TODAY
Bath v Leicester, 2.15pm
Bath switch Shaun Berne from fly half to outside centre after last weekend’s defeat by Gloucester. Chris Malone slots in at fly half, with Olly Barkley staying at No 12. Gareth Delve features at open-side flanker with the heavyweight Isaac Feaunati drafted in at No 8. Julian White returns to the Leicester front row for Martin Castrogiovanni and Seru Rabeni replaces the injured Geordan Murphy. Last season Leicester did the double over Bath.
Vital statistic: Bath have not beaten Leicester in the league for three years, although they did knock them out of last season’s Heineken Cup.
Harlequins v Gloucester, 3pm
Andrew Mehrtens, the former All Blacks fly half, makes his eagerly anticipated Guinness Premiership debut for Harlequins after missing last weekend’s defeat by London Irish because of a knee injury. Mehrtens replaces Adrian Jarvis and is one of four changes made by Dean Richards, the director of rugby. Tom Williams, David Strettle and Simon Keogh come into the back division. With Iain Balshaw (ankle) sidelined, James
Bailey features for Gloucester on the wing. Mike Tindall is still out with a calf muscle strain.
Vital statistic: Harlequins’ last home game in the Premiership ended in a 23-22 defeat by Sale Sharks, a result that consigned them to relegation.
Advertisement
Sale Sharks v Northampton, 2pm, Sky Sports 2
Andrew Sheridan, the England prop forward, makes his first start for Sale since February after recovering from a neck injury. Jason White, the Scotland captain, is in the second row for the injured Ignacio Fernández Lobbe. Bruce Reihana, the Northampton captain, moves to outside centre for Jon Clarke, who broke his ankle against Newcastle last weekend. Robbie Kydd comes in at full back. Mark Robinson starts at scrum half for the suspended Johnny Howard. Pat Barnard, the tight-head prop, also returns after missing last week’s game with a virus.
Vital statistic: Northampton’s last win away to Sale was 13-9 at Heywood Road in October 1999.
TOMORROW
Bristol v Saracens, 3pm
Fresh from their mauling of Worcester, a buoyant Bristol show one change, with a fit-again Sam Cox coming in at centre for Andy Reay. Otherwise Richard Hill, the head coach, keeps faith with his veterans. Andy Farrell is still unavailable for Saracens. Alan Gaffney, their head coach, switches hookers after the 21-19 defeat by London Wasps. Fabio Ongaro drops out of the 22, with Shane Byrne preferred. Matt Cairns provides the back-up.
Vital statistic: Saracens have won on their past four visits to the Memorial Stadium.