Bath vs Glaws

[Puja]

Bath Rugby team to face Gloucester Rugby

15. Anthony Watson

14. Semesa Rokoduguni

13. Jonathan Joseph

12. Max Clark

11. Matt Banahan

10. Rhys Priestland

9. Kahn Fotuali’i

1. Nathan Catt

2. Tom Dunn

3. Anthony Perenise

4. Luke Charteris

5. Charlie Ewels (c)

6. Zach Mercer

7. Sam Underhill

8. Taulupe Faletau

Replacements

16. Jack Walker

17. Beno Obano

18. Scott Andrews

19. Elliott Stooke

20. Matt Garvey

21. Darren Allinson

22. Josh Lewis

23. Aled Brew



Gloucester Rugby:

15. Billy Burns; 14. Henry Purdy, 13. Henry Trinder, 12. Billy Twelvetrees, 11. David Halaifonua; 10. Owen Williams, 9. Willi Heinz (capt); 1. Josh Hohneck, 2. Richard Hibbard, 3. John Afoa; 4. Tom Savage, 5. Ed Slater; 6. Ruan Ackermann, 7. Lewis Ludlow, 8. Ben Morgan

Replacements:

16. Motu Matu'u, 17. Val Rapava Ruskin, 18. Gareth Denman, 19. Jeremy Thrush, 20. Jacob Rowan, 21. Ben Vellacott, 22. Andy Symons, 23. Ollie Thorley

[Discreet Hooker]

Looks a strong Bath side .Most sides seem to field strong sides against us .

Its a conspiracy .

[Which Tyler]

Unavailable for selection:
Henry Thomas, Shaun Knight, Kane Palma-Newport, Ross Batty, Dave Attwood, Tom Ellis, Francois Louw
Chris Cook, Freddie Burns, Jeff Williams

Yay - the injury list is down to single figures at last!

[Gloskarlos]

Its at the Wreck so Barf will win. Barf side does look strong, only area I think Glos have the upper hand is the front row with VRR to come on and tear it up. Elsewhere Bath have the better back row notably, and Burns at Full back could be telling...

The Glaws injury list is still double figures. a decent full back the only real main ommision as a result.

Mark Atkinson, Fraser Balmain, Tom Denton, Lloyd Evans, Mariano Galarza, Tom Marshall, Ross Moriarty, Matt Scott, Charlie Sharples, Jason Woodward

[twitchy]

Fantastic try from glos.

[twitchy]

Underhill off with a shoulder.

[Gloskarlos]

That'll do....

Glaws contrived to throw it away, but a deserved and dogged victory.

[fivepointer]

Quite a see saw of a game. Some good play, some not so hot, but always full on. Glaws showing real grit to come back and take the win.
Both 13's were first class.
Underhill off at h/t with a shoulder injury.

[Oakboy]

How the hell did Roko get MoM? If you are just going to award it for two tries, why not Heinz? Faletau was the best player on the pitch. Trinder and Joseph both had cases in terms of affecting the game.

[fivepointer]

They gave the Motm when Bath were winning. it looked like his 2nd try would be decisive. its odd how little Roko is involved in a game. He took his tries well, the first was a simple run in but the 2nd was a really good finish. But outside of that he really did very little.
Didnt think much of Faletau today tbh. One good bust and not much else of note.

[Oakboy]

They gave the Motm when Bath were winning. it looked like his 2nd try would be decisive. its odd how little Roko is involved in a game. He took his tries well, the first was a simple run in but the 2nd was a really good finish. But outside of that he really did very little.
Didnt think much of Faletau today tbh. One good bust and not much else of note.

I thought Faletau was magnificent in defence especially in the last quarter.

[Banquo]

They gave the Motm when Bath were winning. it looked like his 2nd try would be decisive. its odd how little Roko is involved in a game. He took his tries well, the first was a simple run in but the 2nd was a really good finish. But outside of that he really did very little.
Didnt think much of Faletau today tbh. One good bust and not much else of note.

Faletau had a big game in defence.

Roko does stay more moored to his wing than Banahan, but perhaps thats why he scores so often . He also did a lot of good defence, in a system Bath are still a bit unsure of.

JJ and Trinder are both quality players- JJ worked very hard in attack and defence, but in truth the Bath half backs are very staccato and offer no threat themselves. Kahn was often too slow to the breakdown, and Priestland is very difficult to play off- sometimes takes it as a pivot, sometimes not. Bath themselves lack fluidity and wasted their back three to some extent today. Glaws defence was excellent though, and sheer tenacity won it.

[Which Tyler]

Just finished watching - was Dallaglio as bad for everyone today, or was it just me?

Some great play and download utter garbage today with tension being the only constant - typical Westcountry derby then

[Puja]

Just finished watching - was Dallaglio as bad for everyone today, or was it just me?

Some great play and download utter garbage today with tension being the only constant - typical Westcountry derby then

Wasn't just you. His outburst about "What is rugby coming to?" for the high tackle penalty was Stuart Barnes-esque, especially the bit where he misunderstood what the penalty was given for, was proven completely wrong when the replay came up, but kept insisting he was right because of a different reason that was also completely specious. "You can't give a penalty for a high tackle on someone without the ball" indeed!

Puja

[Discreet Hooker]

Good win , we'll take it . Pack fronted up well and were up for it . Just win a bit earlier boys .......

[Which Tyler]

Wasn't just you. His outburst about "What is rugby coming to?" for the high tackle penalty was Stuart Barnes-esque, especially the bit where he misunderstood what the penalty was given for, was proven completely wrong when the replay came up, but kept insisting he was right because of a different reason that was also completely specious. "You can't give a penalty for a high tackle on someone without the ball" indeed!

Yep, that's the bit.
Bath player tackles Glos player (Trinder) high whilst Glos player has 1 knee on the ground "How is that not a yellow card? All we want is some consistency".
Glos player takles Bath player (Banahan) high whilst Bath player is on the way to the ground "You can't give that as a high tackle, he was on his way to the ground. All we want is some consistency"
Glos player tackles Bath player (Mercer) high whilst Bath player is juggling for the ball "how can that even be a penalty? He doesn't even have the ball?" This was also IMO the most dangerous of the high tackles.

Throughout the game though, it sounded like Lol must have been an ex-Glos player rather than a neutral; these were just the stand-out examples.

[fivepointer]

Lawrence "Look at that" Dallaglio.

Watching the Channel5 round up show makes you realise that in the world of tv rugby commentary/analysis/punditry there is David Flatman then the rest. Flats is in a class by himself.

[Gloskarlos]

The Trinder high was mostly Austin calling for the card, due mostly to the swinging arm.

Agree with the Banahan stance, equally as high as trinders, but no swinging arms.

Disagree the mercer tackle was the most dangerous by a country mile. It was a seat belt tackle at worst, still high and a penalty of course, but the most dangerous was the high on Trinder.

[Digby]

JJ and Trinder are both quality players- JJ worked very hard in attack and defence, but in truth the Bath half backs are very staccato and offer no threat themselves. Kahn was often too slow to the breakdown, and Priestland is very difficult to play off- sometimes takes it as a pivot, sometimes not. Bath themselves lack fluidity and wasted their back three to some extent today. Glaws defence was excellent though, and sheer tenacity won it.

Is the Bath halfback problem something which develops as the game progresses? So far I've only seen the opening quarter and I've not seen many problems with the Bath halves in their running play, albeit yes they don't hold many defenders. The only times Kahn has been slow though, and maybe that's been two or three times there's been a Glaws player just about getting away with claiming they're not in the way on the wrong side.

Bath's problems in the opening quarter have been three times kicking the ball away on the edge of the Glaws 22, they've gotten nowt from it other than maybe a lineout from much further back. They messed up a lineout maul from an attacking position and gave away a scrum penalty when Glaws would likely have been looking to clear for a Bath lineout. Obviously that nobody could catch Heinz will be fairly shaming for the opening Glaws try. And a good attack comes to nothing when Hibbard just about gets away with a turnover when his body position was just legal enough for the ref to let it go. Oh, and Trinder's footwork is giving them problems, but he has very good footwork.

But the actual ball going through the hands of Fotuali'i and Priestland looks fine to me, and ball in JJ's hands looks fine too, there's a problem with Max Clark getting his hands on the ball as he's just dying with the ball and not breaking the line, but that's not really down to the 9 and 10. I'll note as an aside Glaws are looking very happy to move the ball themselves, and with Twelvetrees at 12 have a much easier time of it than Bath with Clark at 12, though there'll surely be moments Glaws will be caught out with some of their passing work.

[Digby]

Is the Bath halfback problem something which develops as the game progresses? So far I've only seen the opening quarter ...

Ask and ye shall receive.

In the 21st minute, or right at the start of the 2nd quarter, Bath go wide off a lineout and Foutali'i takes an age to reach the breakdown. So long actually something is clearly up, and indeed Slater tackles Bath's halfback following his pass away from the lineout, it's not a pen, but it's not like Slater doesn't know what he's doing.

And really Bath don't respond well to that, either Watson or Underhill have a chance to act as an auxiliary 9, but both chose to bridge over the ball. Perenise who is paying attention to there being no 9 does go to play the ball but Underhill and Watson get knocked back by a clearout attempt and the ball spills loose, and then before Fotuali'i finally arrives Hibbard is able to dive on the lose ball.

Okay Underhill and Watson might not have clocked there's no 9, and they might not have seen a chance to play the ball, but if you going to slow your own ball down please don't make it worse by getting knocked off your ball.

[Banquo]

Is the Bath halfback problem something which develops as the game progresses? So far I've only seen the opening quarter ...

Ask and ye shall receive.

In the 21st minute, or right at the start of the 2nd quarter, Bath go wide off a lineout and Foutali'i takes an age to reach the breakdown. So long actually something is clearly up, and indeed Slater tackles Bath's halfback following his pass away from the lineout, it's not a pen, but it's not like Slater doesn't know what he's doing.

And really Bath don't respond well to that, either Watson or Underhill have a chance to act as an auxiliary 9, but both chose to bridge over the ball. Perenise who is paying attention to there being no 9 does go to play the ball but Underhill and Watson get knocked back by a clearout attempt and the ball spills loose, and then before Fotuali'i finally arrives Hibbard is able to dive on the lose ball.

Okay Underhill and Watson might not have clocked there's no 9, and they might not have seen a chance to play the ball, but if you going to slow your own ball down please don't make it worse by getting knocked off your ball.

He gets slower and slower to the breakdown as the phases string out and the game goes on; he is no spring chicken. He also slows play down unnecessarily; Priestland is so random in either taking it standing still and passsing, or standing still then running, timing has to be an issue, so I disagree esp on multi phase ball. 1st phase is just about ok, but not sure in what world they expect a simple miss 1 to Joseph to be an attacking threat.

[Digby]

Is the Bath halfback problem something which develops as the game progresses? So far I've only seen the opening quarter ...

Ask and ye shall receive.

In the 21st minute, or right at the start of the 2nd quarter, Bath go wide off a lineout and Foutali'i takes an age to reach the breakdown. So long actually something is clearly up, and indeed Slater tackles Bath's halfback following his pass away from the lineout, it's not a pen, but it's not like Slater doesn't know what he's doing.

And really Bath don't respond well to that, either Watson or Underhill have a chance to act as an auxiliary 9, but both chose to bridge over the ball. Perenise who is paying attention to there being no 9 does go to play the ball but Underhill and Watson get knocked back by a clearout attempt and the ball spills loose, and then before Fotuali'i finally arrives Hibbard is able to dive on the lose ball.

Okay Underhill and Watson might not have clocked there's no 9, and they might not have seen a chance to play the ball, but if you going to slow your own ball down please don't make it worse by getting knocked off your ball.

He gets slower and slower to the breakdown as the phases string out and the game goes on; he is no spring chicken. He also slows play down unnecessarily; Priestland is so random in either taking it standing still and passsing, or standing still then running, timing has to be an issue, so I disagree esp on multi phase ball. 1st phase is just about ok, but not sure in what world they expect a simple miss 1 to Joseph to be an attacking threat.

I'll try to keep watching, but it's not exactly a cracker. I suppose one can see their coaches are trying to get them to do things, but it's all a bit stilted.

[Banquo]

Ask and ye shall receive.

In the 21st minute, or right at the start of the 2nd quarter, Bath go wide off a lineout and Foutali'i takes an age to reach the breakdown. So long actually something is clearly up, and indeed Slater tackles Bath's halfback following his pass away from the lineout, it's not a pen, but it's not like Slater doesn't know what he's doing.

And really Bath don't respond well to that, either Watson or Underhill have a chance to act as an auxiliary 9, but both chose to bridge over the ball. Perenise who is paying attention to there being no 9 does go to play the ball but Underhill and Watson get knocked back by a clearout attempt and the ball spills loose, and then before Fotuali'i finally arrives Hibbard is able to dive on the lose ball.

Okay Underhill and Watson might not have clocked there's no 9, and they might not have seen a chance to play the ball, but if you going to slow your own ball down please don't make it worse by getting knocked off your ball.

He gets slower and slower to the breakdown as the phases string out and the game goes on; he is no spring chicken. He also slows play down unnecessarily; Priestland is so random in either taking it standing still and passsing, or standing still then running, timing has to be an issue, so I disagree esp on multi phase ball. 1st phase is just about ok, but not sure in what world they expect a simple miss 1 to Joseph to be an attacking threat.

I'll try to keep watching, but it's not exactly a cracker. I suppose one can see their coaches are trying to get them to do things, but it's all a bit stilted.

exactly my point; its not solely down to them, but they aren't helping

[Digby]

He gets slower and slower to the breakdown as the phases string out and the game goes on; he is no spring chicken. He also slows play down unnecessarily; Priestland is so random in either taking it standing still and passsing, or standing still then running, timing has to be an issue, so I disagree esp on multi phase ball. 1st phase is just about ok, but not sure in what world they expect a simple miss 1 to Joseph to be an attacking threat.

I'll try to keep watching, but it's not exactly a cracker. I suppose one can see their coaches are trying to get them to do things, but it's all a bit stilted.

exactly my point; its not solely down to them, but they aren't helping

I meant from both teams. I'm up to the 33rd minute now, still not too concerned with what's coming at halfback from Bath (other than some of the kicking the ball away), yes maybe the ball's getting moved too wide too early, and yes Max Clark is an issue, but it is getting JJ into the game and he's likely their best player so it's a bit swings and roundabouts. I do think Burns is a much better 10 to Priestland, and I'd hope Bath recognise that, but Rhys is still doing okay in this match imo (so far anyway)

[Banquo]

I'll try to keep watching, but it's not exactly a cracker. I suppose one can see their coaches are trying to get them to do things, but it's all a bit stilted.

exactly my point; its not solely down to them, but they aren't helping

I meant from both teams. I'm up to the 33rd minute now, still not too concerned with what's coming at halfback from Bath (other than some of the kicking the ball away), yes maybe the ball's getting moved too wide too early, and yes Max Clark is an issue, but it is getting JJ into the game and he's likely their best player so it's a bit swings and roundabouts. I do think Burns is a much better 10 to Priestland, and I'd hope Bath recognise that, but Rhys is still doing okay in this match imo (so far anyway)

Just getting into JJs hands doesn’t quite answer the question...the question being, are they asking enough questions as a pairing, and the answer is no. No fluidity from an absent 9, and no questions and stutters from 10.