Worcester v Bath Sat 3pm

[fivepointer]

Worcester: Nanai; Humphreys, Morris, Venter, David; Weir, Hougaard; Waller, Annett, Palframan, Bresler, A Kitchener, Hill (capt), Dodd, du Preez.

Replacements: Cutting, Black, Carey, Merrick, Batley, Simpson, Searle, Beck.

Bath: de Glanville; Rokoduguni, Redpath, Matavesi, McConnochie; Priestland, Spencer; Obano, Dunn, Judge, McNally (capt), Stooke, Williams, Bayliss, Mercer.

Replacements: Walker, Schoeman, Thomas, Staddon, Reid, Chudley, Wright, Cokanasiga.

[Banquo]

Coka benched. Is he actually fit?

[Mellsblue]

Puja?

[Puja]

Puja?

Yes darling?

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Puja?

Yes darling?

Puja

Thought you could help Banquo with his question.

[Puja]

Puja?

Yes darling?

Puja

Thought you could help Banquo with his question.

I'm afraid I don't have a contact inside Bath anymore. I suspect it's one part him having been away training with England, one part getting him back up to match fitness again, and one part Rokoduguni being a pretty useful option and Coka needing to earn his spot back.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Terrible form, and possibly not match for - no idea how much is physical and how much mental

[Which Tyler]

Head on head Morris v Priestland on 10 minutes comes to the right decision this week IMO.
Legal tackle with accidental head contact "just a rugby incident".

Frustratingly inconsistent with Ewels 2 weeks ago, where far less head contact got carded, but hey ho.


Pity to lose both 1st and 2md choice FHs to concussion in the first 10 minutes (we don't get to see what happened to Matavesi). Fortunately 3rd and 4th choices were already out there.

[Which Tyler]

Really nice to see a ref trying to speed up scrum formation. Would be nice if he had some power to enforce it as he's roundly ignored by all 18 players

He's also calling "use it" when the ball appears at the front of the caterpillar, not the back - I LOVE that!

[Which Tyler]

Hmmm, letting Wuss back in here.

30 points up, 20 Mon to go, Bath replace 1, 3 and 9 (we'd been playing off 9 since losing Rhys and Josh) meant that we were sitting back and defending a lead anyway. But we've switched off anlittle, whilst Wussbare throwing caution to the wind.

67 minutes, and presumably Ruaridh has piled up an injury, meaning we've lost 4 backs to injury. Debutant lock comes on for him, and it looks like a knackered Bayliss heads into the backline.

Our wide defence has lost all shape, and mostly being sucked infield, and Wuss are currently running us ragged - it'll be too.little too late, but they've just pulled back a 2nd "consolation" try with 5 minutes to go. Fortunately they'll need another 3 tries to actually take the match.

Mimd you, Bayliss may not be that knackered, as he just trounced Humphries in a foot race - even if he does get himself a yellow for not releasing him.

[Banquo]

Good win for Bath especially given back line issues

[Warrior85]

Bath really didn't have to do too much to win this. Worcester were determined to throw away all opportunities to score in the first half! There were about 4 very good chances that were bothered or fumbled.

It seemed like Bath spent the first 20mins of the 2nd half in a driving maul...an excellent tactic against Worcester as the players have no clue on how to defend them.

Should have happened last season with no relegation but Solly needs to step aside now. The players have no clue on defence or attack, there just is no apparent plan.

Unfortunately I also think the captaincy has been given to Ted a little bit too early, he doesn't have the presence with refs and there is a real lack of on field leadership.