Premiership: England wing Joe Cokanasiga returns from injury for Bath’s encounter with Harlequins
Premiership: England wing Joe Cokanasiga returns from injury for Bath’s encounter with Harlequins

Premiership: England wing Joe Cokanasiga returns from injury for Bath’s encounter with Harlequins

The teams have been named for the Round 12 Premiership showdown between Bath and Harlequins at the Recreation Ground on Friday.

Powerful England wing Joe Cokanasiga will make his first league start since October in a boost for Bath going into this encounter on home soil.

Cokanasiga, whose inclusion sees Matt Gallagher switch to full-back, is one of four changes to the starting XV that began the last-gasp win over Leicester Tigers in Round 10.

Cameron Redpath returns to inside centre, with Ollie Lawrence moving back to the 13 jersey, while fellow Scotland international Josh Bayliss comes in at number eight.

After featuring in the Premiership Rugby Cup last weekend, Dave Attwood retains his place in the second-row after missing league games with Newcastle Falcons and Leicester Tigers due to suspension.

Captain Ben Spencer continues at scrum-half and Orlando Bailey is at fly-half. Try-scoring hero against Leicester Will Butt takes the final space in the backline.

In the pack, Valeriy Morozov, Tom Dunn and D’Arcy Rae form the front row and Fergus Lee-Warner is at lock alongside Attwood.

Ted Hill and Miles Reid join Bayliss in the back row at blindside and openside flanker respectively.

On the bench, Will Spencer is back in the matchday 23 and will make his 50th Bath appearance when he enters the field.

One change for Harlequins

Continuity is king in selection for Quins, with just one change to the starting XV that claimed a gritty victory over Gloucester.

Oscar Beard steps into the 13 jersey to start his first Premiership game in the midfield, lining up alongside Bok Andre Esterhuizen.

England centre Joe Marchant is rested this weekend, while fellow midfielder Luke Northmore is ruled out due to a wrist injury sustained during his appearance from the bench against Gloucester last time out.

Marcus Smith also misses out on selection this week following his involvement in England’s Autumn Nations Series campaign, observing the mandatory stand-down period for England players.

Smith also awaits news on the extent of a lower limb injury he sustained whilst on Test duty following scans earlier this week.

Form: Bath have won their last three Premiership Rugby matches their best run since September 2020. Bath have won back-to-back home Premiership games at the Rec, against Northampton and Leicester, and have not won three in succession in the tournament at the venue since September 2020. Harlequins have won their last three Premiership Rugby matches since their home defeat to Leicester in Round Six. The Londoners have won twice away from home in Premiership Rugby since early April at Newcastle in September and at Sale in October. Each side won its respective home game when the two clubs met last season. Harlequins have won on four of their last six visits to the Rec in all competitions.

The teams:

Bath: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Butt, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Ben Spencer (c), 8 Josh Bayliss, 7 Miles Reid, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Fergus Lee-Warner, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Valeriy Morozov
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Arthur Cordwell, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Will Spencer, 20 Tom Ellis, 21 Max Green, 22 Piers Francis, 23 Richard de Carpentier

Harlequins: 15 Nick David, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 Oscar Beard, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Tommy Allan, 9 Danny Care, 8 Alex Dombrandt (c), 7 Will Evans, 6 Jack Kenningham, 5 Irne Herbst, 4 Dino Lamb, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 George Head, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 George Hammond, 20 Archie White, 21 Lewis Gjaltema, 22 Will Edwards, 23 Lennox Anyanwu

Venue: Recreation Ground
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe (England), George Selwood (England)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

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