The Clash II - Bath vs Leicester

[Which Tyler]

KO: 2.00; Saturday 7th April
Broadcast: Channel 5 & BTSport3. Both from 1.30
Referee: Wayne Barnes (197th Premiership game).
TJs: Hamish Smales & Wayne Falla.
TMO: Geoff Warren.
Citing Officer: John Bye


Bath
15. James Wilson
14. Matt Banahan
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Ben Tapuai
11. Aled Brew
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Kahn Fotuali’i

1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Shaun Knight
4. Charlie Ewels
5. Elliott Stooke
6. Matt Garvey
7. Francois Louw
8. Taulupe Faletau

16. Jack Walker; 17. Lucas Noguera; 18. Victor Delmas; 19. James Phillips; 20. Tom Ellis
21. Max Green; 22. Freddie Burns; 23. Cooper Vuna


Leicester
15. Telusa Veainu
14. Adam Thompstone
13. Mathew Tait
12. Matt Toomua
11. Jonny May
10. George Ford (c)
9. Sam Harrison

1. Ellis Genge
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau
3. Dan Cole
4. Mike Fitzgerald
5. Graham Kitchener
6. Valentino Mapapalangi
7. Luke Hamilton
8. Sione Kalamafoni

16. Tom Youngs; 17. Greg Bateman; 18. Logovi’i Mulipola; 19. Harry Wells; 20. Will Evans
21. Harry Simmons; 22. Matt Smith; 23. Jordan Olowofela

[Peej]

Bath bringing some big guns back from injury at an unfortunate time for Tigers

[Which Tyler]

2 decent teams; Bath with a lot of injury returnees thrown straight in to start; if we both play to par for the team sheets, then not a lot in it. Leicester's bench should make it fairly comfortable however.

Of course, you'd have to question quite how ready those returnees are; but I'm not worried about them disrupting the balance of the side - as we've singularly lacked any form of balance since week 4.

Leicester's front row will be licking their lips in anticipation - as will their backup front row. But then, Bath's backrow will be doing the same (assuming they've finally learned how the breakdown is working reality rather than on the pres-season blackboard - Wayne might give us a hand there though). Honours pretty even at lock.
Halfbacks will depend on which Khan, and which George turn up; whilst the back 5 are very evenly matched

[Tigersman]

Fair play MOC could’ve put Ford or Brady on the bench and instead went with U20 Olowofela. Think he might have learnt his lesson from Leinster in youth selection.

[Scrumhead]

2 decent teams; Bath with a lot of injury returnees thrown straight in to start; if we both play to par for the team sheets, then not a lot in it. Leicester's bench should make it fairly comfortable however.

Of course, you'd have to question quite how ready those returnees are; but I'm not worried about them disrupting the balance of the side - as we've singularly lacked any form of balance since week 4.

Leicester's front row will be licking their lips in anticipation - as will their backup front row. But then, Bath's backrow will be doing the same (assuming they've finally learned how the breakdown is working reality rather than on the pres-season blackboard - Wayne might give us a hand there though). Honours pretty even at lock.
Halfbacks will depend on which Khan, and which George turn up; whilst the back 5 are very evenly matched

Looking at how Genge made an instant impact last time out, he’ll fancy having a good go at Knight. Bateman, Youngs and Mulipola are a hell of a front row unit to bring off the bench.

[fivepointer]

Tigers have the form. I expect them to get a win.

Good to see jack Walker back. This guy could do with a bit of luck with injuries.

[Puja]

2 decent teams; Bath with a lot of injury returnees thrown straight in to start; if we both play to par for the team sheets, then not a lot in it. Leicester's bench should make it fairly comfortable however.

Of course, you'd have to question quite how ready those returnees are; but I'm not worried about them disrupting the balance of the side - as we've singularly lacked any form of balance since week 4.

Leicester's front row will be licking their lips in anticipation - as will their backup front row. But then, Bath's backrow will be doing the same (assuming they've finally learned how the breakdown is working reality rather than on the pres-season blackboard - Wayne might give us a hand there though). Honours pretty even at lock.
Halfbacks will depend on which Khan, and which George turn up; whilst the back 5 are very evenly matched

Really looking forward to this one. Genge vs Knight is mouth-watering from a Leicester perspective. Not sure the back row's going to be quite as mismatched - while ours are definitely lower quality, Mapapalangi's got a lot about him and Hamilton is always surprisingly good.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

I'm surprised how excited I'm getting for this.

Watching on 5, and it seems to be entirely separate broadcast, I was expecting them to just share BT's broadcast.
5 definitely winning the battle of the rugby interview totty (BBC could do with learning from both, and firing the Sonja and Jill blond idiot double act). Of course, for Sam Wassname to beat Sarra, novelty could be helping

[Mellsblue]

I'm surprised how excited I'm getting for this.

Watching on 5, and it seems to be entirely separate broadcast, I was expecting them to just share BT's broadcast.
5 definitely winning the battle of the rugby interview totty (BBC could do with learning from both, and firing the Sonja and Jill blond idiot double act). Of course, for Sam Wassname to beat Warranty, novelty could be helping

Sam Quek? If so, I’m switching off BT Sport.

[Mellsblue]

What the **** was Fitzgerald doing there?!?!?

[Which Tyler]

Sam Quek? If so, I’m switching off BT Sport.

That's the one.
Guess I'm not alone in my opinion

Flagman and Grayson in commentary is working really well too TBH

[twitchy]

Missed watching genge.

[16th man]

Bath had done a good job of running down the clock on the Khan yellow.

Not sure that that last scrum isn't Genge dropping his bind, with his shoulders well below his hips.

[16th man]

I really don't trust Wayne when he says he doesn't want to be involved in the game.

[Which Tyler]

I do hate that not being as good as your opponent is considered a penalty and cardable offence

[twitchy]

Genge causing mayhem.

[16th man]

I do hate that not being as good as your opponent is considered a penalty and cardable offence

This so much. What were Bath supposed to do in that situation? Especially as Tigers could probably have scored that try from any of the previous 3 scrums if they'd chosen to play the ball rather than milk a penalty.

[16th man]

No wrap, hit to the throat.

Some ref's have some real issues with basic anatomy.

[Tigersman]

Clearly tries to wrap his arm though.

High yeh could see the argument for that.

[16th man]

Genge pinged for doing what he did at the last couple of scrums where he got the penalty his way.

[16th man]

Clearly tries to wrap his arm though.
High yeh could see the argument for that.

If you're being generous.

[Tigersman]

How his arm was around the player, he just couldn’t complete it becuase of the speed and power of the hit.

[16th man]

How his arm was around the player, he just couldn’t complete it becuase of the speed and power of the hit.

Looked a lot to me like he hit with his shoulder, then moved his arm.

[16th man]

Imagine an England front row of Genge, Hartley and Sinckler.

[Which Tyler]

How his arm was around the player, he just couldn’t complete it becuase of the speed and power of the hit.

Looked a lot to me like he hit with his shoulder, then moved his arm.

He did (IMO). It's illegal, but he's far from the first to get away with it, and it's neither the first nor the last decision where I disagree with the ref.