TEAM NEWS Rokoduguni set for Premiership debut

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Created on Thursday, 22 November 2012 12:27

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 November 2012 12:29

Published on Wednesday, 21 November 2012 12:27

Bath Rugby skipper Stuart Hooper returns to the starting line-up for tomorrow night's Aviva Premiership round nine contest against Harlequins at the Recreation Ground (1945).

Hooper links up with Dave Attwood in the second row while flanker Josh Ovens makes his first Premiership start of the season alongside number eight Simon Taylor, with Guy Mercer on the open side.

South African Michael Claassens and New Zealand fly half Stephen Donald renew their southern hemisphere half-back partnership with 23-year-old Kyle Eastmond winging back in on the right.

Fijian Semesa Rokoduguni is set to make his first Premiership start, partnering Matt Banahan in the centre while Nick Abendanon comes in at full back.

Scrum half Claassens made his 150th appearance for Bath in last week's LV= Cup defeat at Quins last week and knows that tomorrow night's game will be another tough test.

Claasens said: "To test ourselves against the likes of Quins is massive for us and it's probably the biggest match of our season so far – it's a chance for us to prove we can compete with the best."

Bath Rugby starting XV 15 Nick Abendanon 14 Kyle Eastmond 13 Semesa Rokoduguni 12 Matt Banahan 11 Tom Biggs 10 Stephen Donald 9 Michael Claassens 1 Charlie Beech 2 Lee Mears 3 Anthony Perenise 4 Stuart Hooper (c) 5 Dave Attwood 6 Josh Ovens 7 Guy Mercer 8 Simon Taylor

Ready on the bench 16 Brett Sharman 17 Alan Cotter 18 Kane Palma-Newport19 Dominic Day20 Ryan Caldwell 21 Will Skuse 22 Mark McMillan 23 Jack Cuthbert

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