THE LUCK OF THE IRISH. LONDON IRISH v BATH.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:01:05:16:42:30 by P G Tips.

Any idea when the teams are named?

Guess there may be another round of tests to get through with it not being til Monday?

Will Stuart to win it with a 45 yard penalty from out wide in blustery conditions.

Quote:

charlieboa
Any idea when the teams are named?
Guess there may be another round of tests to get through with it not being til Monday?

Midday on Sunday apparently.

Would not be surprised to see Morozov come straight into either the starting line up or bench - word was when his signing was announced that he was already training with the team, and with the reasons given for cancelling the Premiership cup game that we could not put out a front row sort of makes sense.

Irish board apparently casting accusations as to Bath rugby's decision to cancel the Premiership match which is really quite distasteful given the current pandemic and player welfare rightly being high on the agenda - but I am sure they are better informed than us and have evidence of this great injustice.

One would have thought they should be very confident given their form and us being 12-0 and unable to buy a win - still maybe they are getting their excuses in early in case they slip on a banana skin.

Quote:

ken_jnr

Quote:

charlieboa
Any idea when the teams are named?
Guess there may be another round of tests to get through with it not being til Monday?

Midday on Sunday apparently.

Thanks Ken. Fingers crossed for no positive tests between now and then for either side.

Struggle to see us winning this one. Glos was the game that finally and throughly knocked the stuffing out of me....

Will it be raining...?

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu

Just received an e-mail saying match is cancelled...

[www.bathrugby.com]

Following the cancellation of our Premiership Rugby Cup fixture against Exeter Chiefs earlier this week, we are sorry to share that our Gallagher Premiership game against London Irish on Monday 3 January at Brentford Community Stadium can no longer go ahead safely.

Further Covid-related player absences means that our fixture must be cancelled.
Premiership Rugby will determine the points allocation for this fixture over the coming days in line with the Gallagher Premiership regulations.

We are sorry to share this news today and wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.

Game off due to Covid, probably in the Bath camp according to BT Sport

Also according to LI website

[www.london-irish.com]

Shame for the players, but that will be 2 more points than we would have got.

No good news at all for Bath. We really are a sorry state of affairs.

Watching Exeter and Bristol thinking how they have progressed both on and off the pitch and how we lack direction.

Not too upset to not have to endure this after that utter shambles on boxing day.

Hopefully have some players back by next sunday

Quote:

Tomato Soup
Watching Exeter and Bristol thinking how they have progressed both on and off the pitch and how we lack direction.

Really? Bristol 12th with 8th loss about to happen. Exeter no longer unbeatable or dominant.


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

Good Christmas party then?

Yes really. Decent stadiums( new stand looks good) decent coaches and a clear identity.

Everything we don’t have.

The only thing Bath has to shout about is a distant past that the current younger generation and future generations know nothing of.

This site is full of nostalgic grey haired fools clinging to a time that has past and supporting a club that makes no progress year after year.

Keep safe all

No indication as yet that its a Bath forfeit though is there? Offy doesn't actually say that.


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

Sure it will be called on Monday.Same as all other games. Just all at the club are safe and well

Hi durbansharks6. Welcome to the board. Please refrain from posting new threads for every topic - this is already covered on the main match thread which is a sticky.

Quote:

Tomato Soup
Yes really. Decent stadiums( new stand looks good) decent coaches and a clear identity.
Everything we don’t have.

The only thing Bath has to shout about is a distant past that the current younger generation and future generations know nothing of.

This site is full of nostalgic grey haired fools clinging to a time that has past and supporting a club that makes no progress year after year.

I was talking about the rugby which in the game you are talking about has been decidedly ordinary, infrastructure is another matter altogether.


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

Mentioned on BT sport that the issue is a Bath one so we get 2 points and close the gap on Bristol, good result!


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

Quote:

Tomato Soup
No good news at all for Bath. We really are a sorry state of affairs.
Watching Exeter and Bristol thinking how they have progressed both on and off the pitch and how we lack direction.

Unbeaten in 2, new coaches and chairman on the way, looking good.

Quote:

shipwrecked
I was talking about the rugby which in the game you are talking about has been decidedly ordinary, infrastructure is another matter altogether.

I was quite impressed by Exeter's handling at times under pressure. To me there was plenty of skill on show.

Perhaps if Luke Pearce (usually, IMHO one of the very best referees) had shown Bristol a yellow card for their persistent red zone infringement, or been a bit tougher on both sides offside defence, the game might have opened up more?

PG

Should these comments not be on an "Other Games This Weekend" thread? I haven't had a chance to watch the Exe Bris game yet (cos I've only just got up).

Happy New Year to you all

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu

Quote:

P G Tips

Quote:

shipwrecked
I was talking about the rugby which in the game you are talking about has been decidedly ordinary, infrastructure is another matter altogether.

I was quite impressed by Exeter's handling at times under pressure. To me there was plenty of skill on show.

Perhaps if Luke Pearce (usually, IMHO one of the very best referees) had shown Bristol a yellow card for their persistent red zone infringement, or been a bit tougher on both sides offside defence, the game might have opened up more?

PG

The rugby was a far cry from these times though PG, Exeter used to dominate teams up front and be unstoppable from 5m out.
Exeter could rip sides apart from the 22m line.

If Bath went from top of the table to 12th this board would be in an inferno!
If we are going to make comparisons Sale who were 3rd are a way off where they were last season. Wasps were under Lee Blackett the performing somersaults. They are currently 9th and 10th.

Fortunes change quickly courtesy of Covid and injuries and perhaps even referees. One of the suggestions from the pundits was Exeter have lost their mojo because of their inability to win the breakdown. (Sometime known as flopping!)

If the offside line was policed rigorously PG perhaps Bath would fly up the table?




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

Quote:

Tomato Soup
The only thing Bath has to shout about is a distant past that the current younger generation and future generations know nothing of.

This site is full of nostalgic grey haired fools clinging to a time that has past and supporting a club that makes no progress year after year.

Thinning rather than grey. A fool... I don't think so, but not for me to say. I do know that the vast majority of posts on this site have been very critical of the club's mediocrity for several seasons. The abject rubbish we've suffered this season has been clear to all. There's a hope that we'll come good again but I don't see much nostalgia, and as for supporting a club that continues to disappoint, that's what supporters of most clubs in most sports do the world over. Easy to just switch allegiance and follow success if that's what you want, but few fans can.

Well you've started the new year with points so there's that!
Most importantly hopefully all your players are fine and with a new defence coach and a number of injuries and absences maybe a week "off" isn't the worst thing in the world for the club right now?

Best of luck for the rest of the year

Quote:

OldMarovian
Well you've started the new year with points so there's that!
Most importantly hopefully all your players are fine and with a new defence coach and a number of injuries and absences maybe a week "off" isn't the worst thing in the world for the club right now?

Best of luck for the rest of the year

I usually think any game is better than no game for both players and fans but not so sure currently.

As you say hopefully everyone is OK, get another week of Brent trying to convey defence messages and some players will be a week nearer comebacks.

For me this season is now an extension of pre season for 22/23. That should be the focus, not short term targets of trying to scrape a few wins

No tries conceded in last 2 games, new defence coach has got our problems sorted already!

LI fans and their conspiracy theories for cancelling premiership cup game left with egg on their face.

Wonder if the Worcs game is in doubt with Bath being hit by the latest pingdemic?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:01:02:09:04:52 by OutsideBath.

Hmm shame…or maybe not

Today I will be mostly supporting Glos on BT!



Btw if you have a ‘cold’ but test negative on LFT, don’t go to the party. Both me and wife had symptoms for 12 hours before getting a positive. Looks like omicron is one step ahead!

Quote:

Woodpecker
Hmm shame…or maybe not
Today I will be mostly supporting Glos on BT!



Btw if you have a ‘cold’ but test negative on LFT, don’t go to the party. Both me and wife had symptoms for 12 hours before getting a positive. Looks like omicron is one step ahead!

For every omicron case testing positive I'd suggest there are probably 4-5 more who don't!


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

Woody, supporting Glos!!!!

Has covid scrambled your rugby supporter brain?

Quote:

OutsideBath
Woody, supporting Glos!!!!
Has covid scrambled your rugby supporter brain?

I know it’s heresy but I’ve been impressed by how they’ve turned it around since last season.

Quote:

charlieboa
For me this season is now an extension of pre season for 22/23

100% this. Will be criminal if we don't get game-time into players who will be important match-day squad players next season. Doubly so if we waste game-time on players who will not be at Bath next season.

Quote:

OutsideBath
LI fans and their conspiracy theories for cancelling premiership cup game left with egg on their face.

Just visited their site, what a generally miserable and not too intellegent bunch amongst that lot. Notwithstanding the fact that they appear to have (conveniently) forgotten that their December 2020 match with Bath was was cancelled due to Covid in their camp, they appear to still be whining like toddlers about their players wanting to leave their little club 8+ years ago? At least they can at long last make the point that they are above Bath in the league, which should help as they wipe away their salty tears of perceived betrayal.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

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Optimist

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charlieboa
For me this season is now an extension of pre season for 22/23

100% this. Will be criminal if we don't get game-time into players who will be important match-day squad players next season. Doubly so if we waste game-time on players who will not be at Bath next season.

Completely agree but also need to sort out quickly who among the coaches will be staying and in what roles so they can start to focus on how we will be playing next year and what we want to achieve

For me the goal has to be winning the Euro Challenge Cup with a top 6 Prem position an absolute must

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gaz59

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Optimist

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charlieboa
For me this season is now an extension of pre season for 22/23

100% this. Will be criminal if we don't get game-time into players who will be important match-day squad players next season. Doubly so if we waste game-time on players who will not be at Bath next season.

Completely agree but also need to sort out quickly who among the coaches will be staying and in what roles so they can start to focus on how we will be playing next year and what we want to achieve

For me the goal has to be winning the Euro Challenge Cup with a top 6 Prem position an absolute must

Agree, no point Brent drilling the players with a specific style of defence if he is going to get replaced by jpf in 6 months and if he wants something totally different. Difficult period to manage but I think clarity for all parties ASAP would be helpful.

Going well in challenge cup and top half prem seems a reasonable target. interesting that geech thinks it will be 2-3 years before we see significant upturn. I am a bit more bullish than that, or at least can't see why we couldn't improve a decent amount quickly from such a low base.

Quote:

gaz59

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Optimist

Quote:

charlieboa
For me this season is now an extension of pre season for 22/23

100% this. Will be criminal if we don't get game-time into players who will be important match-day squad players next season. Doubly so if we waste game-time on players who will not be at Bath next season.

Completely agree but also need to sort out quickly who among the coaches will be staying and in what roles so they can start to focus on how we will be playing next year and what we want to achieve

For me the goal has to be winning the Euro Challenge Cup with a top 6 Prem position an absolute must

Given the absolute shambles the playing side of Bath rugby is in that goal seems a little over optimistic. In addition the architects of Bath’s demise will still be at the club influencing the playing side.

I would suggest finishing somewhere between 9th and 11th with a Challenge cup 1/4 final is more realistic.

Hats seemed to give a timeframe of the next couple of weeks, so I’d assume everyone will know where they stand by then. If there are protected conversations to be had, then they would probably happen during this period. I also get the impression from Hats that JvG is very much inputting into this process.

Quote:

charlieboa

Quote:

gaz59

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Optimist

Quote:

charlieboa
For me this season is now an extension of pre season for 22/23

100% this. Will be criminal if we don't get game-time into players who will be important match-day squad players next season. Doubly so if we waste game-time on players who will not be at Bath next season.

Completely agree but also need to sort out quickly who among the coaches will be staying and in what roles so they can start to focus on how we will be playing next year and what we want to achieve

For me the goal has to be winning the Euro Challenge Cup with a top 6 Prem position an absolute must

Agree, no point Brent drilling the players with a specific style of defence if he is going to get replaced by jpf in 6 months and if he wants something totally different. Difficult period to manage but I think clarity for all parties ASAP would be helpful.

Going well in challenge cup and top half prem seems a reasonable target. interesting that geech thinks it will be 2-3 years before we see significant upturn. I am a bit more bullish than that, or at least can't see why we couldn't improve a decent amount quickly from such a low base.

Who is jpf Charlie? Have I missed a rumour/announcement?

Will the team finishing 13th this year qualify for the Challenge Cup ????

Quote:

Shadders

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charlieboa

Quote:

gaz59

Quote:

Optimist

Quote:

charlieboa
For me this season is now an extension of pre season for 22/23

100% this. Will be criminal if we don't get game-time into players who will be important match-day squad players next season. Doubly so if we waste game-time on players who will not be at Bath next season.

Completely agree but also need to sort out quickly who among the coaches will be staying and in what roles so they can start to focus on how we will be playing next year and what we want to achieve

For me the goal has to be winning the Euro Challenge Cup with a top 6 Prem position an absolute must

Agree, no point Brent drilling the players with a specific style of defence if he is going to get replaced by jpf in 6 months and if he wants something totally different. Difficult period to manage but I think clarity for all parties ASAP would be helpful.

Going well in challenge cup and top half prem seems a reasonable target. interesting that geech thinks it will be 2-3 years before we see significant upturn. I am a bit more bullish than that, or at least can't see why we couldn't improve a decent amount quickly from such a low base.

Who is jpf Charlie? Have I missed a rumour/announcement?

Pretty sure that's meant to be JvG, Johann van Graan.


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

Sorry , JP ferreira the munster defence coach. A few rumours he may follow jvg.

Quote:

charlieboa
...... interesting that geech thinks it will be 2-3 years before we see significant upturn. I am a bit more bullish than that, or at least can't see why we couldn't improve a decent amount quickly from such a low base.

What Tigers achieved in such a short time is remarkable but shows it needn't take 2 to 3 years. Maybe Geech was judging this against his own standards, reminds me of some old builder shaking his head at a job and saying 'Who did this? It will take me a lot of work to put right'.

Quote:

B4thB4ck

Quote:

charlieboa
...... interesting that geech thinks it will be 2-3 years before we see significant upturn. I am a bit more bullish than that, or at least can't see why we couldn't improve a decent amount quickly from such a low base.

What Tigers achieved in such a short time is remarkable but shows it needn't take 2 to 3 years. Maybe Geech was judging this against his own standards, reminds me of some old builder shaking his head at a job and saying 'Who did this? It will take me a lot of work to put right'.

Hooper and Tarquin are still involved so it’s going to take a lot longer than 2-3 years to see any form of improvement. Geech is being over optimistic.

Quote:

B4thB4ck

Quote:

charlieboa
...... interesting that geech thinks it will be 2-3 years before we see significant upturn. I am a bit more bullish than that, or at least can't see why we couldn't improve a decent amount quickly from such a low base.

What Tigers achieved in such a short time is remarkable but shows it needn't take 2 to 3 years. Maybe Geech was judging this against his own standards, reminds me of some old builder shaking his head at a job and saying 'Who did this? It will take me a lot of work to put right'.

Tigers and Gloucester tbf. Both had strong Academies to draw from and both had done well at age grade for a few years (particularly Hartpury) so that made life easier I'm sure but Bath also has a few decent lads coming through.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Quote:

OutsideBath

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B4thB4ck

Quote:

charlieboa
...... interesting that geech thinks it will be 2-3 years before we see significant upturn. I am a bit more bullish than that, or at least can't see why we couldn't improve a decent amount quickly from such a low base.

What Tigers achieved in such a short time is remarkable but shows it needn't take 2 to 3 years. Maybe Geech was judging this against his own standards, reminds me of some old builder shaking his head at a job and saying 'Who did this? It will take me a lot of work to put right'.

Hooper and Tarquin are still involved so it’s going to take a lot longer than 2-3 years to see any form of improvement. Geech is being over optimistic.

My hope is Tarquin will be focussed more on the ground project and Hoops will either see sense and leave the coaching to the new team or they will just lock him in the changing rooms. Either way the new regime must get a clean start without interference.

Partly though, despite Geech's great history I don't see how his opinion is worth much these days? I am usually the last person to put people down but I can't recall the last time he showed any great insight. Happy to be shot down on that one if someone can post his comments.

I read it with same mindset but was marginally more insightful than I thought it may be

Quote:

B4thB4ck
despite Geech's great history I don't see how his opinion is worth much these days?

Other than contributing the well-worn cliche 'test match animal' I'd say his last meaningful contribution was appointing Martin Johnson as captain of the '97 Lions.

I wonder if the most significant of the most recent Bath moves has been for Bruce to take a tangible step away. There has always been that undercurrent of 'interference' rumours ... and it may well be that Hooper has borne the brunt of that - trying to juggle constant messages and suggestions from the owner, with what's happening on the ground.

I get the impression Ian McGeechan lives on his past reputation.


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

My impression of Geech is that he was great in the pre-professional era.

I think he deserves some credit for building the Saints team that won the HC in 2000, even if he left before they won.

Quote:

shipwrecked
I get the impression Ian McGeechan lives on his past reputation.

Don't we all?
I used to drive taxis, (and have been accused of 'murdering people' (emissions)) and, I suspect, you had problems sailing boats?

Quote:

Mike the Taxi

Quote:

shipwrecked
I get the impression Ian McGeechan lives on his past reputation.

Don't we all?
I used to drive taxis, (and have been accused of 'murdering people' (emissions)) and, I suspect, you had problems sailing boats?

Out of order Mike, I haven't been stranded on a desert island for ages .......


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

Just got this from the club:

Ticket alert: Worcester Warriors visit the Rec on Sunday 9 January

Why's it an alert?

I'm grateful that Brent has had a couple of weeks to implement a defense. A mini pre-season hopefully. A focus I hope will be on the breakdown. I've watched Underhill get numerous legitimate turnovers only to be denied by the ref this season, which has been deeply frustrating. Without Reid and Bayliss out of position at 8 we've lacked someone who can slow down opposition momentum. In the backs Redpath was very good at it before his injury and we've relied on Roko to get the odd one.

I do like Ellis, he's a big lump who can make big hits but the balance of the backrow with Coetzee injured has been woeful all season. Assuming Bayliss has recovered from illness he'll start at 8 with Underhill at 7. I'd be tempted to start De Carpentier alongside him as a breakdown threat, being very good at it for the 7s or even Cowan. I rate Richards as the better player but I was impressed with Cowan's speed and jackal threat. Maybe he play like Curry does for England with 6/7 numbers the wrong way round.

Alternatively we give Merigan a start and have Bayliss at 6. With De Carpentier on the bench with Richards or the other Spencer.

G_U_I

I suspect the selection criteria will be:
a. Covid free
b. Injury free
c. Best man for the job/position

In that order.

PG

b1/2. Here next year

[www.bbc.co.uk]

But, while that game was recorded as a 28-0 Chiefs win, the Irish v Bath goes down as a 0-0 draw, with the Exiles awarded four points and Bath two.

The decision was made by a Premiership Rugby panel chaired by Martyn Phillips, along with rugby director Phil Winstanley.

In a statement, the Premiership said: "The panel was satisfied that Bath did all they could to fulfil the fixture, trying to find a replacement hooker, which was key to the match being cancelled.

"This search involved speaking with clubs from the Welsh regions, the RFU Championship and a number of the major rugby player agencies."

So that must have meant Dunn, Doughty, Du Toit and John Stewart all out? I guess thats the result of them all packing down vs each other in training... Still looks like they did a thorough sweep for replacements.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]