Baxter handed Under 21 boost

Scrum-half Baxter joins Bath clubmates, fly-half Ryan Davis, No 8 Chris Goodman and prop Dave Ward in the squad, from which the final selection for the Under 21 Six Nations Championship will be taken.

Baxter, who made his full Bath debut in the 33-7 win over Harlequins just before Christmas, has been tipped as a future England scrum-half.

But Bath's current injury crisis is so bad the 20-year-old has been selected on the wing for tomorrow's Heineken Cup 'dead rubber' against Bourgoin in France tomorrow (6.15pm).

On the other wing is flanker Michael Lipman as Bath travel with just 21 fit players and can bench just six out of a possible seven replacements.

But head coach John Connolly believes the match is valuable preparation for the crucial run of upcoming Powergen Cup and Zurich Premiership matches.

Connolly, who has confirmed he will leave Bath when his two-year contract expires at the end of the season and take a 12-month break from the game, said: "We are travelling to France with the objective of winning the match.

"It is as simple as that. Yes, selection has been restricted by injuries, but there are players that are coming in to the squad who are chomping at the bit to play some rugby and they are all very good players."

Wales international duo Geraint Lewis and Chris Loader are handed their chance, while impressive second row combination Rob Fidler and James Hudson will also start.

Hooker Lee Mears also returns to the side for the match against a Bourgoin side that are currently flying high in the French Championship.

Mears suffered a blow to the head during the Saracens game on New Years' day, but has recovered to start while last week's man-of-the-match Dave Ward returns to bench duty.

Bath: Daniel, Baxter, Crockett, Barkley, Lipman, Malone, Walshe, Loader, Mears, Stevens, Fidler, Hudson, Beattie (capt), Scaysbrook, Lewis, Subs: Ward, Barnes, Borthwick, Grewcock, Feaunati, Ovens.