Preview: Premiership, Round one
NEW BEGINNINGS: The 2019-20 Premiership season explodes into life this Friday when a sell-out crowd heads to Ashton Gate as Bristol Bears open their campaign at home to Bath.
Champions Saracens open their title defence at Allianz Park on Saturday, when Northampton Saints are the visitors to North London.
The Saracens against Saints clash is one of four Saturday matches – Chiefs hosting Harlequins, Tigers travelling to Warriors and Gloucester making the trip north to the AJ Bell to take on Sharks.
Round one sees London Irish back to the top flight of English rugby with Exiles at the Ricoh Arena facing Wasps in the only Sunday fixture this weekend.
*Article continues below...
We look at all the Round One matches!
Friday, October 18
Bristol Bears v Bath Rugby
(Ashton Gate, 19.45)
Bears finished off last season unbeaten in the last four rounds of Premiership since Bath beat them at the Recreation Ground in ‘The Clash’ on April sixth.
The Bears are undefeated in any competition at Ashton Gate since Worcester won there 27-25 in round 17 of Premiership.
Bath have won their last two Premiership fixtures since their 3-6 defeat at Sale on 26 April.
Bath won their most recent away game in Premiership 32-31 at Leicester to end a five-game losing run on the road in the competition.
Bristol’s only two victories over Bath in any competition since 2006 have both been at Ashton Gate in Premiership, in February 2017 and August 2018.
Bath have made six previous visits to Ashton Gate, winning twice, in Gallagher Premiership in March 2008 and in the European Challenge Cup in January 2017.
This is a repeat of last season’s round 1 fixture at Ashton Gate where Bath were defeated on the opening weekend for the first time in a decade.
Teams:
Bristol Bears:15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Will Hurrell, 11 Mat Protheroe, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Steven Luatua (captain), 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 John Afoa, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Jake Woolmore
Replacements: 16 Shaun Malton, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Chris Vui, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Alapati Leiua
Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Aled Brew, 13 Max Clark, 12 Max Wright, 11 Levi Davis, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Will Chudley, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Tom Ellis, 6 Mike Williams, 5 Charlie Ewels (captain), 4 Josh McNally, 3 Christian Judge, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Lewis Boyce, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Jamie Roberts
Referee: Tom Foley
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace & Simon McConnell
TMO: Stuart Terheege
Saturday, October 19
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
(Sandy Park, 15.00)
Chiefs, who have reached the Premiership Final for the past four seasons, finished off last year with just three wins in their last six matches.
The Devonians only defeat in Premiership play at Sandy Park since February 2018 was to Wasps in April.
Harlequins only victory in the last seven rounds of Premiership was 23-19 at home to Leicester on third May.
The Londoners have lost their last four away games in the competition since their 31-29 victory at Bath on March second.
Harlequins have lost just once on the opening weekend in the last nine seasons: 29-39 to London Irish at Twickenham in 2017.
The Chiefs have lost just once to ‘Quins in their last ten meetings in Premiership matches: 26-28 at Twickenham Stoop in November 2018.
Teams:
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Max Bodilly, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Tom Hendrickson, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Jannes Kirsten, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Dave Dennis, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Jack Yeandle (captain), 1 Alec Hepburn.
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Sean Lonsdale, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Sam Maunder, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Sam Hill.
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Tom Lawday, 7 Will Evans, 6 Chris Robshaw (captain), 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Will Collier, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Santiago Garcia Botta.
Replacements: 16 Elia Elia, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Glen Young, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Charlie Mulchrone, 22 James Lang, 23 Aaron Morris.
Referee: Christophe Ridley
Assistant Referees: Simon Harding & Paul Dix
TMO: Geoff Warren
Sale Sharks v Gloucester Rugby
(AJ Bell Stadium, 15:00)
Sharks lost only once in the last five rounds of Premiership matches: 17-39 at Worcester on April 13.
The Sharks have won their last seven matches at AJ Bell Stadium in all competitions since Exeter beat them there in Premiership action in early March.
Sharks have been defeated on the opening weekend of the past five seasons.
Gloucester reached last season’s semi-final only to be defeated by the eventual champions, Saracens.
Gloucester’s only win in Premiership since round 19 was at home to Newcastle on May fourth.
Gloucester have lost their last five away games in all competitions since their 40-31 victory at Northampton in round 18 of Premiership.
The Cherry & Whites only loss on the opening weekend in the last four seasons was at home to Leicester in 2016.
Sharks have lost just one of their last four fixtures against Gloucester: 16-20 at Kingsholm in December 2017, whilst Gloucester’s most recent victory at AJ Bell Stadium came in September 2016.
Teams:
Sale Sharks: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Sam James, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Byron McGuigan, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Ben Curry, 6 Jono Ross (captain), 5 Jean-Luc du Preez, 4 Josh Beaumont, 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 WillGriff John, 19 James Phillips, 20 Bryn Evans, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Marland Yarde.
Gloucester: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Billy Twelvetrees, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Jaco Kriel, 6 Lewis Ludlow, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Ed Slater (captain), 3 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin.
Replacements: 16 Corné Fourie, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Fraser Balmain, 19 Freddie Clarke, 20 Aaron Hinkley, 21 Charlie Chapman, 22 Lloyd Evans, 23 Matt Banahan.
Referee: Andrew Jackson.
Assistant Referees: JP Doyle & Robert Warburton.
TMO: Sean Davey.
Saracens v Northampton Saints
(Allianz Park, 15.00)
Saracens, who have been Premiership Champions for the past two seasons, have lost just once in their last five fixtures in the tournament: 29-31 at Worcester in round 22 last season.
Saracens have been victorious in round 1 for the last seven seasons and have won their last 16 home games in Premiership action since Leicester beat them at Allianz Park in February 2018.
Saints have lost their last two Premiership fixtures, both away to Exeter in round 22 and last season’s semi-final, since their 38-10 win at home to Worcester on May fourth.
The Saints have been defeated on the opening weekend for the past four seasons.
Saracens have won their last six Premiership encounters with the Saints, although the Saints were victorious at Franklin’s Gardens in last season’s Premiership Cup final.
The Saints record at Allianz Park in Premiership competition is an impressive won three, lost three.
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Rotimi Segun, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Alex Goode, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Nick Isiekwe, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Kapeli Pifeleti, 1 Ralph Adams-Hale.
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Joel Kpoku, 20 Callum Hunter-Hill, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Manu Vunipola, 23 Elliott Obatoyinbo.
Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 Tom Collins, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 James Grayson, 9 Henry Taylor, 8 Tom Wood, 7 JJ Tonks, 6 Alex Coles, 5 Alex Moon, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Paul Hill, 2 James Fish, 1 Alex Waller (captain).
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Ehren Painter, 19 Lewis Bean, 20 Mitch Eadie, 21 Connor Tupai, 22 Andrew Symons, 23 Ollie Sleightholme.
Referee: Ian Tempest
Assistant Referees: Hamish Smales & Wayne Falla
TMO: Trevor Fisher
Worcester Warriors v Leicester Tigers
(Sixways Stadium, 15.00)
Warriors only defeat in the last four rounds of Gallagher Premiership was 10-38 at Northampton on May fourth.
The Warriors have been defeated only once at Sixways in 2019 in Premiership, by Exeter in round 16.
Warriors have only ever won twice on the opening weekend of Premiership, both at home, to Sharks in 2011 and to the Saints in 2015.
Tigers have lost their last three Premiership matches since beating Newcastle at Kingston Park on April 12.
This is the Tigers only victory on the road in the competition since they beat the Saints at Twickenham 12 months ago.
Warriors have lost just once in their last six meetings with Tigers in all competitions: 5-34 at Sixways in Premiership in March 2018.
Teams:
Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Ashley Beck, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 Marco Mama (captain), 6 Ted Hill, 5 Graham Kitchener, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Conor Carey, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Callum Black.
Replacements: 16 Isaac Miller, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 GJ van Velze, 21 Jono Kitto, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Francois Venter.
Leicester Tigers: 15 George Worth, 14 Adam Thompstone, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonah Holmes, 10 Noel Reid, 9 Ben White, 8 Guy Thompson, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Calum Green, 4 Will Spencer, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Tom Youngs (captain), 1 Greg Bateman.
Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Nephi Leatigaga, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Jordan Coghlan, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Tom Hardwick, 23 Jordan Olowofela.
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys
Assistant Referees: Adam Leal & Phil Watters
TMO: David Grashoff
*Article continues below...
Sunday, October 20
Wasps v London Irish
(Ricoh Arena, 15.00)
Wasps have won three of their last five Premiership encounters and have won on the opening weekend for the past three seasons.
Wasps home record at the Ricoh Arena in Premiership last season was a disappointing won five, lost six.
Newly promoted Irish have lost their last three Premiership matches since beating Harlequins 35-5 at Twickenham Stoop in April 2018, their only away win in the competition since February 2015.
Wasps are unbeaten in their last six Premiership fixtures with the Exiles, since Irish won 23-20 at Adams Park in February 2014.
Irish have visited Ricoh Arena on three previous occasions and lost them all.
Teams:
Wasps: 15 Marcus Watson, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Michael Le Bourgeois, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Dan Robson (captain), 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Jack Willis, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Charlie Matthews, 4 James Gaskell, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Zurabi Zhvania.
Replacements: 16 Tom Cruse, 17 Ben Harris, 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Jacob Umaga, 23 Juan de Jongh.
London Irish: 15 Tom Parton, 14 Ben Loader, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Terrence Hepetema, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Scott Steele, 8 Albert Tuisue, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Matt Rogerson, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Franco van der Merwe (captain), 3 Oliver Hoskins, 2 Saia Fainga’a, 1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi.
Replacements: 16 Ross McMillan, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 George Nott, 20 Conor Gilsenan, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Matt Williams.
Referee: JP Doyle
Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe & Paul Dix
TMO: Keith Lewis