Match Preview - Time to Say Goodbye
There's only one Danny G
By Ed Scott
May 6 2011
Bath's topsy turvy season comes to a (likely) close this weekend, hosting Newcastle at The Rec in the final Premiership game of the regular season. With both teams still much to play for, this will certainly not be an end of season warm down.
Saturday also sees the departure of several big names from the club. The retirement of one Danny Grewcock, like the great man himself, stands out tall above the others. At 38 years old, Grewy is still at the top of his game and I for one will definitely feel a sense of emotion as he walks out onto the Rec for the last time. He has given 10 years of passion, commitment and quality - a tenure rare in the professional era.
Before hindsight and nostalgia get the better of me, let's talk about Saturday's game. Newcastle are one point above Leeds in the relegation zone. Bath are fifth in the table, four points behind Northampton and five points behind Gloucester. As a result Bath need other results to go their way to stand a chance at the play offs. Even then, they will have to score a try bonus point. If teams in the table have the same points, position is first decided by wins and secondly by points difference. Needing a win and either Glaws or Saints to lose means that we would be equal on victories, thus bringing it down to points difference. Bath's is +30, Glaws is +25 and Northampton +96.
So, what does this mean? Well, if we take five points from our game and Gloucester get nothing, we will take their place on points difference. If we get five points and Northampton none, we take their place by being one point ahead. If either team loses but gets the losing BP, then we cannot finish ahead of them (unless we score 60+ unanswered points to go ahead of Saints on points difference). The problem is, is that Glaws have Sale at home and Northampton Leeds at home! Neither are likely to cause upsets, but you never know. Leeds are fighting for their lives, any win for them, and a loss for Newcastle, keeps them in the Premiership so the Falcons will be fighting for the win like there's no tomorrow.
What we can conclude is that the play-offs are almost definitely not going to happen for us this season. That said, we are so injury ravaged at the moment (particularly at tighthead prop and lock), that I'm not convinced it would be a good thing anyway. It is likely that Kane Palma-Newport will play at tighthead on Saturday with Mark Lilley as back up. Luke Watson is said to be fit for his last game but I believe he is likely to only feature from the bench. With Banners back after the birth of his child, I think that our other departing South African, Butch James will also be one of the reserves, with the backs from the Twickenham game starting.
Hopefully, what the above connotations mean, is that Bath must score tries on Saturday. Yes, the players and the coaches say that this isn't their goal, but I find it hard to believe that it's not at least in the back of their minds. We are in the Heineken regardless, so hopefully we will be treated to the open rugby that Steve Meehan has worked so hard to develop, and at times over his tenure has been second to none in the league. A win would be a great send off for all concerned, but a performance is what they all really deserve.
We will all doubtless soon begin to reflect upon the season. Success? Failure? I'll leave that to the board to discuss. All I know is that we've had some high highs and some low lows, with lack of consistency being our biggest downfall. The young names coming through have been a real bonus and some exciting new signings give me hope for improvement next season.
Finally, thanks to those who have read my ramblings this season, it's a genuine honour to be part of the ERE community. I feel sad that the season is over, as in many ways it feels like it's only just started. Hopefully the conjecture over our new fly-half, World Cup debates, and our thoughts on Bath's fortunes in 2011-12 will keep us going through the 'dark days' of the summer. Let's hope Saturday is a fitting end and a spring board to success next season - I already can't wait for it to start!