Bath v Leicester Preview: Please Add TEAM NEWS i
Burns: control
By P G Tips
December 24 2018
Having grabbed a much -needed win at Wasps, Bath must next tame a tiger at the Rec. Victory would secure top 5 at least for the New Year. It doesn’t get any easier though in this most crazily competitive of Premierships. Tigers have been criticised of late as toothless, their claws too often blunted in defat. Last weekend though in a bonus point win over Quins they restored, if not the roar of their glory days, at least a convincingly frightening growl. They will be a tough beast to tame.
It was Tigers’ star backs that inflicted the damage on Harlequins, their tries coming from Holmes (2) Tuilagi and May, with Captain for the day George Ford pulling the strings. The forwards too showed signs of getting it together, reproducing some of the snarl and menace Leicester fans regard as their birthright. Their foundation was two props of contrasting styles- the abrasive Ellis Genge and a revitalised Dan Cole. Behind them Fitzgerald, Thompson and Kalamafoni were a busy back row, the No8 in particular a constant threat on the carry. When these men tire the likes of Ma’afu, Williams and O’Connor are available to inject further heft from the bench. Tigers’ most potent forward operator though is likely to be coach Mark Bakewell. Bath fans will remember the packs he fashioned, especially competitive at the breakdown. That will be a crucial phase where Bath need to be on top of their game to halt the predators’ charge.
Without a pass or kick in anger Bath slid from 6th to 9th in the table last Friday and Saturday watching Saints, Tigers and Sale Sharks overhaul them. Their win in front of a 31,000 + crowd at the Ricoh not only put them back where they started the weekend, but could prove to be the most significant win of their season to date. Against a team desperate for a win in front of a near record home crowd and brimming with attacking intent, they found enough forward dominance and tactical control to snuff out the threat. The pack dominated possession , the tactical control of Chudley and Burns the territory. There was little elaboration, but when it was on Bath attacked with conviction through forwards and backs. Rokodoguni got more ball in hand attacking chances in a half than in three previous matches.
Last weekend’s results should send the whole squad into Christmas in good spirits. As warm up acts to the Ricoh victory the U18s and United enjoyed great wins over their Exeter counterparts – by 64-7 and 42-7 respectively. Homer, Brew and Grant all returned to action unscathed and should be in the mix for selection. I hope the coaches will gather them all this morning simply to say: “Well done! Take a few days off, have a great Christmas and come back ready to deliver more of the same."
Sunday showed that whatever the struggles, this Bath squad has plenty of determination and a growing team spirit. More of the same in the set piece can lay the foundations for another welcome win. Nathan Catt, dominant last weekend, could be key to success here, so too the lock partnership of Attwood and Stooke. Tigers have not won a Premiership tie at the Rec since 2010 and Bath will want to keep it that way. There is an Indian proverb- “A tiger cannot beat a crowd of monkeys.” With a home crowd in festive voice, renewed confidence and a few tricks up their sleeves I expect Bath to be too clever for their visitors.
Come on you Bath!.
Possible Teams:
Bath:
Catt, Dunn, Thomas, Attwood, Stooke, Ellis, Underhill, Louw. Chudley (Capt.), Burns, McConnochie, Roberts, Wright, Rokodoguni. Homer
Replacements: V Rooyen, Batty, Lahiff, Garvey, Mercer. Green,Davies, Brew.
Leicester:
Genge, Polota-Nau, Cole, Wells, Spencer, Fitzgerald, Thompson, Kalamafoni.
Youngs, Ford (Capt.) Holmes, Toomua, Tuilagi, May. Worth.
Replacements: Kerr, Ma'afu, Heyes, Williams, O'Connor, White, Owen, Olowofela.
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Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:02:16:31:40 by P G Tips.
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I will be taking a short break so unable to post the team sheet.
Happy Christmas.
PG
Adopted players: 24/25 J Bayliss; [24] O Lawrence; [23] J Cokanasiga; [22] M Green; [21] A Watson; [20] T Faletau; [19] M V Vuuren; [18] T Faletau; [17] D Denton; [16] H. Agulla; [15] L Houston; [14] W Spencer; [13] F. Louw
Family . Community . Nation - [sdp.org.uk]
My mind's been going places without me lately - Bushfire The B52's
15. James Wilson
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Max Wright
12. Jamie Roberts
11. Ruaridh McConnochie
10. Freddie Burns
9. Will Chudley (co-captain)
1. Nathan Catt
2. Tom Dunn
3. Henry Thomas
4. Matt Garvey (cc)
5. Elliott Stooke
6. Tom Ellis
7. Sam Underhill
8. Francois Louw
Replacements
16. Ross Batty
17. Jacques van Rooyen
18. Max Lahiff
19. Charlie Ewels
20. Zach Mercer
21. Max Green
22. Rhys Priestland
23. Cooper Vuna
15 George Worth
14 Jonah Holmes
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Matt Toomua
11 Jonny May
10 George Ford (c)
9 Ben Youngs
1 Ellis Genge
2 Jake Kerr
3 Dan Cole
4 Harry Wells
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Mike Fitzgerald
7 Brendon O'Connor
8 Sione Kalamafoni
Replacements
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
17 Campese Ma'afu
18 Joe Heyes
19 Mike Williams
20 Will Evans
21 Ben White
22 Gareth Owen
23 Jordan Olowofela
Hope Garvey has a big game. Good to see Wilson passed his return to play protocols.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Nate and H will have their work cut out.
Someone please tell me that Carley is not ou4 whistle man.
Looking forward to a tough game in decent conditions.
COYB
"BATTLE OF THE STANDS
Bath Rugby has teamed up with Naim, our official audio partner, to find out which stand is the loudest at the Rec. One lucky winner in the noisiest stand will receive the award-winning Mu-So Qb wireless music system. Who will win this inaugural Battle of the Stands? "
Does this mean the guy with the Mike will be "warming us up"? Let's all shout f**** at the appropriate time. He will soon stop.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Quote:BathMatt53
The Naim Mu-so is a lovely bit of kit so i’ll be shouting at the top of my lungs...
Can you get the Light Programme on it?
and that Telly Visual thing will never catch on - believe me.
Bah humbug.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018:12:30:09:11:40 by Boldangrey.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2018:12:30:09:10:20 by Boldangrey.
Quote:gaz59
I thought the game was yesterday and spent the whole M4/M25 car journey agonising over whether to check the score but didn't want to jinx the result. Then got to Clacketts Lane services, couldn't resist anymore and ... doh!
That's a symptom of this season so far, there have been times past when I would be confident and eager to check the score, currently I do so squinting through one eye.
The inconsistency is a struggle for most teams though as this weekend has shown again.
Mind you, anything that involves an M4/M25 journey is always a doh moment in my thinking.