Bath prop Henry Thomas is hurt, he can't continue, and David Wilson is going to replace him.

Bath drive, drive and drive again after a line-out. Sale survive but, moments later, Semesa Rokoduguni embarks on a mazy run, skipping past the Sale defence. Rhys Priestland is then almost in for Bath's third try but he loses the ball at the final moment. Sale escape. It's all Bath.

Guy Mercer is having a fine game so far and he exemplifies Bath's first-half dominance with a turnover and the Rec loves that!

Sale are yet to get into gear, if we're being honest. There is plenty of time for them to turn things around though.

So where have performances like this from Bath been hiding this season? Mike Ford's side are completely in control, against a Sale side that beat them 29-17 just six days ago.

A penalty is awarded against Sale for not rolling away and, from around 40m out, George Ford kicks Bath into a pretty sizeable 17-point lead.

That early score has pleased the home crowd. They're desperate to see a home win, after this season of relative misery for the Somerset club.

Sale are yet to settle and have knocked on twice in these early stages.

The second meeting of Bath and Sale in the space of six days, has begun.

It's a bright, April afternoon in Somerset and kick-off is coming up very soon.

The stands, I promise, have filled up significantly since Sale posted this photo...

Image source, Getty Images

The build-up to this match has received added interest with the news that Bath and the RFU are in talks over a potential role for first-team coach Neal Hatley in the England coaching staff.

Bath managing director Tarquin McDonald confirmed to BBC Radio Bristol that those "conversations were current" earlier this afternoon.

Hatley, 46, has been with Bath since 2012.

Bath make changes to their pack for the second of their back-to-back Premiership games against Sale, as Charlie Ewels and David Denton return.

Sale make three changes, with David Seymour returning at open-side flanker, Johnny Leota replacing injured centre Sam Tuitupou and Ross Harrison coming into the front row.

Bath: Priestland; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Devoto, Banahan; Ford (capt), Cook; Catt, Webber, Thomas, Ewels, Attwood, Denton, Mercer, Houston.

Replacements: Dunn, Lahiff, Wilson, Day, Douglas, Homer, Clark, Williams.

Sale: Haley; Addison, James, Leota, Edwards; Cipriani, Stringer; Harrison, Taylor, Cobilas, Evans, Ostrikov, Ioane, Seymour (capt), Easter.

Replacements: Briggs, Lewis-Roberts, Mujati, Mills, Nield, Mitchell, Ford, Brady.

Image source, Rex Features

Welcome to our live text coverage of this afternoon's Premiership match between Bath and Sale Sharks, which kicks off at 15:15 BST at the Rec.

Bath, lying ninth and enduring a disappointing season, host sixth-placed Sale, who have serious hopes for a top-six finish in May.

Both side's might prefer to have been involved in European semi-final action this weekend, but this league fixture is a long-awaited game in hand for both, after the original match was postponed, in order that the Blue, Black and Whites could face Toulon following the deadly attacks on Paris.