Bath BIG signing! DEALS OFF.....OR IS IT????????

First topic message reminder :

The rumour is that they will be a back possibley a 12 or 13.

I heard it might be Nonu but that is a long shot IMO.


Watch this space.



NEWSFLASH......

Looks like Ollies gone, could this mean the deal is back on?

I've got no issues with Taylor, he's been great for us

Skirving will also be in the mix, along with Ovens and Skuse (one to watch, heard it her first)

[quote="Bathite"]I've got no issues with Taylor, he's been great for us

Skirving will also be in the mix, along with Ovens and Skuse (one to watch, heard it her first)[/quote]

According to some on here...he should be Englands starting 8 already...

Bathite wrote:I've got no issues with Taylor, he's been great for us

Skirving will also be in the mix, along with Ovens and Skuse (one to watch, heard it her first)

Heard it last year watching him for Bath United, actually.

He is a good abrasive young player though, probably go on loan this season?

Oh you guys, you are so knowledgeable already, I do apologise! I think he will get some first team action, with Beattie and Moody retiring, there are more gaps this season

Heard the name Skuse around a lot, but haven't actually seen him play. Under 20s right? Is he more of an 8 or a 6?

Yep, mainly 8 at his level, but expect him at 6 a lot for the seniors. Our 6 and 8s are all capable of playing both shirts (too varying levels of ability).

Thanks Bathite. He's quite a physical lad as well I gather?

Newsflash.
It will be very soon, just waiting for all the paperwork to be in order.

HERSH wrote:Newsflash.
It will be very soon, just waiting for all the paperwork to be in order.

HERSH you should be Bath's press officer. Lots of promises, but very little action!

Why don't you go on record and say who it is?

Or at least name the position he plays in?

Their an overseas player, but it would be unfair to say who it is at the moment.

Position?

Fly Half - Dan Carter

Why would we want another world class fly half?

I also believe it would be unfair to say what position.

Is there actually a big singing? Seems a little close to the start of the season to be anoucing new ones, doesn't it?

Work permits take a while to get sometimes.

Prediction for the Bath v Blues

Bath 34 Blues 25

HERSH wrote:Why would we want another world class fly half?

I also believe it would be unfair to say what position.

Are you going to keep this pretence going until you do actually sign someone? The problem is based on the normal Bath rumour mill, instead of it being a Ma'a Nonu, it'll be a Sam Vesty

Is that the Sam Vesty who destroyed the Rabo Champions on their own turf?

34 - 25?

I'd consider that a poor scoreline against this Blues side. Very weakened, 2nd choice front row, 5/6 kids in the starting line up.

A strong Bath should beat the blues 27 - 15, too much up front for Bath, a few turnovers and 1/2p's boot keeping the blues in it.

But in reality it'll be more about the preperations both teams have made up until now, and which team are nearer their physical peaks than the other. I wouldn't be surprised if the benchs made a difference.

but these games are over by half time with all the subs that go on.

Anyway have a good one.

thebluesmancometh wrote: too much up front for Bath

I've been a Bath fan for 7 years and I can't remember that ever being the case!

HERSH wrote:Why would we want another world class fly half?

I also believe it would be unfair to say what position.

Dead right Hersh. With World Cup winning flyhalf Stephen Donald on your books you're well sorted

Bathite wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote: too much up front for Bath

I've been a Bath fan for 7 years and I can't remember that ever being the case!

Only 7 years!

How old are you man?

Bath Rugby 26 - 8 Blues

Bath
Trys: Barkley, Cuthbert

Conversions: Barkley 2

Penalties: Barkley 4


Blues
Try: Cuthbert

Penalties: Davies

So ends the preseason, Bath looking to take the winning habit up to Sixways for the opener, roll on Saturday.

Bath could be contenders this seasaon.

C'mon Bath!

Well Done Bath RFC...

Not a great game by all accounts, dyre weather and too many changes to both teams.

Roll on the new season fast.

Too right Maesteg, the phoney wars are over and now it's time for the real deal, nothing else matters, the preseason is consigned to the "nobody will remember" bin and the counting starts next Saturday.

How was Hampshire? Hope all is as good as can be with you and yours.

Bath Rugby finish pre-season unbeaten

Bath Rugby gained their third win out of three as they finished off the pre-season in style with a 26-8 victory over Cardiff Blues.

Olly Barkley, playing at fly-half, scored a try, four penalties and two conversions to give him a personal points haul of 21, with replacement fullback Jack Cuthbert providing the other try.

Barkley’s first shot at goal was wide, but he made up for it on the 10 minute mark. Dominic Day took the lineout well, passed down and a powerful driving maul was initiated up the pitch. Cardiff struggled to cope, and gave away the penalty, which Barkley duly converted. 3-0.

Leigh Halfpenny had the opportunity to level the scores for the visitors, but uncharacteristically sent the ball across the face of the posts instead.

Bath kept pressuring the Blues, and the set-piece was a dominant factor for much of the game. A smart kicking game played out to suit the wet conditions was also proving beneficial for Bath, keeping the Welsh side pinned back in their own half.

Just over a quarter of the way through the game the home side extended their lead with Barkley’s try. An extended period of pressure saw fly-half Jason Tovey try to kick clear, only for his kick to be charged down and into the hands of the waiting Dan Hipkiss. The centre looped his run forward and offloaded to Day. The lock powered through, drew the defence and offloaded to Barkley who went over in the corner. The fly-half converted his own try. 10-0.

A strong defensive effort from Bath was forcing Cardiff to work hard, and there was a hint of luck about their only try of the game. Stuart Hooper stole the lineout ball, and Bath looked to control it across the field, however David Wilson couldn’t gather the final pass, and Alex Cuthbert kicked the loose ball ahead. It was a foot race between Cuthbert and Tom Biggs, and whilst the Bath man has pace, he couldn’t quite catch the Wales international, who touched down over the line. 10-5 – Half Time score.

A cagey start to the second half saw neither side trouble the score board for the first 10 minutes, and it was Cardiff replacement Gareth Davies who scored first, with a successful penalty on 52 minutes.

It was to be the last score of the night for the visitors though, as Bath set about controlling the game. Three successive penalties from Barkley extended the lead to 19-8 going into the last ten minutes of the game, but the home side weren’t finished, and the move of the game came with just seven minutes remaining.

Another strong scrum saw Ben Skirving peel off the back and combine well with Michael Claassens to get the ball away quickly. Claassens spotted Kyle Eastmond wide on the wing and threw a perfect looping pass for Eastmond to collect. The winger danced down the line, drawing the defence as he went, and made a well-timed offload to Cuthbert who took his try well, holding off the Cardiff defender to just sneak over in the corner. Barkley added the extras, sealing a solid win for the home side. Final Score Bath Rugby 26 – Cardiff Blues 8.

Thanks BigT.

Things looking much improved for Bath if we judge on pre-season, PJ - you have to be happy with that?

HERSH wrote:Their an overseas player, but it would be unfair to say who it is at the moment.

The biggest name player i can find is Valentin Calafeteanu of Romania thats 19 letters. I think he is a scrum half for Timişoara.

I have heard that the new signing is a rugby league player who plays for new zealand and the western tigers. He could play anywhere in the backs.

Thats cool, maybe he can do the same for Bath and England that Hape did.

I've heard its benji marshall so would be a very big signing.

How many league players make the successful transition to union - think this could be rather risky.

Artful_Dodger wrote:How many league players make the successful transition to union - think this could be rather risky.

Bath havent done as well as others re league players.

You only have to look at the likes of Iestyn Harris to see how some players can't make the transition.

benji marshall is more sonny bill than shontayne hape though in terms of talent. Just look at his highlights on youtube.

Yeah, Marshall is pretty awesome in the clips I've seen.

Did you see that pass? Never seen that kind of pass done by any other rugby player in either code. Makes even dan carter look quite ordinary!

Marshall played rugby at school, and he was pretty damn good i hear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xHWBX2y7RQ&feature=related

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Things looking much improved for Bath if we judge on pre-season, PJ - you have to be happy with that?

Hey Asbo, see you had a bostin time in the OH, good win for Chiefs up in Glasgae too.

Yep, I'm pretty happy with the preseason - not so much for the 3 wins as it is only preseason - but because the problems of last season seem to have been addressed over the summer, Bath appear to have a solid forwards platform as scrum and lineout look well drilled and dependable, the 10 berth doesn't rely on "Lazarus" anymore as there are 4 players sniffing at the opportunity to play, Banahan is looking pretty damn fierce at 12, he's lost a stone, gained a fair bit of pace back and has remembered the importance of an offload; Fearnsy is looking medieval and a backrow of Louw, Mercer and Fearns looks like a tasty prospect if they can avoid serious injuries, the engine room has 5 stokers looking for work and the outside back positions are well covered.

On the whole, it's looking like a potentially good season bud.

I'll be backing the Chiefs come HC time though, representin' SW rugby.

Bath 2013 JEFF champions?

Play-off contenders I think, we'll have to wait and see once the counting starts proper.

HERSH wrote:

Bathite wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote: too much up front for Bath

I've been a Bath fan for 7 years and I can't remember that ever being the case!

Only 7 years!

How old are you man?

I'm 26, been a rugby fan and player my whole life, but grew up in the south east, with no local Orem team I could associate with. Been in west country for nearly 8 years now and successfully adopted Bath ever since!

Scrumdown wrote:I've heard its benji marshall so would be a very big signing.

If it is, I'll be moist. The guy is an unbeleivable talent and athlete!

You have your big signing, trust me Paul James will be absolutley immence for you lot, I do not think you realise what you have.

LordDowlais wrote:You have your big signing, trust me Paul James will be absolutley immence for you lot, I do not think you realise what you have.

Not that immense is he really! More like a solid player who wont let bath down.

Scrumdown wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:You have your big signing, trust me Paul James will be absolutley immence for you lot, I do not think you realise what you have.

Not that immense is he really! More like a solid player who wont let bath down.

I agree entirely with LordDowlais, come the end of the season I believe James will be considered the best bit of business done by Bath this summer; and by a fair margin at that.

Not only will he be invaluable in terms of creating the solid scrum platform so woefully absent throughout last season, but he'll also make a massive difference to bringing on the young talent Bath have in the front row.

Very, very shrewd business IMO.

Scrumdown wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:You have your big signing, trust me Paul James will be absolutley immence for you lot, I do not think you realise what you have.

Not that immense is he really! More like a solid player who wont let bath down.

You have not seen that much of him then ? I tell you now, he is one the best scrummagers up here, and although he is no Gethin Jenkins aroun the pitch, his value at the breakdown and his clearing out of rucks plus his counter rucking is second to none. Ask anybody who watches the Rabbo they will tell you the same as well.