Bath v Bristol, Friday 7.45

[Which Tyler]

We're going on a Bear hunt!


Ref: Christophe Ridley
TJs: Joe James & Greg MacDonald
TMO: Stuart Terhegee

Bath:
1 Beno Obano
2 Tom Dunn
3 Will Stuart
4 Fergus Lee-Warner
5 Charlie Ewels
6 Miles Reid
7 Sam Underhill
8 Jaco Coetzee

09 Ben Spencer ©
10 Finn Russell
11 Will Muir
12 Cameron Redpath
13 Ollie Lawrence
14 Joe Cokanasiga
15 Matt Gallagher

16 Niall Annett, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 GJ van Velze, 20 Alfie Barbeary
21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Max Ojomoh


Bristol:
1. Ellis Genge
2. Gabriel Oghre
3. Max Lahiff
4. Ed Holmes
5. Joe Batley
6. James Dun
7. Harry Thacker
8. Magnus Bradbury

09. Harry Randall (c)
10. Callum Sheedy
11. Gabriel Ibitoye
12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg
13. Virimi Vakatawa
14. Piers O’Conor
15. Rich Lane

16. Will Capon, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Josh Caulfield, 20. Dan Thomas
21. Kieran Marmion, 22. James Williams, 23. Max Malins


Was hoping to see Obano & Stuart against Genge and Sinkler, but not to be. Was also hoping to see Redpath & MOjo, with Lawrence on the bench, given his broken nose - please to see Barb.s get a bench-break after last weekend though - just a bit of player welfare.
So first 50, we'll still see Stuart v Genge, and the last 30, we'll have TdT vs Sinckler - I'm good with that, in the tight exchanges, at least.

[Mikey Brown]

Lawrence back from a broken nose is impressive. I think.

Where is Ted Hill?

[Which Tyler]

Lawrence back from a broken nose is impressive. I think.

Everyone's affected differently, some can shrug it off within a day or so, some take a few weeks.
I'd rather put him on the bench for 1 week just to be sure though - it's not as if we don't have options.

Where is Ted Hill?

Just had surgery on his upper leg - couple of months out.

[jimKRFC]

Really don't get the Thacker at 7...

I have no faith in this Bristol to learn or change things, so expect a decent win for Bath.

[Which Tyler]

Really don't get the Thacker at 7...

Hasn't spotted that.
I do, however, expect the commentators to confuse themselves with Dunn and Dun both at the same rucks

[Puja]

I do, however, expect the commentators to confuse themselves with Dunn and Dun both at the same rucks

We need a third one on the pitch, would add a touch of suspense and drama to proceedings.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Ojomoh benched....bugger!

Stuart v Genge is a tasty match up as is the two 9's.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Simply delighted that Barbeary got away from those two leg shots without any major damage!

[FKAS]

Really don't get the Thacker at 7...

I quite liked the idea when he played for Tigers. We had a converted prop come hooker in Bateman who added a lot at scrum time and in the tight but was pish at lineout time. Having the openside throw in gave us three prop sized lifters who could all pile into the rolling maul as well. Sadly Tigers were at the point where playing two locks and an 8 was in favour (nothing as dynamic as Exeter) so it didn't catch on.

Still think he could do a job there but not sure when Oghre is a similar type of player of the advantage.

[p/d]

Lawrence back from a broken nose is impressive. I think.

Am I missing something? Didn't Lawrence play the full 80 yet took a whack from May in about the 6th minute.

If so not sure why there is surprise he is starting.

[p/d]

Really don't get the Thacker at 7...

long arms

[Mikey Brown]

Lawrence back from a broken nose is impressive. I think.

Am I missing something? Didn't Lawrence play the full 80 yet took a whack from May in about the 6th minute.

If so not sure why there is surprise he is starting.

Fair enough. I didn’t see the game I’d just read he got clobbered in the face by May and broke his nose.

[p/d]

Lawrence back from a broken nose is impressive. I think.

Am I missing something? Didn't Lawrence play the full 80 yet took a whack from May in about the 6th minute.

If so not sure why there is surprise he is starting.

Fair enough. I didn’t see the game I’d just read he got clobbered in the face by May and broke his nose.

I was really trying to work out at which stage he got his nose broken. I just assumed it was from the May's flying fists of fury.

[Mush]

Really don't get the Thacker at 7...

I quite liked the idea when he played for Tigers. We had a converted prop come hooker in Bateman who added a lot at scrum time and in the tight but was pish at lineout time. Having the openside throw in gave us three prop sized lifters who could all pile into the rolling maul as well. Sadly Tigers were at the point where playing two locks and an 8 was in favour (nothing as dynamic as Exeter) so it didn't catch on.

Still think he could do a job there but not sure when Oghre is a similar type of player of the advantage.

Why have Capon on the bench to cover hooker as well as Dan Thomas to cover openside flanker? I rate Thacker as the best hooker at Bristol and not the best flanker.

[Which Tyler]

James Dun out for Bristol (illness)
Batley takes his place at BSF, with Caulfield taking HIS place at lock.
Heenan comes onto the bench.

[Which Tyler]

Rich Lane looks like he's forgotten everything he knew on his return to his spiritual home

[Which Tyler]

Ollie has really woken us up.

Definitely an OC

[FKAS]

Ollie Lawrence is on fire. That extra space at 13 with the two playmakers inside pulling the Bristol defence around is suiting him.

[twitchy]

Excellent game, really enjoyed it so far.

[Which Tyler]

POC with 2 costly brain fades in quick succession

[FKAS]

POC with 2 costly brain fades in quick succession

Doesn't look comfortable on the wing.

Fun game.

[Oakboy]

How good is Redpath? I can never make up my mind but tend towards thinking he is over-rated.

[Mellsblue]

Rich Lane looks like he's forgotten everything he knew on his return to his spiritual home

MOD. MMOOOODDD!
He may have been in Bath’s academy due to his schooling but his heart, landscaping business and offloads belong in Bedford.
Unless he’s having a mare, which I’m guessing he is by your comment, in which case he’s as Bathonian as the local stone from the local quarry.

[Which Tyler]

If it helps, he absolutely butchered a one on none by... Not being given the easy and obvious pass...

[Mellsblue]

Knew it wouldn’t be his fault…