Bath v Saints - Friday, 7.45

[FKAS]

With Scott-Young in the second row the Saints tight five looks a bit under powered. Could be an area for Bath to exploit.

Yes, as noted in predictions thread, Saints have a weakness at lock

True though playing a more recognised lock instead of Scott-Young might help, especially with Hunter-Hill on the bench. Coles and Lockett being unavailable doesn't help obviously but George Smith could have been one for this game.

[twitchy]

Yeah Bath is the wrong team to play with our current second row state. Surprised Hunter-Hill isn't starting alongside Munga for sheer ballast alone

No smith (the huge guy)?

[Adam_P]

Mayanavanua is also out with Fiji. I believe George Smith is also not fit, didn't feature at all in pre season.

So at lock we're missing, in probable selection order: Coles, Mayanavanua, Lockett, Smith and Atuanya.

If we had Coles and Mayanavanua our pack suddenly looks a lot more competitive!

[Banquo]

Mayanavanua is also out with Fiji. I believe George Smith is also not fit, didn't feature at all in pre season.

So at lock we're missing, in probable selection order: Coles, Mayanavanua, Lockett, Smith and Atuanya.

If we had Coles and Mayanavanua our pack suddenly looks a lot more competitive!

well yes, but losing Moon on the back of Ribbans is a big de-grunting. Plus Lawes.

[Adam_P]

Mayanavanua is also out with Fiji. I believe George Smith is also not fit, didn't feature at all in pre season.

So at lock we're missing, in probable selection order: Coles, Mayanavanua, Lockett, Smith and Atuanya.

If we had Coles and Mayanavanua our pack suddenly looks a lot more competitive!

well yes, but losing Moon on the back of Ribbans is a big de-grunting. Plus Lawes.

This is very true. Fucking France.

[francoisfou]

Mayanavanua is also out with Fiji. I believe George Smith is also not fit, didn't feature at all in pre season.

So at lock we're missing, in probable selection order: Coles, Mayanavanua, Lockett, Smith and Atuanya.

If we had Coles and Mayanavanua our pack suddenly looks a lot more competitive!

well yes, but losing Moon on the back of Ribbans is a big de-grunting. Plus Lawes.

This is very true. Fucking France.

La belle f…….. France

[Which Tyler]

Weather warnings for thunder storms this afternoon.
Should favour the stronger tight 5 / intelligent kicking game

[Which Tyler]

Thunder has just reached as far North as Tewkesbury. Reports of absolutely torrential rain in Bath - glad I'm not in the scaffolding stand

[Mellsblue]

Mayanavanua is also out with Fiji. I believe George Smith is also not fit, didn't feature at all in pre season.

So at lock we're missing, in probable selection order: Coles, Mayanavanua, Lockett, Smith and Atuanya.

If we had Coles and Mayanavanua our pack suddenly looks a lot more competitive!

George Smith is starting for Bedford this weekend and will therefore be world class by approx 5pm tomorrow.

[Adam_P]

Mayanavanua is also out with Fiji. I believe George Smith is also not fit, didn't feature at all in pre season.

So at lock we're missing, in probable selection order: Coles, Mayanavanua, Lockett, Smith and Atuanya.

If we had Coles and Mayanavanua our pack suddenly looks a lot more competitive!

George Smith is starting for Bedford this weekend and will therefore be world class by approx 5pm tomorrow.

Oh that's good to hear!

[twitchy]

Fireworks and bad facial hair.

[Which Tyler]

I'm in. What have i missed?

Dammit!
Beautiful line by the Wing Commander

[Which Tyler]

I think I just came a little

[FKAS]

Saints lacking territory and momentum. Bath's kicking, kick chase and forward power has just been better.

[Which Tyler]

Early contender for silliest penalty of the year there

[Which Tyler]

Thank gods for that last angle.

Looked likely but unproven before that

[FKAS]

Thank gods for that last angle.

Looked likely but unproven before that

Yeah my initial impression was he'd knocked it on but until the last angle it looked like try time.

[Which Tyler]

Early contender for silliest penalty of the year there

And a second - not the original penalty, but swearing at the ref

[Banquo]

Bath Rugby: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Will Butt, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer ©; 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Miles Reid (100), 8 Alfie Barbeary

Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk (debut), 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Jacques du Plessis, 20 Guy Pepper (debut), 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Jaco Coetzee

Bath easily, imo

there ye go.

Odd game.

[Which Tyler]

Touch unnecessary from White23 there


And that one from Du Plessis on Ramm will surely get a good viewing by the citing commissioner.


His original was fine, but that looked excessive, albeit during handbags all around

[Adam_P]

Well that was a shoddy start to the season for Saints. No where near physical enough to live with the Bath pack. Thought Augustus, Robbie Smith and Hunter-Hill added a bit of grunt off the bench but too little too late.

[FKAS]

Touch unnecessary from White23 there


And that one from Du Plessis on Ramm will surely get a good viewing by the citing commissioner.


His original was fine, but that looked excessive, albeit during handbags all around

One of those where you bring in a hard bastard and then have to live with the fact they occasionally overstep the mark. He probably gets away with it. That physicality though will be an asset to Bath this season.

[Banquo]

No where near physical enough to live with the Bath pack.

predictably

[FKAS]

Well that was a shoddy start to the season for Saints. No where near physical enough to live with the Bath pack. Thought Augustus, Robbie Smith and Hunter-Hill added a bit of grunt off the bench but too little too late.

Selection was slightly odd before the game, in hindsight it was terrible. The substitutes didn't help matters. Taking off the teams best finisher and then their defensive lynchpin weren't great. Not going with the biggest tight five from the off also seems to have come back to bite.

[Which Tyler]

It's only one game.
Against the reigning champions
Who beat us last time out
In the final
By 3 clear scores (4 if that final try had been allowed - didn't see anything clear and obvious on the replay)
In what looked like a full Rec

I'll take that