Premiership Final: Bath v Leicester Tigers - Teams and Prediction
PREVIEW: Bath will take on Leicester in the Premiership Final on Saturday, bidding to be crowned champions of England for the first time since 1996 in the latest chapter of a storied rugby rivalry.
The West Country side were the dominant force from the 1980s until the mid-1990s before Leicester took charge, becoming champions in four straight seasons around the turn of the century.
The clubs have been English champions 17 times between them, Leicester most recently in 2022, but Bath have not been top dogs for 29 years.
Bath suffered an agonising 21-25 loss to Northampton at Twickenham last year – their third defeat in play-off finals.
Bath and Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell said to his coach, Johann van Graan, after the game: “We’ll just have to do it next year now.”
Van Graan’s side has already ended their 17-year wait for silverware by winning this season’s Premiership Rugby Cup and the Challenge Cup.
But the Premiership title is the one they really want.
South African Van Graan, whose team reached Saturday’s Final at Twickenham with a 34-20 victory over local rivals Bristol, said last year’s disappointment would not change his approach.
“We’ll stick to the same process this week,” he said. “A final is a one-off.
“We have worked incredibly hard to get back to this position to go back to Twickenham, a year on from Northampton.”
This time, there is greater expectation on Bath given their dominance in the regular season – they finished 11 points clear of second-placed Leicester.
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#FEATURE: From 16-year-old analyst to the top of the Premiership, this is Johann van Graan’s story. 👇#SouthAfrica #Bath #PremiershipRugby https://t.co/O5VM5vgaJV
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Bath belief
Bath captain Ben Spencer insisted his side are now better-prepared to win the Final.
“Everyone feels different. This group’s been through enough now and played in enough big games to know how the week needs to feel and look,” he said.
“It’s taken a lot of hard work from the group. That’s one huge thing that Johann brought in, turning hope into belief and this group believes now and believes we can win big games.”
Leicester, Bath’s great rivals during their glory years, are hunting a record-extending 12th English title in the first Premiership Final between the two giants.
Michael Cheika’s men booked their place with a 21-16 victory over Sale in the play-off semifinals.
It is a dramatic improvement from the 2023/24 campaign when they finished eighth in the table.
The former Australia coach, who will be leaving his role at the end of the season after one campaign in charge, admitted Bath are favourites.
Bath humbled the Tigers 43-15 last month to complete a league double this season.
“I know we will be doubted and probably for good reason from the results and the table,” the 58-year-old Australian told BBC Radio Leicester.
He added: “We have strong self-belief internally and that will be something that will be really important. That is something we have built up over the season.
“But this is a good opportunity for us to use that belief in ourselves, because what that gives you is a hand in knowing what you will have to do.”
Players to watch
For Bath: Flyhalf Finn Russell has been fantastic all season and his battle with Handre Pollard will be an interesting one to watch. Wing Joe Cokanasiga is a powerful presence out wide and if he gets enough time and space he will be devastating. Springbok prop Thomas du Toit is one of the best in the business and he will be out to give his team the upper hand in the scrums.
For Leicester: Handre Pollard is a man for the big stage and he has proven that on numerous occasions with the Springboks. His ability to help his team win in pressure situations will make Michael Cheika a confident man. At the back, fullback Freddie Steward is another player you want in a tight squeeze, especially under the high ball. Flank Tommy Reffell is a livewire around the park and he will certainly make life difficult for Bath at the breakdowns.
Prediction
@rugby365com: Bath by five points.
Teams:
Bath: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer (captain), 8 Miles Reid, 7 Guy Pepper, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Obano.
Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Ross Moloney, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Ciaran Donoghue, 23 Alfie Barbeary
Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Solomone Kata, 12 Joseph Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Olly Cracknell, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Cameron Henderson, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 James Cronin, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Matt Rogerson, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Izaia Perese.
Date: Saturday, June 14
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 15.00 (14.00 GMT)
Expected weather: There will be sunny intervals and moderate breeze with a high of 23°C
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce and Adam Leal
TMO: Ian Tempest
AFP & @rugby365com
