preseason/freindly results and form

First topic message reminder :

Just thought we can make a topic where all the preseason match results to see how each team is doing and who might be suprises at the stsrt of the season.

Scarlets 15 - 23 Exeter
Worcester 17 - 21 Cardiff Blues
Racing Metro 40 - 28 Quins
Quins 40 - 15 London Scottish
Nottingham 10-44 London Irish
Wasps - London Irish
Connacht 7-31 Wasps
Toulon 41 Glaws 17
Munster v Glaws
Montpellier 52-12 Tigers
Newcastle 23-10 Connacht
Saracens 61-3 Cornish Pirates
Wasps 32-12 London Irish
Jersey 7-69 Leicester
Ospreys 23-19 Worcester
Ulster 21-19 Leinster
Moseley 32-38 Northampton
Exeter 51-7 Bristol
NG Dragons 22-20 Bath
Blues 45-24 Sale
Munster 28-17 Gloucester
Northampton 24-6 Edinburgh
Zebre 28 - 5 Mogliano
Ospreys 23 - 19 Worcester

Ozzy - 2 tries for your no. 8, Joe Fisher. Not sure how it ended as we had to scoot 4 mins from the end. Our cab turned up early and we didn't want it bandited. It was wazzing down!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23825521

Highlights of the Ulster-Leinster friendly last night at Ravenhill.

From what I can get from others who were there Hound there were one or two positives for us, and three or four negatives to work on.  For a lot of our guys it was their first hit out, so hopefully some rust will be out the system now.

yappysnap wrote:Quine have beaten Glasgow 19-16. From what I. An tell it started very well for us with a lot of endeavour and a very well worked team try. And then either the weather got worse or Glasgow picked up their game and we went off the boil but it wad nearly all pens to Glasgow from then in. Hopper scored late in the game to win it for us.

Highlights of Quins-Glasgow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17k34lz4-Vs&feature=youtu.be
 
Decent dust up and bodes well for Glasgow, particularly as that wasn't even close to our first XXIII.
 
A friend of mine who was at the Stoop confirmed that Fusaro against Robshaw was an almighty tussle.
 
Well done to both sides.

Good try by McGuigan too after excellent work by our No 8 - was it Ashe ?

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Good try by McGuigan too after excellent work by our No 8 - was it Ashe ?

'Twas Richie 'I'm really a centre' Vernon.

Jeez he has bulked up a bit - make a cracking centre !!!!

George Carlin wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Quine have beaten Glasgow 19-16. From what I. An tell it started very well for us with a lot of endeavour and a very well worked team try. And then either the weather got worse or Glasgow picked up their game and we went off the boil but it wad nearly all pens to Glasgow from then in. Hopper scored late in the game to win it for us.

Highlights of Quins-Glasgow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17k34lz4-Vs&feature=youtu.be
 
Decent dust up and bodes well for Glasgow, particularly as that wasn't even close to our first XXIII.
 
A friend of mine who was at the Stoop confirmed that Fusaro against Robshaw was an almighty tussle.
 
Well done to both sides.

For me Quins 1st try isn't valable as at exactly 11 seconds in the video we see quins player in front of the ball making contact with Glasgow's defenders.

How many times we saw that though? rules need to be clarified if they aren't applied.

Worcester lose at the Liberty Stadium in The Ospreys opening game of the 2013/14 season...!

https://www.606v2.com/t46412p50-ospreys-riverside-lounge-2013-14#2249769

Good 23-10 win for us(Falcons) against a strong Connacht team. We were missing roughly a 1/3 of our expected 1st team so pretty happy.

Missed the game but apparently the scrum was strong and our lineout superb(it was a shambles last season).

Phil Godman came on at half time and apparently had a stormer  

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Good 23-10 win for us(Falcons) against a strong Connacht team. We were missing roughly a 1/3 of our expected 1st team so pretty happy.

Missed the game but apparently the scrum was strong and our lineout superb(it was a shambles last season).

Phil Godman came on at half time and apparently had a stormer  

Can someone stop the world please? I don't think that I want to live here any more.

Blues outside-half Rhys Patchell produced a second-half masterclass to help the hosts turn around a 17-3 deficit to thrash Sale Sharks 45-24.

https://www.606v2.com/t39202p450-cardiff-blues-transfers-2013-matthew-rees-named-captain

George Carlin wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Good 23-10 win for us(Falcons) against a strong Connacht team. We were missing roughly a 1/3 of our expected 1st team so pretty happy.

Missed the game but apparently the scrum was strong and our lineout superb(it was a shambles last season).

Phil Godman came on at half time and apparently had a stormer  

Can someone stop the world please? I don't think that I want to live here any more.

Haha, I thought similar! If was the official report but he pinged touch line pens through and got some of his trademark reverse passes in apparently. He'll be handy for us if he gets back to his limited best tbh

From Bath RFC website.

Newport Gwent Dragons 22 Bath Rugby 20

23 August 2013, 10:05pm

Bath Rugby were denied a second successive pre-season win this evening against a resilient Dragons side at Rodney Parade.

The first-half was a closely fought encounter, dominated largely by both set of forwards. In slippery conditions, both teams struggled to maintain any decent possession but it was Newport who thought they had the early breakthrough, crossing over the line only for the ball to be held up.

Pressure on the Bath line eventually told and the Dragons drew first blood. Dan Evans touched down for the opening try after quick hands from a scrum led to the fullback sneaking over in the corner. Fly-half Jason Tovey converted after 13 minutes played. 7-0.

Bath had an instant chance to respond through George Ford, but his penalty drifted just wide of the mark. Ford soon found himself with a chance to make amends though, after a dominant driving maul from the Bath pack. This time there was no mistake with the kick from the fly-half. 7-3

The boys in Blue, Black and White were beginning to find some momentum and following some more good work, big bulldozing runs and an initial jinking run from Micky Young , Rob Webber found a small gap in the defence to dart over the line. Ford was on target with the conversion, taking the score to 7-10.


Half-time score: Newport Gwent Dragons 7 - Bath Rugby 10.


Bath made two changes at half-time with Martin Roberts and Anthony Watson coming on for Micky Young and Semesa Rokoduguni, with Watson making an instant impact on proceedings, stretching for the line only to have been ruled just short by the referee.

Two successive penalties for the Dragons, one from the half-way line, put them back in the lead and control of the game, but Bath instantly responded through some fine individual play by Watson. The young back took advantage of a loose pass amongst the Dragons, chipped the ball ahead, gathered his own kick and sprinted away to dive over the line. Tom Heathcote was on target with the conversion to move Bath back into the lead after 66 minutes. 13-17.

The game looked set for a close finish when the Dragons were awarded a straightforward penalty in front of the posts, from which Kris Burton moved his side back into the lead, leaving just one point in it.

Indiscipline then threatened to cost the Dragons as Lewis Evans and a few minutes later Ian Nimmo were both sent to the sin bin for deliberate foul play. However, it was the hosts who edged further in-front with another penalty, this time for Jason Tovey.

A nervy final few minutes were in store for both teams and their supporters, as Bath were then awarded a penalty. Heathcote remaining composed to slot the ball between the posts and give his side a slender one point lead.

Just as the game looked to be over, the Dragons then had a last minute penalty opportunity of their own - Tovey was again on target for his team.

With a matter of seconds remaining on the clock, the game restarted with the visitors mustering another good strong driving maul. Their efforts looked to have paid off as the referee awarded Bath with a chance to snatch the win right at the death and in the process had another man sent to the sin bin.

Heathcote lined up the kick but it drifted agonizingly wide, just denying the visitors a second successive pre-season victory.

Wasps v irish was a poor game, wasps being the better of the sides in a scrappy game. There was very little free flowing rugby but to be fair it was very wet. Wasps got two penalty tries and a pushover from a rolling maul. Irish tries were both close range from fisher who was goood. Sam jones and goode played well and simpson. Fisher and o leary good for irish. Cant read much in to it as so many players missing. Scrum first half irish dominated with aulika edging mullan. Second half wasps dominated it with harris, ellis and hagan struggling. Munster next week for irish where hopefully humphries, halaufia, treviranus, sinclair, yarde, ojo, cowan will feature.

maestegmafia wrote:Blues outside-half Rhys Patchell produced a second-half masterclass to help the hosts turn around a 17-3 deficit to thrash Sale Sharks 45-24.

https://www.606v2.com/t39202p450-cardiff-blues-transfers-2013-matthew-rees-named-captain

Was at the game - Patchell was sublime in the second half.

wales606 wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Blues outside-half Rhys Patchell produced a second-half masterclass to help the hosts turn around a 17-3 deficit to thrash Sale Sharks 45-24.

https://www.606v2.com/t39202p450-cardiff-blues-transfers-2013-matthew-rees-named-captain

Was at the game - Patchell was sublime in the second half.

He's been highly praised... I hear the pack did a good job too...?

If the OP needs an update then results to follow:-

Newcastle 23-10 Connacht.
Saracens 61-3 Cornish Pirates.
Wasps 32-12 London Irish
Jersey 7-69 Leicester
Ospreys 23-19 Worcester
Ulster 21-19 Leinster
Moseley 32-38 Northampton
Exeter 51-7 Bristol
NG Dragons 22-20 Bath
Blues 45-24 Sale
Munster 28-17 Gloucester
Northampton 24-6 Edinburgh
Richmond 5-45 London Scottish

I should point out that Northampton put out a 2nd string/Academy squad for Moseley (on Fri) and the 1st team against Edinburgh.

maestegmafia wrote:

wales606 wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Blues outside-half Rhys Patchell produced a second-half masterclass to help the hosts turn around a 17-3 deficit to thrash Sale Sharks 45-24.

https://www.606v2.com/t39202p450-cardiff-blues-transfers-2013-matthew-rees-named-captain

Was at the game - Patchell was sublime in the second half.

He's been highly praised... I hear the pack did a good job too...?

Pack improved a lot in the second half, scrum went surprisingly well under the new interpretations. We were much better at keeping possession in the second half, although the lineout was pretty dodgy.

Shame to hear the line out was not so good.

maestegmafia wrote:Shame to hear the line out was not so good.

Just pre-season rustiness I hope. New hooker and we have lost our main caller - bound to take a while to sort out.

wales606 wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Shame to hear the line out was not so good.

Just pre-season rustiness I hope. New hooker and we have lost our main caller - bound to take a while to sort out.

Very happy to hear that Patchell and Williams played well as halfbacks and that Owen williams looked good in the centre... That is seriously good news for the Blues chances this year, those three could really make the difference.

Good weekend for the young Welsh 10s with Owen Williams coming in in the second half for Tigers and combining well with the backline which included England age grade players Purdy and Catchpole with Ryan Lamb at fullback.

Owen Williams has superb potential. Tigers did well to nab him he will be a huge asset. Flood could be in with some serious competition for the flyhalf slot soon, especially when he relinquishes it for England duty.

london welsh 16 - 16 Scarlets.

A pretty decnt match from both sides. Not much between them really. In the first half the diference turned out to be a wrong call/stupid (depending in you view point) pen for coming around the side of the maul and collapsing it, or a Wayne Barnes special not noticing there were no defenders in the 'maul' so pefectly legal. Either way during the ten mins the Scarlets were down a man in the pack they were ripped apart by Welsh. Half time 13-3.

Second half was more or less all change by Welsh, only a few by the Scarlets. Again nothing really separated the teams. Joe Ajuwa really seemed to enjy bullying the young Scarlets wings and centres, which seemed to help rally the home teams spirits. The Scarlets managed to claw back to 13-9 with a under five minutes to go, only to concede a pen in their 22 seconds later for Sione Timani (definately not our answer at number 8) to get pinged for holding on. Welsh converted the the pen to make it 16-9 with barely two minutes left. The Scarlets tried to run from the kick off, and soon were awarded a pen whinch was taken quickly and the team raced off to half way, where another pen was awarded (diving over i think, or high tackle), Rhodri Williams taped and shown the silky sniping skills he has, creating a three on one with the fullback, just outside Welsh's 22, which lead to Craig Price trotting over the whitewash and dotting down under the posts, for a simple conversion.

Maes it could be a great move for Williams. Flood's contract is up for renewal next summer and he's already stated he won't discuss his new deal until next year. Rumours are that teams in France have their cheque books open and if Flood isn't playing for England he might take the cash.

If Williams can cement himself as the accomplished number 2 pushing Flood hard then he might find he's the starting 10 the season after.

It's a great move for Williams. Tigers always develop players up to a very high standard, though some fans will still be gutted to see him move. Guess the spare slot opens the door for his younger brother.

Not backs. Not that many of their backs have come through young. Only Youngs and Tuilagi off the top of my head. Certainly in recent times Cockrill seems reluctant to give the young backs a good go.

Hammer, Smith came through as well as Harrison, Twelvetrees and Ford. Outside backs seem to struggle to get given game time and I'm not sure if that was Cockers or O'Connor. Hopefully with Murphy mentoring them we should see a few emerge. El Mahdi showed up well in the sevens and I know a couple of people who think the young 15 David Williams could be a future international which is a big thing to label a 17 year old.

Owen Williams should get game time and behind a Tigers pack should be able to show his stuff.

Both Ford and Twelvetrees moved on, probably because their places were blocked by 'experienced' players Flood and Allen. Both of whom progressed exceptionally at Tigers but arrived in mid 20 (about 24-5?).   Smith and Harrison are both squad players. But I would say that 2 starting England backs out of 7 isn't bad I suppose. Maybe more of a case of promising young players seem to be going elsewhere in the backs.

Twelvetrees and Ford who both felt they had to leave the club to actually get gametime? Smith who is played across the whole backline but never allowed to be first choice, and Harrison who's competing with an Int who isn't there most of the time...

Twelvetrees was happy enough to verbally agree a new deal and seemed to have grabbed the 12 shirt before Glaws rocked up and offered him an additional 50% on top of what Tigers had verbally agreed with him. No senior player that specialized in his position and a hefty pay rise.

Ford was second choice at 19. He made something like 20 appearances last season ans played in three finals in two years. He got game time. End of the day he wants to play for England and he feels he can reach that level quicker working with his dad at Bath.

Tigers still produced the pair as well as England Saxon Smith, England international Youngs, England under 20 Harrison and England international Manu. How many do one club need to produce? That's three Lions backs as well, no other AP club's academy had three Lions backs on tour this summer did they?

He's not a wing or a fullback so there's a great chance he'll either star for us or get offered a big deal at another decent club.

It will be interesting, Williams looks a great replacement for ford

Matt Smith is a Saxon???? Jeez

Our final pre-season fixture:

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE GLASGOW WARRIORS

15 Luke Arscott, 14 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 13 Phil Dollman, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Ian Whitten, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Haydn Thomas; 1 Brett Sturgess, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Carl Rimmer, 4 Dean Mumm (capt), 5 Damian Welch, 6 Ben White, 7 Tom Johnson, 8 Dave Ewers

Replacements (from): Ben Moon, Chris Whitehead, Alex Brown, Tom Hayes, Romana Graham, James Scaysbrook, Kai Horstmann, James Phillips, Will Chudley, Dave Lewis, Henry Slade, Ceri Sweeney, Tom James, Sam Hill, Matt Jess.

Scarlets Team v Gloucester Rugby; Friday August 30th 2013 kick off 7.30pm at Kingsholm; 15 Gareth Owen; 14 Liam Williams; 13 Gareth Maule; 12 Scott Williams; 11 Kristian Phillips; 10 Steve Shingler; 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Phil John; 2 Ken Owens; 3 Samson Lee; 4 George Earle; 5 Jo Snyman; 6 Aaron Shingler; 7 Josh Turnbull; 8 Rob McCusker (capt).

Replacements: Rob Evans, Emyr Phillips, Jacobie Adriaanse, Jake Ball, Richard Kelly, Sione Timani, Craig Price, Rhodri Williams, Rhys Priestland, Adam Warren, Jordan Williams.

You've already broken John Barclay, Spidey?!

Northampton to field their HC team against Leinster academy tonight.

Jimmy Gopperth and Shane Jennings are the only starters many of you will have heard of.

Looking forward to it having travelled up to Ulster last week. This is 10 mins walk from my house, and thankfully near a hospital. Hopefully Clark and Lawes are on a good behavior day.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:You've already broken John Barclay, Spidey?!

Not us, the SRU broke him and we are still trying to fix him. Touch and go for the first real match apparantly

Corbisiero v young Marty Moore and George North up against Ail player Darragh Fanning,

Just to pick out 2 matchups.

Glasgow Warriors vs Exeter Chiefs

15 Peter Murchie
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Sean Lamont
12 Alex Dunbar
11 Byron McGuigan
10 Scott Wight
9 Henry Pyrgos

1 Moray Low
2 Fraser Brown
3 Jon Welsh
4 Tim Swinson
5 Jonny Gray
6 Robert Harley
7 Tyrone Holmes
8 Josh Strauss (Captain)

Substitutes

16 Pat MacArthur
17 Ed Kalman
18 Jerry Yanuyanutawa
19 Leone Nakarawa
20 Chris Cusiter
21 Finn Russell
22 Gabriel Ascarate
23 Richie Vernon
24 Mark Bennett
25 James Eddie
26 Chris Fusaro
27 Gordon Reid
28 Finlay Gillies

Cusiter and Gillies back from long-term injury

Glaws 22 Plymouth 13
Glaws 31 Scarlets 17

2 entertaining games and I hope this becomes a regular feature for Glaws to have a double header of friendlies.

Gloucester 31 Scarlets 17
Gloucester made it two wins from two on the evening in a pulsating encounter with the Scarlets, scoring four tries on the way to a 31-17 win.
It sounds comfortable - it wasn't. This was a hard fought encounter and went down to the wire.
This was a friendly in name only. This game fizzed and crackled from the off as both sides slugged it out for 80 minutes in a manner reminiscent of the Anglo Welsh games of old.

The Kingsholm crowd lapped it up and really got into the game in the final quarter, when they sensed that the game might be slipping the way of the Scarlets.

In fact, the game was still very much in the balance when Rob Cook scored a sensational solo score to pretty much clinch the game.

It ends preseason on a high note for Gloucester, who saw some of their high profile names look in really good nick ahead of next weekend's Aviva Premiership at home to Sale (September 7th, 3pm).

The early exchanges hinted at a tight encounter. Both teams were obviously well up for the game and the defensive hits were flying in from both sides.

One moment in particular lifted the home crowd though, as James Simpson-Daniel gathered a high ball, slipped past his opponent and promptly swerved past three more.

And it was Simpson-Daniel who scored the game's first try. The pack drove close to the line before Tavis Knoyle released the backs. Trinder provided the link and Simpson-Daniel shrugged off a high tackle to score. Freddie Burns converted.

Gloucester were on a roll at this point, and the Scarlets seemed to have little answer. 18 minutes were on the clock when Gloucester struck again.

Again the pack did the hard work, softening up the Scarlets pack. When the ball was moved wide, Burns threaded through a delicate grubber kick and Billy Twelvetrees touched down. Burns added his second conversion for a 14-0 lead.

In fact, the only negative at this point was seeing summer signing, second row James Hudson, leave the field of play holding his shoulder.

There was much to admire about the Cherry and Whites in this opening half hour. A superb counter from Rob Cook, followed by a neat chip and catch deserved more, but the full back was tackled into touch.

The visitors were starting to walk a tightrope in terms of their discipline though, and it came as no surprise when referee Greg Garner brandished a yellow card - to Jo Snyman for a high tackle on Rob Cook.

However, despite more significant pressure from Gloucester, the Scarlets held out until half time and lived to fight again in the second half.

It had been a fine first half for Nigel Davies' side. The whole team were playing with ambition and there looked to be attacking threats all over the field.

The second half was bound to see plenty of changes in personnel, so it remained to see whether Gloucester could clinch the game before the replacements started or whether it would be a total squad effort.

However, it was the Scarlets who struck first. A well drilled rolling maul was heading towards the Gloucester line when it went to ground, and referee Garner went straight under the posts to award the penalty try. Rhys Priestland converted.

Freddie Burns promptly extended to 17-7 as he landed a long range penalty when Dan Robson was illegally pulled into a ruck.

And Kingsholm erupted moments later when Henry Trinder opened up the Scarlets defence with a sublime grubber. The centre hacked on but was taken out. Fortunately Matt Kvesic won the foot race and scored the third try. Freddie Burns converted once again.

24-7 looked a decent lead but Gloucester were pegged back on 55 minutes, when the Scarlets worked a neat move at the front of a 5 metre lineout and hooker Ken Owens strolled over.

Things were suddenly not quite so easy for Nigel Davies' side, and replacement scrum half Dan Robson was yellow carded on the hour for an offence at a ruck near his own line.

It was certainly becoming a fractious encounter now, with lots of scuffles going on. Snyman seemed to be involved in most of it, but no-one was taking a backward step.

The officiating was also giving the Kingsholm crowd palpitations, and near constant penalties saw Gloucester pinned back deep in their own 22. When Matt Kvesic was also sinbinned, the stadium nearly erupted.

However, it wasn't nearly as loud as the roar when Rob Cook pounced on a turnover in his own 22, kicked ahead, won the chase and scored under the posts for a sensational score. Burns' conversion made it 31-12.

Still the Scarlets fought back. Steph Reynolds pulled off a superb try saving tackle but the visitors had the final word at least as Rhodri Williams scampered over for a late consolation.

Bath 27 Ospreys 10

Bath Rugby overcome Ospreys in pre-season finale

Bath Rugby overcame Ospreys 27-10 in front of a hearty crowd at the Rec on a drizzling Friday evening in the Club's final pre-season fixture.

Bath Rugby had named a strong squad ahead of the tie, with Ospreys responding in kind. A combative start from the home side resulted in a successful penalty kick from fly-half George Ford in the opening minutes.

Ospreys knocked on at the resulting restart, with Bath's scrum on the visiting side's 22 almost leading to an early try by wing Semesa Rokoduguni after some super interlinking play. A ruck formed near Ospreys' try line saw another penalty in Bath's favour and Ford, in a bid to keep the early hope of a try alive, opted to kick for touch.

The slippery ball was the only villain of the evening, thwarting several near-certain try-scoring opportunities for both sides, and it was no different as Bath drove under the Ospreys posts, only for it to escape flanker Matt Garvey's grasp.

The away side soon responded with three points from Dan Biggar as Bath were penalised for a tackle infringement. However, a dominant first quarter from Bath was rewarded as a looping pass from prodigious centre Kyle Eastmond allowed looming wing Matt Banahan to dive over in the corner on 22 minutes, to rapturous applause from the home fans. 8-3.

Ospreys had the slight upper hand going into half-time, as prop Ryan Bevington was on the receiving of some good handling from fly-half Dan Biggar, scoring down the right flank. Biggar added the conversion to take the lead for the visitors.

Half-time: Bath Rugby 8 – Ospreys 10.

Bath emerged from the tunnel in even more of an attacking frame of mind. The opening try of the half was spearheaded by George Ford, who manoeuvred himself deftly between defenders to set the try in motion. Leroy Houston received the ball in the shadow of the Ospreys posts and, dragging two defenders with him, crashed over the line. His try was successfully converted by Ford, making it 15-10 to the Blue, Black and White.

Bath kept up the pressure, as Rokoduguni showed his evasive running skills to burst up the left flank. The ball was patiently recycled across the field, only for the Fijian flyer to show up on the end of the move to finish the try off. Ford converted. 22-10.

Ten minutes from the end of the match, a remarkable sleight of hand from fullback Ollie Devoto saw replacement centre Anthony Watson through the smallest of gaps in the Ospreys defence. Whilst that attacking sequence fizzled out, Devoto soon after put himself in the right place in the opposition 22, with fast hands from the Bath backs putting the U20 World Cup winner over in the corner with room to spare.

With the game all but put to bed, Ospreys had a penalty in Bath's half, which replacement fly-half Matthew Morgan kicked to touch in an attempt to balance the scoreline. Spinning the ball wide to the opposite side of the field, Ospreys sensed a glimmer of hope as Tom Grabham finally managed to snaffle a questionable pass, only for Rokoduguni to bundle him into touch to close out an entertaining match.

Final Score: Bath Rugby 27 - Ospreys 10.

Bath Rugby team to face Ospreys

15. Ollie Devoto

14. Semesa Rokoduguni

13. Jonathan Joseph

12. Kyle Eastmond

11. Matt Banahan

10. George Ford

9. Peter Stringer

1. Paul James

2. Rob Webber

3. David Wilson

4. Stuart Hooper ( c )

5. Dave Attwood

6. Matt Garvey

7. Guy Mercer

8. Leroy Houston

Replacements

16. Ross Batty

17. Nathan Catt

18. Anthony Perenise

19. Dominic Day

20. Mat Gilbert

21. Martin Roberts

22. Tom Heathcote

23. Anthony Watson

Players with no number

Tom Biggs

Micky Young

Alafoti Fa'osiliva

I know you cant read to much into the preseason results but Bath have a big pack and with so many British & Irish Lions missing, and playing away from home I expected Bath to beat the Ospreys.  With the Ospreys having such a quality pack to return to the starting line up the signs behind the forwards look very promising and its going to be interesting to see how they start.  I do wish though they would stop playing Grabham on the wing.

What is more concerning from a Scarlets perspective is that they where over powered by Gloucester and given their line up that must be ringing alarm bells for Easterby.  Gloucester aren't a bad side but up front they really don't have the fire power some of the bigger sides in the UK have.  For me any ambitions the Scarlets have of placing in the top 4 seems very misplaced at the moment.  I questioned the ability and size of the Scarlets pack to compete against the best and from this showing they will surely struggle to compete in the Rabbo for playoffs.  Leinster next week at home will be a big match for them, one that I feel they have to win to send the right message.  Easterby will be under pressure for that first game.  I'm also a little concerned on the wing positions with Phillips not showing good pre season form and the others being a little inexperienced at this level.

The Blues results are making me think they may have turned the corner.  On paper Phil has a massive tight 5 to call on with Rees, Jenkins, Borrust, Davies & Paulo.  If they can use that advantage, they should be difficult to play.  Backline is also filled with ability but wether Davies can get them scoring freely is another thing altogether.  Everything is in place for them to have a good season (with the new pitch as well) but so many times have they disappointed given the resources they have available.

Don't know what to make of my team.  Dragons have opted to only play one friendly.  Probably focusing on preparation and coaching early on with the new arrivals.  I still hope though we can mount a serious challenge for teams this year.

What's wrong with Treviso? Their only signing has been berquist who has played like 5 games in 3 years...

Their only two friendly have been against Rovigo and Padova with wins 43-0 and 46-0 respectively. Surprised they didn't get to play a better team, last year they played Wasps and Saracens.

Not sure they will improve on their 7th place from last season.

" Matt Smith is a Saxon???? Jeez"

Was back in 2009 and scored on his only cap. Had he specialised at 15 rather than centre he could have had more appearances. A 6ft 4 15 and a half stone fullback who is rock solid under the high ball, tackles like a flanker and has a decent top speed was a good base. Unfortunately I don't think he's played there more than a handful of times since the 2009 HEC Final. If Geordie had taught him how to kick...

Nevermind.

Good to see Ford pulling the strings for Bath, any Bath lads go to the game, what did you make of him?

formerly known as Sam wrote:" Matt Smith is a Saxon???? Jeez"

Was back in 2009 and scored on his only cap. Had he specialised at 15 rather than centre he could have had more appearances. A 6ft 4 15 and a half stone fullback who is rock solid under the high ball, tackles like a flanker and has a decent top speed was a good base. Unfortunately I don't think he's played there more than a handful of times since the 2009 HEC Final. If Geordie had taught him how to kick...

Nevermind.

Good to see Ford pulling the strings for Bath, any Bath lads go to the game, what did you make of him?

Young cord had a very good game made a lovely break and really looks comfortable in the new shirt. He was a clever acquisition by Bath RFC.