Bath's Borthwick smokescreen exposes paranoia

It is reassuring to know that rampant paranoia is alive and kicking, even at this nascent stage of the Guinness Premiership campaign. Take Bath, who have long been of the opinion that everyone is out to get them.

They spent all week in Trappist mode with regard to Steve Borthwick's dodgy knee - MI5 released more hard news about Kim Philby than the West Countrymen issued on the subject of their stricken captain - and it was only yesterday, after suggesting the England lock might be fit to face Northampton at Franklin's Gardens this afternoon, that they confirmed what everyone knew in the first place. Borthwick is a no-no.

Wasps, meanwhile, are leading the field when it comes to erroneous team announcements. Indeed, they are nearly as barefaced about it as Leicester once were, which takes some doing. The Londoners like to name a starting line-up and then watch puzzled members of the paying public try to square it with the one that takes the field. If we didn't know better, we'd think they were trying to pull the wool over the eyes of their opponents. And that would never do, would it?

For the derby with Harlequins at Adams Park tomorrow, the former European champions have named Jeremy Staunton at inside-centre. Staunton is an interesting choice, not least because the Irish outside-half was meant to play in the centre against London Irish eight days ago, but was cut from the run-on team shortly before they actually ran on. Will he play from the start this time? Yes, according to Ian McGeechan, the Wasps director of rugby.

"We have four quality outside-halves at our disposal at the moment, all of whom could do an excellent job for us," the Scot said yesterday. "However, putting Jeremy at 12 gives us an extra decision-maker and opens up our options. I'm looking forward to seeing how this midfield combination perform together."

Quite why professional teams impose D-Notices on injury news, or indulge in jiggery-pokery on the selection front, is one of the mysteries of the age. Rob Cunningham - a resourceful coach during his days at Bristol - used to play all kinds of daft games before derby encounters with Bath, irrespective of the fact that the likes of Stuart Barnes and Jeremy Guscott could hardly have cared tuppence who materialised on the other side of the half-way line. Still, if it makes these people happy...

Leicester are far more transparent than they once were, so there is every reason to assume that Jordan Crane, their summer signing from Leeds, will make his Premiership debut for the Welford Roaders against Gloucester - probably the pick of today's little tête-à-têtes. Crane, highly regarded by all the best judges, plays on the blind-side flank in a pack shorn of Ben Kay, Louis Deacon, Shane Jennings, Alex Moreno and Henry Tuilagi. This early-season injury fall-out is doing nothing for the humour of Pat Howard, the man charged with picking the team, but it will tell him all he needs to know about the strength of his squad. Gloucester being on a roll, a decisive result in the Midlanders' favour today will send out a clear message to the rest.

London Irish, penalised together with Saracens by being forced to play a home game at Twickenham as part of the London double-header on the opening day of the season, finally return to the Madejski Stadium this afternoon, where the unbeaten Bristol are the visitors. Bristol played at the same venue this time last year and would have won, but for some refereeing of the visually challenged variety. It will be harder for them today, even if the officiating is up to scratch, for the Exiles are unrecognisably better than they were 12 months ago.

With Mike Catt and Olivier Magne, two of the game's more imaginative players, restored to the side after missing last week's defeat at Wasps, the smart money must be on a home victory. With internationals from six nations in the starting XV - plus Tongan, Canadian and Scottish Test players on the bench - they have quality in most areas, if not all of them.

Premiership team news

* NORTHAMPTON v BATH (Today, 1.30pm)

Lock Matt Lord starts his 100th game for Northampton. Rob Fidler replaces Steve Borthwick (knee) at lock for Bath.

LONDON IRISH v BRISTOL (Today, 2.45pm)

Mike Catt returns from injury for London Irish and Olivier Magne from illness. Bristol are unchanged.

LEICESTER v GLOUCESTER (Today, 3.0pm)

Geordan Murphy returns to Leicester back line, Jordan Crane makes first start of the season in back row. Gloucester have all-French front row of Patrice Collazo, Olivier Azam and Christian Califano.

WASPS v HARLEQUINS (Tomorrow, 3.0pm)

Wasps have picked fly-half Jeremy Staunton at centre and scrum-half Eoin Reddan makes first start of season. No homecoming for Harlequins' former Wasp Stuart Abbott, who is on a three-week ban.

SARACENS v NEWCASTLE (Tomorrow, 3.0pm)

All eyes will be on the Saracens' bench as Andy Farrell should come on for Premiership debut. Toby Flood steps in to Jonny Wilkinson's shoes at fly-half for Newcastle as John Rudd makes a first start.