Preview: Premiership, Round two

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: After the closest set of opening round matches for almost a decade, we now move to Round two of Premiership Rugby which starts with another rip-roaring west country derby, this time Bath hosting the Exeter Chiefs.

The Exeter Chiefs take an envious record to The Recreation Ground for this compelling clash on Friday, having won their last eight matches against Bath in all competitions.

On Saturday Gloucester, Harlequins, London Irish and Northampton Saints host their first Premiership matches.

Round two concludes at Welford Road where the champions, Saracens, are the visitors for the third match of the weekend.

We look at all the Round Two matches!

Friday, October 25

Bath v Exeter Chiefs

(Recreation Ground, 19.45)

Bath have lost just one of their last eight home games in Premiership: 29-31 to Harlequins at the Recreation Ground on 2 March. Bath were defeated at Bristol last Friday but have not begun a Premiership campaign with a pair of losses since season 2009-10.

Chiefs only defeats in their last six Premiership fixtures were both to Saracens, in round 21 and last season’s Final at Twickenham. The Chiefs have won three of their last four away games in Premiership play.

Exeter have won their last eight matches against Bath in all competitions since Bath’s 13-10 victory at Sandy Park in Premiership three years ago.

Teams:

Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Max Wright, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Will Chudly, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Tom Ellis, 6 Mike Williams, 5 Charlie Ewels (captain), 4 Josh McNally, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano

Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Lewis Boyce, 18 Christian Judge, 19 Elliot Stooke, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb

Exeter Chiefs: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tom O'Flaherty, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Alex Cuthbert, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Dave Dennis, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Jack Yeandle (captain), 1 Ben Moon

Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Tom Hendrickson

Referee: JP Doyle

Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe & Paul Dix

TMO: Sean Davey

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Saturday, October 26

Gloucester v Wasps

(Kingsholm, 15.00)

Gloucester beat the Sharks 18-16 in Round 1 but have not won their opening two games of a Premiership campaign since 2007/08. Gloucester have won their last five Premiership matches at Kingsholm since Sale beat them there on December 29.

Wasps have won just one of their last four Premiership encounters: 27-25 against Harlequins at Ricoh Arena in round 22 last season. Wasps have won just two of their last eight away games in Premiership play, at Bristol in round 13 and at Exeter in round 19.

Gloucester are unbeaten in their last three fixtures against Wasps since their 24-49 reversal at the Ricoh Arena in December 2017, whilst Wasps have not been victorious at Kingsholm since December 2014.

Teams:

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 Ben Morgan, 21 Jake Polledri, 22 Callum Braley, 23 Matt Banahan

Wasps: 15 Marcus Watson, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Dan Robson (captain), 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Thibaud Flament, 4 James Gaskell, 3 Kieran Brookes, 2 Tommy Taylor, 1 Zurabi Zhvania

Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Ben Harris, 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 19 Tim Cardall, 20 Ashley Johnson, 21 Sam Wolstenholme, 22 Jacob Umaga, 23 Rob Miller

Referee: Christophe Ridley

Assistant Referees: Simon Harding & Roy Maybank

TMO: David Rose

Harlequins v Bears

(Twickenham Stoop, 15.00)

Harlequins have won just one of their last eight Premiership fixtures: 23-19 over Leicester at Twickenham Stoop on May third. ‘Quins have won their last three matches at the Stoop in all competitions since Northampton beat them there by a single point in Premiership play in April.

The Bears are the only side with maximum points after the opening round of Premiership and are unbeaten in their last five matches in the competition since their 19-26 loss to Bath at Twickenham on April sixth. Bristol have not begun a Premiership campaign with a pair of victories since 2005-06.

Harlequins’ only defeat in their last nine encounters with Bristol in Premiership was 13-20 at Ashton Gate in round 4 last year, whilst the Bears most recent victory at Twickenham Stoop in the tournament was in September 2001.

Teams:

Harlequins: 15 Aaron Morris, 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 Matt Symons, 4 Stephan Lewies, 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 Niall Saunders, 22 James Lang, 23 Ross Chisholm

Bristol Bears: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Piers O’Conor, 12 Siale Piutau, 11 Mat Protheroe, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Steven Luatua (captain), 5 Chris Vui, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 John Afoa, 2 Harry Thacker, 1 Jake Woolmore

Replacements: 16 Shaun Malton, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Lewis Thiede, 19 Ed Holmes, 20 Jake Heenan, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Will Hurrell

Referee: Ian Tempest

Assistant Referees: Hamish Smales & Wayne Falla.

TMO: Trevor Fisher. Citing Officer: Paul Burke.

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London Irish v Sale Sharks

(Madejski Stadium, 15.00)

London Irish beat Wasps in Coventry on Sunday but have not won successive Premiership matches since beating the Falcons and Sharks at Madejski Stadium in 2015. The Exiles have not been victorious in their opening two fixtures of a new Premiership campaign since 2001/02.

Sharks three-game unbeaten run in Premiership play ended at home to Gloucester on Saturday whilst they have not lost successive matches in the tournament for twelve months. The Sharks have not won away from home in Premiership since a trip to Wasps in February.

Sharks have won their last five fixtures against Irish in all competitions since the Exiles 25-23 victory at Madejski Stadium in Premiership in April 2015.

Teams:

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 (captain), 6 Matt Rogerson, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 George Nott, 3 Ollie Hoskins, 2 Saia Fainga’a, 1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi

Replacements: 16 Ross McMillan, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 Franco van der Merwe, 20 Conor Gilsenan, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Stephen Myler, 23 Matt Williams

Sale Sharks: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Sam James, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Byron McGuigan, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Will Cliff, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jono Ross (captain), 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 5 Bryn Evans, 4 Josh Beaumont, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Ross Harrison

Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 James Phillips, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Luke James, 23 Marland Yarde

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

Assistant Referees: Adal Leal & Philip Watters

TMO: David Grashoff

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Northampton Saints v Worcester Warriors

(Franklin’s Gardens, 14.00)

Saints only defeat in the last five regular-season rounds of Premiership was 21-40 at Exeter in round 22. The Saints beat champions Saracens in their own backyard in round 1 but have not won their opening two matches of a new Premiership campaign since 2013-14.

The Warriors only defeat in the last five rounds of Premiership was 10-38 to today’s opponents Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens in round 21. The Warriors beat Leicester 24-16 at Sixways last weekend but have never begun a Premiership campaign with back-to-back victories.

Saints have lost just one of their last seven fixtures against Warriors: 15-30 at Sixways in November 2017 whilst the Warriors have not been victorious at Franklin’s Gardens since New Year’s Day 2007

Teams:

Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 Tom Collins, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 James Grayson, 9 Henry Taylor, 8 Teimana Harrison, 7 JJ Tonks, 6 Tom Wood, 5 Alex Moon, 4 Alex Coles, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 James Fish, 1 Alex Waller

Replacements: 16 Mikey Haywood, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Karl Garside, 19 Lewis Bean, 20 Jamie Gibson, 21 Connor Tupai, 22 Andy Symons, 23 Ollie Sleightholme

Worcester Warriors: 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Ashley Beck, 12 Ryan Mills (captain), 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Conor Carey, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Ethan Waller

Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Callum Black, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 GJ van Velze, 21 Jono Kitto, 22 Jono Lance, 23 Francois Ve

Referee: Jack Makepeace

Assistant Referees: Tom Foley & Simon McConnell

TMO: Nigel Carrick

Sunday, October 27

Leicester Tigers v Saracens

(Welford Road, 15.00)

The Tigers have lost their last four Premiership matches but have not lost five in a row in the competition since 2003. The Tigers only victory in their last six matches at Wellford Road was against the Chiefs in the Premiership Cup on September 27.

Saracens have won just one of their last seven away games in Premiership: 31-14 at Wasps in round 20 last season and have not been defeated in their opening two rounds of a Premiership campaign since 2008/09. Saracens have lost just one of their last seven Premiership fixtures against Tigers: 20-28 at Allianz Park in February 2018.

Saracens were winless in their first 32 visits to Welford Road since 1964 until their first victory there in 2010, they have now lost on only three of their last 11 visits.

Teams:

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 (captain), 4 Will Spencer, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Jake Kerr, 1 Greg Bateman

Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Nephi Leatigaga, 19 Harry Wells, 20 Sione Kalamafoni, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Tom Hardwick, 23 Jordan Olowofela

Saracens: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Manu Vunipola, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Jackson Wray (captain), 7 Ben Earl, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Nick Isiekwe, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Tom Woolstencroft, 1 Richard Barrington

Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Ralph Adams-Hale, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Joel Kpoku, 20 Callum Hunter-Hill, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Rotimi Segun

Referee: Tom Foley

Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace & Simon McConnell

TMO: Stuart Terheege

Source: @Premrugby