Bath v Gloucester Fri 7.45

[fivepointer]

Bath: De Glanville; Rokoduguni, Clark, Matavesi, Muir; Priestland, Spencer; Schoeman, Dunn, Judge, Bayliss, Williams, Faletau, Reid, Mercer.

Replacements: Walker, Bhatti, Thomas, Ellis, Staddon, Chudley, Schoeman, Joseph.

Gloucester: Woodward; Rees-Zammit, Harris, Seabrook, Thorley; Twelvetrees, Heinz; Rapava-Ruskin, Walker, Balmain, Slater, Craig, Reid, Ludlow (capt), Ackermann.

Replacements: Socino, Seville, Ford-Robinson, Atkins, Clarke, Varney, Barton, Trinder.

[Raggs]

So, how are Glaws going to lose this one, considering they're facing a side with no locks, and therefore should be very strong in the scrum and lineout.

[Gloskarlos]

You’d be surprised how such a way will be found.

[Raggs]

You’d be surprised how such a way will be found.

My guess would be kicking infield a lot.

[Which Tyler]

It's a Westcountry Derby
In a season ravaged by Covid
And rendered entirely meaningless by the removal of relegation.


Meh
I guess I might catch the replay if I'm told it's a good game.

[Gloskarlos]

Glos need to get the monkey off their back, and so far haven’t found a way to do so. On paper they might have the advantage come scrum and line out, but priestlend and Spencer, particularly given the conditions, are likely to ace the kicking/territory contest. I suspect it will be a close, dour affair. I’m mostly watching to see progress of the Skivington clean slate new regime moreso than anything else.

[padprop]

Player safety is number one priority, but world rugby needs to rethink what the punishment for a red card is in certain situations, because it just means me, as a casual viewer, turns off the match as soon as a red card is given.

Whether that means a 20 minute bin and a new player coming on the pitch or whatever, these red cards every third game is just killing it as a spectacle.

[Raggs]

Anyone who turns the game off after a red card hasn't watched many red card games recently, and to the casual viewer, that means they've missed the last 2 Wales games, which have both shown that a red card really doesn't kill a game in the slightest.

[Raggs]

So far showing that having 2 locks and being a back down, is better than having a full 15, but no locks.

[FKAS]

Anyone who turns the game off after a red card hasn't watched many red card games recently, and to the casual viewer, that means they've missed the last 2 Wales games, which have both shown that a red card really doesn't kill a game in the slightest.

Well not if you're as bad as Wales are anyway. Bath well I suppose similarities can be drawn. Game on.

[twitchy]

Player safety is number one priority, but world rugby needs to rethink what the punishment for a red card is in certain situations, because it just means me, as a casual viewer, turns off the match as soon as a red card is given.

Whether that means a 20 minute bin and a new player coming on the pitch or whatever, these red cards every third game is just killing it as a spectacle.

Red cards get everyone's attention and shape future behaviour. You need a high profile incidents to get coaches to change what they are saying.

[Peej]

I still think that the red was a bit harsh. Bayliss has awful technique there

[Raggs]

I still think that the red was a bit harsh. Bayliss has awful technique there

A raised elbow is a yellow or a red, Bayliss technique might be poor, but he didn't instigate the extended elbow.

[Raggs]

Mike Williams felt sorry for Glaws and decided to get a red himself. If I recall correctly, unlike VRR, it's not his first.

[Peej]

It's also much more clear cut, and was a definite red. Schoeman lucky he wasn't looked at closer

[Raggs]

It's also much more clear cut, and was a definite red. Schoeman lucky he wasn't looked at closer

Reverse angle seems to show that Schoeman didn't contact the head. More luck than judgement though.

[Raggs]

Why in a game when you're losing the scrum battle, and lost your best flanker in the engine room (you've already run out of locks), would you take the scrum again? Yes they won the scrum, but it's at best a 50/50 call. Take the tap and go (which they now do from the pen anyway). Morons.

[padprop]

Ludlow's a madman. In the very highest tier of not-quite-good-enough-for-international club players

[FKAS]

Wow two teams doing their best to throw the game away. Glaws succeed.

[Beasties]

Andy Goode must be fancying his chances of a comeback having watched Matavesi tonight.

[Puja]

To leap upon the most controversial bit of refereeing tonight, I was tickled to hear Wayne Barnes's choice of language when talking to Glaws about whether a lineout was inside the 22 - "If you will the lineout, it will be taken back in - don't kick it straight out." He's clearly thought about his phrasing to avoid any repetition of the "You can't kick it out" accent farrago that ended up with Hartley seeing red all those years back.

Puja

[FKAS]

Andy Goode must be fancying his chances of a comeback having watched Matavesi tonight.

With Priestland off at the end of the season and Bath still looking there could be an opening...

To leap upon the most controversial bit of refereeing tonight, I was tickled to hear Wayne Barnes's choice of language when talking to Glaws about whether a lineout was inside the 22 - "If you will the lineout, it will be taken back in - don't kick it straight out." He's clearly thought about his phrasing to avoid any repetition of the "You can't kick it out" accent farrago that ended up with Hartley seeing red all those years back.

Puja

Good spot. I'm sure he reviewed the footage after the game and someone pointed out his choice of words and accent impact. As a ref he seems as one that wants to keep improving the standard.

[fivepointer]

Ludlow's a madman. In the very highest tier of not-quite-good-enough-for-international club players

I was thinking the same. His commitment is total.

Oddly compelling game. Neither side really good enough to take hold of it, mistakes aplenty, some good individual performances, 2 red cards (correctly given) and a penalty near the end to win it.

Glos need to keep the faith. They will start winning.