Aviva Premiership FINAL - Bath Rugby v Saracens, 30 May

First topic message reminder :

         
BATH RUGBY v SARACENS
Saturday 30 May 2015
KO: 14:30
Twickenham

Live on BT Sport

Referee: Wayne Barnes (156th Premiership game, 6th final).
Assistant Referees: JP Doyle & Greg Garner.
TMO: Graham Hughes.

A. Head to Head - Aggregate

38 Played 38
13 Wins 23
23 Losses 13
2 Draws 2
82 Tries 87
68 Conversions 60
82 Penalties 107
2 Drop Goals 4
798 Points 888
26 Avg. Age 27

B. Head to Head - This Season

Sun 15 Feb 15: Saracens 34 - 24 Bath Rugby

Fri 3 Oct 2014: Bath Rugby 21 - 11 Saracens

C. Run-In

Bath Rugby

23/05/15 Bath 47 - 10 Tigers

16/05/15 Bath 50 - 30 Gloucester

08/05/15 Quins 26 - 27 Bath

Saracens

23/05/15 Saints 24 - 29 Saracens

16/05/15 L Welsh 17 - 68 Saracens

10/05/15 Saracens 20 - 24 Chiefs

D. Teams

Bath Rugby

Watson; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Eastmond, Banahan; Ford, Stringer; James, Batty, Wilson, Hooper (capt), Attwood, Burgess, Louw, Houston.

Replacements: Webber, Auterac, Thomas, Day, Garvey, Fearns, Cook, Devoto.

Saracens

Goode; Strettle, Taylor, Barritt, Wyles; Farrell, Wigglesworth; M. Vunipola, George, Du Plessis, Kruis, Hargreaves (capt), Itoje, Burger, B. Vunipola.

Replacements: Brits, Barrington, Figallo, Hamilton, Wray, de Kock, Hodgson, Ashton.

And back to the actual rugby?

LondonTiger wrote:And back to the actual rugby?

His Mother must have been a serious weightlifter.

TightHEAD wrote:Surely Italian restaurants don't count towards a salary?

In the case of Castro and Geordie they didn't. Judging by the fact it wasn't open long I doubt they got much out of it either.

Anyway back to the Rugby, is the roof going to be open?

Saracens team to face Bath
15 Alex Goode
14 David Strettle
13 Duncan Taylor
12 Brad Barritt
11 Chris Wyles
10 Owen Farrell
9 Richard Wigglesworth
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Petrus Du Plessis
4 George Kruis
5 Alistair Hargreaves ©
6 Maro Itoje
7 Jacques Burger
8 Billy Vunipola
16 Schalk Brits
17 Richard Barrington
18 Juan Figallo
19 Jim Hamilton
20 Jackson Wray
21 Neil de Kock
22 Charlie Hodgson
23 Chris Ashton

Bath's website has crashed

LondonTiger wrote:Bath's website has crashed

Or maybe the FBI have turned up to investigate Salary Cap breaches?

I do think its a very interesting sign that Itoje seems to have overtaken Brown (assuming he is not injured) and Wray for that no.6 shirt. He has had a run of appearances in some important games

lostinwales wrote:I do think its a very interesting sign that Itoje seems to have overtaken Brown (assuming he is not injured) and Wray for that no.6 shirt. He has had a run of appearances in some important games

they gain physicality, which they may need against Bath, but lose out on breakdown. Louw could have a field day.

15. Anthony Watson 14. Semesa Rokoduguni 13. Jonathan Joseph 12. Kyle Eastmond 11. Matt Banahan 10. George Ford 9. Peter Stringer 1. Paul James 2. Ross Batty 3. David Wilson 4. Stuart Hooper (c) 5. Dave Attwood 6. Sam Burgess 7. Francois Louw 8. Leroy Houston.

REPS: 16. Rob Webber 17. Nick Auterac 18. Henry Thomas 19. Dominic Day 20. Matt Garvey 21. Carl Fearns 22. Chris Cook 23. Ollie Devoto

Any idea who said this ?
“We think a league where everyone plays home and away should be decided by the league champions, which is what the Premier League in football does and every other mature league in the world.”

No Ashton again.

Irish Londoner wrote:Any idea who said this ?
“We think a league where everyone plays home and away should be decided by the league champions, which is what the Premier League in football does and every other mature league in the world.”

either Nigel Wray or Ed Griffiths?

Blatter's victory speech?

Webber won't be happy about losing his starting spot ahead of the RWC especially with England rival Jamie George starting for the opposition and in good form.

Two teams that look strong and physical. The Bath backs X factor could have a massive impact in this one.

lostinwales wrote:I do think its a very interesting sign that Itoje seems to have overtaken Brown (assuming he is not injured) and Wray for that no.6 shirt. He has had a run of appearances in some important games

Brown is injured although Itoje is playing well.

Bathman_in_London wrote:Talking of salary caps, when do people think the last time a team winning the league were under the cap? I would go out on a limb and say never... Certainly during the 2000's to say cheating was rampant would be an understatement.

That's the point, everyone was at it so it was a level playing field. People are only making a fuss now that its being policed.

Anyway enough of this cap nonsense, good luck today

this will be a huge test of how well Bath (but especially Ford) can keep their composure. We all know how Sarries will play. They will generally kick the ball long and harry the Bath ball looking for mistakes. Get turnover ball in the Bath half and then they will look to attack - otherwise they will be looking to force penalties.

Bath can mix the game up - but need to be making the right decisions. Old man Stringer shoudl be a help in this.

This is the main event of the day for me. Can't wait. It will be like a mini international out there.

Come on Bath.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Webber won't be happy about losing his starting spot ahead of the RWC especially with England rival Jamie George starting for the opposition and in good form.

Two teams that look strong and physical. The Bath backs X factor could have a massive impact in this one.

Webber hasn't been first choice for the second half of the season. He's lucky to be in that RWC squad I think.

Bath to win by 10+

George Ford is currently at the apex of english rugby, not since the time of sir jonny of wilkinson has the power in the game rightly been in the hands of the half.

Tell me if I'm wrong, but this is Potter versus Voldemort today right?

kingelderfield wrote:Bath to win by 10+

George Ford is currently at the apex of english rugby, not since the time of sir jonny of wilkinson has the power in the game rightly been in the hands of the half.

Tell me if I'm wrong, but this is Potter versus Voldemort today right?

Potter versus Malfoy at the very least.

Agreed Bathite. Had we more capped hooks available I think Webber would be missing out.

Not sure about Potter vs Voldemort. Farrell us too young and wields far to little power to be Voldemort. This is more Harry vs Draco. The Draco analogy works further when you consider Farrell's father.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Agreed Bathite. Had we more capped hooks available I think Webber would be missing out.

Not sure about Potter vs Voldemort. Farrell us too young and wields far to little power to be Voldemort. This is more Harry vs Draco. The Draco analogy works further when you consider Farrell's father.

Not sure about the Voldemort-Potter analogy either. Is Bath truly Potter-esque in goodness? Or are Bath Voldemort? I are be confused.

I think we can all agree that if anyone is Voldemorte, it's the permatanned Bruce Craig.

I'm sure he is a commedable chap but, as we say in Scotland, if he was chocolate, one strongly suspects that he would eat himself.

Swinging forearm to the jaw from Farrell in the opening minutes. Later in the game and that's a clear yellow. Barnes bottled it.

I Did say Bath could struggle and so far I am right.

Yes, Bath not at the races so far.

Shame for Watson and a bit naughty from Farrel. Saracens just clinical from mistakes.

Has anyone got a link to a decent steam of this game?

What a hit by Burgess massive!!!!!!!

This is a good game!

offload wrote:Swinging forearm to the jaw from Farrell in the opening minutes.  Later in the game and that's a clear yellow.  Barnes bottled it.

It's a costly mistake when he then scores the first try and also Watson doesn't return.

I can't stand Sarries - but I have to say they are playing really well.

Come on Bath - pathetic so far!

Welly wrote: I Did say Bath could struggle and so far I am right.

You ain't kidding............

Ouch! Bath heading for an early bath...

I think Farrell was going for a chest high tackle and Watson dipped into it. I initially thought it should be a card but there was nothing in the slow motion replay.

Bath are shooting themselves in the foot and Sarries are clinical.

I love being right!

Bath are overrated in the forwards and if they are up against clinical backs will struggle against bigger packs.

Bath need 1/2 time. Probably their worst 40 mins of the season.

Saracens are great front runners.

Got a lead and then all they do is tackle like mad and make the opposition make mistakes and that is what we are seeing.

Farrell and Goode should both have been sinbinned imo.

1 thing I would like to know is why Saracens are allowed to play that awful song on a neutral ground!

No 7&1/2 wrote:1 thing I would like to know is why Saracens are allowed to play that awful song on a neutral ground!

Think teams are allowed to pick songs to be played when they score a try.

Welly wrote: I love being right!

Bath are overrated in the forwards and if they are up against clinical backs will struggle against bigger packs.

Bath pack absolutley stuffed.

Main plus from an England point of view is it will be brilliant if Wales start james against us!!!

LT I agree on the Goode infringement that should have been yellow. He knows that Roko is past him and cynically takes him out with a shoulder (no arms).

Welly wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:1 thing I would like to know is why Saracens are allowed to play that awful song on a neutral ground!

Think teams are allowed to pick songs to be played when they score a try.

And pens but I bloody hate it. Used to annoy me at football matches let alone. Lets hear the fans!

I don't think I've seen a Bath forward carry the ball over the gain line yet. Sarries can stand and tackle all day long like this. If the Bath pack don't start asking a few questions thisn could be a cricket score.

Just turned on my live feed (no telly as I'm in the office ).

Holy shyte. Is it really 25-6?

No it is 6 - 25 actually.