FIT-AGAIN Carl Fearns admits he has a fight on his hands to reclaim a spot in the Bath back-row, writes HARRY ABBOTT.

Bath’s loose forwards contingent has been decimated by injuries recently, with Fearns, Matt Garvey, Francois Louw and Alafoti Fa’osiliva all requiring spells on the sidelines.

Garvey was first to make his comeback last month and Fearns has twice featured as a replacement over the past fortnight, while Louw and Fa’osiliva are also back in training.

In their absence, the likes of Charlie Ewels and David Sisi stepped in and Fearns said: “Those boys have done amazingly well while we’ve had a few people out.

“I remember Charlie Ewels making his starting debut against Toulouse. He was up against the likes of Louis Picamoles and Thierry Dusautoir and didn’t look out of place at all.

“And someone like Dave Sisi has done really well too. He’s strong, a really powerful carrier and can cause defences problems.”

Fearns is chomping at the bit for a place after two months out with an ankle problem, adding: “It’s been good to get back out there. I am ready to start again if the coaches pick me.”

Bath: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 George Ford, 9 Chris Cook, 1 Nick Auterac, 2 Ross Batty, 3 Henry Thomas, 4 Stuart Hooper (captain), 5 Dominic Day, 6 David Sisi, 7 Carl Fearns, 8 Leroy Houston.

Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Paul James, 18 David Wilson, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 Alafoti Fa’osiliva, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 Sam Burgess.

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