Bristol v Bath | Match Preview

Round 17 begins with a firecracker of a Westcountry derby as Bristol Bears welcome Bath Rugby to Ashton Gate.

There is plenty at stake for both sides. The hosts need to win to keep their Play-Off hopes alive while they will also be eager to show a response having shipped 94 points in a damaging defeat at Northampton Saints last time out.

Bath snapped a two-game PREM losing streak by beating Newcastle Red Bulls a fortnight ago and are bidding to seal a home tie in The Play-Offs, which could be confirmed this weekend if results go their way.

AJ MacGinty, who penned a contract extension earlier this week, makes his return from injury and starts at fly-half for the hosts. Noah Heward starts at full back, while Argentina international Matias Moroni joins Benhard Janse van Rensburg in the midfield.

There is no Finn Russell for the visitors, with Ciaran Donoghue making his second start of the season at fly-half. Ethan Staddon also comes into the starting XV in the back row.

TV: Live on TNT Sports 2 and HBO Max (KO 7.45pm)

Referee: Karl Dickson

ARs: Dan Jones & Jonathan Healy

TMO: Andrew Jackson

TEAM NEWS

Bristol Bears: 15.⁠ ⁠⁠Noah Heward, 14.⁠ ⁠⁠Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. Matias Moroni , 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. George Kloska, 4. James Dun, 5. Joe Batley, 6. Joe Owen, 7. Fitz Harding (c), 8. Santiago Grondona

Replacements: 16.⁠ ⁠Tomas Gwilliam, 17.⁠ ⁠⁠Jake Woolmore, 18.⁠ ⁠⁠Max Lahiff, 19.⁠ ⁠⁠Jimmy Halliwell, 20.⁠ ⁠⁠George Taylor, 21.⁠ ⁠⁠Kieran Marmion, 22.⁠ ⁠⁠Tom Jordan, 23.⁠ ⁠⁠Jack Bates

Bath Rugby: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Beno Obano, 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Ted Hill, 5**** Charlie Ewels, 6 Ethan Staddon, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Sam Underhill

Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Ewan Richards, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Cameron Redpath, 23 Alfie Barbeary

Bristol Bears

• Bristol Bears have won the most mauls (79) and maul penalties (17) in the Prem this season.
• Fitz Harding leads the league for turnovers won (19) and ranks 3rd for total successful tackles (216).
• Gabriel Oghre has won the most lineout throws (148) with the 2nd best lineout success percentage (94.3%).
• Kalaveti Ravouvou has scored 12 tries (3rd in league) and gained the most metres in the Prem (1,066).

Bath Rugby

• Bath Rugby lead the league for visits to the opponent's 22 (215) and restarts retained (13).
• Henry Arundell has scored 12 tries (3rd in league) and averages a league-best 13.0 metres per carry.
• Miles Reid ranks 4th for dominant tackle contacts (15) and leads the league for total jackals (11).
• Sam Underhill is joint-2nd in the league for dominant tackle contacts (17) and has won 12 turnovers (8th in league).