BATH RUGBY - 2014/15

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The dedicated home of all things Bath Rugby,
 
Please feel free to discuss all things Bath related, even crazy post 2015 RWC signings, The Rec development ongoing saga or the latest Dyson!   
 
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Pre season
Sat 16th Aug 14;15 Bath vs Scarlets
Sat 23rd Aug 14:15 Jersey vs Bath
 
Sat 6th Sep 14 14:00  Sale Sharks v Bath Rugby
Sat 13th Sep 14 15:00 Bath Rugby v London Welsh
Sat 20th Sep 14 15:15 Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Sat 27th Sep 14 15:15 Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby
Fri 3rd Oct 14 19:45  Bath Rugby v Saracens
Sun 12th Oct 14 14:00 Wasps v Bath Rugby
Sat 15th Nov 14 15:00 Bath Rugby v Newcastle Falcons
Sat 22nd Nov 14 15:00 London Irish v Bath Rugby
Sat 29th Nov 14 15:00 Bath Rugby v Harlequins
Sat 20th Dec 14 15:00 Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby
Sat 27th Dec 14 15:00 Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
Sat 3rd Jan 15 15:00 Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby
Sat 10th Jan 15 15:00 Bath Rugby v Wasps
Sun 15th Feb 15 15:00 Saracens v Bath Rugby
Sat 21st Feb 15 15:00 Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints
Sat 28th Feb 15 15:00 Exeter Chiefs v Bath Rugby
Sat 7th Mar 15 15:00 Bath Rugby v Sale Sharks
Sun 29th Mar 15 14:30 London Welsh v Bath Rugby
Sun 12th Apr 15 15:00 Newcastle Falcons v Bath Rugby
Sat 25th Apr 15 15:00 Bath Rugby v London Irish
Sat 9th May 15 15:00 Harlequins v Bath Rugby
16/17 May Bath Rugby v Gloucester Rugby
 
 
http://www.bathrugby.com/

Sadly all the signs are that Homer is a done deal. Gutted to lose him.

Confirmed that Bath have signed Priestland for after RWC, competition for Ford.

Is RP foregoing his International career playing outside Wales?

If not, why sign him as both will be away for half the season.

Is RP as good as Ford; I would say not, not consistantly anyway.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Confirmed that Bath have signed Priestland for after RWC, competition for Ford.

Is RP foregoing his International career playing outside Wales?

If not, why sign him as both will be away for half the season.

Is RP as good as Ford; I would say not, not consistantly anyway.

I think RP knows RWC is likely to be his last hurrah with Wales, and even then only if Anscombe doesn't take up the understudy role behind Biggar. I am sure that Anscombe will be given an opportunity to compete for RWC.

Bath Rugby team to face Toulouse

15. Anthony Watson
14. Horacio Agulla
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Matt Banahan
10. George Ford
9. Chris Cook
1. Paul James ( c )
2. Rob Webber
3. David Wilson
4. Dominic Day
5. Dave Attwood
6. Matt Garvey
7. Francois Louw
8. Leroy Houston

Replacements

16. Ross Batty
17. Nick Auterac
18. Henry Thomas
19. Stuart Hooper
20. Carl Fearns
21. Peter Stringer
22. Ollie Devoto
23. Olly Woodburn


Probably the strongest possible team we could field, in what is effectively a knockout game for Bath. It would be great to go one better than the team of 5 or so years ago did.

Is Roko injured Bathman?

James as captain? That's a new one. I don't rate the guy.

Roko pulled up just before scoring against Wasps last week, hamstring maybe? He basically hasn't been fit since his England cap.

It is a new one and a slightly odd choice...

Burgess not trusted for the must win games then?
Not enough experience yet.

Bath, meanwhile, will be without Sam Burgess against Toulouse on Sunday. The club say Burgess has a knock but should be available for next weekend’s game at home to Glasgow.

From the end of this article: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jan/16/nathan-hines-danny-cipriani-sale-england

OK - Cheers

The Saint wrote:James as captain? That's a new one. I don't rate the guy.

Quite often been captain when hooper injured. He's been a bit tired this year, but last year he was brilliant for us. We got two great years of scrimmaging out of him and he made a big difference to us upfront

propdavid_london wrote:Burgess not trusted for the must win games then?
Not enough experience yet.

Tigers away, wasps home and two European games were all must win and he played those. He took a knock against Wasps and is injured

Bathite wrote:

The Saint wrote:James as captain? That's a new one. I don't rate the guy.

Quite often been captain when hooper injured. He's been a bit tired this year, but last year he was brilliant for us. We got two great years of scrimmaging out of him and he made a big difference to us upfront

He's look tired for a while. With Auteric on the rise I guess it makes sense for him to move back to Ospreys, he'll be 2nd/3rd choice there now, it will be a good addition to their squad with him perhaps playing less rugby.

Oh dear. Glasgow just bombed the chance of getting a bonus point at home against Pelly.

That might mean we need to get a TBP victory at the Rec. 

Bath really putting toulouse under pressure here and looking the better side

Some ate their weetabix this morning

Bath are the mercenaries in this game weirdly.

That penalty was one of the dumbest decisions I've seen in awhile

I thought Watson was robbed of the try before there, really thought he got it down. They might rue that...

Cumbrian wrote:I thought Watson was robbed of the try before there, really thought he got it down. They might rue that...

I think he probably did - but no one could see he did so no try. thems the breaks

Toulouse look like they are waking up a bit. Bath really need to make sure they don't go cold and that they keep playing in the second half.

A really entertaining game. With the extra season's experience Bath could bw real contenders in Europe next season.

I did like Clancy's "I THINK I saw the grounding" for Toulouse's first try.

TJ wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:I thought Watson was robbed of the try before there, really thought he got it down.  They might rue that...

I think he probably did - but no one could see he did so no try.  thems the breaks

It is all in the phrasing of the question, if he'd have asked "is there any reason I cannot award the try..." like he did for Toulouse's then it would have been given.  It's odd because he seemed to suggest that he thought the try had been scored before he sent it upstairs and that he was only looking for conformation.

Thats why the two questions. If the ref thinks its a try he asks " any reason not to award the try" if he does not know then he asks " try yes or no" I agree if Clancy had asked " any reason not to award the try" it would have been given

Bath still winning, but the game still very much in the balance. If Toulouse score first in the second half it will be very much game on. They will want to win to guarantee home games in the knock outs. They could then lose next week against a renewed Montpellier and still be fine.

HammerofThunor wrote:I did like Clancy's "I THINK I saw the grounding" for Toulouse's first try.

Which is why he goes to the TMO and asks " any reason not to award the try"

That's what I mean, I was confused by the question he chose to ask (about Watson's non-try) because he seemed to indicate (according to the commentary team) that he thought that Watson had got it down.  It's a shame too because it would have been a great try.  Never mind,  Bath will just have to keep playing.

TJ wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:I did like Clancy's "I THINK I saw the grounding" for Toulouse's first try.

Which is why he goes to the TMO and asks " any reason not to award the try"

I'd say that's the question you ask when you KNOW you saw the grounding, not think. He didn't say "I'm happy with the grounding" or "I saw the grounding". He said "think", which is pretty bizarre.

That is absolutely pathetic.

That is the most blatant example of simulation I've ever seen in rugby. Push to the chest and he falls to the floor clutching his face? That needs to be cited.

Unable to watch 2nd half - what happened?

Huget got tapped in the chest and fell down like he's been shot in the face.

Two big calls against Bath there -

First Flood tries to pull off Watson's head - should have been at least YC.
Huget then dives like a footballer - should have been at least YC.

Watson too the ball to the floor and Flood slide in a grabbed his head, counting as a high tackle. Agulla went to pick up the ball and Huget fought him for it a bit. Agulla put his hand up and pushed him in the chest. Huget collapsed to the floor clutching his face. Ref didn't act on it and gave the high tackle.

If he awards this as a try I might turn this off.

Correct decision all things considered.

HammerofThunor wrote:

TJ wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:I did like Clancy's "I THINK I saw the grounding" for Toulouse's first try.

Which is why he goes to the TMO and asks " any reason not to award the try"

I'd say that's the question you ask when you KNOW you saw the grounding, not think. He didn't say "I'm happy with the grounding" or "I saw the grounding". He said "think", which is pretty bizarre.

No - then you give the try without going to the TMO if you see the ball grounded and are sure

Sorry but you only ask that question if you're happy with the grounding. it sounded like Clancy thought it was grounded but wanted to see if it was held up...which means he didn't see the grounding. He basically gave benefit of the doubt to the attacker which is not part of union.

Great scrum!

Bath's defensive scrums have been pretty heroic!

They're screaming at George!!

Looked bad from that angle...

Austin Healey, its pretty bad but its not that bad, good clear commentary there Austin

Lucky escape I reckon.

What's with the reactions from the Toulouse players? Yes it was a high tackle from Banahan, but it wasn't THAT bad FFS.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Austin Healey, its pretty bad but its not that bad, good clear commentary there Austin

Ha ha yes! I think Austen finds it hard to be neutral! Which I don't really mind.

People don't mind when he is biased unless it is at Leicester!

Lovely stuff!!

What a try!!!!