Bath 31 Saracens 22
If Bath go on to win their first European Cup since 1998, they will look back on this scruffy, desperate but ultimately joyous victory over Saracens as the defining moment. For Johann van Graan’s side had to dig deep and ride their luck during this compelling contest. Saracens, once kings of Europe themselves, raged against the dying of their light in spirited fashion, drawing on their old champions’ instincts and showing glimpses of their future in what is Mark McCall’s final season in charge.
Saracens can look back at a number of crucial moments that did not go their way, but McCall knows more than most that the only thing that matters in cup rugby is the result. Bath now face a mouthwatering quarter-final against England’s other form side Northampton Saints, Henry Pollock and all, back at the Rec next Friday night.
Bath ultimately had too much class, too strong a bench, and too much street smarts to let this game slip from their grasp against an opponent they had overwhelmed 62-15 just two weeks ago in the Prem, but were not prepared to follow the expected script.
It was the kind of attributes that Saracens used to have in abundance. Instead, their defeat all but brings to an end their hopes of silverware this season. They are 12 points adrift off the top four places in the Prem with six games to go. McCall deserved a better send-off, but rugby rarely offers a fairy-tale finish. I suspect it will be enough for him to see that it is not only clear that his players are still playing for him, but also prepared to stand and fight.
It was a poignant moment for McCall, who first lifted the old trophy the year after Bath’s first title, as Ulster’s non-playing captain for their victory over Colomiers at Lansdowne Road. A neck injury had brought his playing career to a premature end that season, a setback that fast-tracked his move into coaching, a career that would include becoming head coach at Ulster, a move to Castres and finally Saracens, where along with Rob Baxter, he is the Premiership’s long-serving director of rugby.
He guided Saracens to three European titles in 2016, 2017 and 2019, and recognises winners when he sees them. Can Bath go on and win it? “Yes, why not, 100 per cent,” he said. “It’s not just their depth, it’s the quality. There’s no reason why they can’t go all the way.”
When asked about his own involvement in the tournament, for a second the former Ireland centre came close to welling up. “I hadn’t thought of that until you asked me,” he added. “It’s a great competition, first of all. It’s a magic competition. I’ve had some good times in it and some not so good times, but I remember the good times.
“The game was close and it could have swung either way. Probably they are used to closing out games like that at the moment in their favour, which is a lovely place to be.
“Maybe our confidence to do that isn’t quite the same. We were into a very strong wind in the second half. It was a bit more straightforward for them, but we’ve had some close games this year which we’ve lost in different ways. I wouldn’t want that to be the thing because today was different. Today was a real hotly contested match between, I think, two very good teams.”
It was Ben Spencer’s try that will be framed as the moment the game swung in Bath’s favour. Trailing 14-10, Saracens looked nailed on to score a try but Andy Onyeama-Christie knocked on, Joe Cokanasiga counter-attacked with a 50-metre break and Spencer finished.
Having spent 10 years at Saracens, the England scrum-half only paid tribute to his former boss. “I think his record speaks for itself, doesn’t it?” Spencer said. “He’s a very good coach, a very good person who treats people unbelievably well. I’m sure he’ll be missed at the club, there’s a big hold to fill there but what he’s done for the club is unbelievable.”
Saracens had led 10-0 at half-time thanks to their utterly dominant scrum, a magnificent performance from Tom Willis and the precocious instinct of young scrum-half Charlie Bracken, who scampered over for a try from a breakdown, while Owen Farrell landed a penalty.
Yet Bath’s ability to turn gain the edge at scrum time after turning to their stacked bench in the second half – allied to Sarries’ line-out inaccuracies – provided the platform for Van Graan’s strike runners to turn the game on its head, with tries by Henry Arundell, Cokanasiga and Spencer thrusting them in front.
Still, Saracens refused to lie down, even playing into a stiff wind as the momentum went against them. They gave a nod to the future, and brilliant tries finished by Max Malins and Noah Caluori kept the contest a four-point game until the death, before Arundell’s second sealed the victory for Bath.
Match details
Scoring sequence: 0-5 Bracken try, 0-7 Farrell con, 0-10 Farrell pen, 5-10 Arundell try, 7-10 Russell con, 12-10 Cokanasiga try, 14-10 Russell con, 19-10 Spencer try, 19-15 Malins try, 24-15 Lawrence try, 26-15 Russell con, 26-20 Caluori try, 26-22 Burke con, 31-22 Arundell try.
Bath: S Carreras; J Cokanasiga, O Lawrence, M Ojomoh, H Arundell; F Russell, B Spencer; B Obano ( F van Wyk 67), T Dunn (K Tuipulotu 63), A Griffin (T du Toit 41), Q Roux (T Hill 60), C Ewels, J Bayliss (S Underhill 60), G Pepper (F van Wyk 48), A Barbeary (M Reid 67). Sin-bin: G Pepper, B Obano.
Saracens: E Daly (M Malins 63); N Caluori, N Tompkins, O Farrell, T Elliott; F Burke, C Bracken (I van Zyl 56); R Carre (E Mawi 56), J George (T Dan 56), M Street (M Riccioni 41), M Itoje, H Tizard (H Wilson 56, 67) , D McFarland, A Onyeama-Christie, T Willis. Sin-bin: H Wilson.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli.
Post-match thoughts of Ben Spencer
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“I am loving playing with these lads and we move on to next week now. It is huge for the club and the fans deserve nothing more than knockout rounds at The Rec. Delighted with the win but disappointed with aspects of the performance we know we are going to need to be a hell of a lot better when Northampton come.
“Loads of credit to Saracens they were very good. We were disappointed to go in 10-0 down so loads to build on going into Friday night [against Northampton].”
Last-16 ties
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Friday:
Northampton 49 Castres 41
Today:
Bath 31 Saracens 22 FT
Toulon 28 Stormers 27 FT
Glasgow vs Bulls 5.30pm
Toulouse vs Bristol 5.30pm
Harlequins vs Sale 8pm
Sunday:
Bordeaux vs Leicester 3pm
Leinster vs Edinburgh 5.30pm
Man of the match Thomas du Toit
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The South African prop came on at half-time with the Bath scrum under huge pressure and he managed to win man of the match. Here he is speaking to Premier Sports:
Full time
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That is the final act of the game as Bath beat Saracens 31-22 to book their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face another all-English tie against Northampton back here next weekend.
TRY! Arundell seals victory for Bath
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The home side book their place in the quarter-finals with a try in the final minute. They are knocking on the door, just a few metres out from the Saracens line with a penalty advantage, and Spencer fizzes a flat pass out to Arundell, who scores in the left corner. Russell drags his kick wide.
79 mins: Bath 26 Saracens 22
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Saracens are clinging on as they hold du Toit up over the line. A try there for Bath would have been game, set and match but Saracens just about stay alive.
78 mins: Bath 26 Saracens 22
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A try now for Bath would kill off Saracens’ challenge once and for all and they have possession in the Saracens 22 with just two minutes left.
TRY! Caluori gives Saracens hope
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Just as this game felt like it was done, Saracens hit back. The ball is shifted from left to right into the hands of Caluori, who cuts inside a few defenders to score and potentially make this conversion easier. Burke, now on kicking duties after Farrell went off, gets the conversion and there are just four points in this game once more.
73 mins: Bath 26 Saracens 15
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Saracens have not given up quite yet as they win a penalty just outside the Bath 22 and put it into the corner.
TRY! Lawrence crashes over for Bath
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Is that game, set and match? From just a few metres out, Lawrence runs onto a pass at pace and has the power to get through a few tackles to score. A few verbals exchanged between the two teams as well after Lawrence scored. Russell adds the extras and the gap is now 11 points.
71 mins: Bath 19 Saracens 15
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Bath win the lineout and set the maul before earning themselves a penalty. Itoje is given a talking-to about his side’s discipline and the next penalty will see Saracens lose a player to the bin.
Bath will take a quick tap.
70 mins: Bath 19 Saracens 15
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Saracens’ ill-discipline is costly right now as they concede a penalty for not rolling away inside their 22 and, instead of going for goal, Bath put it into the corner.
69 mins: Bath 19 Saracens 15
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The TMO is going to step in to take a look at a high shot from Wilson on Reid, who is only just on the pitch. Is it direct head-on-head contact from Wilson or is the initial contact on the chest. There is potentially a glancing blow to the head but was that where the initial contact was? The referee deems it to be a no-arms tackle and contact to the head so Wilson is sent to the bin. Not many complaints from Wilson as he is shown the yellow card.
68 mins: Bath 19 Saracens 15
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Double change for Bath as Obano and Barbeary head off to be replaced by van Wyk and Reid.
TRY! Malins keeps Saracens alive
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This game is not over. Saracens are in possession near the Bath 22 and, after a couple of good offloads, Caluori sends a long pass out to his left to find Malins, who has the speed to get down the left touchline to beat Cokanasiga to the corner. Farrell cannot add the extras but this is now a four-point game.
66 mins: Bath 19 Saracens 10
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Van Zyl makes a great break from inside his own half into the Bath half but has no support from his teammates so is forced to kick ahead. Cokanasiga scampers back to gather the ball and looks to set up a counter for Bath but Arundell is then bundled into touch.
64 mins: Bath 19 Saracens 10
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Pace looks to have been the difference in Bath’s revival, with tries by Arundell and Cokanasiga, who also created his side’s third by Spencer with his 50-metre counter-attack after Saracens looked to be running in a try. But in truth the change in momentum has been at the set piece. Bath in losing Obano to a yellow card for another scrum penalty at the start of the second half, actually took control of the setpiece after bringing on du Toit and van Wyk. A couple of wayward line-out throws by Jamie George at two key moments have also been key.
62 mins: Bath 19 Saracens 10
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Bath do a great job to disrupt the Saracens the maul and are awarded the scrum. It was the work of Pepper that earned Bath that scrum and the momentum has quickly shifted in Bath’s favour. Bath then win the scrum penalty before Saracens are marched back 10 metres. Mawi is told if he “makes another comment like that again” he will be sent to the bin. Backchat punished.
61 mins: Bath 19 Saracens 10
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This game is rather chaotic right now, end-to-end and open. After a great break from Itoje around his own 22, Saracens win a penalty at a breakdown just inside the Bath half. Do Saracens go for goal to make it a one-score game or go for goal? Farrell puts it towards the corner.
TRY! Spencer finishes off counter-attack for Bath
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At one end, Saracens should score before Bath then go down the other end and score. A series of clever offloads takes Saracens into the Bath 22 and are just five metres shy of the Bath line. However, Onyeama-Christie knocks on and Bath spot the chance to counter. Cokanasiga is found in space down the right touchline and he sprints towards halfway before offloading inside to Barbeary. The Bath number eight knows he does not have the speed to score so passes to Spencer, who does have enough gas to get to the corner to score before Caluori can get across. Russell cannot add the conversion. Saracens should have hit the front by scoring but instead are now nine points down.
56 mins: Bath 14 Saracens 10
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Obano’s period in the sin bin is over and Bath outscored Saracens by seven points during that period.
Saracens make a few changes in the front-row as Dan and Mawi replace George and Carre. Wilson and van Zyl also on for Saracens.
53 mins: Bath 14 Saracens 10
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The scrum dominance has now dramatically shifted. Saracens were all over Bath at scrum time in the first half but it is now the hosts dominating that area.
51 mins: Bath 14 Saracens 10
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Saracens could have hit back immediately but Caluori knocks on from the kick-off. Bath do not deal well with the restart and had Caluori caught that he was probably in for the try.
TRY! Cokanasiga puts Bath in front
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The hosts go bang bang and have come from 10 points down to now lead. From a scrum on the Saracens 10-metre line, Bath win themselves a penalty advantage and Lawrence makes a break into the Saracens 22. Lawrence’s offload goes to ground but Cokanasiga picks up the loose ball. Cokanasiga gets through a tackle and has the pace to go over under the posts. Russell gets the easiest of conversions and Bath now lead by four, despite being a man down.
49 mins: Bath 7 Saracens 10
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George is not having his best day with his darts at the lineout and another throw is not straight. Two in quick succession are costly for Saracens.
47 mins: Bath 7 Saracens 10
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How big a moment could this be? Bath were on a warning that the next scrum penalty they gave away would result in a yellow card. Obano is the man penalised and is therefore sent to the bin. Obano effectively is punished for Griffin’s tough time at the scrum in the first half, even though Griffin is no longer on the pitch.
Saracens put the penalty into the corner but George’s throw is not straight and the chance is gone for the visitors.
TRY! Arundell hits back for Bath
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The home side have their first points of the afternoon. Arundell runs a great line to go straight through a gap from Ewels’ pass just outside the Saracens 22. Arundell skips past Daly and puts his head down as he goes towards the line. Caluori does brilliantly to get back and make the tackle. For a moment, it looks like Caluori has held Arundell up over the line but the Bath winger manages to find the grass to score. Russell adds the extras and it is now a three-point game.
43 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 10
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Arundell is found in space down the left touchline and his pass inside on the edge of the Saracens 22 should go to hand but the pass is loose. Spencer’s kick ahead is regathered by Bath but McFarland does brilliantly at the breakdown to steal possession before Saracens clear their lines.
Second half
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We are back under way at The Rec. How will Bath respond to a pointless half? Well, Johan van Graan’s response is to make the expected change at tighthead prop, with du Toit replacing Griffin.
We also actually have a change of referees as Ben Connor replaces Nika Amashukeli, who took a blow to the head in the first half.
“Ruthless opportunism”
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Saracens are turning back the years. Just two weeks after crashing to a 62-15 defeat at the Rec in the Prem, they deservedly lead by 10 points at half-time. Indeed the lead could have been greater with a bit more accuracy from their backline. Bath dominated the first quarter, but couldn’t transform pressure into points, with Tom Willis the spearhead for Saracens’ rearguard action. But since then Saracens have grown into the contest, thanks largely to their dominance scrum, which has yielded several penalties, and the kind of ruthless opportunism that was a stand-out feature of their glory years. Without some sloppy handling moments by Elliot Daly and Owen Farrell they could have been further ahead. Bath looked off the pace. They have the talent to turn this game around, but this is proving far more of a challenge than they would have expected.
Bath pointless
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Not many people would have predicted 40 minutes ago that the home side would end the first half without a point. Mark McCall and Saracens will be thrilled with their first-half performance but will be wary of the quality Bath possess, both in their starting XV and off the bench. The Bath players congregated in a huddle on the pitch before they went down the tunnel and Ben Spencer in particular looked animated in those discussions. Surely Bath will bring on Thomas du Toit at tighthead prop at the break as Archie Griffin had a tough time up against his compatriot Rhys Carre at the scrum.
Last-16 ties
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Friday:
Northampton 49 Castres 41
Today:
Bath 0 Saracens 10 HT
Toulon 14 Stormers 13 HT
Glasgow vs Bulls 5.30pm
Toulouse vs Bristol 5.30pm
Harlequins vs Sale 8pm
Sunday:
Bordeaux vs Leicester 3pm
Leinster vs Edinburgh 5.30pm
Half-time
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The ball goes to ground after a loose pass and Arundell looks to counter but is tackled into touch to bring the half to an end.
Saracens lead by 10 at the break with Bath left scoreless at the end of that first half.
40 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 10
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Another scrum penalty goes the way of Saracens and Bath are warned that the next scrum penalty they give away will result in a yellow card. Surely du Toit will be on for Bath at half-time. Daly pumps the ball into the Bath 22 with the clock now in the red.
39 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 10
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It has been a half full of mistakes from Bath, the latest being a knock-on from Russell under not a huge amount of pressure.
PENALTY SARACENS!
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Farrell makes no mistake from the tee and Saracens lead by 10. Bath are now back to 15 men as Pepper returns from his period in the bin.
37 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 7
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Saracens are awarded a penalty inside the Bath 22, much to the frustration of the home fans, and the visitors take the pragmatic call to go for three to make this a two-score game...
35 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 7
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Play is halted as the referee has had an accidental collision with Bayliss. Just as we are about to resume, the referee tells George that his throw at the lineout was not straight just over five metres out from the Saracens line but that decision is then changed so Saracens will resume with the scrum. That feels like the right call in the end but some chaos to get to that decision.
Saracens’ scrum dominance continues as they are awarded a penalty. Carre is getting the better of his Welsh counterpart Griffin at the scrum. How long will it be before Bath bring du Toit on?
31 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 7
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A much improved display by Saracens. Tom Willis is giving one of those displays that reminds England head coach Steve Borthwick was he has missed this season. Charlie Bracken is outplaying Ben Spencer and the visitors are dominating the scrum. With a bit more precision they should be further ahead than their seven-point lead. The Bath crowd are tense, they sense it.
27 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 7
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Bath do well to stop the maul from moving forward so Saracens are forced to put it into the hands of the backs. Burke’s pass though to Daly is knocked on and the chance is gone for the visitors.
26 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 7
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Saracens have a penalty advantage on the fringes of the Bath 22 after Pepper played the nine. Saracens attack down their right and Caluori nearly finishes off in style in the corner but is put into touch by a combination of Arundell and Carreras just short of the line.
We go back for the penalty and it should be a yellow card for Pepper. He is on the ground in the middle of the ruck and deliberately headbutts the ball out of Bracken’s arm. It is so cynical from Pepper and rightly so is sent to the bin.
24 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 7
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That is fantastic work from Itoje, who gets himself right in the middle of the maul and disrupts proceedings so much that he wins the visitors a scrum. Saracens have already disrupted a few Bath lineouts and mauls inside their own 22 and Mark McCall will be delighted with the defence from his side so far.
Saracens then back that up by earning themselves a scrum penalty advantage and use that to great effect. Daly’s grubber kick ahead is then hacked ahead by Elliott but Arundell scampers back to gather and clear. Could Elliott have picked up the ball rather than kick ahead? Had he done so Saracens may well have scored.
22 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 7
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Willis is pinged for a clear-out too far beyond the ruck on halfway. Watching the replays, Saracens were perhaps a touch unfortunate that Bath were not penalised for a tackle off the ball a few seconds before. Bath have taken play up to the Saracens 22.
20 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 7
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Bath’s frustration continues as Dunn knocks on at the Saracens 10-metre line. You can just sense a touch of anxiety from the home fans inside The Rec, although still an hour remaining in this game.
Saracens then win the penalty from the scrum and the visitors’ confidence is growing.
17 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 7
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Saracens’ defence has stepped up thus far and they disrupt the Bath maul. The ball does not come out and Saracens are awarded the scrum just over five metres out from their own line.
16 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 7
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Street is punished for obstruction just inside his own half and Bath put the penalty into the Saracens 22.
Saracens compound one error with another as McFarland hits too early at the lineout. Russell now puts it right into the corner as Bath look to respond to that Bracken try.
TRY! Bracken’s solo brilliance puts Saracens ahead
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What a fantastic finish from young Bracken! His dad would have been proud to score that one! Saracens win the lineout inside the Bath 22 and set the maul. Bracken pulls it from George and comes down the blindside. Bracken completely deceives Cokanasiga with a great dummy before sprinting through the gap to go over untouched. The conversion is added and Saracens lead by seven.
13 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 0
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Saracens were starved of possession in the early stages but they are just starting to grow into this game. Bath are caught offside in defence not far outside their 22 and Saracens opt to go towards the corner instead of going for three.
9 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 0
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Signing for Saracens appears have brought the best out of Bath No 8 Alfie Barbeary, who has been all over this game so far against his future team-mates.
8 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 0
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Saracens have had to do a lot of defending in these early stages and will be happy with their defence thus far as good work from Carre at a breakdown not far outside his own 22 wins the visitors a penalty. Saracens will be delighted really that the score remains 0-0 despite Bath’s ball-in-hand time.
5 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 0
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Another chance spurned by the hosts as they are on the attack once more inside the Saracens 22 but Carreras’ attempted pass towards Arundell outside him to his left goes forward. Had that pass gone to hand, Arundell may have had a chance to score.
4 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 0
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Ojomoh carries Bath to within five metres of the Saracens line before Barbeary, who will join Saracens next season, is stopped just short. Bath are inches short of the line and in the shadow of the posts but Obano is held up over the line. Chance gone for the hosts but a good defensive set from Saracens.
3 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 0
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Bath have possession inside the Saracens 22 but the visitors manage to rip the ball and Itoje pounces on the loose ball. However, the ball was stripped forward by Saracens so it will be a Bath scrum 10 metres out from the Saracens line.
2 mins: Bath 0 Saracens 0
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The first penalty of the game goes the way of hosts as Burke is punished for not releasing on his own 10-metre line. A strong counter-ruck and good work from Lawrence earns Bath that penalty as the home side put it into the Saracens 22.
Kick-off
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We are under way at The Rec. Who will book their place in the quarter-finals; Bath or Saracens?
Byrn Cunningham, Bath’s new head of recruitment for next season, is in the stands at the Rec. So is Wales head coach Steve Tandy.
Bench impact
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Considering how much of a 23-man game rugby is these days, it therefore is important what these sides have coming off the bench. Bath have a loaded bench that includes South African Thomas du Toit as well as Ted Hill and Sam Underhill. Saracens have three international front-rows on their bench in the form of Theo Dan, Eroni Mawi and Marco Riccioni and three quality backs in Ivan van Zyl, Alex Lozowski and Max Malins.
Reminder of the teams
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Bath starting XV: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer, 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Alfie Barbeary.
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Cameron Redpath, 23 Miles Reid.
Saracens starting XV: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Noah Caluori, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Tobias Elliott, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Charlie Bracken, 1 Rhys Carre, 2 Jamie George, 3 Marcus Street, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Theo McFarland, 7 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 8 Tom Willis.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Harry Wilson, 20 Nathan Michelow, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Max Malins.
Mark McCall talking to Premier Sports
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The Saracens DOR has announced he will step down from his role at the end of this season, moving into a technical advisor role at the club, and with Saracens’ hopes of making the Prem play-offs looking quite slim, this could be his best hope of going out with a trophy.
Fresh, chastening memories
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It was just over two weeks ago that these sides met in the Gallagher Prem. Saracens got off to the perfect start with a try in the opening few minutes but were put to the sword by Bath, who ran in nine tries in total in a massive 62-15 victory. Those memories have to be fresh in the minds of the Saracens players; can they use that as fuel for today or are those memories still too fresh and lingering?
Up against future employers
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Saracens and England were dealt a blow when Tom Willis, who starts at number eight for the visitors this afternoon, announced that he will be going to France to join Bordeaux next season. That meant that Saracens needed a replacement at number eight and they have signed Bath’s Alfie Barbeary, who scored against Saracens just a few weeks ago and starts at eight for the hosts this afternoon.
Last-16 ties
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Friday:
Northampton 49 Castres 41
Today:
Bath vs Saracens 3pm
Toulon vs Stormers 3pm
Glasgow vs Bulls 5.30pm
Toulouse vs Bristol 5.30pm
Harlequins vs Sale 8pm
Sunday:
Bordeaux vs Leicester 3pm
Leinster vs Edinburgh 5.30pm
How these teams fared in the pool stages
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Bath:
Round one- Bath 40 Munster 14
Round two- Toulon 45 Bath 34
Round three- Castres 20 Bath 43
Round four- Bath 63 Edinburgh
Saracens:
Round one- Saracens 47 Clermont 10
Round two- Sharks 28 Saracens 23
Round three- Saracens 20 Toulouse 14
Round four- Glasgow 28 Saracens 3
Teams
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Bath starting XV: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer, 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Guy Pepper, 8 Alfie Barbeary.
Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Cameron Redpath, 23 Miles Reid.
Saracens starting XV: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Noah Caluori, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Tobias Elliott, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Charlie Bracken, 1 Rhys Carre, 2 Jamie George, 3 Marcus Street, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Hugh Tizard, 6 Theo McFarland, 7 Andy Onyeama-Christie, 8 Tom Willis.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Harry Wilson, 20 Nathan Michelow, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Alex Lozowski, 23 Max Malins.
Who will book their place in the final eight?
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It is an all-English tie in the Champions Cup last 16 as Bath take on Saracens at The Rec for a place in the quarter-finals. These teams met just a few weeks ago in the Gallagher Prem, with Bath thrashing Saracens 62-15, although the likes of Maro Itoje and Jamie George did not feature for Saracens that night.
Bath have won both Prem games since the resumption after the Six Nations, comfortably beating Saracens before winning away at Sale last weekend, which leaves them second in the Prem, one point off leaders Northampton. They won a treble last season, winning the Prem, Challenge Cup and Prem Rugby Cup.
Johan van Graan’s side won three of their four game group-stage games in the Championship, with their only defeat coming away at Toulon in a high-scoring affair. Those three victories led them to top spot in Pool 2 and thus a home tie in the last 16. Today’s match represents the first time Bath have hosted a knockout match at home in over 20 years. They reached this round of the competition in the 2023/24 season, losing to Exeter, and the last time they made the quarter-finals was back in 2014/15, when they lost to Leinster in Dublin.
Saracens have lost both games since the resumption, including that heavy loss at Bath and then a late loss against Northampton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend. Those back-to-back defeats since the Six Nations means Saracens are sixth in the Prem, 12 points off the top four with six games remaining, so with a domestic play-off spot looking like a real challenge, this competition may now be their priority.
Mark McCall’s men won both home games during the Champions Cup group stages, which included a victory over Toulouse, but lost both away games, away at Glasgow and against the Sharks over in South Africa. They finished fourth in Pool 1, which is why they are away from home at this stage.
The winner of this match will then play in another all-English tie against Northampton in the quarter-finals next weekend. Kick-off from The Rec is at 3pm.