BATH v QUINS

4th v 1st


1 - Harlequins 30pts
2 - Saracens 26pts
3 - Sale 19pts
4 - Bath 18pts

On paper it should be a good game, finally got a ticket, time off work and permission from her indoors to go to a game.

How do Bath and Quins fans see this one going?

Should be a good game this, although I said that before the London Irish game too so I'm probably wrong!

It will be interesting to see which team Bath put out, in both the Irish and Wasps games I felt as if we were a bit below full strength, so it would be good if we had a full squad to choose from.
In particular it would be good if Fearns was fit again and I'd like to see Louw get a run out.

In terms of the result, its going to be hard to beat Quins, they have picked up the winning habit and frankly Bath didnt look that good last weekend. Vesty will need to bring his kicking boots and if the defence continues to be tight we could be able to get a result.

Bath BGOG, how are you feeling about the way the season has started? It seems like its the first time for a while where Bath havent been near the bottom in the pre Christmas period!

That’s true bathman, I think we're making progress but it does seem slower than I imagined when Geech and money bags came on board.

Unfortunately I can't see us having a good cup run in the HC we just seem to be a bit weak at times.

Bit worried about this one. We've done well on the road so far this year, but I'm never confident about away games. If we can win this then we'll be well on course for top four in my opinion.

Fearns, Louw and Banahan all not playing, first two not fit, along with Moody, Banners rested.

As much as I hate to say it I can see Bath winning!

Banners rested bathite? Thats a shame, he seems to have come back from the world cup with a point to prove I think.

Sadly I agree with you BATH BGOG, I dont think we are strong enough to compete in Europe. A play off place and a LV cup win would be a realistic aim I think.

HKC, youve been wanting to say that for ages havent you?!

Bathman_in_London wrote:Banners rested bathite? Thats a shame, he seems to have come back from the world cup with a point to prove I think.

Sadly I agree with you BATH BGOG, I dont think we are strong enough to compete in Europe. A play off place and a LV cup win would be a realistic aim I think.

HKC, youve been wanting to say that for ages havent you?!

It proved very difficult to say, it was almost as if I had Tourettes!

Thats just the start of the cleansing process as the evil leaves your body!

It's been three seasons since Bath had such a good start (as of round 7) of the Premiership, but it's the run in from here to Christmas that has been their downfall for the last two seasons.

I have a mild sense of excitement about the potential for the current crop of players, but it's tempered by the experience of promising players coming in and then falling short.

I'm not totally convinced by Donald's signing but I'm open-minded, I'm not convinced by the front-row combinations so far, but I think the quality is there if the right three are picked. The locks and back row options are looking good value, I'm particularly impressed with Mercer's ongoing development and I'm looking forward to the day Fearns get's back to full-fitness.

The ingredients are good, the Chef's widely regarded as Michelin 3 star, so for me it's all about getting the recipe right.

'Mon Barf!

i think bath will take this one and with the players they added to the squad and with the uncharacteristic solid start, i think they'll finish top 4.

im just not convinced by quins as yet, i sincerely hope they prove me wrong.

I'm a Quins fan and i have to say I think Bath will win this one. I've been nervous of our away matches for a while now and Bath have enough skill across the board to really trouble us.

I think it'll be an ugly game and close but Bath will do it.

Is it on TV? Might be tempted to pop down the rec if its sunny

Don't think it is on tv, Sky seem to think Newcastle v Worcester is exactly the type of match every one wants to watch.

I. Can. Not. Wait.

Newcastle V Worcester

Geeeesus! Give that scheduling bloke a slap!

Right then, might be off to the terrace on Sat then

As small as the Rec ground is, I am massively jealous of how easy it is to wander too!

Quins team is up now:

15. Mike Brown
14. Seb Stegmann
13. George Lowe
12. Jordan Turner-Hall
11. Sam Smith
10. Nick Evans
9. Karl Dickson

1. Joe Marler
2. Joe Gray
3. James Jonston
4. Olly Kohn
5. George Robson
6. Maurie Fa'asavalu
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Nick Easter

Replacements
16. Chris Brooker
17. Nic Mayhew
18. Kyle Sickler
19. Tomas Vallejos
20. Luke Wallace
21. Danny Care
22. Rory Clegg
23. Matt Hopper

Brilliant to see Care back in the side for this match, he could be just what we need in the final quarter of the game and i bet he is itching to get out there.

Having looked at the team, maybe a sneaky Quins away win?

We arent resting anyone for the H-Cup then! When is Ugo and Guest going to be back from injury.

Bath Rugby team to face Harlequins

15. Nick Abendanon

14. Olly Woodburn

13. Dan Hipkiss

12. Matt Carraro

11. Tom Biggs

10. Sam Vesty

9. Michael Claassens

1. Nathan Catt

2. Lee Mears

3. David Wilson

4. Stuart Hooper (c)

5. Dave Attwood

6. Ben Skirving

7. Francois Louw

8. Simon Taylor

Replacements

16. Ross Batty

17. Charlie Beech

18. Anthony Perenise

19. Ryan Caldwell

20. Guy Mercer

21. Chris Cook

22. Tom Heathcote

23. Jack Cuthbert

Don't think it is on tv, Sky seem to think Newcastle v Worcester is exactly the type of match every one wants to watch

Tigers vs LI is also on Sky.

Shame this one isn't being televised as it should be an interesting game. Will Donald make his debut and what effect will this have on Bath's game, will they find a new tactical kicking weapon which has been lacking in recent years?

Wilson v Marler - that will be an interesting international matchup

Mears v Grey - as above

Attwood v Robson

Abendanon v Brown

There are a lot of England squad players in Bath that Quins players would do well to proove themselves against.

The battle of the back-rows will be pretty big.

I've seen Guest training as usual with the team so hopefully soon? As to Ugo, well his original injury should have seen him back for the LV cup...So god knows now, could be a reocurrence of his back problems maybe?

As to resting for the cup, it seems like the management are putting greater importance on the prem for the moment, maybe if we do well in the opening two weekends then more focus will go on it but at the moment i'm happy their keeping their minds on the Jeff.

And we could possible see changes like Guest, Wallace, Valejos, York, Brooker, Fairbrother, Care, Monye all starting in a weekends time.

I think the Fa'asavalou/Robshaw combo could work very well, two powerful ball carriers who tackle well could bully the smaller Bath backrowers.

Donald won't be in the team for a couple of weeks yet. We have addressed some of the tactical kicking and Vesty has been ok from the T, but its still the front 5, especially front row I think. Attwood had a stormer last week and its great to have Louw in there. I think Perenise will be a force, but will take a long time to adjust. Don't forget Tonghaui took a year playing in the championship and lots of bench time before he became a monster!

I am looking forward to hearing how Louw goes, I'm hoping he is going to become a real force in our back row. Its a fairly workman-like Bath midfield I think, so I'm not expecting all out flowing rugby from the home side...

yappysnap wrote:Don't think it is on tv, Sky seem to think Newcastle v Worcester is exactly the type of match every one wants to watch.

I. Can. Not. Wait.

ESPN are showing New v Wor tonight (the only game), Sky went for Tigers v LI over Bath v Quins for tomorrow, then ESPN showing are showing Wasps v Saints on Sunday.

Yea realised after i had posted that it was ESPN, still at least the pundits are quite interesting!

That's a good point about the Bath midfield. Do you think that you're now trying to get away from your champagne rugby style of the past and have a lot more attritional approach to the game ala Tigers?

To be honest it looks like the teams caught in the middle of both styles at the moment.

another try from attwood... one try apiece quins 13-7 up

i fancied bath for this one but would love to see quins keep winning.

Happy with that result

I agree - just seen the ESPN highlights. A win is a win. It looks like Quins kept playing to the end re: Browns last minute try.

You can never get an accurate feel from the highlights though - does anyone know how these head to heads were -

Wilson v Marler
Mears v Grey
Attwood v Robson