The Bath Rugby Thread

[HERSH]

First topic message reminder :

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[HERSH]

TRYYYYYYY

[HERSH]

LOUW

[HERSH]

22-27 FT

[HERSH]

It was Never in doubt

[HERSH]

Great away win for the Mighty Bath, it wasn't pretty but the boys got the job done, we're begining to look like we know what we are doing.

Watch out top 4!

[Bathman_in_London]

A tbp away in France is a good result, whatever the competition! Any idea of where I can find the highlights? I'd love to see Bath targetting this for a bit of silverware this season...

[HERSH]

Bath v Glaws final would be good

[gregortree]

Yes, well done Bath. And I'd look forward to that final too.

[HERSH]

It would be great what better way to win two on the trot against Glawster.

[gregortree]

Hersh, you lost the last few encounters against Glaws.
And now you have to wait until 2 March at the Wreck, for your next shot at vengeance on Glaws.

[HERSH]

Glaws won't win at the Rec this season, so the Amlin final would be our 2nd win on the bounce against Glaws.

If Glaws get to the final!

[Bathman_in_London]

They had better not win at the Rec this year, its getting ridiculous!

Mind you, european form so far, Bath get an away TBP against a team that was in the H cup recently, Glaws scrape a win away at a side who were playing against Calais 3rd XV recently...

[beshocked]

Congrats on the good form in the Amlin guys. Keep up the good work.

[gregortree]

Glaws are saving themselves in the Amlin, just doing enough, no more.
Keep the boys from injury / fatigue for the long haul.
Too bad Hazell broke ranks and saw red, but Glaws are in for further improvement fom here on.

[PJHolybloke]

Congrats on the good form in the Amlin guys. Keep up the good work.

Damn British of you sir.

Now get back in that Heino and dish some out, a good strong start from almost all of the AP clubs, but nilling Embra like that was the stand out result, TBP and all! Astounding performance.

[PJHolybloke]

The most important part of this stage of "The Other Cup" (TOC) is to make sure you avoid the HC drop-downs come quarter final time.

Bath's hardest fixture was Agen away, so to come away with a TBP is a strong achievement, the next hardest fixture is Calvisano away which is the second part of the December double-header. I would expect Bath to pick up TBP from all of their home games, so a win out in Calvisano would leave Bath on 29 points out of a possible 30, there are possibly two other clubs that could reach that total, Perpignan and Stade, however I think it's too big an ask for either of them.

Bath have to keep showing up like they have in the first two games, and a home quarter against another Amlin side is on the cards, at home none of the other Amlin clubs bother me, so it's all to play for.

[HERSH]

Chiefs vs Bath

Not a good time to play them seeing as they got chewed up and spat out all over Sandy Park on Saturday.

I think it will be close, in fact I'm going to sit on the fence and say it could go either way.

[PJHolybloke]

I'm backing the BB&W HERSH, Chiefs have put in a massive effort over the last two weeks, they've used their first choice squad in successive defeats and that, I think, will work against them.

Bath have had an extra 2 days rest too, coming off the back of the performance against Agen, I'm beginning to believe that Bath can and will win these close games at home. I just hope the players believe it too.

[sirtidychris]

Just heard nick koster is confirmed!! So that's heathcote, koster, agulla,
banahan and Webber all to be coming into the team at some point...things are on the up!

[Guest]

What position is Koster? We do need another 8, or we might lose one of Ovens, Skuse or Skirving if he is a 6. Hopefully or presumably that makes a first choice back row of Fearns, Louw and Koster - as 6, 7 & 8.
Mercer also looks like being out of favour and this is probably Taylor's last season - would like to see the back row becoming more settled.

[sirtidychris]

Koster is a flanker and number 8 my guess is that he will be starting at 8. He is 6ft 4 and has great pace and started his first game for stormers on the wing! As with all baths signings he has chronic injury problems and leaves the stormers with a few angry fans for not forfilling his massive potential. He is only 23 though and arrives at the rec fit to play.... Tweets from people in the know ( Schalk britz and saffa journalists) indicate we have a major signing here. To add a bit of interest to things he has english grandparents and there is talk that his move is partly because he wants to play for england (unconfirmed of course!).

Mercer has been working his way back from injury in the a team and I would hope to see some starts soon as he has buckets of potential as a fetcher. As far as letting anyone go I would imagine that will sort itself out with taylour likely retiring and sadly louw will likely be back to Africa in the not to distant future. That said mercer, skuse, ovens, louw, skiriving, talour, fearns, koster is alot of players for 4 match day postions, but back row always seems to be hit hard by injuries...just look at leicester !

[HERSH]

BIG signing!

I think he can play wing as well?

[HERSH]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20071158

So it looks like Bath and Western Province are buddies

GG
"Hopefully it will allow players to potentially spend time with the other club as and when the opportunity should arise."

[Guest]

Who would we send over there? We don't have that many squad players spare unless they spent the summer months in the WP squad.

[sirtidychris]

Maybe send guys like devoto, woodburn, palma-newport, batty, etc academy and development lads to do a sabactical and come back improved, it made the career of guys like martin johnson, tom palmer, julian white, tom wood etc by spending time in new zealand. I guess if they have an injury crisis as well would try help them out and also give some of their academy lads training and united rugby

[Bathman_in_London]

Kosters signing is good news I think, what bath have been lacking is strength in depth and a young player with a point to prove is much better than a big name over here for a payout in my opinion. Our starting backrow is strong but beyond that it's a little bare, in stark contrast to someone like sarries who seem to have a constant stream of good quality forwards.

Good news on the tie up with wp too, it can only be good to have the academy players learning their rugby in different locations to pick up new ideas.

Also, anyone else going tomorrow? It will actually be my first rec trip of the season, looking forward to it!

[HERSH]

Bath Rugby team to face Exeter Chiefs

15. Nick Abendanon
14. Kyle Eastmond
13. Dan Hipkiss
12. Ben Williams
11. Tom Biggs
10. Stephen Donald
9. Michael Claassens
1. Paul James
2. Lee Mears
3. David Wilson
4. Dominic Day
5. Dave Attwood
6. Carl Fearns
7. Francois Louw (c)
8. Ben Skirving

Replacements

16. Brett Sharman
17. Nathan Catt
18. Anthony Perenise
19. Stuart Hooper
20. Will Skuse
21. Mark McMillan
22. Sam Vesty
23. Horacio Agulla

[HERSH]

Great win for the BB&W

[HERSH]

Match report

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20034287

[sirtidychris]

Anyone got any news on Rob Webber, Tom Heathcote and Matt Banahan's recovery....Rob Webber was 3 months back in September so I guess its new year for him but its been surprisingly quiet on banahan and Heathcote...I have no idea what banahan has done to his knee are we looking at 6 weeks or 6 months ? And I would have though we would have seen heathcote by now ??its been very quiet on the news update front.

[Bathite]

Pretty sure that Banners and Heathcote are available for the game next week

[HERSH]

Next up London Welsh.

Anything less than a 5 pointer will be a disappointment for Bath.
I'm expecting a decent winning margin too.

[Bathite]

I wouldn't be so cocky. We're likely to be missing Fearns and Louw from the back row. Skuse had a blinder last week, but still two huge losses for us.

Welsh have proven to be no pushovers, certainly not at home. I'll be chuffed with a win, as I am with any away win, but don't think a TBP is realistic

[HERSH]

A TBP is a must for Bath IMO, I think teams are showing too much respect to LW, they're cannon fodder.

[Bathite]

A TBP is a must for Bath IMO, I think teams are showing too much respect to LW, they're cannon fodder. :ok:

I think you're misguided and being a touch disrespectful to a team that's beaten Exeter at home and got a LBP againts Glocs.

I'm expecting / hoping for a win and will be gutted if we don't but i'll take 9-6 right now

[HERSH]

LW 12 - Bath 34

[Bathite]

So looks like

Fearns, Louw and possibly Taylor out due to injury
Wilson away with England
Koster won't be risked
Banahan and Heathcote in contention for 23

[sirtidychris]

Potentially paul james away with Wales ? this is a good chance to test our front and backrow depth and give our young english lads a chance to gain experience. Would be likely looking at similar players we saw against bucharesti.... Probably perenise and catt up front with beech/palma newport on the bench then in the backrow would be looking at 6)skirving 8)Skuse 7)Mercer and Ovens.

Not first choice but we have some real talent in depth and we need to start bringing them through. The back line is a nice conundrum with agulla, banahan and heathcote all battling to get in there with the current established team.

[Bathite]

James definitely available for us, but after the game he is away with Wales

[Bathite]

I think we will be looking at the following lineup

James - Mears - Perenise
Attwood - Day
Skirving - Skuse - Taylor

Claas - Donald
Williams - Hipkiss
Biggs - Eastmond - Bendy

Beech - Sharman - KPN - Spencer - Ovens - MMM - Heathcote - Agulla

[HERSH]

Not a bad team IMHO, more than enough to pick up a 5 pointer

[maestegmafia]

Can't wait, I get to see the two English premiership teams i follow on one weekend.

Should be a good occasion Bath having pushed on from a bad day with Gloucester to a good day with Cheifs...

London Welsh's early season good form has dwindled a bit, but I wouldn't underestimate them. They are not an easy team to beat.

[HERSH]

I didn't know you were a Bath fan Mae!

Lets be friends

[maestegmafia]

Possibly Henson at Fullback this weekend apparently....

London Welsh XV

Henson, MacKenzie, Parker, Jewell, Voyce, Ross, Keats; Montanella, Briggs, Ion; Purdy, Corker; Mills (capt), Hills, To'oala.

[Bathite]

3 Ex Bath lads in there. Montanella vs. Perenise is a concern, but James should pulverise Ion

[sirtidychris]

Hipkiss suspended for this game because of his ball catching whilst yellow carded antics! This really shows our weakness in the centres as i trying to think of another viable outside centre ?

Perhaps Horacio Agulla as he found himself playing 13 against England in the World Cup after both Tiesi and Contepomi were injured for argentina also Agulla
has been training at outside centre during the recent chamionship series. Would probably prefer to see him as supposed to vesty unless banahan or heathcote are fit ?

[Bathite]

Plenty of options mate, how about these for starters. I think the first one is the most likely, don't think Banners will be risked, will probs be on bench. Would love to see Eastmond at 13 though

12 Vesty
13 Williams

12 Banahan
13 Williams

12 Williams
13 Agulla

12 Williams
13 Eastmond

12 Williams
13 Cuthbert

[sirtidychris]

Good stuff yep plenty of food for thought...my only worry is that none of those players are outside centres but either wingers, fullbacks, inside centres or flyhalves (people filling in a role) If heathcotes fit you can always move donald to 12 as well !. Agree will probably see vesty slotting in somewhere but for excitement sake would love to see horacio or Kyle given a shot at 13 !

[Bathite]

After all that, it was a combo that neither of us mentioned!

James
Mears
Perenise
Day
Attwood
Hooper
Skuse
Skirving

Classens
Donald
Biggs
Williams
Banahan
Eastmond
Bendy

Beech, Sharman, KPN, Spencer, Mercer, MMM, Vesty, Agulla

So, a defensive back row, but should be strong at set piece, especially as Montanella apparently isn't starting.

Big boshing centres vs Parker and Henson should be a good match up. Interesting to have Agulla on bench and that back up front row looks strong too.

[sirtidychris]

Very big team and lots of options come lineout time !...like you say big backline with donald, williams and banahan, hope its not asking too much of banners to come straight back in but he is our best option at 13 with hipkiss out. Not a very mobile pack and personally would have preffered to see mercer start over hooper...but thats a mobile explosive bench to really stretch LW and look for a bonus point in the last 20 minutes....come on bath !!!!

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