Preview: Bath Rugby vs. Leicester Tigers - prediction, team news, lineups

Two of the oldest clubs in the top flight of English rugby will collide this weekend at Twickenham, when Bath Rugby face rivals the Leicester Tigers in the Gallagher Premiership final. 

Leicester last lifted the Premiership trophy in 2022, which was their 11th English title in total, while Bath have done so six times in their history, but not once since 1996. 

Match preview

The stage is set for the Premiership final, with familiar foes set to meet at the iconic Twickenham for the first time this weekend since 1996, when Bath edged the Tigers to a 16-15 victory in the Pilkington Cup thanks to a controversial last-minute penalty try that Leicester fans have certainly not forgotten. 

Bath claimed a double that year, but since then, they have not won the Premiership title, though they came agonisingly close last season, but were pipped by Northampton in a nail-biting finale 25-21. 

However, the Blue, Black and Whites will feel that this could be their year, as they enter this season’s final gunning for a treble, having already secured the Premiership Cup and the European Challenge Cup. 

Johann van Graan’s side had a shaky start to the league season, but they have been sensational since finding their rhythm and finished 11 points clear of the rest at the top of the table before brushing off arch-rivals Bristol 34-20 in the semi-final last week. 

In terms of key head-to-head stats this season, Bath have scored 100 tries to Leicester’s 75 and have recorded 18 more clean breaks than the Tigers, while also leading in metres made (8,992 to 7,253) and total points scored (685 to 554).

Indeed, Bath have posted superior attacking numbers this season, but Leicester have been better on the defensive end, recording 2,517 tackles to their opponents’ 2,393, while missing fewer tackles as well (446 to 489). 

Leicester earned their spot in this weekend’s Twickenham showdown by overcoming the Sale Sharks in the semi-final at Mattioli Woods Welford Road last week, with Adam Radwan crossing the whitewash twice, while Izaia Perese dotted down the winner late in the day.

The Tigers endured a dismal campaign in 2023-24, finishing third-bottom with just 45 points in their 18 games, but under the guidance of Michael Cheika, they clinched second place this season, winning four of their final five league matches, though the exception was a 43-15 defeat to Van Graan’s side on May 17. 

However, with this match taking place in the English capital, this is a much more level playing field for the Tigers, who are in search of a record-extending 12th Premiership title in what will be Cheika’s swansong for the club. 

Bath Rugby competition form: WWLWLW

Leicester Tigers competition form: WWWLWW

Team News

Bath fly-half Finn Russell was listed as a doubt after sustaining an injury to his knee against Bristol last week, but reports leading up to the final suggest that he should be good to go, which will come as a huge relief to the treble hopeful’s fans. 

With Ollie Lawrence out, Cameron Redpath and Max Ojomoh will almost certainly continue in midfield for the Blue, Black and Whites after their superb performance last week, meaning Will Butt will have to settle for a spot on the bench. 

Miles Reid made a sensational cameo off the bench, which helped his side regain momentum at a crucial juncture against the Bears at the Rec, and he could be given the nod to start at the back of the pack this weekend in place of Alfie Barbeary. 

Leicester’s pack, particularly the front three of Nicky Smith, Julian Montoya and Joe Heyes, did excellently in their semi-final against Sale and will likely remain unchanged, with Dan Cole and Emeka Ilione set to come on to combat Bath’s big men in the second half. 

Handre Pollard, who will be leaving the Tigers to join his former side, The Bulls, in South Africa at the end of this season, managed to return to play after a HIA against the Sharks last week, and he should form the halves pairing alongside Jack van Poortvliet. 

Aside from the Springboks' two-time World Cup winner, it will also be an emotional day for stalwarts Cole and Ben Youngs, who are set to call time on their Leicester careers when the final whistle is blown this weekend. 

Bath Rugby predicted starting lineup: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Will Muir, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Miles Reid, 7 Guy Pepper, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Tom Dunn, 1 Beno Oban

Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Alfie Barbeary, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Ciaran Donoghue, 23  Josh Bayliss

Leicester Tigers predicted starting lineup: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Solomone Kata, 12 Joseph Woodward, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Olly Cracknell, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Hanro Liebenberg, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Cameron Henderson, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Nicky Smith

Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare, 17 James Cronin, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Matt Rogerson, 20 Emeka Ilione, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Izaia Perese

© PA Photos

We say: Bath Rugby 35-28 Leicester Tigers

Bath have been the best team in the Premiership by some distance this season and are now 80 minutes away from clinching a treble to cap off what has been a stunning season under Johann van Graan. 

Leicester held firm to fend off Sale in the semis, but they were convincingly beaten at the Rec when these two met a month ago, and we feel they will be unable to deny the Blue, Black and Whites the title this weekend. 

Written by
Devesh Jaganath

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