MATTI Williams will make his first-ever Gallagher Premiership start for Warriors when they return to Gallagher Premiership action against Bath Rugby at The Rec on Saturday (kick-off 12.45pm).
With England newcomer Ted Hill on international duty against Japan at Twickenham and Marco Mama sidelined by a hamstring injury, Williams gets his chance at blindside after some impressive showings in the European Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup.
Williams’ previous Premiership appearances for Warriors have been as a replacement having being persuaded by Director of Rugby Alan Solomons to switch to the back row from hooker, the position he played in at Northampton Saints.
Perry Humphreys starts on the left wing in place of Josh Adams, who has been named as a replacement for Wales against Tonga, in the other change to the starting XV which beat Bristol in Warriors’ last Premiership outing six weeks ago.
Tighthead prop Nick Schonert takes his place in the front row having returned from England training this week and Duncan Weir starts at fly-half after two weeks of training with Scotland.
On the bench hooker Niall Annett, loosehead prop Ethan Waller, utility back Jamie Shillcock and South Africa international centre Wynand Olivier have been included in a Premiership squad for the first time this season.
Annett comes in for Joe Taufete’e who is playing for USA in Romania and Waller for Ryan Bower who has been ruled out for the rest of the season by an Achilles tendon injury sustained in last week’s Premiership Rugby Cup match at Saracens.
Warriors
15 Chris Pennell
14 Bryce Heem
13 Francois Venter
12 Ryan Mills
11 Perry Humphreys
10 Duncan Weir
9 Francois Hougaard
1 Callum Black
2 Jack Singleton
3 Nick Schonert
4 Anton Bresler
5 Darren Barry
6 Matti Williams
7 Sam Lewis
8 GJ van Velze (c)
16 Niall Annett
17 Ethan Waller
18 Gareth Milasinovich
19 Pierce Phillips
20 Matt Cox
21 Michael Heaney
22 Jamie Shillcock
23 Wynand Olivier