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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:24:12:13:09 by P G Tips.

I stand to be corrected by more knowledgeable posters, but my understanding was that any players who made recent appearances for Argentina (and SA, NZ and Australia) aren’t eligible to play in these early games?

AFAIK, all of the Prem fixtures are on HBO/TNT, however if I go into the app on my phone in the Upcoming the first Bath game i can see is Bath-Exter, hopefully it will appear!!

Really well written and interesting.......topped off with a great title!

It is hard to argue with your selection other than the point raised by CBW. Therefore Russell and Carreras replaced by Donoghue and de Glanville

Quote:

CBW
I stand to be corrected by more knowledgeable posters, but my understanding was that any players who made recent appearances for Argentina (and SA, NZ and Australia) aren’t eligible to play in these early games?

That was my understanding as wellto be honest until Carreras was picked for Glasgow. I know friendlies are treated differently but it seems odd for him to play there to then be stood down for upcoming comptitive games so have made an assumption he's available this week. Same for Petti on their side

Russell I understand is available but await confirmation either way

It's great to be back! Thanks TRS for teeing it up so well.

Given their bizarre lack of signings upfront, I actually think this is a game to back the forwards in. Yes, we'll be missing Spencer's best-in-class kicking game, but we have some able deputies in Finn, BvdL and Mojo. I know we are hoping for a more expansive game this year with our new attack coach in tow, but it just seems like an obvious approach for this one. Starve their lively backline of the ball as much as we can by trying to assert dominance at set piece time. Even without Barbs and TdT, we still look like we have the edge here.

Dombrandt's injury isn't new but his absence feels massive. Sure CCS will have a thing or two to say about that but Quins' had probably the most confusing transfer strategy of the summer, given the lack of replacement for Dombrandt and also Launchbury and significant cap used up in a position they appear to be very well stocked in. Baxter still not been seen much either, so - for this week at least - go with the approach that has served us so well in recent years.

Bath by 10. COYB

I agree with barfboy that this feels like a game to win upfront. Quins and Marcus do have the ability to run hot, especially in front of a Friday night crowd desperate for a better season, so taking nothing for granted, but we should win if we focus on our strengths from the past couple of seasons.

Having said that, I hope we do see a little of the evolution that hopefully Prendergast is going to bring. Especially without TDT, I don't think we'll win a trophy if we go into our shells as much as we did at certain points last season, and so despite Friday being an obvious game to just "go to our strengths" and grind out a win, I'd like to see us set out the template for the season and then test it under pressure. I'd still take a boring win over an entertaining loss, but I think we have to evolve to stay in the top 2 this year, and so I'm keen to see what JVG 2.0 looks like.

An evolution doesn't have to be hugely different. We'll box kick. We'll mostly kick out of our half. We'll pick and go to grind down defences. But in their 22 especially, I'd like to see us go wider a bit more, a bit earlier, and combine the bludgeon with the guile. We'll miss BS- he is our heartbeat- but as we turn over a page and start what feels like a defining chapter of the JVG era, it'll be really interesting to see what we look like if Finn and Mojo and Ollie get more quicker ball off of BVDL. Exciting!

2024/25 adoptee: Guy Pepper

Am gonna be there Friday night. Getting excited already

This game will give us an idea where we stand for this season, can’t be viewed as a must win but a loss will be a blow to our ambitions.

With the loss of power up front we might well see more adventurous tactics from Bath.

Reckon it will be a very entertaining game.

Quote:

OutsideBath
This game will give us an idea where we stand for this season, can’t be viewed as a must win but a loss will be a blow to our ambitions.
With the loss of power up front we might well see more adventurous tactics from Bath.

Reckon it will be a very entertaining game.

Agree on all three points.

I think it's a given that all home games are 'must wins'.
Which of the away games are must win, depends on your ambition I guess.

I'd divide the away games into three groups:
Win for top 4: Quins, Glaws, Newcastle
Win for top 2: Bristol, Sale, Sarries
Can lose: Saints, Exeter, Tigers

I know seasons vary, but typically 6 losses will still get you top 4.
3/4/5 losses normally good enough for top 2.

I’ll be hugely disappointed if we don’t make full use of the attacking ability available to us this year - our back line really ought to be the envy of the Prem, and frankly, what Vesty and Dawson could do with Finn, Ollie, Max, Cam, Santi, Joe, Horse, Henry, TdG doesn’t bear thinking about. Tgere really should be no need whatsoever to identify any game as ‘stick it up your jumper’.

Its been said many many times before but the game is won by the front 5. There are signs that Mike Prengdergast is affecting our backplay positively but we need to get that confirmed. Let's face it Stuart, Kepu, Beno, Roux, Ewels is still a solid base but the depth simply isn't the same quality.


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Talked myself in circles as usual on selection.

Think I would go:
Carreras
Big joe
Lawrence
Mojo
Arundell
Finn
Bvdl

Beno
Kepu
Stuart
Roux
Ewels
Bayliss
Pepper
Reid

Bench: dunn , kirk, griffin, richards, hill, tcs, redpath, underhill

Can't find any room for DPP but think jvg may start him.

Shame gyamfi and hennessey appear to be injured.

Tempting to play jeanes to see how he would go.

Gone for cam over donoguue based on having a problem if not if we lose a centre early. 6:2- always has a few challenges in the backs.

My team but probably not JVGs.....

Carreras
Cokanasiga
Ojomoh
Redpath
Arundell
Russell
Van der Linde
Obano
Frost
Stuart
Ewels
Hill
Pepper
Underhill
Reid

Tuipolotu Kirk Sela Jeanes Bayliss TCS Lawrence Du Preez

Would pick Hennessey at 13 outside Ojomoh if he was fit.

adopted player, 24/25 Hame Faiva. 23/24 Ted Hill. 22/23 Cam Redpath. 21/22 Max Clark. 20/21 Henry Thomas. 19/20 Max Wright. 18/19 Cooper Vuna.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:22:06:05:31 by copester.

Quote:

Optimist
I’ll be hugely disappointed if we don’t make full use of the attacking ability available to us this year - our back line really ought to be the envy of the Prem, and frankly, what Vesty and Dawson could do with Finn, Ollie, Max, Cam, Santi, Joe, Horse, Henry, TdG doesn’t bear thinking about. There really should be no need whatsoever to identify any game as ‘stick it up your jumper’.

The one huge encouragement for me from the Glasgow game was the swift hands out wide after just 3 phases of pick and dive 1 metre from their line

Just how different could last season have been with some of that instead of the endless dirge of pick n die ad nauseum?

Let’s hope so Gaz. Look forward to hearing your reports from the ground - enjoy your evening.

Quote:

gaz59

Quote:

Optimist
I’ll be hugely disappointed if we don’t make full use of the attacking ability available to us this year - our back line really ought to be the envy of the Prem, and frankly, what Vesty and Dawson could do with Finn, Ollie, Max, Cam, Santi, Joe, Horse, Henry, TdG doesn’t bear thinking about. There really should be no need whatsoever to identify any game as ‘stick it up your jumper’.

The one huge encouragement for me from the Glasgow game was the swift hands out wide after just 3 phases of pick and dive 1 metre from their line

Just how different could last season have been with some of that instead of the endless dirge of pick n die ad nauseum?

If you thought that was bad, you obviously are not long enough in the tooth to remember the John Connolly era where the backs needn't have bothered to be on the field, as it was pick 'n go from the first to the final whistle. It was truly the dullest period of rugby that I have ever witnessed. In comparison, recent years have been free flowing with chuck it all about rugby, but to be serious, I get your point.

Quote:

gaz59
The one huge encouragement for me from the Glasgow game was the swift hands out wide after just 3 phases of pick and dive 1 metre from their line
Just how different could last season have been with some of that instead of the endless dirge of pick n die ad nauseum?

It worked, TDT scored about 10 tries a year from it. Unfortuntely we don't have another TDT, maybe Will Stuart can step up in his absence.

I don't think that we can read too much into a pre-season run out without any jeopardy - its not a difficult decision to spread it more than you would in a Prem semi (when they obviously should have).

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Karl Dickson ref

Quote:

BathMatt53

Quote:

gaz59
The one huge encouragement for me from the Glasgow game was the swift hands out wide after just 3 phases of pick and dive 1 metre from their line
Just how different could last season have been with some of that instead of the endless dirge of pick n die ad nauseum?

It worked, TDT scored about 10 tries a year from it. Unfortuntely we don't have another TDT, maybe Will Stuart can step up in his absence.
.

Yep it worked except when it didn't and when it didn't it really really didn't

Quote:

bathwickboy

Quote:

gaz59

Quote:

Optimist
I’ll be hugely disappointed if we don’t make full use of the attacking ability available to us this year - our back line really ought to be the envy of the Prem, and frankly, what Vesty and Dawson could do with Finn, Ollie, Max, Cam, Santi, Joe, Horse, Henry, TdG doesn’t bear thinking about. There really should be no need whatsoever to identify any game as ‘stick it up your jumper’.

The one huge encouragement for me from the Glasgow game was the swift hands out wide after just 3 phases of pick and dive 1 metre from their line

Just how different could last season have been with
some of that instead of the endless dirge of pick n die ad nauseum?

If you thought that was bad, you obviously are not long enough in the tooth to remember the John Connolly era where the backs needn't have bothered to be on the field, as it was pick 'n go from the first to the final whistle. It was truly the dullest period of rugby that I have ever
witnessed. In comparison, recent years have been free flowing with chuck it all about rugby, but to be serious, I get your point.

Oh I go back way before Connolly tho still have flashbacks from the Leeds final. My BBW journey started with the legendary meeting lead by JR, Tom Hudson and Dave Robson

Can confirm Connolly era was indeed dull but nearly (somewhat miraculously) successful. However, our squad is a teeny bit better than the one cobbled together in 2003.

Not quite Red Bulls numbers and no excuse, but there was something like 15 players signed in that summer, along with a whole new coaching team...Presumably we only had time to devise one way to play!

Think our game will be a lot more expansive this year and our shortfalls worked on over the summer. Still think you should play what's in front of you though. If there's a mismatch in the forwards vs Quins, we should base our game plan around that.

In hindsight I think the most memorable and signficant thing about the 2003 team was the playing shirt

Didn’t we finish top that season!?

Quote:

BathRob
Didn’t we finish top that season!?

Yep. Not a vintage squad though and the shirt was that good

I don't know, I think there's some great players there, a selection from our final squad :

Catt, Fleck, Tindall, Wood, Barnes, Humphreys, Bell, Borthwick, Grewcock, Beattie, Lipman, Fea'unati.
Mears, Stevens, Barkley.

Lot of happy memories about those names.

10 Catt 12 Tindall 13 Fleck was great fun. Wood was also a fabulous 9.

Didn't Catty's hamstrings give out that season and he played the final (at 15 for some reason I think) practically at walking pace?

Quote:

dr.bath1865
10 Catt 12 Tindall 13 Fleck was great fun. Wood was also a fabulous 9.
Didn't Catty's hamstrings give out that season and he played the final (at 15 for some reason I think) practically at walking pace?

The whole backline played at a walking pace in the final with Molly at 10. Catty was not trusted, offered a game-by-game contract and promptly left to captain London Irish and subsequently England.

Connolly and Foley did a lot to rescue the club but their vision was definitely lacking.

Yeah, Molly was good for a last minute drop goal but little else. Loved getting charged down as my God he was ponderous.

Had some great players but it wasn't pretty as previously alluded to. 2003 RWC Winner/2007 RWC runner-up and 05/06 Prem Player of the Year, Mike Catt could probably have helped with that but was deemed surplus to requirements in '04.

Some of our retention decisions in that period left much to be desired.

Tindall and Balshaw were also allowed to depart. Early Borthwick influence.

Quote:

OutsideBath
Karl Dickson ref

He was the ref for the fixture last year as well. Would we take the same score 31-47?

Catty was an odd one, because it sure as hell didn't seem a terrible outcome for him to go or be let go (can't really remember) because he was always injured those last couple of seasons - then proceeded to play until he was 40-odd for LI.

Quote:

Benisjammin

Quote:

OutsideBath
Karl Dickson ref

He was the ref for the fixture last year as well. Would we take the same score 31-47?

The last game he reffed was Sat 12th Sep 2026 Springboks vs ABs.

I'm not normally a fan of people reffing their old teams but Karl Dickson has really come on over the last few years and is clearly regarded - amongst his peers at least - as one of the best in the world now (who gets the best gigs).

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Yep I don't mind Dickson. I think he's reasonably sympathetic, and has over time developed a communication style with the players and his comms team which makes for a pretty good game. As Matt says, he's not getting given SA v NZ by chance.

Thinking about it, I'm pleased with most refs nowadays. We seem to have a very experienced crop now in the PREM, whereas a few years ago there were a lot of new kids on the block... plus Wayne. Now, all of those kids- Dickson, Ridley, Woodthorp, Cox, Leal, Maxwell-Keyes- are very good refs and the older crop- Tempest, Foley, Pearce- are really strong also, either in the middle or in the truck.

Overall, I find myself moaning much less about the quality of reffing nowadays (but maybe that's because we're a top 4 side also!).

When you’re getting steamrollered every game it was easy to get angry about ref decisions. You’re right that in the last three years or so it’s been easier to shrug at “odd” decisions.

I’d take a repeat of last years score, I’d love to see the back line fire and really put them to the sword!

Could somebody post a picture of the 2003 shirt?

My big problem with reffing is the inconsistency, not in the big decisions, but the 100 little ones that actually dictate the match. The difference in how they ref the down always suits one team or the other, it will be different each week and the side it suits usually wins.

Quote:

Barfboy
Yeah, Molly was good for a last minute drop goal but little else.

Even managed to balls that up in the final v Llanelli in Cardiff if my scarred memory is any good

Quote:

theredseat

Quote:

BathRob
Didn’t we finish top that season!?

Yep. Not a vintage squad though and the shirt was that good

Actually we did play some pretty good stuff at times in that season with the ex Brizzle boys like Lee Best

Baxter out. Furbank out. Lang out. Smith doubtful

Quins are talking about a pair of of options at 10 I’ve honestly never heard of. [www.rugbypass.com]

Quote:

theredseat
Baxter out. Furbank out. Lang out. Smith doubtful
Quins are talking about a pair of of options at 10 I’ve honestly never heard of. [www.rugbypass.com]

Josh Bellamy is usually a 15. I thought you were going to mention James Beverley a fly half (ex Bath) but Connor Slaivin is new to me.


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Quote:

theredseat
Baxter out. Furbank out. Lang out. Smith doubtful
Quins are talking about a pair of of options at 10 I’ve honestly never heard of. [www.rugbypass.com]

Could well be mind games by their coach in regard to Smith, wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him playing.

Connor Slavin was on loan with Richmond in National League 1 last season so interested to see how he steps up a couple of leagues.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:24:10:50:27 by BathMatt53.

Quote:

BathMatt53
Skaving was on loan with Richmond in National League 1 last season so interested to see how he steps up a couple of leagues.

If Connor Slavin is at Richmond then I'm very surprised, he must be very good to get ahead of James Beverley who is a genuine 10 and also at Richmond!


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

duplicate post

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:24:10:50:10 by BathMatt53.

Team is Up:
Obano
Frost
Stuart
Hill
Ewels
Baylis
Underhill
du Preez

TCS
Finn
TdG
Max O
Ollie L
Jo Co
Santi

Kepu, Kirk Griffin, Richards, Pepper, Vd Linde, Redpath, Reid



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:09:24:12:04:23 by Dorset Boy.

Bath Rugby: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Ted Hill, 5 Charlie Ewels (c), 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Dan du Preez (debut), 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Tom de Glanville, 12 Max Ojomoh, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Santi Carreras

Replacements: 16 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 17 Scott Kirk, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Ewan Richards, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Cameron Redpath, 23 Miles Reid

Harlequins: 15. Tyrone Green (105), 14. Cameron Anderson (36), 13. Oscar Beard (86), 12. Bryn Bradley (36), 11. Cadan Murley (C) (151), 10. Connor Slevin (16), 9. Will Porter (60), 1. Will Hobson (40), 2. Jack Walker (110), 3. Pedro Delgado (19), 4. James Dun (1), 5. Harry Browne (17), 6. Jack Kenningham (99), 7. Will Evans (134), 8. Chandler Cunningham-South (50)

Replacements: 16. Sam Riley (83), 17. Boris Wenger (12), 18. Harry Johnson-Holmes (1), 19. Kieran Treadwell (29), 20. Guido Petti Pagadizábal (17), 21. Lucas Friday (19), 22. Josh Bellamy (8), 23. Rodrigo Isgró (25)



No Smith is the headline but questions around Arundell for us now

No Dunn, Roux or Sela?

Quote:

tigersimon
No Dunn, Roux or Sela?

Wonder if this is part of moving Roux into more of a support role. Sela hasn't played all pre-season. Dunn no idea.

COYB! Good team.

Dunn surely filtering out whilst Kepu plays an ever increasing role?

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

No Henry Arundell after pre-season inclusion, injury?

A strong team given injuries to a few expected first teamers, we should certainly be aiming for the full 5 points.

Not having bought this year's kit I am in a quandary about which shirt to wear to Stoop

It's usually my retro BBW T shirt and may still make it onto the train, but might go for a fairly recent White/Dyson [not sure of year] as that is mainly our away colour or my 2024/25 home kit to invoke the Gods of Success

Got a few others to consider but that seems my dilemma. Any thoughts?

Quote:

dcsh
No Henry Arundell after pre-season inclusion, injury?
A strong team given injuries to a few expected first teamers, we should certainly be aiming for the full 5 points.

The boss says back injury on Somerset Live. Also says Coetzee is fit and no mention of Roux or Dunn so assume those aren't injury decisions.

Sela and Hennessey both foot injuries and out for 'a bit of time' whatever that means.

[www.somersetlive.co.uk]

I am puzzled....

No Muir
No Arundell
No Dunn
No Roux
No Molony
No Sela
No Coetzee
No Donoghue (I guess I understand this a bit)
No Green


Obviously No Ben Spencer

I guess just too many players!!!

Exeter, Saints and Montpellier in the next 3 weeks so they are definitely going to need their whole squad and I'm sure that everyone fit will get game time.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Yes well I have no doubt that JVG and the coaching team have planned the first ten games.....subject to availability

Quote:

BathMatt53
COYB! Good team.
Dunn surely filtering out whilst Kepu plays an ever increasing role?

Feels like a potential changing of the guard yep.... frost/ kepu and no dunn.

Richards in 23 ahead of roux / malony who i assume are available.

I really do feel our front 5 needs a shake up.

As you say later in thread all those guys will get used over the next month no doubt.

Good looking and strong team put out by us. I really feel for Quins, the injury bug has struck them again. I’m struggling to recognise a LOT of those players and I consider myself fairly up to date with most squads.

They could trouble us in the back row, but you’d fancy us to pull away to the win as the game progresses. No chickens counted though!

Quote:

BathRob
Good looking and strong team put out by us. I really feel for Quins, the injury bug has struck them again. I’m struggling to recognise a LOT of those players and I consider myself fairly up to date with most squads.
They could trouble us in the back row, but you’d fancy us to pull away to the win as the game progresses. No chickens counted though!

Yep, they are strong at 6.7, 8 and 9 but also some quality fast running backs. Reckon it could be a high scoring match and surely we have a critical edge in most positions to get a 5 pointer?

I’m hoping we don’t kick the ball to Green as he can hurt us if we do.

Three of those you name BSJ are injured - Muir, Arundell, Sela.

Coetzee fit but only just back from a long layoff.

Others I suspect will be called on in next 3 weeks.

PG

That's an incredibly fast and mobile second row, Hill , Richards, Ewels also Josh Bayliss in the back row. I wonder if there its a game plan to exploit it?


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Great team, shame we have many injuries with Arundell, Hennessy and Sela and others.
Hill starting and Richards on the bench over Roux and Maloney. Very interesting, I like the mix of youth and experience on the bench.
TDG on the wing, with Carreras at full back is also interesting, looking forward to that experiment.

Quote:

gaz59
Not having bought this year's kit I am in a quandary about which shirt to wear to Stoop
It's usually my retro BBW T shirt and may still make it onto the train, but might go for a fairly recent White/Dyson [not sure of year] as that is mainly our away colour or my 2024/25 home kit to invoke the Gods of Success

Got a few others to consider but that seems my dilemma. Any thoughts?

Wear the retro Gaz - as it’s featured in some of the Prem marketing recently you’re more likely to get buttonholed for some TV interview.

I am getting a worrying feeling about this season. Injuries are piling up and it seems that our luck is running out in that regard. I did think that last season we needed to win something again because this season would be far more difficult. I do hope I am improved wrong but we need to get off on the right foot against Harlequins who have no doubt got a lot of new players so it will be difficult.