Round six of the Gallagher Premiership ignites local pride and historic rivalries with three intense derbies set to take place.
Bath face Bristol under the Friday night lights at The Rec in a West Country Derby, while Sale, riding high in second place, confronts Newcastle at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Leicester Tigers host Northampton Saints in an East Midlands derby, a pivotal match for the Tigers to revive their season on Saturday.
Meanwhile, table-topping Harlequins brace for a showdown against Saracens in a blockbuster London Derby at the Stoop, and on Sunday Exeter Chiefs aim to rebound from a stumble as they host Gloucester at Sandy Park.
Matthew Luddington offers insights into the sixth round of the Gallagher Premiership.
Bath vs Bristol, Friday 17 November (7:45 pm kick-off, TNT Sports)
Bath Director of Rugby Johan van Graan makes three changes to the side that produced a sensational turnaround against Gloucester, coming from 20-10 down at half-time to win 45-27 at Kingsholm. Jaco Coetzee comes in at Number 8, Scottish international Cameron Redpath starts at inside centre and Matt Gallagher gets the nod at full-back.
Bath look a transformed side since the arrival of Finn Russell, and are playing some of the most entertaining rugby in the Premiership and look contenders for the Top 4.
By contrast Bristol have suffered three consecutive defeats, but the timely return of Ellis Genge should help arrest the slide.
Genge is one of four changes, with Max Lahiff returning at tight-head prop, James Dun coming in the back row, and Piers O’Connor starting on the wing.
Bristol’s combinations haven’t quite clicked in recent weeks, but they will be hoping this is a chance for stars such as Virimi Vakatawa and Bernhard Janse Van Rensburg to make their mark at the club.
Bath Rugby: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer (c), 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Miles Reid, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Jaco Coetzee.
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 GJ van Velze, 20 Alfie Barbeary, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Max Ojomoh.
Bristol Bears: 15 Rich Lane, 14 Piers O’Conor, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Harry Randall (c); 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 Ed Holmes, 5 Joe Batley, 6 James Dun, 7 Harry Thacker, 8 Magnus Bradbury.
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Josh Caulfield, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 James Williams, 23 Max Malins.
Sale vs Newcastle, Friday 17 November (7:45 pm kick-off)
England flanker Ben Curry captains a Sale side that features 14 players who hail from the north of England in their matchday squad. Fly-half Rob du Preez replaces the rested George Ford at fly-half as Sale Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson names a strong team with England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie set to debut for the club from the bench.
Sanderson fields an extremely powerful forward-pack including academy graduate James Harper, Agustin Creevy and Bevan Rodd. Giants Jonny Hill and Cobus Wiese start in the second-row, with Ernst Van Rhyn and Daniel Du Preez joining Curry in the back row.
Newcastle Falcons Director of Rugby Alex Codling makes 13 changes from last week’s heavy defeat to Saracens, with winger Louis Brown set to make his Gallagher Premiership debut. Scrum-half James Elliot who joined from Jersey Reds will debut alongside Josh Thomas. Newcastle are missing their four Argentina stars through injury and rest, along with Adam Radwan and Jamie Blaimire, and it could can be a challenging evening for the Falcons.
Sale Sharks | 15 Joe Carpenter, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Sam James, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Arron Reed, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Bevan Rodd, 2 Agustin Creevy, 3 James Harper, 4 Cobus Wiese, 5 Jonny Hill, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 7 Ben Curry ©, 8 Dan du Preez.
Replacements | 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ross Harrison, 18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour 19 Ben Bamber, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Tom Curtis, 23 Alex Wills.
Newcastle Falcons | 15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Louis Brown, 13 Zach Kerr, 12 Cameron Hutchison, 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Josh Thomas, 9 James Elliott; 1 Phil Brantingham, 2 Bryan Byrne, 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Tim Cardall, 5 Kiran McDonald, 6 John Hawkins, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Callum Chick (captain).
Replacements | 16 Charlie Maddison, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 John Kelly, 20 Josh Bainbridge, 21 Josh Barton, 22 Louie Johnson, 23 Oliver Spencer.
Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints, Saturday 18 November (3:00 pm kick-off)
Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby Dan McKellar selects srum-half Ben Youngs for his 28th East Midlands derby, and Tommy Refell is fit and returns at openside flanker. Ollie Hasselll-Collins and Guy Porter return to the backline, with James Cronin and Joe Heyes afforded starts at prop.
The Tigers are in ninth with only one win this season, and desparetly need a victory here to stay in touch with the pacesetters.
Northampton Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson makes six changes to his side, notably Lewis Ludlam returns to lead the side, alongside Tom Pearson and Alex Coles in the back-row. Chunya Munga partners Alex Moon in the second-row, as Trevor Davison starts at tighthead alongside Alex Waller and Curtis Langdon in the front-row. Tommy Freeman returns in the centres, alongside Fraser Dingwall, and James Ramm starts on the wing.
The Saints are in fine form having won their last three games, and are looking to record a second-consecutive win at Welford Road.
Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Josh Bassett, 13 Guy Porter, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 James Cronin, 2 Charlie Clare, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Cameron Henderson, 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Hanro Liebenberg (c), 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Jasper Wiese
Replacements: 16 Archie Vanes, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Sam Carter, 20 Matt Rogerson, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Matt Scott
Northampton Saints: 15 George Furbank, 14 George Hendy, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 James Ramm, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Alex Waller, 2 Curtis Langdon, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Alex Moon, 5 Chunya Munga, 6 Alex Coles, 7 Tom Pearson, 8 Lewis Ludlam (c)
Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Ethan Waller, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Tom Lockett, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Tom James, 22 Rory Hutchinson, 23 Ollie Sleightholme
Harlequins vs Saracens, Saturday 18 November (5:30 pm kick-off)
Table toppers Harlequins have made a scintillating start to the season, and Director of Rugby Billy Millard has made just two changes to the side that won at Welford Road last week as Jack Walker comes in at hooker, and Andre Esterhuizen starts at inside-centre.
Harlequins have produced their sensational attacking rugby this season, but have an improved defensive steel about them this season. They will require all of this against a full-strength Saracens side.
Mark McCall hands former Harlequin Hugh Tizzard a start in the second-row, and Juan Martin Gonzalez continues at blindside flanker afer impressing on his debut against Newcastle. Owen Farrell makes his 150th Premiership appearance. Saracens’ firepower off the bench includes Theo Dan, Tom Willis and Ben Earl, and that could be pivotal in the final quarter of a match likely to be close.
Harlequins: 15. Nick David, 14. Tyrone Green, 13. Oscar Beard, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Louis Lynagh, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Will Porter; 1. Joe Marler, 2. Jack Walker, 3. Will Collier, 4. Joe Launchbury, 5. George Hammond, 6. Dino Lamb, 7. Will Evans, 8. Alex Dombrandt (c)
Replacements: 16. Sam Riley, 17. Fin Baxter, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Chandler Cunningham-South, 20. James Chisholm, 21. Danny Care, 22. Jarrod Evans, 23. Will Joseph
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Ivan Van Zyl; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Andy Christie, 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Tom Willis, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Olly Hartley, 23 Tom Parton
Exeter vs Gloucester, Sunday 19 November (3:00 pm kick-off, TNT Sports)
Exeter are three from three this season on home turf in the Gallagher Premiership and have not lost at Sandy Park since October 2022. Scott Sio, Jack Yeandle and Ehren Painter return in the front row, and second-row Rusi Tuima and No 8 Aidon Davis also start in five changes to the pack from last week’s defeat at Northampton.
Gloucester suffered a horrendous reverse to Bath last week at Kingsholm, and Director of Rugby George Skivington says his side are hurting and looking to bounce back. Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit returns to the side, and Micky Young gets the nod at scrum-half. Gloucester have suffered three defeats in a row, and desperately need to get their season back on track, but a trip to Sandy Park is as tough as it gets.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Tommy Wyatt, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ben Hammersley, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Tom Cairns; 1 Scott Sio, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Ehren Painter, 4 Rusi Tuima, 5 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 8 Aidon Davis
Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Nika Abuladze, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Lewis Pearson, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Stu Townsend, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Olly Woodburn
Gloucester Rugby: 15. Santi Carreras, 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. Chris Harris, 12. Seb Atkinson, 11. Ollie Thorley, 10. George Barton, 9. Micky Young; 1. Mayco Vivas, 2. George McGuigan, 3. Fraser Balmain, 4. Freddie Clarke, 5. Matias Alemanno, 6. Albert Tuisue, 7. Lewis Ludlow (captain), 8. Jack Clement
Replacements: 16. Santi Socino, 17. Harry Elrington, 18. Ciaran Knight, 19. Arthur Clark, 20. Freddie Thomas, 21. Stephen Varney, 22. Mark Atkinson, 23. Louis Hillman-Cooper
