Bath Rugby host Bristol Bears at the Recreation Ground on Friday night in the semi-final of the 2024/25 Gallagher PremiershipBath’s Guy Pepper and Bristol Bears flanker Steven Luatua. (Photo: Getty Images)

It is semi-final week as Bath Rugby host derby rivals Bristol Bears at the Recreation Ground on Friday night.

Ahead of the big game, South West rugby writer John Evely takes a closer look at who will likely do battle at the Recreation Ground in the play-off game.

Bath RugbyBacks

Bath’s backline pretty much picks itself, unless Scotland international centre Cam Redpath has recovered from his ankle injury in which case he could get dropped into the midfield for Will Butt. Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan was keeping tight-lipped about the injury status of his players in his midweek press conference, but whoever lines up in the centres will need to be able to combat the power of Bristol’s key man Benhard Janse van Rensburg who is so important to them getting front-foot ball. Max Ojomoh and Will Butt have both been outstanding when called upon this season.

Full-back is potentially another position up for debate, with Ciaran Donoghue the man of the moment, but I think the more experienced Tom de Glanville will get the nod with Donoghue potentially getting one of the likely two backs spots amongst the replacements as he can cover 10, 15 and wing.

15. Tom de Glanville, 14. Joe Cokanasiga, 13. Max Ojomoh, 12. Will Butt, 11. Will Muir, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Ben Spencer.

Forwards

The two big question marks in the Bath pack come at tighthead prop and number eight. At three, it is a simple toss-up between two world-class options in soon-to-be British and Irish Lions prop Will Stuart or Springbok great Thomas du Toit. Whoever starts will likey have to contend with fellow Lion call-up Ellis Genge before the replacement looks to exploit Bristol’s less potent front row second string.

The back row will see changes from the Challenge Cup final squad as England star Sam Underhill is suspended after getting cited for a high tackle against Lyon. Guy Pepper is the obvious like-for-like replacement as Bath will want to try and disrupt Bristol at the breakdown to stop Harry Randall having quick ball to play with. If Van Graan is really looking to target that area of the game, as I expect he will, he will likely opt to start with flanker Miles Reid at number eight, with Alfie Barbeary one of his heavies on the bench to be unleashed against tired bodies in the second half. It will be interesting to see if Scotland international Josh Bayliss or record ‘reserve side’ captain Ewan Richards come in to fill the spot left in the squad by Underhill’s ban which will also rule him out of the final if Bath get there.

1. Beno Obano, 2. Tom Dunn, 3. Will Stuart, 4. Quinn Roux, 5. Charlie Ewels, 6. Ted Hill, 7. Guy Pepper, 8. Miles Reid

Bristol Bears :Backs

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam confirmed that full-back Rich Lane is not expected to have recovered from the ankle injury that has him sidelined in time for this weekend’s game which means Noah Heward looks set for his second straight appearance at full-back having recovered from a hamstring injury he suffered in February that has sidelined him until last weekend. Providing everyone is fit, Bristol will likely put out the same back line that looked fluid and dangerous as they helped to run up 50-plus points against Harlequins last weekend.

15 Noah Heward, 14 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Harry Randall.

Forwards

Providing he has recovered from the knock that kept him out against Harlequins, England star Ellis Genge looks set to come in from the start this weekend. Lam needs all his aces on the pitch for as long as possible and Genge is just that. At tighthead, George Kloska is a rising star but former Bath man Max Lahiff is playing some of the best rugby of his career and is a proven performer in the scrum who will have some tussle on his hands against Beno Obano. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lam asking his front-line starters to go deep into the game.

The backrow serves up an interesting selection conundrum. Steven Luatua was named Bristol’s forward of the season at the club’s end of season awards on Saturday, and his impact is going to be massively important, the question is whether he starts over Santi Grondona, who scored a brace at the Rec back in October, or comes off the bench to provide leadership and experience in the closing stages. I would start him, but Lam may well use the former All Black as an impact man off the bench. There is slight doubt around number eight Viliame Mate who came off early against Quins looking bruised and battered. On the bench James Dun is likely to come back in to add some beef.

1 Ellis Genge, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 3 Max Lahiff, 4 Pedro Rubiolo, 5 Joe Batley, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Fitz Harding, 8 Viliame Mata