Team news: Bristol Bears make five changes for West Country rivals

A sold-out Ashton Gate awaits Bristol Bears on Saturday as they take on West Country rivals Bath Rugby in round 12 of the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday (3.05pm KO, live on TNT Sports).

Pat Lam makes five changes from Connacht, with Academy graduates Will Capon and James Dun coming into the pack, while in the backs, James Williams starts at inside centre and Noah Heward returns from injury on the wing. Rich Lane replaces the injured Max Malins at full back.

Among the replacements, powerhouse wing Siva Naulago could make his first appearance since May 2023 after more than seven months out through injury. Fred Davies comes in for Gabriel Oghre, who joins Harry Thacker on the unavailable list.

Bristol Bears team to face Bath Rugby at Ashton Gate on Saturday (3.05 pm KO, live on TNT Sports):

15. Rich Lane (31 apps), 14. Noah Heward (15 apps), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (17 apps), 12. James Williams (34 apps) 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (33 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (30 apps), 9. Harry Randall (118 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (145 apps) 2. Will Capon (84 apps), 3. Kyle Sinckler (53 apps), 4. James Dun (27 apps), 5. Joe Batley (56 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (122 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (64 apps) (c), 8. Magnus Bradbury (37 apps).

System players: 16. Fred Davies (10 apps), 17. Sam Grahamslaw (7 apps), 18. Max Lahiff (80 apps), 19. Josh Caulfield (19 apps), 20. Jake Heenan (104 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (17 apps), 22. Virimi Vakatawa (13 apps), 23. Siva Naulago (27 apps).

Unavailable: Ellis Genge, Yann Thomas, George Kloska, Harry Thacker, Gabriel Oghre, Chris Vui, Santiago Grondona, Callum Sheedy, Jack Bates, Max Malins.