Gallagher Premiership weekend preview: Fixtures, team news, statistics and odds
The Gallagher Premiership kicks off this weekend, with an intriguing set of games spread over three days.
Friday 31 August
Bristol v Bath
Bristol will be without star signing Charles Piutau, who has a shoulder injury and is due to see a specialist this weekend, for their return to top-flight English rugby. Head coach Pat Lam hands competitive debuts to six players, including former Australia Test flanker George Smith and ex-Gloucester prop John Afoa, with New Zealander Steven Luatua captaining the team.
Wales international centre Jamie Roberts is among three Bath debutants for the trip to Ashton Gate, being joined by his midfield partner Jackson Willison and wing Joe Cokanasiga. England flanker Sam Underhill features in a back-row that also includes Taulupe Faletau, while Underhill's Test colleague Semesa Rokoduguni returns from injury on the wing.
Last season: No Corresponding fixture
Sky Bet: To Win - Bristol 7/4; Bath 2/5; Draw - 20/1
Saturday 1 September
Exeter v Leicester
New signing Alex Cuthbert, England wing Jack Nowell and lock Mitch Lees are missing for Exeter after undergoing summer surgery, but the Chiefs still parade a powerful line-up for their Premiership opener that includes the likes of Olly Woodburn, Gareth Steenson, Don Armand and Sam Simmonds.
Former Worcester forwards Will Spencer and David Denton will make their Leicester debuts at Sandy Park, with three more new arrivals - Kyle Eastmond, David Feao and Gaston Cortes - among the replacements. Manu Tuilagi and Matt Toomua team up in midfield, with England's George Ford and Ben Youngs the half-back pairing.
Last season: Exeter 30 Leicester 6, Leicester 20 Exeter 13
Sky Bet: To Win - Exeter 1/4; Leicester 11/4; Draw 20/1
Gloucester v Northampton
England internationals Danny Cipriani and Matt Banahan will make their Premiership bows for Gloucester. Cipriani is joined at half-back by Callum Braley, while Banahan forges the back-three unit alongside Jason Woodward and Charlie Sharples. Lock Ed Slater captains the side.
England captain Dylan Hartley has been named on the bench for Northampton after making a successful comeback against pre-season friendly opponents Glasgow last week following five months out due to concussion. New rugby director Chris Boyd hands Saints Premiership debuts to fly-half Dan Biggar, prop Ben Franks and flanker James Haskell.
Last season: Northampton 22 Gloucester 19, Gloucester 29 Northampton 24
Sky Bet: To Win - Gloucester 4/11; Northampton 2/1; Draw - 20/1
Harlequins v Sale
England flanker Chris Robshaw captains a Quins side that includes three debutants in wing Nathan Earle, centre Ben Tapuai and lock Matt Symons. Full-back Mike Brown makes his 299th appearance for the club, and exciting prospect Marcus Smith starts at fly-half.
Wing Marland Yarde will line up for Sale against his former club, with number eight Jono Ross skippering the side. Elsewhere, the Curry brothers Tom and Ben both start, and there is a Sale debut for ex-Bath forward James Phillips alongside Bryn Evans in the second-row.
Last season: Sale 30 Harlequins 29, Harlequins 42 Sale 26
Sky Bet: To Win - Harlequins 8/15; Sale 11/8; Draw - 20/1
Worcester v Wasps
Three of Worcester's new signings will line up in the starting XV against Wasps, with centre Francois Venter, fly-half Duncan Weir and prop Callum Black - who has returned for a second spell with the Warriors - all featuring. Fit-again hooker Niall Arnett makes a first league appearance since late 2016.
Billy Searle, a summer arrival from Bristol, fills the fly-half berth for Wasps at Sixways, while flanker Joe Atkinson also makes his competitive debut for the club. Searle forms a half-back partnership with Dan Robson, while England international Elliot Daly and South African Juan De Jongh team up in midfield.
Last season: Wasps 30 Worcester 15, Worcester 10 Wasps 24
Sky Bet: To Win - Worcester 6/4; Wasps 1/2; Draw - 20-1
Sunday, September 2
Newcastle v Saracens
Newcastle boss Dean Richards hands a first Premiership start to wing Adam Radwan for Saracens' Kingston Park visit. The 20-year-old scored tries in all of the Falcons' pre-season friendlies. New signing Logovi'i Mulipola starts in the front-row, where his colleagues include George McGuigan, who has returned for a second spell with Newcastle.
Wing David Strettle will make his Premiership return for Saracens after rejoining the club from French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne. Strettle, whose last competitive Saracens game was in 2015, lines up in a side that also sees starts for scrum-half Ben Spencer and lock Will Skelton. Billy Vunipola, who is recovering from injury, is not included.
Last season: Saracens 25 Newcastle 3, Newcastle 7 Saracens 29
Sky Bet: To Win - Newcastle 7/4; Saracens 2/5' Draw - 20/1
Posted 1517 on 31/8/18
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