WHO’S GOT THE FRIDAY NIGHT (BEDFORD) BLUES?
van Graan: supreme
By Devonport Lad
March 11 2026
How times have changed! It wasn’t so long ago that we would have regarded reaching the semi-finals of a Cup competition as a success, but these days our expectations have changed and we all probably shared a little of Will Butt’s disappointment when a spirited young team came up short at Tigers on Sunday. So it’s really good to have the visit of Bedford Blues to look forward to on Friday.
Team selection for last Sunday has divided opinion. Don’t get me wrong; I understand the frustration of some of those who travelled to Leicester expecting to see a stronger Bath squad, but I can also understand that JvG will have his eyes firmly fixed on the Prem run in and going deep into the Champions Cup. He’s a supreme strategist and will not have wanted to compromise those objectives by picking up injuries to key players in the semi or the PRC final with a short turn around to critical games in the Prem and European Cup against Sarries. It happens. Remember the Round of 16 game against Exeter at Sandy Park around this time a couple of years ago when in one game we lost Finn, Beno and, if memory serves, Ben Spencer to injury?
There’s another side to the coin as well. I’m quietly proud of the fact that we used 51 players in this competition. Professional rugby doesn’t leave much room for sentimentality, but you’d have to be pretty hard hearted to deny young players like Ioan Emanuel, Alex Ridgway and Sam Winters their moments in the sun.
But of course, the next block of Prem matches is critical to our ambitions to retain the title and we can’t afford to send our players in “undercooked”. I’ve got no doubt that the training at Farleigh will have been precisely tailored to get them in the best condition, but nothing beats game time against strong opposition and Bedford will provide exactly that.
When thinking about the Champ teams, Ealing and Worcester immediately spring to mind, but unless you follow the Champ closely, Bedford tend to be a bit under the radar. They shouldn’t be. They’re currently second in the Champ, behind Ealing and above Worcester with 13 wins and a draw to their name out of 19 games played in a very competitive league. They pushed us hard last time they were at the Rec in Round 4 of the 24/25 PRC and have got better since then. Many of us regret that they and other Champ teams were denied a place in the 25/26 PRC and still think the competition is the poorer for it. They will bring their “A” game to the Rec and will be just the sort of opposition that we need going into the Sarries game on 20th March.
There’s little point trying to predict a Bath squad for this game. I think we will either effectively play two complete teams or will have continuous rolling subs so that as many players as possible get meaningful time under their belts.
I’m looking forward to this. It’s the right fixture for us at the moment and I’m sure it will be good for Bedford too.
COYB
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:03:17:16:46:44 by CoochieCoo.
... IMHO, of course.
Now in Honolulu
Great to be focusing on a Bath Team whilst the international set up whimpers to a conclusion
Quote:David 1113
Anyone got any news re team for tonights game v Bedford Blues?
I'm anticipating the rare Friday 12.00 team announcement for a Friday 19.00 kick off...
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
No Sela though which is disappointing. Wonder if that's part of why du Toit has been held back (not that he particularly needs to play but some gametime after his break might now have been the worst thing
2 x TH - Alfie Griffin, Mikey Summerfield
3 x HK - Dan Frost, Jasper Spandler, Kepu Tuipulotu
3 x LH - Ioan Emanuel, Scott Kirk, Francois van Wyk
2 x LK - Jack Bennett, Will Jeanes
3 x BR - Josh Bayliss, James Maloney, George Timmins
2 x SH - Ieuan Davies, Bernard van der Linde
1 x FH - Will Roue
3 x C - Will Butt, Chris Harris, Tyler Mason
2 x W - Henry Arundell, Austin Emens
2 x FB - Tom de Glanville, Sam Winters
The stadium announcer is going to be putting in a shift tonight
Thats a bit of overkill selection so assume its a warm up for the first team.
Quote:A.M 180
This suggests Russell won't be taking a break post 6N which surprises me - otherwise surely you'd have Santi get game time at 10
If it's rolling subs he still could? I wouldn't read that much into what it means for Russell at the moment
Hoping Arthur Green is just rested and rotated as would like to see him getting into team more and also hoping Charlie Griffin isn't injured as could have been a good opportunity for him.
Amazing fall for Henry Arundell & Josh Bayliss to go from internationals to then being on bench for friendly rather than having weeks holiday. Makes sense to get them minutes though.
Quote:I still expecting Santi to be 10 while Finn takes a post 6N break, but good to get Max some more game time there too.theredseatQuote:A.M 180
This suggests Russell won't be taking a break post 6N which surprises me - otherwise surely you'd have Santi get game time at 10
If it's rolling subs he still could? I wouldn't read that much into what it means for Russell at the moment
Interesting to see the number of players released from international camps being able to play.
Also no TdT, I wonder if JvG is just confident that he can step back into Premiership level matches without a warm up or exposing him to unnecessary game time.
Loving richards at 6.
Quote:Tlacey90
Amazing fall for Henry Arundell & Josh Bayliss to go from internationals to then being on bench for friendly rather than having weeks holiday. Makes sense to get them minutes though.
They will have been training hard with their respective camps so fitness shouldn't be too much of a problem when compared with those who have been on a beach?
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
The final score of 94-14 makes me feel slightly less worried! Would love the same again vs Saracens!
Hopefully good prep for next Friday.
PG
The usual suspects put in good performances (Ojomoh, Muir, Beno plus others), and it was another promising glimpse of BVDL, he's really going to push TCS for the bench SH spot (battle of the acronymised 9s).
Also from what I could tell no one hobbled off, will be interesting to see which players outside of this 38 man squad will get selected for Sarries.
’’Paint the whole world with a rainbow”
PG
Given Finn, Pepper and to a lesser extent Spenny and Underhill will need rest, I agree that Hill (or Richards) will be needed.
Cannot imagine we'll see the internationals against Sarries. I suspect they'll also get a rest against either Sale or (Europe dependent) Quins.
Our backrow resources are still pretty silly without them, santi/ mojo can cover 10 and we have to place some trust in bvdl and tcs
Agreed BvdL seemed to really speed things up getting the ball away really quickly and his bunny and go from the halfway line was pretty cool too.
A good run out for both teams, we were sat behind the Bedford bench and they seemed to be in good spirits throughout regardless of score.