Approaching a Climax - Bath v Leicester

[Mikey Brown]

I have to say, if trying to do a combined XV... there would be A LOT of positions where there's really nothing in it, and 2-3 that are literal coin tosses

Smith, Montoya, DuToit
Ewels, Chessum
Hill, Refell, Liebenberg

JvP, Russell
Redpath, Ojomoh
OHC, Radwan, DeGlanville

Dunn, Obano, Stuart, Roux, (Cracknell/Barbeary)
Spencer, Donoghue, (Kata)


ETA: I've manned up, and actually made picks for almost all positions

It does have a whiff of bald men fighting over a comb. These two teams are in the final for a reason

Ha. I’d never considered ‘bald men fighting over a comb’ to be a positive statement about the quality of your options.

[Which Tyler]

So much more nervous about this than I was last year.

Last year, Northampton were clearly the better team over the course of the year, so we felt like underdogs.
This year, Bath are clearly the better team over the course of the year, so we feel like favourites - even though I don't think that label applies in a 1-off match

[Mikey Brown]

So much more nervous about this than I was last year.

Last year, Northampton were clearly the better team over the course of the year, so we felt like underdogs.
This year, Bath are clearly the better team over the course of the year, so we feel like favourites - even though I don't think that label applies in a 1-off match

Yep. Expectation is all on you. And as FKAS has pointed out Leicester are a poor side that have fluked their way to a final.

If it helps at all, I am channeling all my frustration and disappointment over Scottish crunch games (particularly opposite teams featuring Pollard) in to this one. You’ve got the weight of Scottish hope behind you!

[Which Tyler]

Yep. Expectation is all on you. And as FKAS has pointed out Leicester are a poor side that have fluked their way to a final.

If it helps at all, I am channeling all my frustration and disappointment over Scottish crunch games (particularly opposite teams featuring Pollard) in to this one. You’ve got the weight of Scottish hope behind you!

FKAS is hyperbolic to give him the underdog feelings.

As for Scottish hope - that would normally make me MORE nervous, not less.
But it's Tickers, so maybe it will help

[Banquo]

Not who I'd pick but interesting:

You'd not field Ted Hill on the wing?

I don't think he's to far off. Combined for me would be;

Smith, Montoya, du Toit
Ewels, Chessum
Hill, Liebenburg, Reffell
JvP/Spencer (don't mind which), Russell
Redpath, Ojomoh
OHC, Steward, Radwan

Cheating slightly moving Liebenburg to 8 but he's to good a player to leave out and you'd have the option of having him and Ted Hill on either flank giving width to the attack. Ewels is a poor international lock but at club level he's brilliant.

Do you really rate Redpath? I've always had doubts. I'd go with Woodward. I do rate Reffell highly but I'd prefer Pepper. I'd have Obano ahead of Smith. Ewels? You are probably right but I hate admitting it.

Redpath is underrated, but for injury he'd be viewed very differently imo. He's someone who gets others into the game, like centres should

[Oakboy]

You'd not field Ted Hill on the wing?

I don't think he's to far off. Combined for me would be;

Smith, Montoya, du Toit
Ewels, Chessum
Hill, Liebenburg, Reffell
JvP/Spencer (don't mind which), Russell
Redpath, Ojomoh
OHC, Steward, Radwan

Cheating slightly moving Liebenburg to 8 but he's to good a player to leave out and you'd have the option of having him and Ted Hill on either flank giving width to the attack. Ewels is a poor international lock but at club level he's brilliant.

Do you really rate Redpath? I've always had doubts. I'd go with Woodward. I do rate Reffell highly but I'd prefer Pepper. I'd have Obano ahead of Smith. Ewels? You are probably right but I hate admitting it.

Redpath is underrated, but for injury he'd be viewed very differently imo. He's someone who gets others into the game, like centres should

Fair enough. Maybe I'm wrong (yet again). If he makes Woodward look like a raw novice it will verge on conclusive. Conversely . . .

[FKAS]

Yep. Expectation is all on you. And as FKAS has pointed out Leicester are a poor side that have fluked their way to a final.

If it helps at all, I am channeling all my frustration and disappointment over Scottish crunch games (particularly opposite teams featuring Pollard) in to this one. You’ve got the weight of Scottish hope behind you!

FKAS is hyperbolic to give him the underdog feelings.

As for Scottish hope - that would normally make me MORE nervous, not less.
But it's Tickers, so maybe it will help

Not at all, I think we're the second best team in the league and we've improved well over the course of the season. The table didn't lie though and Bath have been the best side all year hence why I'm expecting them to win.

[Banquo]

Do you really rate Redpath? I've always had doubts. I'd go with Woodward. I do rate Reffell highly but I'd prefer Pepper. I'd have Obano ahead of Smith. Ewels? You are probably right but I hate admitting it.

Redpath is underrated, but for injury he'd be viewed very differently imo. He's someone who gets others into the game, like centres should

Fair enough. Maybe I'm wrong (yet again). If he makes Woodward look like a raw novice it will verge on conclusive. Conversely . . .

yes, the game is that extreme . Of course its possible they are both pretty good, in differing ways.

[Which Tyler]

Glatman also going with the Luxury Giraffe observation on SuperTed

[twitchy]

Beautiful day for it.

[Which Tyler]

What The Flip?

Was kinda cool when Hendrix did that.
You're not Hendrix, it's not the 60s

[Puja]

Thought Montoya had buggered that up.

Will take that. 7-0 without having ever got anything going.

Puja

[FKAS]

What The Flip?

Was kinda cool when Hendrix did that.
You're not Hendrix, it's not the 60s

Quite liked it, bit different and a bit of fun.

Good start by Tigers, little bit lucky where the ball bounced from that Steward slap back but the rolling maul setup was perfect and drew the penalty before JvP dived over.

[FKAS]

Not sure what Reffell did wrong there. The Bath player flops over the breakdown from the wrong side (with a bit of assistance) and Reffell just goes over him.

[twitchy]

It feels almost pedestrian compared to the bath vs biz game.

[FKAS]

Correct decision for the Obano tackle. Nothing more he could have done.

[Puja]

Good decision by the refereeing team on the Obano incident.

Incredibly boring rugby so far - both teams opting out from playing entirely like it's 2023 again. Obviously neither team mandated to entertain, but it is disappointing for a big game on terrestial television.

Puja

[Puja]

Radwan's got a lot of room down that blindside...

Puja

[FKAS]

Good decision by the refereeing team on the Obano incident.

Incredibly boring rugby so far - both teams opting out from playing entirely like it's 2023 again. Obviously neither team mandated to entertain, but it is disappointing for a big game on terrestial television.

Puja

It is like two boxers just circling each other and throwing token jabs isn't it.

[Which Tyler]

It feels almost pedestrian compared to the bath vs biz game.

High octane compared to Leicester Sale

[Puja]

Good decision by the refereeing team on the Obano incident.

Incredibly boring rugby so far - both teams opting out from playing entirely like it's 2023 again. Obviously neither team mandated to entertain, but it is disappointing for a big game on terrestial television.

Puja

It is like two boxers just circling each other and throwing token jabs isn't it.

Dickson's not helping. He's letting both sides take forever over forming for scrums.

Puja

[Puja]

WHY ARE YOU KICKING THAT! No-one was chasing it.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Heat?

Or conserving energy for 2nd half?


Either way, it's not working at the moment

[FKAS]

Bath's forwards look shagged already. Bizarre.

Tigers are just going to the boot a little early and unnecessarily. It's not coming off and just allowing Bath to clear.

[FKAS]

From allowing nothing at the breakdown Dickson just allows both sides to steal the ball on all fours. Ridiculous.