Aviva Premiership preview: Hard French exam awaits teenager Charlie Ewels on his debut for injury-hit Bath

The weekend preview

Joe Lauchbury signed a contract extension with Wasps on Friday (GETTY IMAGES)

Bath v Toulouse (Saturday 3.15pm)

Charlie Ewels, a 19-year-old forward from Bournemouth, makes his first start for the Bath grown-ups at No 8 against Toulouse this afternoon... and he should be fine. It’s not as if he’s up against anyone much good, is it? Just Thierry Dusautoir, Imanol Harinordoquy and Louis Picamoles.

In all seriousness, Ewels will put down a king-sized marker for the future if he survives in one piece against three of the highest-performing loose forwards to grace northern hemisphere rugby in recent times. It may be that we saw the best of Dusautoir and Harinordoquy at the last World Cup, when France rose above all manner of internal trouble and strife to make the final and go within a single kick of winning it. Picamoles is in his prime, however – and he happens to be Ewels’ direct opponent.

These two clubs were at the heart of the European project at its genesis in the mid-1990s and there have been some memorable contests between them down the years. Bath’s injury issues in the back row have clearly weakened them, though, and now that the England centre Kyle Eastmond has added himself to the casualty list they will do exceptionally well to hold opponents boasting such rich talents as Maxime Médard, Vincent Clerc, Luke McAlister, Patricio Albacete and dear old Toby Flood, of Newcastle and Leicester fame.

Northampton v Ospreys (Saturday 5.15pm)

The English champions cannot afford to mess up this afternoon, having retreated from Paris last weekend without so much as a losing bonus point to comfort them. The loss of the Samoan centre George Pisi does not help, but even more concerning is the form of the best regional side in Wales – a team growing to its fullest size under Steve Tandy, the coach, and Alun Wyn Jones, the captain, both of whom have done a brilliant job in Swansea.

Ospreys are not the rock-star team of old; indeed, big-name players are at a premium. But with Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb performing so strongly at half-back, they are equipped to ask serious questions of the Midlanders.

Wasps v Harlequins (Sunday 5.15pm)

Hugely encouraged by their successful campaign to keep Joe Launchbury out of the grasping hands of various rivals – the key England forward signed a contract extension on Friday – Wasps will back themselves to prevail against their age-old London neighbours tomorrow.

James Haskell, still struggling with the viral infection that put him in hospital earlier this week, is missing from the pack, but there has been much to admire from Ashley Johnson, Nathan Hughes, Bradley Davies and Matt Mullan of late.

Quins, short of outside-half cover for Nick Evans, will have to kick their goals and trust to luck that Joe Marler and the recalled Kyle Sinckler can draw the sting from a fast-improving Wasps scrum.

Best of the rest

Leicester have demoted England outside-half Freddie Burns to the replacement ranks for tonight’s trip to Scarlets after a series of curate’s egg contributions.

Owen Williams moves from No 12 to No 10 against his old club, thereby creating space for Anthony Allen’s return to the back division.

Sale, faced with the thankless task of travelling to Clermont Auvergne on Sunday, welcome back the influential All Black flanker Daniel Braid after weeks of injury hassle, although the club captain is on the bench and will play only a bit-part role.