Investec Champions Cup: Finn Russell starts for Bath as Iain Henderson returns for Ulster
- Published
Scotland fly-half Finn Russell failed to get out of the pool stages at the World Cup
Investec Champions Cup: Pool 2 - Bath v Ulster |
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Venue: The Recreation Ground Dates: Saturday, 9 December Kick-off: 15:15 GMT |
Coverage: Live radio and text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app. |
Fly-half Finn Russell starts for Bath in their opening Investec Champions Cup game against Ulster on Saturday.
The 31-year-old Scottish international has impressed since joining the Premiership side from Racing 92.
Ireland lock Iain Henderson returns from injury to captain Ulster, who make four changes for their trip to the Rec.
Stewart Moore, Nathan Doak and Dave Ewers also return, while South Africa's World Cup-winning prop Steven Kitshoff makes his European debut.
Russell continues his strong half-back partnership with Ben Spencer which has helped Bath to second in the Premiership.
England centre Ollie Lawrence, who won the Premiership player of the month award for November, returns to the side to partner Cameron Redpath.
Lawrence, 24, who replaces Max Ojomoh, is the only change to Johann van Graan's side which impressed in a 41-24 victory over Exeter at the weekend.
This means the impactful back row of Miles Reid, Sam Underhill and Alfie Barbeary is retained.
Former Ulster hooker Niall Annett could also feature against his old side off the bench.
Kitshoff is part of an unchanged front row alongside Irish internationals Tom Stewart and Tom O'Toole, but Henderson's return means Kieran Treadwell drops to the bench.
Ireland hooker Rob Herring has overcome a calf complaint for a place among the replacements, while Matty Rea makes way for Ewers in the back row.
Moore replaces Will Addison at full-back while Doak is preferred to John Cooney at scrum-half.
Ulster, winners in 1999, begin their European campaign following back-to-back United Rugby Championship defeats by Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Last season, Ulster progressed beyond the pool stages only to be comprehensively beaten by Leinster in the last 16.
Bath, winners in 1998, will also face Cardiff Rugby, Russell's former side Racing 92 and Toulouse in Pool Two.
Bath: Gallagher; Cokanasiga, Redpath, Lawrence, Muir; Russell, Spencer (capt); Obano, Dunn, Stuart, Stooke, Ewels, Reid, Underhill, Barbeary.
Replacements: Annett, Schoeman, Du Toit, Van Velze, Coetzee, Schreuder, Bailey, Butt.
Ulster: S Moore, Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale, Burns, Doak; Kitshoff, Stewart, O'Toole, O'Connor, Henderson (capt), Ewers, Timoney, McNabney.
Replacements: Herring, Warwick, M Moore, Treadwell, Rea, Cooney, Flannery, Lowry.
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)