Bath on Saturday.

The 31-year-old had been sidelined since November with a neck issue, but came off the bench in the 29-15 home loss to London Irish last weekend.

Captain Chris Robshaw is back in the Quins line-up after illness, with Danny Care also back in the side at scrum-half.

“Last week we didn’t get the result we wanted against a very strong London Irish,” said head coach Paul Gustard.

“A number of errors cost us the game and, regardless of the conditions, we came up short so we have worked hard this week to address those areas of our game to ensure we are in a strong place heading down to The Rec.

“The game was a lot tighter than the scoreline suggested with two late scores on the back of our mistakes after sustained pressure and territory that we failed to convert.

“We have played at Bath already this season, coming away with two wins against them in the Heineken Champions Cup, but we know that Saturday will present a different challenge with both sides aiming to push up the league table.

“Bath come into this game off the back of two narrow victories against Leicester and Worcester, so will be hoping to maintain momentum.”

Bath show three changes for the Quins clash, with Lewis Boyce, Chris Cook and Jack Walker all coming into the starting line-up.

Beno Obano and Tom Dunn are both on England duty, leading Boyce to step up at loosehead and Walker at hooker.

Scrum-half Charlie Chapman will make his full Premiership debut for Gloucester, in Saturday’s trip to London Irish.

Franco Mostert continues as captain, with the Cherry and Whites showing seven changes from last week’s loss to Exeter Chiefs.

Josh Hohneck and Todd Gleave come into the front row, while lock Ed Slater is back after injury and Freddie Clark starts at blindside flanker.

One of those discarded by England, Ollie Thorley, replaces the injured Tom Marshall in the back-three, while Mark Atkinson and Billy Twelvetrees pair up in the centres.

Danny Hobbs-Ayoyemi starts at loosehead for Irish, with Dave Porecki and Ollie Hoskins completing the front-row.

Blair Cowan returns in the back-row after illness, with Wallabies scrum-half Nick Phipps partnering Stephen Myler in the half-backs.