MX23RW : Tuesday, October 23 16:21:03

Burns to keep Bath place despite errors against Toulouse

Bath are looking to bounce back against Wasps.

Freddie Burns will start at fly-half for Bath against Wasps despite his mistakes against Toulouse last week.

Burns cost his side victory by celebrating too early and being caught out before touching the ball down, shortly after missing a simple penalty.

Bath director of rugby Todd Blackaddder said: “Freddie started for us at 10 earlier in the season and we have every confidence that he’ll do the job.”

Will Chudley will make his competitive debut for the Somerset side as Joe Cokanasiga also returns to the starting line-up for Bath, along with Jack Walker as captain Rhys Priestland is out with a knee injury.

Wasps have named an unchanged side to play against Bath as they look to bounce back from their heavy defeat to Leinster in the previous round.

Wasps boss Dai Young said: “It’s important we start the game well and we don’t make mistakes with the ball early doors. We need to get some momentum and fire some shots of our own.”

Exeter’s Tom Lawday will be given his first European start at number eight for the game against Castres.

Ollie Atkins and Wilhelm Van Der Sluys join Lawday in the side in place of injured Sam Skinner, Dave Dennis and Dave Ewers.

The Chiefs boss wants his side to build on the way they finished their opening Champions Cup tie against Munster.

Baxter said: “I think it will be an interesting clash of styles, but if we identify those threats, we stay switched on, and we deal with them through our own systems working correctly, then we can really concentrate on ourselves.”

French champions Castres make four changes to their starting line-up from the side which played Gloucester.

Ma’ama Vaipulu, Steve Mafi, Daniel Kotze and Antoine Tichit come in to replace Tudor Stroe, Christophe Samson, Alex Tulou and Paea Fa’anunu in the starting 15.

Gloucester Rugby are set to bring in Matt Banahan and Ed Slater to strengthen their team for the Munster game.

Banahan will replace Charlie Sharples on the wing and Ed Slater will come in for Gerbrant Grobler at second row and as captain.

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann said of the opposition: “They’ve been very successful in the past in the competition but, on the pitch, we control out own destiny.”

Munster have made four changes to the side that drew 10-10 with Exeter, all in the pack, including an brand-new front row.

James Cronin, Rhys Marshall, John Ryan and Tommy O’Donnell come into the Munster side.

Saracens are set to make five changes from the previous game to play Lyon at Allianz Park.

Billy and Mako Vunipola will be replaced by Richard Barrington at loosehead prop and Jackson Wray at number eight.

Nick Tompkins will also come in in place of suspended Alex Lozowski as Liam Williams returns on the wing, replacing David Strettle, and Ben Spencer will start at nine.

Lyon are set to make a massive 10 changes to their starting line-up from the side that lost to Cardiff Blues in the previous round.

Racing 92 make four changes to the side from the first round for their first ever meeting with Ulster in the Champions Cup.

Teddy Thomas, Juan Imhoff, Dominic Bird and Bernard Le Roux all come into the starting 15 for the French team.

Marty Moore, after his impressive debut for Ulster against Leicester will start in the second row while Kieran Treadwell and David Shanahan have also been brought into the side.

Edinburgh make just one change to the team to play Toulon at Murrayfield. Jaco van der Walt starts at stand-off in place of Simon Hickey who is dropped to the bench.

Toulon have made four changes to the match squad from their one-point loss at home to Newcastle.

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