Aviva Premiership
David Wilson returns for Bath after three-month absence
PA Sport
May 7, 2015
David Wilson of England is tackled
David Wilson of England is tackled© David Rogers/Getty Images

England prop David Wilson returns to action for Bath on Friday night after his neck injury forced a three month absence.

Wilson missed the entire Six Nations Championship after suffering the injury against Glasgow in January.

His return for Bath's trip to Harlequins is a boost for England coach Stuart Lancaster with the 2015 Rugby World Cup just four months away.

"He's a world-class scrummager and is now England's number one," Bath coach Mike Ford told BBC.

"I'd put him in the top three tight-heads in the world."

Cross-code star Sam Burgess keeps his place in the Bath back row. Impressive performances at blindside have seen him force his way into Lancaster's preliminary squad, and he is joined by team-mates Kyle Eastmond, Jonathan Joseph and George Ford, all of whom start on Friday.

Paul James will start at prop, and he insists Bath will not get ahead of themselves as they push for Premiership title glory.

Victory at the Twickenham Stoop would guarantee Bath's place in the play-offs, joining reigning champions Northampton.

"Confidence is pretty high at the moment - it has been going well for us," James said.

"But as a group we always want to improve, so we are putting all the work we can in to make sure we are ready for Quins.

"Momentum is key. It has been going nicely, but we understand we have got to be living in the here and now.

"Our boys behind the scrum are class, and if they get space out there they can cause serious damage, so we have been working hard to make sure we can give the backs that space and the ball to do damage with."

Quins' final home game of the campaign is a confirmed sell-out, which guarantees an emotional send-off for wing Ugo Monye and lock George Robson.

Monye is to retire at the end of this term, while Robson is heading for pastures new with French Top 14 club Oyonnax. Chris Robshaw leads Quins in the absence of regular skipper Joe Marler, while Monye's return to starting duty represents a solitary change following victory over Sale Sharks two weeks ago.

© PA Sport

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