Barf v Glaws - The build up

So it’s finally upon us, the Toffs against the Farmers, the Blackthorn against the Stowfords, the style against the substance – the West Country derby, Bath versus Gloucester is this Saturday.

The Wreck shall be hosting this battle that will see Bath desperate to stop the run of 7 loses out of 8 games to Glaws (a stat I rarely remind bath supporters of!). Bath have found some form coming into this game, winning 5 of their 7 games this season, which as a Glaws fan I am delighted about, as I would like Bath to field an in-form, full strength side in order for there to be no excuses for their impending 8th lose out of 9!!

Glaws have won 3 of their last 7 games (1 draw) and still suffer from the usual away day hoodoo, however, with the exception of Quins in the Jeff & Leicester in the LV all their away day loses have been by less than a score. Similarly, there is no doubt Glaws’ recent games have been against better opposition so are likely to be able to get to the level of intensity required quicker than Bath.

I shall be attending the match with 5 Bath supporters, so am going to either be one very smug chap, or be slaughtered! Personally, I am in no doubt it will be the former! Either way, I am very much looking forward to the game

I hope that either way you get slaughtered fella, I certainly will be!

I may have a jar or two! It's going to be great!!

Come on Barffff.....just hope sir ian plays our best side and doesn't continue with his baffling rotation policy of picking names out a hat at random.

It's no coincidence that since the majestic Geech arrived at Bath results have been very indifferent. Results that are very unlike him. It's also no coincidence which club he was at before Bath. The Scottish saboteur! Come in no 2, your time is up!

Looking forward to the game, Glaws fans always make some noise with their usual chant and a few beers afterwards in the Boater is always enjoyable. The team are starting to look settled again after some disruptive injuries. Not sure if Abendanon is fit and we do miss Fearns ball carrying and to a lesser extent Moody, as Louw is playing well at the breakdown.

The Glaws backline with all the Bath old boys, will get their usual welcome from the crowd and hopefully Banahan running over them down the 10/12 channel......!

Just been informed its going to tip it down on Saturday and of course my pal sorted out tickets in the open! That will be good news for us as we had the Bath pack on toast earlier this season, especially in the maul - a sight far more beautiful than SBWesque off-loading!

Don't bank on that happening this time round. A forwards game would suit us, been great in the scrum and rolling maul since Christmas

Has the scrum really been great? I get the impression it's continued to struggle.

Any news on when Eastmond might be fit?

Yeah it has been great, Mears been great off the bench, Perenise offering a lot in the loose and Wilson been rock solid (but now injured of course).

Eastmond about a month away apparently, picked up another knock. Moody and Fearns 3weeks away, which is great. Fearns started the season so well

Perenise will win the game on his own.

HERSH wrote:Perenise will win the game on his own.

As long as there aren't any scrums or mauls...

TBP for Glos?

LBP for Glaws

Ill be wearing my cherry and white hat for this one...

HERSH wrote:LBP for Glaws

Bravado aside, whilst I would love to get a TBP at the Wreck, we tend to only do that to you at Kingsholm. It will be a close, tense game but I feel Glaws are just capable of raising their game more than Bath. Glaws by 5.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ill be wearing my cherry and white hat for this one...

I've always liked you Geordie!!

I'm disappointed in you Geordie, especially after last weekend when we tried to give you a chance, remember we did let you have a LBP.

Can I just say that the Falcons fans were a good laugh last Saturday and you will be missed if/when you go down.

Hersh is still a merkin then?

The soloist is back!

Hiya Hersh,

It's taken me this long to find another forum site. Indeed, I didn't realise the BBC closed the other down until 6 months of solitary posting with no replies.

Or may you be referring to my exceptional singing voice?

Same tripe though I see.

The bromance is back on, HERSH & Gower back together again at long last!

Bathite wrote:Yeah it has been great, Mears been great off the bench, Perenise offering a lot in the loose and Wilson been rock solid (but now injured of course).

I've seen a few Bath games this season, and the scrum has always struggled. Id expect Glaws to be dominant in this aspect.

DaveM wrote:

Bathite wrote:Yeah it has been great, Mears been great off the bench, Perenise offering a lot in the loose and Wilson been rock solid (but now injured of course).

I've seen a few Bath games this season, and the scrum has always struggled. Id expect Glaws to be dominant in this aspect.

Sshhh! Let them be confident, it'll make it all the sweeter!

HongKongCherry wrote:

DaveM wrote:

Bathite wrote:Yeah it has been great, Mears been great off the bench, Perenise offering a lot in the loose and Wilson been rock solid (but now injured of course).

I've seen a few Bath games this season, and the scrum has always struggled. Id expect Glaws to be dominant in this aspect.

Sshhh! Let them be confident, it'll make it all the sweeter!

That doesn't matter much these days, Bath have learnt to play off a scrum going backwards. Pretty damn impressive if you ask me.

I'm not so sure the Shedders will be moping back up the M5 with so much as a LBP......

'Mon Barf!!!

DaveM wrote:

Bathite wrote:Yeah it has been great, Mears been great off the bench, Perenise offering a lot in the loose and Wilson been rock solid (but now injured of course).

I've seen a few Bath games this season, and the scrum has always struggled. Id expect Glaws to be dominant in this aspect.

That was true early in the season, but the last 4-5 have been very impressive

Anyone just watch the rugby club? They should have Chilcott on every week, brilliant stuff!

I also liked the comment about the Cheltenham lawyers putting on Glaws accents at weekends!

Bathman_in_London wrote:Anyone just watch the rugby club? They should have Chilcott on every week, brilliant stuff!

I also liked the comment about the Cheltenham lawyers putting on Glaws accents at weekends!

so true.

Bathite wrote:
That was true early in the season, but the last 4-5 have been very impressive

I thought even Exeter's academy front row had you in trouble.

The Teams:

Bath

Vesty
Woodburn
Banahan
Barkley
Biggs
Heathcote
Claassens

Catt
Mears
Perenise
Hooper
Caldwell
Skirving
Louw
Taylor

Batty
Beech
Bell
Mercer
Ovens
Cook
Carraro
Cuthbert

Glaws

Jonny May;
Charlie Sharples,
Mike Tindall (capt),
Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu,
James Simpson-Daniel;
Freddie Burns,
Rory Lawson;

Nick Wood,
Scott Lawson,
Rupert Harden;
Jim Hamilton,
Alex Brown;
Tom Savage,
Akapusi Qera,
Matt Cox

Darren Dawidiuk, Dan Murphy, Shaun Knight, Will James, Peter Buxton, Dave Lewis, Ryan Mills, Tom Voyce

Maybe I have seen too many loses this year but those Bath forwards aren't inspiring too much confidence. Hope I'm wrong.

The Rugby Club on Sky last night was great. Even Barnsey dropped some petrol onto the flames. If you have a chance to watch it was great. Coochie talking about giving the loose head 'a clip'. "To be fair I didn't think I deserved to be sent off for it....but for what I did 5 minutes earlier..."

Then asking Teague, "Mike, you've been sent off 3 times in your career, twice against Bath. By the look of your face you're quite proud of being sent off twice against Bath."

Also Dean Richard's analysis of Bath's playing style/problems was interesting. I get more impressed by him every week.

Brilliant. Looking forward to it. Will be on the sofa on Saturday afternoon.

T'will be great rugby, watching Bath's backline.... against an old Bath backline, almost, sort of.

Feck it! Good luck Shedders.

Must have been something I ate.......

Excuse my absence yesterday. The day is upon us and I enter it with confidence - based largely on the respective sides that have been selected. On paper the Glaws forwards look much stronger and with the down pour we're going to get, that should decide the outcome.

Bravado aside, I'll echo PJ's statement. Good luck Bath boys...







...You're going to need it!!!

HongKongCherry wrote:Excuse my absence yesterday. The day is upon us and I enter it with confidence - based largely on the respective sides that have been selected. On paper the Glaws forwards look much stronger and with the down pour we're going to get, that should decide the outcome.

Bravado aside, I'll echo PJ's statement. Good luck Bath boys...







...You're going to need it!!!

Predictions anyone?

Bath 17 Glaws 13

Bath do seemed to have picked a very mobile frontrow, not sure if that will play into glaws' hands or not...

Still,looking forward to it, bring it on! I think bath might be able to sneak it, 21-17?

Breaking injury news....several of gloucesters 1st team have been injured chasing a giant cheese down a steep hill...its a funny old place gloucester.....looks like bath will win this one.......come on baaaattthhhh

glaws looking good - but burns just missed a sitter

5-5

What is it about Gloucester ignoring overlaps? That should have been a try every day of the week, Qera didn't even look.

5-8 Barkley misses a sitter of a penalty

Gloucester have dominated the last 20 minutes of the game and could (should even) be almost out of sight

Burns misses another penalty 5-8 going into HT.

Oops, Biggs puts in a high shot (No kidding!) straight off the clearance and Burns will get another shot at goal...

Which he gets.

5-11 HT

Suggestion that Bath fans were booing when Savage got up from being injured. Poor form if true.

As expected Glos the better side but not clinical enough, should be 20 up, not 11.

Blue skies here now, could be in for a good second half!

I have to say im quite enjoying this game. Much better than the two pro12 games i saw last night.

Good break from Bath which eventually leads to a penalty.

8-11
56 mins gone

I don't know how Gloucester fans cope, brilliant breaks followed by stupid knock-ons, I'd be infuriated! Gloucester offside and Bath get a shot at goal.

All square

11-11
60 mins

Nice 3 from young Tom there, all square now and everything to play for, momentum back towards Bath maybe?

Missed the first half due to over-running at work, Glaws had the better of it by far apparently.

Next team to score will probably go on to win this, game breaking up now with 15 minutes to play.....

'Mon Barf!

Bought that penalty I think, clever.