Bath vs Bristol
Kickoff: 3:05pm Saturday
This is an enticing west country derby at the rec. Bath have been impressive in the first two weeks, beating Northampton and Leicester. Bristol started well against Newcastle but were narrowly beaten by Gloucester at home last Friday. Given the attacking prowess of both teams, there should be a lot of points in this game.
Team news:
Bath
Thomas Du Toit returns at tight-head having won the rugby championship with South Africa. Redpath and Underhill return from injury but Muir and Cokanasiga are both now out. Reid replaces Barbeary at No.8.
Bristol
There is a debut for Argentina international Grondona at openside flanker. Naulago is injured and has been replaced by Rich Lane.
Line-ups:
Bath
1.Obano 2.Annett 3.DU Toit 4.Roux 5.Ewels 6.Hill 7.Pepper 8.Reid
9.Spencer(C) 10.Russell 11.Mcconnocchie 12.Butt 13.Lawrence 14. De Glanville 15.Harris
Bristol
1.Genge 2.Oghre 3.Lahiff 4.Dun 5.Batley 6.Luatua 7.Grondona 8.Harding(C)
9.Randall 10.MacGinty 11.Lane 12.Williams 13.Van Rensburg 14.Ibitoye 15.Malins
Newcastle vs Leicester
Kickoff: 5:30pm Saturday
The Falcons are still looking for their first points of the season. That may be challenging against this opponent. The Tigers beat Exeter then came painfully close to pulling off a result against Bath. The Falcons came extremely close to beating Leicester when they hosted them last season but today they are away from home and facing a huge challenge. Leicester will be aiming to be more clinical today than they have been so far this season.
Team news:
Newcastle
Adam Radwan suffered an injury last week and is a big loss for the Falcons. However, it does present an opportunity to exciting youngster Ben Bradshaw who has been on England's radar for a while. He has played far more games at full-back so it will be interesting to see how he fares in a different position.
Leicester
Ollie Chessum returns having missed last week with an injury. Joe Heyes drops out of the team and is replaced by Scottish international Will Hurd with Dan Cole on the bench. There is a premiership debut for Joseph Woodward at inside centre
Line-ups:
Newcastle
1.Brocklebank 2.Blamire 3.Palframan 4.Hawkins 5.Mcdonald 6.Van Der Walt 7.Gordon 8.Chick(C)
9.Stuart 10.Grayson 11.Stevenson 12.Arnold 13.Doherty 14.Redshaw 15.Obatoyinbo
Leicester
1.Smith 2.Clare 3.Hurd 4.Martin 5.Chessum(C) 6.Liebenberg 7.Reffell 8.Hatherell
9.Van poortvliet 10.Shillcock 11.Hassell-Collins 12.Woodward 13.Perese 14.Watson 15.Steward
Saracens vs Exeter
Kickoff:3pm Sunday
Saracens have started the season excellently and don't seem to be missing their departed stars so far this year. That could change at some point and Exeter will be hoping that change comes this weekend with the Chiefs in need of a first win this season. Exeter have lost narrowly to Leicester and Northampton so have been in the fight but need to get over the line in close situations. Over the past few seasons, Saracens have been a winning machine so that may prove a challenge.
Team news:
Saracens
Maro Itoje is injured and Andy Onyeama-Christie has been moved to the bench so Isiekwe and Mcfarland start. Gonzalez returns from Argentina duty and is on the bench.The team is captained by Ivan Van Zyl in Itoje's absence.
Exeter
Haydon-Wood gets the start at fly-half ahead of Harvey Skinner. Jack Yeandle replaces Scott Sio at hooker and will captain the team. Will Goodrick-Clarke(formerly of London Irish) makes his first start.
Line-ups:
Saracens
1.Carre 2.George 3.Riccioni 4.Isiekwe 5.Tizard 6.Mcfarland 7.Earl 8.Willis
9.Van Zyl(C) 10.Burke 11.Segun 12.Tompkins 13.Lozowski 14.Elliot 15.Daly
Exeter
1.Goodrick-Clarke 2.Yeandle(C) 3.Street 4.Dunne 5.Tshuinza 6.Roots 7.Capstick 8.Fisilau
9.Maunder 10.Haydon-Wood 11.Hammersley 12.Hawkins 13.Woodburn 14.Feyi-waboso 15.Hodge
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