Match preview: Bath

• 5 Oct 2023
• Previews

Get set for Friday night's Scottish Building Society Pre-Season Series clash against Bath Rugby at Hive Stadium with this week's Match Preview.

HOW TO WATCH

This match won’t be live streamed, however a full match highlights package will produced for fans that miss the game.

GET YOUR TICKETS

Tickets for the capital side’s final warm-up clash at Hive Stadium are still available HERE – book now and back the squad ahead of the BKT URC kick-off.

STORY OF THE MATCH

After kicking off the Scottish Building Society Pre-Season series last week against Connacht, Edinburgh Rugby are back in action against English heavyweights Bath.

Last week saw Sean Everitt name a 30+ man squad with a mix of youth and experience, with Pro-Academy players and Super Series players being exposed to their first tastes of full professional rugby.

Tomorrow’s fixture sees the capital name a side closer to a full matchday squad, with 24 players named in a team skippered by co-captain Ben Vellacott – returning to the side fresh from having his first child last weekend.

The side from the south of England will be a familiar foe to the Edinburgh faithful, having recently visited in the 2021/22 EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 – a match that the capital men won 41-19. The visitors will be without Scotland stars Finn Russell and Cam Redpath, however still have a host of big names including Alfie Barbeary to call upon.

The men from the Rec have been busy in Premiership Cup action over the past few weeks, with the Premiership season due to start next weekend, meaning tomorrow is the last friendly hit-out before the sides’ respective league campaigns start in ernest.

TEAM NEWS

EDINBURGH RUGBY

Ben Vellacott skippers the side, with new look midfield partnership of Mark Bennett and Wes Goosen getting a runout, while GB flyers Ross McCann and Jordan Edmunds occupy the wing slots.

WHAT’S BEEN SAID

Edinburgh Rugby Senior Coach Sean Everitt:

Edinburgh Rugby Senior Coach, Sean Everitt, said: “This will be a great test for the squad and a good measure of where we’re at both physically and mentally ahead of the start of the URC campaign.

“We were really happy with a number of aspects of our game against Connacht, especially our defensive intensity and ability to turn pressure into points in the opening 40 minutes. It was also great to see so many young players step up, with Cammy Scott and Nathan Sweeney both making their first home starts.

“Bath are a really physical side with plenty of quality across the board. We’re looking forward to the challenge tomorrow night.”

LAST TIME OUT

Edinburgh Rugby ran out winners in the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 in a resounding win at Hive Stadium scoring six tries, including a brace from Pumas winger Emiliano Boffelli.

Watch back the highlights below from the Round 16 match-up.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Despite being without 16 international players due to the Rugby World Cup, Edinburgh will still be able to field a side with plenty of international experience on Friday night, while a number of younger players will also get their opportunity to shine.

Here are just a few players to look out for…

CAMMY SCOTT

Young Fly-half Scott showed all of his potential last time out, setting up two of the three tries the capital men scored in the first half against Connacht.

The young playmaker showed his ability to pull the strings in the 10 jersey, displaying moments of flair with ball in hand.

WES GOOSEN

Fresh from a try-scoring start on the wing last week, talented kiwi Goosen shifts to outside centre for the first time in Edinburgh colours.

The former Hurricanes man has experience in the position from his time in Super Rugby, and will be hoping to spark the attack into life with midfield partner Bennett at inside centre.

CAMERON NEILD

Former Sale Sharks back-row Neild was at his brutal best last time out – his first outing since joining on a short-term deal. An abrasive carrier, and hard-hitting hammer in defence, the Sharks centurion will look to pick up where he left off against the men from the Rec.