Bath vs Scarlets

[Which Tyler]

Bath v Scarlets; Friday night on BTSport

Bath:
15. Anthony Watson
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Max Clark
11. Aled Brew
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Kahn Fotuali’i

1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Anthony Perenise
4. Charlie Ewels (c)
5. Luke Charteris
6. Zach Mercer
7. Sam Underhill
8. Taulupe Faletau

Replacements
16. Jack Walker; 17. Nathan Cat; 18. Scott Andrews; 19. Elliott Stook; 20. Paul Grant
21. Darren Allinson; 22. Josh Lewis; 23. Matt Banahan

Unavailable for selection: - Down to 12 absenttees - Aparrently we've been able to train 15 vs 15 for the first time this season
Ross Batty, Henry Thomas, Shaun Knight, Kane Palma-Newport, Dave Attwood, Matt Garvey, Francois Louw, Tom Ellis
Chris Cook, Freddie Burns, Ben Tapuai, Jeff Williams

Scarlets:
15 Leigh Halfpenny
14 Johnny Mcnicholl
13 Jonathan Davies
12 Hadleigh Parkes
11 Steff Evans
10 Rhys Patchell
9 Gareth Davies

1 Wyn Jones
2 Ken Owens ©
3 Samson Lee
4 Jake Ball
5 Lewis Rawlins
6 Aaron Shingler
7 Will Boyde
8 Tadhg Beirne

Replacements
16: Ryan Elias, 17: Dylan Evans, 18: Werner Kruger, 19: David Bulbring, 20: Josh Macleod
21: Jonathan Evans, 22: Paul Asquith, 23: Scott Williams

[Scrumhead]

Good to see Underhill’s head injury wasn’t too serious. Surprised to see Ewels as captain.

I’ll be curious to see how good Scarlets are.

[Mellsblue]

What has Henry Thomas done to himself this time?!?!?

[Puja]

Good to see Underhill’s head injury wasn’t too serious. Surprised to see Ewels as captain.

How come? He's done it before.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Scarlets did well to get a BP in Toulon last week and are playing well in the pro14. Bath can be a bit erratic but are capable of mixing it with the best. Having Priestland back is a major boost. Potentially one of the games of the round.

[Digby]

What has Henry Thomas done to himself this time?!?!?

I don't think they've said, not that I follow any Bath boards which might have details. Was injured in the Wuss game it was said but played on, I don't know if that's what's keeping him out, it has been said it's not the previous knee injury flaring up but I've no idea how true that is


Edit - a brief google search says (as per ComeOnMyLovers) he sustained ankle ligament damage, out for 7 weeks.

[Which Tyler]

Good to see Underhill’s head injury wasn’t too serious.

Apparently it was a Migraine - a very atypical presentation of a migraine. If true then fair enough, and I don't recall seeing any trauma before he went off, so I'm less suspicious than I was for Ryan's "Winded, not unconscious - honest guv"

Surprised to see Ewels as captain.

Why? He's been skipper a few times; including last week; and has been seen is being groomed for that role longer term (unless Garvey keeps the armband).

What has Henry Thomas done to himself this time?!?!?

Knackered his ankle - due back early December

[Scrumhead]

Fair enough. I didn’t clock that Ewels had captained the side with any regularity.

I just figured there were more experienced players that might have been considered more influential, but fiat play to him.

[bruce]

Rampaging Scarlets to run away with it. Cricket score with Stef Evans scoring a hat-trick.

[Puja]

Fair enough. I didn’t clock that Ewels had captained the side with any regularity.

I just figured there were more experienced players that might have been considered more influential, but fiat play to him.

IIRC, he captained them as a teenager when they had that ridiculous injury run and he had to play no 8 vs Toulouse. Or am I getting confused? Either way, he's been a Future Bath Captain for a while.

Good Bath side that. Looks to be a very interesting game. Anyone know if the Scarlets are missing anyone from their 1st XV?

Puja

[bruce]

Fair enough. I didn’t clock that Ewels had captained the side with any regularity.

I just figured there were more experienced players that might have been considered more influential, but fiat play to him.

IIRC, he captained them as a teenager when they had that ridiculous injury run and he had to play no 8 vs Toulouse. Or am I getting confused? Either way, he's been a Future Bath Captain for a while.

Good Bath side that. Looks to be a very interesting game. Anyone know if the Scarlets are missing anyone from their 1st XV?

Puja

Pretty much full strength. You could argue over whether you'd have Scott Williams in over Parkes, and there are 1 or 2 missing from the pack in a fully fit first 15.

[Numbers]

Fair enough. I didn’t clock that Ewels had captained the side with any regularity.

I just figured there were more experienced players that might have been considered more influential, but fiat play to him.

IIRC, he captained them as a teenager when they had that ridiculous injury run and he had to play no 8 vs Toulouse. Or am I getting confused? Either way, he's been a Future Bath Captain for a while.

Good Bath side that. Looks to be a very interesting game. Anyone know if the Scarlets are missing anyone from their 1st XV?

Puja

Pretty much full strength. You could argue over whether you'd have Scott Williams in over Parkes, and there are 1 or 2 missing from the pack in a fully fit first 15.

James Davies and John Barclay are still out but that's the only two I can think of.

I fancy the Scarlets to win this one, they'll be looking for a bonus point win and Bath have been blowing a bit hot and cold this season so far.

It'll be good to see the two Lions 13s going head to head.

[bruce]

IIRC, he captained them as a teenager when they had that ridiculous injury run and he had to play no 8 vs Toulouse. Or am I getting confused? Either way, he's been a Future Bath Captain for a while.

Good Bath side that. Looks to be a very interesting game. Anyone know if the Scarlets are missing anyone from their 1st XV?

Puja

Pretty much full strength. You could argue over whether you'd have Scott Williams in over Parkes, and there are 1 or 2 missing from the pack in a fully fit first 15.

James Davies and John Barclay are still out but that's the only two I can think of.

I fancy the Scarlets to win this one, they'll be looking for a bonus point win and Bath have been blowing a bit hot and cold this season so far.

It'll be good to see the two Lions 13s going head to head.

Rob Evans too.

[Mellsblue]

Fair enough. I didn’t clock that Ewels had captained the side with any regularity.

I just figured there were more experienced players that might have been considered more influential, but fiat play to him.

I'd run with the 'surely he should be co-capt' argument.

[Puja]

{MOD}Have split this out to make separate match threads as I think there's enough to talk about for each game, rather than squashing them all together.{/MOD}

Puja

[kk67]

Rampaging Scarlets to run away with it. Cricket score with Stef Evans scoring a hat-trick.

Can't see that happening. Scarlets are good but I doubt they're good enough to really thump Bath. Not yet anyway.

[twitchy]

Balmy evening.

[16th man]

Bit of drizzle, wouldn't expect it to have too much effect.

[16th man]

Given the conditions, that was an amazing bit of rugby.

Though if we're not calling that forward.....

[twitchy]

Well done to bath.

[Timbo]

Outside of individual moments of quality Bath have very little in the way of attack, but their defence has been quality this season.

[TheNomad]

How did Bath’s England contingent (current and potential) do?

[Puja]

How did Bath’s England contingent (current and potential) do?

Underhill looked very solid. Made one good turnover and unlucky not to get another. Led by example in defence.
Mercer was okay - learning experience in atrocious weather and he still sometimes needs to learn to make simple solid contributions rather than the Hollywood stuff that he got away with at U20s.
Clark was physical in attack and carried well. Did you know he was eligible for Wales?
Joseph didn't have much opportunity. Had once nice carry and grubber that nearly set Brew away, had another where he ran upright into a welcoming committee and got held up like a ragdoll. Let's just say if Eddie was looking for him to show he wouldn't be physically overawed, this wasn't a brilliant move.
Watson had a mixed bag. Some nice counter-attacking, but a couple of dropped catches (including one howler under little pressure) and some vey aimless kicking.

Hard night to impress, but Faletau outshone all of the Englishmen on that list.

ETA. I forgot Roko! He looked very dangerous on the rare occasions he got his hands on the ball, but they were too few and far between.

Puja

[bruce]

Well my famously shit predictions continue..

[fivepointer]

Dunn was excellent. Straight throwing, high work rate and impressive defence. Ewels very solid too.

That was a really good win for Bath, who played the conditions perfectly. Tactically they were spot on and their execution was largely first rate. Their half backs were a cut above.