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Bath and Leicester Tigers will lock horns at Allianz Stadium on Saturday with the Gallagher Premiership title on the line.
Bath and Leicester Tigers will lock horns at Allianz Stadium on Saturday with the Gallagher Premiership title on the line.
For Bath, success would bring their first Premiership since 1996 and would make up for losing the 2024 final to Northampton Saints.
Tigers are chasing their 12th title and first since they defeat Saracens in 2022. It is also head coach Michael Cheika’s final match in charge before he leaves after a year at the club.
In the playoffs Bath beat Bristol Bears, and Leicester Tigers defeated Sale Sharks.
SUPER TENS
Cheika isn’t the only major name leaving Mattioli Welford Road once the final whistle goes at Allian Stadium.
Double World Cup winning flyhalf Handre Pollard will also be heading off.
The South African endured a mixed performance against Sale in the semifinal. He missed all four of his conversions and shanked a late drop goal attempt from in front of the posts.
However, his vision meant he picked out Adam Radwan for a remarkable crosskick finish, and he is reported to have recovered from his collision with a post when Sale scored their try in the second half.
Pollard’s opposite number, Finn Russell, was faultless in Bath’s semifinal against Bristol Bears. The Scot and British and Irish Lions tourist scored 14 points which means he has now kicked 13 consecutive goals in all competitions.
For good measure, Russell also assisted two tries.
BACKROW BATTLE
If Olly Cracknell can repeat his semifinal performance of 22 carries, it will go a long way to giving Leicester the title. Doing so would also mean he will have made more carries than any other player in a Premiership season.
The Tigers number 8 also beat five defenders, while flanker Tommy Refell won two turnovers against Sale to take his total to 14 this season.
However, the Welshman has failed to win a turnover against one team this season, Bath.
His opposite number Guy Pepper was at his pesky best against Bristol. He won a vital turnover close to his line to stop Bristol stretching their first half lead, and along with hooker Tom Dunn made 21 tackles.
LORDS OF THE LINEOUT
Leicester’s Ollie Chessum and Hanro Liebenberg will be confident of providing their team with a stream of lineout possession having won 12 between them last weekend.
They will have to keep a close watch on Bath flanker Ted Hill though. The former Worcester Warriors man has been in exceptional form this season, and he made a vital try-saving tackle in the semifinal.
He has also made six lineout steals this season, the same amount as Chessum, and one less than his fellow Tiger Cameron Henderson.
WING WONDERS
If the semifinals are anything to go by, then the wings will be adding to their tallies.
Bath wings Will Muir and Joe Cokanasiga each scored as they overwhelmed Bristol after halftime to take their Premiership tallies to nine and eight respectively this season.
Radwan scored twice, and he has scored 10 tries in eight matches for Tigers this season, and no player has scored more tries since he transferred from Newcastle Falcons in Round 11.
The one wing that didn’t score was Leicester’s Ollie Hassell-Collins, who remains the Premiership’s joint leading try scorer with 13.
Bath Rugby Starting XV (1-15) Beno Obano, Tom Dunn, Thomas du Toit, Quinn Roux, Charlie Ewels, Ted Hill, Guy Pepper, Miles Reid, Ben Spencer, Finn Russell, Will Muir, Cameron Redpath, Max Ojomoh, Joe Cokanasiga, Tom de Glanville
Bath Rugby Replacements (16-23) Niall Annett, Francois van Wyk, Will Stuart, Ross Molony, Josh Bayliss, Tom Carr-Smith, Ciaran Donoghue, Alfie Barbeary
Leicester Tigers Starting XV (1-15) Nicky Smith, Julian Montoya, Joe Heyes, Cameron Henderson, Ollie Chessum, Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell, Olly Cracknell, Jack van Poortvliet, Handre Pollard, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Joe Woodward, Solomone Kata, Adam Radwan, Freddie Steward
Leicester Tigers Replacements (16-23) Charlie Clare, James Cronin, Dan Cole, Matt Rogerson, Emeka Ilione, Ben Youngs, Ben Volavola, Izaia Perese
