Bath v Leicester

[Puja]

5 league points from the period where we were missing 9 of our first XV away with the RWC is a result I'll definitely take. Hard game against Saracens next up with gods know how many of their and our first XVs actually available to play and then we can start rebuilding to try and get some kind of momentum.

Puja

[FKAS]

Cloete did the same last week as well, needs a couple of weeks out of the side

On the upside for you Barbeary is delivering the hard graft work you want from an 8 and not just a few explosive moments. If he stays fit could really be in the mix for England as well. His work rate was noticeable.

Thought Barbeary was a little unlucky to get pinged for that 'hands past the ball' penalty as well. See plenty of those not given. If he can do more breakdown work he'll have to have a chance of getting a sniff for England.

Ref was pretty hot on the hands on the floor bit all game. I think both sides had a couple where they thought they might get away with it only to be called hands off or pinged by the ref.

Given the flankers England have available the breakdown element should take care of itself to a degree. An 8 that can carry hard and relentlessly with more dynamism that then average loosehead is required. There's a few putting their hats into the ring. Barbeary amongst them.

It was nice that the commentary team could take a break from the Finn Russell love in to acknowledge Barbeary.

[Oakboy]

Cloete did the same last week as well, needs a couple of weeks out of the side

On the upside for you Barbeary is delivering the hard graft work you want from an 8 and not just a few explosive moments. If he stays fit could really be in the mix for England as well. His work rate was noticeable.

Thought Barbeary was a little unlucky to get pinged for that 'hands past the ball' penalty as well. See plenty of those not given. If he can do more breakdown work he'll have to have a chance of getting a sniff for England.

You'd think so but I wonder if he will suit SB. Maybe, he's just a touch too 'maverick' for such a 'play-by-numbers' coach. I can imagine SB pounding the table in frustration because Barbeary made too much ground and got isolated (rather than fuming at others for not keeping up). Oddly enough, I can see Earl getting benched for similar reasons. Both can be wonderfully 'gung-ho' which most of us like. SB though? Take risks? Mmmm . . .

[Which Tyler]

You'd think so but I wonder if he will suit SB. Maybe, he's just a touch too 'maverick' for such a 'play-by-numbers' coach. I can imagine SB pounding the table in frustration because Barbeary made too much ground and got isolated (rather than fuming at others for not keeping up). Oddly enough, I can see Earl getting benched for similar reasons. Both can be wonderfully 'gung-ho' which most of us like. SB though? Take risks? Mmmm . . .

Pretty much the same reason that he rejected Mercer for.

If that's the case, then the closest SB will find is TWillis (not a bad option, by any stretch) and not have any backup.
If he could accept a #8 capable of making >6 metres in a carry, then he's got a lot he could choose from.

Again, the problem comes down to having the wrong coach for the players available (or more specifically, a too inexperienced coach who's too inflexible in his approach)

[Oakboy]

You'd think so but I wonder if he will suit SB. Maybe, he's just a touch too 'maverick' for such a 'play-by-numbers' coach. I can imagine SB pounding the table in frustration because Barbeary made too much ground and got isolated (rather than fuming at others for not keeping up). Oddly enough, I can see Earl getting benched for similar reasons. Both can be wonderfully 'gung-ho' which most of us like. SB though? Take risks? Mmmm . . .

Pretty much the same reason that he rejected Mercer for.

If that's the case, then the closest SB will find is TWillis (not a bad option, by any stretch) and not have any backup.
If he could accept a #8 capable of making >6 metres in a carry, then he's got a lot he could choose from.

Again, the problem comes down to having the wrong coach for the players available (or more specifically, a too inexperienced coach who's too inflexible in his approach)

You'd think coaches would like forwards that were quick enough to play like backs. Unfortunately, they seem to prefer backs that are BIG enough to play like forwards.

[Puja]

5 league points from the period where we were missing 9 of our first XV away with the RWC is a result I'll definitely take. Hard game against Saracens next up with gods know how many of their and our first XVs actually available to play and then we can start rebuilding to try and get some kind of momentum.

Puja

Leicester website says none of their 8 Eng/SA/Arg players will be back training until the week before the round 5 Harlequins game on Nov 11th. So probably round 6 before we're properly up to full strength.

Puja

[FKAS]

5 league points from the period where we were missing 9 of our first XV away with the RWC is a result I'll definitely take. Hard game against Saracens next up with gods know how many of their and our first XVs actually available to play and then we can start rebuilding to try and get some kind of momentum.

Puja

Leicester website says none of their 8 Eng/SA/Arg players will be back training until the week before the round 5 Harlequins game on Nov 11th. So probably round 6 before we're properly up to full strength.

Puja

Ooosh that's going to tough for a couple more weeks then. Some other clubs will bring their players back before that. Hopefully it pays off for us over the course of the season.

[FKAS]

You'd think so but I wonder if he will suit SB. Maybe, he's just a touch too 'maverick' for such a 'play-by-numbers' coach. I can imagine SB pounding the table in frustration because Barbeary made too much ground and got isolated (rather than fuming at others for not keeping up). Oddly enough, I can see Earl getting benched for similar reasons. Both can be wonderfully 'gung-ho' which most of us like. SB though? Take risks? Mmmm . . .

Pretty much the same reason that he rejected Mercer for.

Mercer admitted in an interview he wasn't the stereotypical 8 and so he understood the Borthwick decision as he couldn't offer what Steve wanted.

Barbeary offered a stereotypical 8 performance yesterday for Bath. Lots of hard yards and relentless carries. Wasn't the weather for the explosive stuff as it was hammering it down and he put a real shift in which tended to be what was queried of him at Wasps. Very promising.

Despite Oakboy's tiresome rhetoric Borthwick went out of his way to bring in and develop Weise an 8 who likes a barnstorming run and metres after contact.