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Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:25 pm
by Puja
Bath: De Glanville; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Ojomoh, Muir; Bailey, B Spencer; Boyce, Dunn, Stuart, McNally, Ewels (capt), Reid, Underhill, Bayliss

Replacements: du Toit, Cordwell, Rae, W Spencer, Ellis, Simpson, Cipriani, McConnochie

Exeter: Hogg; Nowell, Slade, Whitten, O'Flaherty; H Skinner, J Maunder; Hepburn, Yeandle (capt), Iosefa-Scott, S Skinner, Lonsdale, Ewers, Kirsten, S Simmonds

Replacements: Innard, Moon, Williams, Armand, Capstick, S Maunder, J Simmonds Hendrickson

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:29 pm
by Danno
Looks like another tough night for Bath

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 8:48 pm
by FKAS
Bath's defensive intensity has nosedived since Reid went off injured.

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 9:28 pm
by Puja
Such a shame for Bath. Absolutely robbed of a win with that late try. Would've loved to see them get one over Exeter.

Still 3 minutes to go, but I don't see Bath scoring the try they need.

Puja

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 9:31 pm
by Puja
FKAS wrote:Bath's defensive intensity has nosedived since Reid went off injured.
The bench in general has been Bath's downfall. Simpson's been a massive downgrade as well, coming on for Spencer (who did look utterly knackered when he was dragged off, mind) and keeping the props on so long cost them in the later scrums.

Puja

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 9:33 pm
by Puja
How the hell is Ewers MotM? He was man-marked out of the game by Underhill, who was outstanding and led by example in both defence and attack.

Puja

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 5:46 am
by Timbo
Puja wrote:How the hell is Ewers MotM? He was man-marked out of the game by Underhill, who was outstanding and led by example in both defence and attack.

Puja
Think they have to give it to someone on the winning team. Arguably the key player for Exeter was Ben Moon, who turned the scrum from being slightly in Bath’s favour to completely dominant for Exeter. That was probably the winning of the game.

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 8:09 am
by FKAS
Puja wrote:How the hell is Ewers MotM? He was man-marked out of the game by Underhill, who was outstanding and led by example in both defence and attack.

Puja
Let me guess, Dayglo picked him?

I missed the end of the game. I almost feel for Bath, the intensity in defence was outstanding which I found especially amusing after the talk of hiring a defence coach the day before. I did wonder if knowing that was the announcement Hooper and Hatley had spent the entire build up to the game working on it, maybe not appreciating Griffith's being there.

There was a blinding hole in the defence out wide in the first half but Exeter's plan was seemingly to use Yeandle there. After finding the space available there on a couple of occasions you'd have thought some bright spark would have ensured that it was someone with pace there and not Yeandle. I'm also mystified as to the continued selection of Skinner. He looks average and given what teams are deploying in the Prem that is nowhere near good enough. His kicks to touch are poor, he isn't trusted to kick at goal, game management is poor and I didn't see the backline ripping it up with him at the helm it was floaty passes behind the gainline without ever getting to the outside to make ground.

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 8:58 am
by Oakboy
I don't understand Skinner's selection at FH either. However, I'd not envy any FH playing with Maunder (or his brother). It seems to me that Exeter are fielding XVs with 3 or 4 sub-standard players every week, not always out of necessity. Strange!

Simmonds winning try may have looked simple but his acceleration over 5 yards that late in the game was pretty special. He has a lot to offer.

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 8:58 am
by Scrumhead
Sad for Bath TBH. I didn’t expect to win this, but must be tough to get so close and not see it through.

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 9:46 am
by twitchy
I mocked bath yesterday but they were much improved. I thought it was interesting that baxter said that exe need to get back to enjoying rugby again.

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 11:22 am
by Which Tyler
Massive improvement from Bath; lost by the bench TBH; and to a degree, the delay in throwing them in meaning that the starters were absolutely shagged out. Spencer could barely manage a trot by the time Simpson was replaced; but Spencer at barely-a-trot was still contributing more than fresh Simpson.
Equally, Bailey with one arm was more committed and more inventive that fresh and healthy Cipriani (not that I would expect any FH to keep out a Sam Simmonds at full pelt off a stable scrum that ties in the flankers - or any other back TBH).

Rugby's always been about small margins, and that was a hell of a turnaround - we did really well to disrupt Exeter at their favourite plays, but just couldn't keep it up.

I see signs of promise and team spirit, and want additions - others see nothing but the table and want a complete overhaul.
Both are valid thoughts at the moment.

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 11:58 am
by twitchy
Which Tyler wrote:
Rugby's always been about small margins, and that was a hell of a turnaround - we did really well to disrupt Exeter at their favourite plays, but just couldn't keep it up.

I see signs of promise and team spirit, and want additions - others see nothing but the table and want a complete overhaul.
Both are valid thoughts at the moment.
The problem always is with these turnarounds is that the question arises of "what the hell were they doing previously"?

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 12:10 pm
by Puja
Which Tyler wrote:I see signs of promise and team spirit, and want additions - others see nothing but the table and want a complete overhaul.
Both are valid thoughts at the moment.
I mean, if you can do that every week, then absolutely there's something worth building on there. The question is whether that was a one-off best-possible performance from this setup or whether that level of effort and drive is now the new normal.

Puja

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 1:37 pm
by Which Tyler
Yup - it's 1 data point, not a trend.
What it does suggest though, is that the team still care about each other, and the coaches don't appear to have lost the dressing room.

It also proves that they have the capacity, which is nice to see.
Otherwise, from COML
Saw one spectator in a headdress behind the stands who was being requested politely by the stewards to deposit his disrespectful attire in safe keeping until after the game. Don’t know whether he did or not . Hopefully it will go the same way as the Saracens fez did.

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2021 11:40 am
by Epaminondas Pules
Much improved from Bath. Proper guts in that performance. The defensive shifts were top drawer at times, as Exeter started to turn the screw. Really good showings from Bailey and Ojomoh. I kind of forgive the try butchery as even before he's taken the kick Muir is screaming for it back on the inside. His pro's far outweighed that con, even though it would have won the game. Really felt for Bailey times playing outside of first Spencer and then Simpson. To take Exeter to the wire with where Bath are right now was some performance. Fair play.

The pack were generally excellent. Underhill superb, and Stuart really stood out. Proper gutsy all round.

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2021 5:49 pm
by Banquo
Anyone know what the plot is with Joe Simmonds?

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2021 6:26 pm
by Oakboy
Banquo wrote:Anyone know what the plot is with Joe Simmonds?
No idea, but it would not surprise me if his departure was linked to two new half-backs arriving next season.

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2021 6:44 pm
by Timbo
Oakboy wrote:
Banquo wrote:Anyone know what the plot is with Joe Simmonds?
No idea, but it would not surprise me if his departure was linked to two new half-backs arriving next season.
His departure?

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2021 6:52 pm
by p/d
Timbo wrote:
Oakboy wrote:
Banquo wrote:Anyone know what the plot is with Joe Simmonds?
No idea, but it would not surprise me if his departure was linked to two new half-backs arriving next season.
His departure?
It could be an age thing

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2021 6:53 pm
by FKAS
Oakboy wrote:
Banquo wrote:Anyone know what the plot is with Joe Simmonds?
No idea, but it would not surprise me if his departure was linked to two new half-backs arriving next season.
Have there been rumours about who is arriving there next season?

If Simmonds is off then he'd have options. Welford Road has a sizeable hole to fill and Newcastle could badly do with an upgrade.

Might explain Baxter wanting to spend the first part of the season seeing what his youngster can do if he knows Simmonds is off, depending on whether Skinner will make the grade will depend on their transfer plans. I think their other option Walsh might have more about him but hey ho.

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2021 6:54 pm
by FKAS
p/d wrote:
Timbo wrote:
Oakboy wrote:
No idea, but it would not surprise me if his departure was linked to two new half-backs arriving next season.
His departure?
It could be an age thing
He's only a few weeks off his 25th birthday.

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2021 7:04 pm
by p/d
FKAS wrote:
p/d wrote:
Timbo wrote:
His departure?
It could be an age thing
He's only a few weeks off his 25th birthday.
:D :D …. Oakboy not Simmonds

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2021 7:12 pm
by FKAS
p/d wrote:
FKAS wrote:
p/d wrote:
It could be an age thing
He's only a few weeks off his 25th birthday.
:D :D …. Oakboy not Simmonds
:D

Re: Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2021 9:20 pm
by Oakboy
p/d wrote:
FKAS wrote:
p/d wrote:
It could be an age thing
He's only a few weeks off his 25th birthday.
:D :D …. Oakboy not Simmonds

I'm certainly in grandfather territory compared with the lad!!! :D