Leeds ready for battle with Bath
Leeds Carnegie have made two changes to the side that beat Newcastle Falcons for this Saturday’s big Guinness Premiership clash with Bath at Headingley Carnegie.
Phil Nilsen will come in for Vili Ma’asi, who is ruled out with a foot injury, whilst Jason Strange will start on the bench with Joe Ford coming into the starting line up in place of Ceiron Thomas, who will miss out after picking up a rib injury against Newcastle.
The game will also see Lee Blackett and Erik Lund both make their 50th starts for the club. The pair who both joined the club from Rotherham have been regulars in the side this season, missing just four games each over the campaign.
Leeds have won their last three games in all competitions and are out to record their first home win of the season and a second successive Premiership victory for the first time since November 2005.
Bath meanwhile come into the match fresh off a much needed win over their local rivals Gloucester.
Skills and defence coach Brad Davis thinks a win is a great boost wherever you are in the table and is confident therefore that Michael Claassens’ men can get a good result away from home.
“Whenever you beat a team it makes for a nice win, but what is important for us in relation to beating Gloucester is the confidence and manner with which we dominated the game,” revealed Davis.
“In the set piece we were more and more dominant as the game went on and we were well organised and hungry. I think we pressured Gloucester well.”
And it is this renewed confidence that Bath will use to set their sights on the climb up the Guinness Premiership table.
“We are looking to the team directly above us in the table right now and are going to try and climb it,” said Brad. And this weekend will be the test for Bath taking on Leeds who have also found their form last weekend beating Newcastle Falcons.
“We know its going to be a massive game at Headingley, we are fully prepared for that and the team are really looking forward to it. It will be another big game, where we can look to build on our confidence and get back to back wins again.”
The Teams
Leeds Carnegie: 15 Leigh Hinton, 14 Scott Armstrong, 13 Seru Rabeni, 12 Henry Paul, 11 Lee Blackett, 10 Joe Ford, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Alfie Tooala, 7 Hendre Fourie, 6 Kearnan Myall, 5 Marco Wentzel (captain), 4 Erik Lund, 3 Juan Gomez, 2 Rob Rawlinson, 1 Mike Macdonald
Replacements: 16 Phil Nilsen, 17 Gareth Hardy, 18 Tommy McGee, 19 Rhys Oakley, 20 Calum Clark, 21 Scott Mathie, 22 Jason Strange, 23 Henry Faafili
Bath Rugby: 15 Joe Maddock, 14 Michael Stephenson, 13 Matt Carraro, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Nicky Little, 9 Michael Claassens (captain), 8 Luke Watson, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Andy Beattie, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Stuart Hooper, 3 David Wilson, 2 Lee Mears, 1 David Flatman
Replacements: 16 Pieter Dixon, 17 David Barnes, 18 Duncan Bell, 19 Peter Short, 20 Ben Skirving,
21 Scott Bemand, 22 Ryan Davis, 23 Tom Cheeseman
Date: Saturday, 2 January
Venue: Headingley
Time: 15.00 (15.00 GMT)
