Gold for the Blue, Black and Whites

Gary Gold has apparently confirmed his appointment as Bath Rugby's new Director of Rugby, it is also rumoured that Toby Booth has been invited to join him as head coach, Mike Ford's name has also been mentioned as defensive coach and Neil Heatley as forwards coach..... hmmm, is it me or is there something missing there?



http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17984784



If this turns out to be true, I have to say I have mixed feelings about the appointments, Gold? Meh, give him a go. Booth? Delighted, been a long time fan. Ford? Not my choice. Heatley? Sure, why not?

But where's the attack coach? Is he going to help England out on the summer tour? I would hope so...

Tis a strange omission indeed, PJ, no attack/backs coach - how about Andy Robinson? Marvellous fella, top coach too, I'm in a generous mood - all yours

PS Hope you're not working too hard, bud

Working like a dawg pal, but not complaining.

I'm truly moved at the offer of AR, genuinely touched Asbo, so much so that to take up such a generous and magnanimous offer would be downright churlish of me, it couldn't be seen as anything other than taking advantage of your better nature; and I'd never forgive myself for that.

But thanks like, honest.

Gold will be a good signing - better than Mallett I reckon.

Booth apparently is not joining - he would have cost too much (Bath starting to live in the real world?). So you have signed Neal Hatley instead as forwards coach.

Brad Davis is staying as backs coach!

If he can get Bath playing with same passion and commitment you've seen from the Falcons since he joined, I'm all for it. However, the entire coaching squad seems a bit imbalanced:
Gold - forwards orientated
Booth (if he were to come) - forwards orientated
Hatley - forwards orientated
Davis - backs, but rubbish!!
Mike Ford - defence, i.e. negative.
Surely this is ignoring what was our tour de force under Meehan's watch i.e. a quick game with ball off the floor and running backs? Are we going to adopt a conservative first approach? Suggest we don't have the squad built for that ethos.

LondonTiger wrote:Gold will be a good signing - better than Mallett I reckon.

Booth apparently is not joining - he would have cost too much (Bath starting to live in the real world?). So you have signed Neal Hatley instead as forwards coach.

Brad Davis is staying as backs coach!

I agree with you on Gold v Mallet LT, if that's true about Booth it's taken a bit of the shine off the move, chuck in Davis staying as backs coach its a bit of a wounder.

Thanks pal, I was starting to feel a little better about next season...

Gold was PDV's forward coach, and apparently he is quite technically minded, whether he is any good I don't know and can't say.

I often got the feeling Matfield led the technical discussions regardings set phases anyway.

At least he seems to be a pleasant guy.

Looks like the Booth story has taken another turn.

I'm finding it hard to get excited about these guys, I hope I'm wrong but I can't see them turning us into a European force once again.

Bring back Meehan.

Alastair Eykyn, BBC Sport
RUGBY UNION

"Bath Rugby confirm the news we brought to you yesterday on 5 Live that Gary Gold will be the new Director of Rugby at the Rec. The London Irish boss Toby Booth will leave the Exiles to act as Gold's assistant, alongside former England defence coach Mike Ford and Neal Hatley (also of London Irish)."

HERSH wrote:I'm finding it hard to get excited about these guys, I hope I'm wrong but I can't see them turning us into a European force once again.

Bring back Meehan.

Yet just before he went there was clamouring for him to be sacked.

Booth confirmed now.

Get used to 7th in the league Bathites. Oops sorry, you already are...

LondonTiger wrote:

HERSH wrote:I'm finding it hard to get excited about these guys, I hope I'm wrong but I can't see them turning us into a European force once again.

Bring back Meehan.

Yet just before he went there was clamouring for him to be sacked.

No there wasn't!

I remember you moaning about him on the old 606 board, both before Geech was appointed and in his final season.

Mind you you do tend to have massive mood swings - after all it is only 3 months or so since you were demanding Bath be relegated as it was the only way they could improve.

I've never moaned about Meehan.

He left because SIM was brought in above him, what a great decision that was!

Just admit that you were wrong and move on

mmm alot of negativity here.....i'm quite excited by this coaching team, booth, gold and hatley will really help cement our forwards into a decent force again. The likihood is that with gold in charge we may gets some decent saffas in the team, hopefully a grizzled tighthead prop that eats metal/babies when not demolishing scrums. I am a bit concerned about creativty in the backs...perhaps mike catt could still come in....or is that a full ship now ?

HERSH wrote:I've never moaned about Meehan.

He left because SIM was brought in above him, what a great decision that was!

Just admit that you were wrong and move on

Why should I when this exists:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A78009186

With the first reply to a post about bath reading:

omment by HERSH (U9623567)

posted Dec 6, 2010

I'd get rid of Meehan, Bath just hasnâ€t moved forward and the squad is getting older and doesn't seem to be getting any wiser.

This was meant to be Baths year, I'm gutted for the fans as we deserve better than what is on show at the Rec this year.

I'm quite enthused by it all. Irish fans seem sad to see Hatley go and he'll obviously work quite nicely with Booth, who had lost the changing room a long time ago by all accounts.

Gold is the perfect kind of boss man to lead us I think. We need some serious focus on our forward pack and hopefully he will have a nastier edge to him than Geech, although my golden retriever would probably also fill this category.

A change of mgmt and a full pre season for a few players and i think we should be challenging 4-6th place again, as we have pretty consistently for a while.

James and Webber will be great front row additions, as will Flats semi-retirement. A back rower and some outside backs, along with a fully fit Fearns, Donald, Hipkiss and Eastmond and i'm feeling much more positive

I'm quite enthused about the arrival of Gold and Booth, Bathite, but with Hatley, Ford and Davis in the set up too, it does make you wonder where the attacking spark is going to come from. Who's going to bring the creativity Bath badly need?

Bath have the best defensive record this season - 29 tries conceded, Sarries are next with 30, then Saints on 31, Quins on 33 and Exeter on 38; it doesn't take a genius to figure out where Bath's biggest problem lies and yet there seems to be no specialist provision there.

The only hope I have left is that Catt has been earmarked for the role, the final announcement regarding roles and coaching responsibilities will not be made by Bath until the end of June, or another way of looking at it would be after Catt's committment to England's summer tour ends.

Catt has only been appointed as the interim backs/attack coach, and yet has said his goodbyes to LI and thanked everyone there for the support, so he clearly isn't going back to his old job, whilst he hasn't got a long term remit with England either.

Probably just coincidences - if you believe in them.

Maybe one of the new guys is going to be tasked with looking after the talent in the academy?

Catt had said he wanted to take a year out to travel. Perhaps finish the trip that got him to England in the first place?

Hatley is/was the current Academy Coach at LI I think, so if Booth does sign perhaps that will be his job?

The news on the official Bath Rugby website is that they are all onboard LT, so I guess Hatley may be taking up the academy position with Gold as DoR, Booth as forwards coach, Ford defensive coach; all of which leaves Davis as a bit of a square peg in a round hole - I can't see Davis making the change from defence to attack just like that and having Davis and Ford on the team makes it a bit "League" heavy.

Maybe Catt will be travelling - maybe he's just making a journey of discovery back to his spiritual home?

Maybe I'm dreaming, but something doesn't stack up with the new team - there's a distinct lack of balance about it.

It will be interesting to see if Gold considers the current squad of forwards as up to the required standard. Short term he will work with what he inherits which is a predominately an english qualified pack. I can see Taylor and Caldwell moving on with Louw and Perenise making the grade but our back row resources are pretty thin if one or two become injured. I would rather we didnt acquire more SA forwards in this area, even if they would potentially improve our results.

I also hope the progress of academy graduates Catt, Mercer, Ovens, Cook, Heathcote, Williams and Woodburn dont suffer under the change of leadership.

Can't agree with you on Caldwell Recwatcher, I thought he got through some real graft this season, his ball carrying was tireless and he was sound and disciplined in defence, the area Bath suffered all season was at the lineout - for that reason he could be replaced with a specialist - but I thought he was as good if not better then the other locks in every other aspect of his game.

Louw and Perenise are definitely keepers, if Fearns can stay fit and Mercer comes on again, that could be an excellent 6,7,8 but as you say, there's not much cover.

Catt, Perenise and KPN should be developed further this year, but I would like to see 2 more experienced front rowers brought in, along with a lineout specialist lock and a good back row utility.

Personally I think the backs are in pretty good shape and I'd like to see Cook, Heathcote, Woodburn and Eastmond getting more involved this coming term, if we're brutally honest about it, Baths backs spent almost the entire season playing behind a reversing scrum and a disfunctional lineout - hardly surprising they didn't pull up any trees.

PJ, I would agree Caldwell did attempt to carry the ball but was pretty ineffective most of the time and he did not have the same physical impact at rucks as Attwood. His lineout work was pretty average and brought nothing to the leadership of the pack - particularly noticable in the Saints game. To top it off he gave away plenty of soft penalties, particularly at the start of the season. I simply dont think he was worth the money.

OK, well I didn't get down to see anything prior to December so I'll stand corrected on the discipline at the start of the season, he certainly didn't appear to be the worst offender penalty-wise second half of the season, and he did put in some good shifts in the European games, maybe he needs time to adjust to the grind of the AP?

I'd be inclined to persevere with him next term but respect your opinion.

Dominic Day seems like a bit of an enigmatic signing though, he's a Scarlets regular but can't see him being favoured over Attwood, Hooper or Caldwell, so maybe Caldwell will be off to a province over the summer to bolster an IQ quota?

LondonTiger wrote:

HERSH wrote:I've never moaned about Meehan.

He left because SIM was brought in above him, what a great decision that was!

Just admit that you were wrong and move on

Why should I when this exists:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A78009186

With the first reply to a post about bath reading:

omment by HERSH (U9623567)

posted Dec 6, 2010

I'd get rid of Meehan, Bath just hasnâ€t moved forward and the squad is getting older and doesn't seem to be getting any wiser.

This was meant to be Baths year, I'm gutted for the fans as we deserve better than what is on show at the Rec this year.

That wasn't me, I have always been a huge fan of Meehan's, I can't believe that you have made that up to try and discredit me when it was you that was wrong, I have no option but to report that to the mods.

PJ I think you are right and he will be persevered with - you certainly couldnt fault his enthusiasm. Perhaps a tad harsh on his ball carrying as that shouldnt necessarily be his prime role.
Who knows with Day, he certainly got mixed reviews from Scarlet fans. I would have like to see Hudson come back and on the subject of ex-players, Scaysbrook too - although with HC participation at the Chiefs, pretty unlikely, sadly.

That's the kind of response I got from Scarlets fans I spoke to about him, there didn't seem to be much stress caused by the news of his move and that always seems to me to be a good Litmus test.

Skays would be nice, but as you say - unlikely to turn down the Heino experience for an Amlin slot, if Falcons get relegated I'm pretty sure Hudson will be moving on and he may like the idea of the new Bath set-up with the LI coaching influence.

One thing is certain in my mind, after all the work Craig has put in to the marquee ruling, this summer's big signing should be a game-breaking world class 13... the only problem is that with more Unions demanding their internationals play in their domestic leagues, there are pretty slim pickings around.

HERSH wrote:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A78009186


That wasn't me, I have always been a huge fan of Meehan's, I can't believe that you have made that up to try and discredit me when it was you that was wrong, I have no option but to report that to the mods.

I think perhaps we should leave you to take your medication, while PJ and RecW have a sensible discussion.

For what it is worth I thought Caldwell was one of Bath's better players. However your front row and back row seemed seriously underpowered. The backs were pretty meh, but the main problem was up front. Expect Gold to sort this out.

PJHolybloke wrote:
One thing is certain in my mind, after all the work Craig has put in to the marquee ruling, this summer's big signing should be a game-breaking world class 13... the only problem is that with more Unions demanding their internationals play in their domestic leagues, there are pretty slim pickings around.

SBW tends to go where the money is.

LondonTiger wrote:

HERSH wrote:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A78009186


That wasn't me, I have always been a huge fan of Meehan's, I can't believe that you have made that up to try and discredit me when it was you that was wrong, I have no option but to report that to the mods.

I think perhaps we should leave you to take your medication, while PJ and RecW have a sensible discussion.

For what it is worth I thought Caldwell was one of Bath's better players. However your front row and back row seemed seriously underpowered. The backs were pretty meh, but the main problem was up front. Expect Gold to sort this out.

I'm not the one who faked an old web page!

Thats weird.

LondonTiger wrote:

HERSH wrote:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A78009186


That wasn't me, I have always been a huge fan of Meehan's, I can't believe that you have made that up to try and discredit me when it was you that was wrong, I have no option but to report that to the mods.

I think perhaps we should leave you to take your medication, while PJ and RecW have a sensible discussion.

For what it is worth I thought Caldwell was one of Bath's better players. However your front row and back row seemed seriously underpowered. The backs were pretty meh, but the main problem was up front. Expect Gold to sort this out.

London tiger, whether Hersh said that or not is really irrelevant 18 months later to be honest. we all say things (or not say things) we don't recall. It is however not really acceptable to tell one to take medication though. By implication that is below the belt and can be construed as a personal insult or attack.

I still hope that Donald and Barkley can strike up an understanding with some consistent game time and then it is up to one of Williams/Hipkiss/Eastmond to own the 13 slot.
The Banahan midfield experiment has not worked, although at times to be fair borne out of necessity with injuries - the Dublin experience comes to mind....

I hear Lipman is being talked about at Newcastle - what price his return to the Rec ?!

I think Donald/Barkley will work out next season, it's been tough for both of them this time around with their respective injury issues, the rumours about Donald ducking out (pun intended) were just that, and with a full pre-season for both of them will hopefully reap dividends.

I can't for the life of me see Lipman coming back, that would take the proverbial prodigal son to an entirely new level.

I'd prefer Booth to give Armitage a tickle and see what happens, Louw, Armitage and Fearns would be some unit.

Agree about Banners though, he looked good in comparison to Hape 2010/11 but then again, so would I.

Do you see Eastmond as a potential 13 then?

Recwatcher wrote:PJ, I would agree Caldwell did attempt to carry the ball but was pretty ineffective most of the time and he did not have the same physical impact at rucks as Attwood. His lineout work was pretty average and brought nothing to the leadership of the pack - particularly noticable in the Saints game. To top it off he gave away plenty of soft penalties, particularly at the start of the season. I simply dont think he was worth the money.

Sorry fella, but this comment proves that your name isn't accurate. He's been one of the best players this year, played a lot of minutes, made a lot of tackles and broken the gainline more than any other forward (other than Louw)

PJHolybloke wrote:I think Donald/Barkley will work out next season, it's been tough for both of them this time around with their respective injury issues, the rumours about Donald ducking out (pun intended) were just that, and with a full pre-season for both of them will hopefully reap dividends.

I can't for the life of me see Lipman coming back, that would take the proverbial prodigal son to an entirely new level.

I'd prefer Booth to give Armitage a tickle and see what happens, Louw, Armitage and Fearns would be some unit.

Agree about Banners though, he looked good in comparison to Hape 2010/11 but then again, so would I.

Do you see Eastmond as a potential 13 then?

As I understand it Steffon had a falling out with Toby. Its one of the reasons he left for Toulon.

Ahh bollix, and there's me with another dream shattered...

Booth had him purring for Irish at one stage and then he got his England break in the AI's only for Johnno to bin him after a brief performance in a most uncermonious way, I always thought that was instrumental in his decline at Irish and was the catalyst for him seeking new pastures.

For me Armitage is and always has been one of the most underated 7's in the game, he's just an instinctive 7 - wins ball he shouldn't, runs lines he shouldn't, makes breaks he shouldn't and moves like he shouldn't.

Awesome.

With doing all this stuff he shouldn't he doesn't sound like the messiah, he sounds like a very naughty boy

an unorthodox boy if ever there was one.

biltongbek wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

HERSH wrote:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A78009186


That wasn't me, I have always been a huge fan of Meehan's, I can't believe that you have made that up to try and discredit me when it was you that was wrong, I have no option but to report that to the mods.

I think perhaps we should leave you to take your medication, while PJ and RecW have a sensible discussion.

For what it is worth I thought Caldwell was one of Bath's better players. However your front row and back row seemed seriously underpowered. The backs were pretty meh, but the main problem was up front. Expect Gold to sort this out.

London tiger, whether Hersh said that or not is really irrelevant 18 months later to be honest. we all say things (or not say things) we don't recall. It is however not really acceptable to tell one to take medication though. By implication that is below the belt and can be construed as a personal insult or attack.

biltong, you can't be serious? No problem with Hersh saying he's changed his mind, but denying that he every wrote that and suggesting LT made it up is utterly ridiculous - surely you see that?

Can't help but think we should have signed Shaun Edwards as Defence coach.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs I never wrote that, I think Tiger has set a dangerous president by faking old web pages just to try and prove a point.

I have no problem in admitting I was wrong, I remember saying that SIM would take Bath forward into a new golden era for the club and that the Ospreys would win the HC by 2012.

HERSH wrote:Can't help but think we should have signed Shaun Edwards as Defence coach.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs I never wrote that, I think Tiger has set a dangerous president by faking old web pages just to try and prove a point.

I have no problem in admitting I was wrong, I remember saying that SIM would take Bath forward into a new golden era for the club and that the Ospreys would win the HC by 2012.

Hersh, we all know it's not a fake webpage

Interesting reading Mike Ford's wiki page.

I didn't realise he was the defence coach when the British and Lions got absolutely smashed by New Zealand in 2005.

His record as defence coach for England doesn't read well. An average of 31 points conceded vs the tri nations. 22 average per game including all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Ford_(rugby)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/8911188/Coach-Mike-Ford-defends-England-players-despite-their-leaked-criticism-of-his-performance-at-World-Cup.html

I don't have particularly fond memories of Ford as a Saracens and England fan.



You should have got these coaches:

Nick Mallet - Head coach.

Dave Ellis - Defence

Brian Ashton - Attack

Well it is, BBC 606 doesn't exist anymore the moment you try and look up old stuff it disappears, the articles aren't there anymore!

So how could Tiger pull up old articles?

It's a fake and a very low tactic to try and discredit a fellow 606er.

HERSH wrote:Well it is, BBC 606 doesn't exist anymore the moment you try and look up old stuff it disappears, the articles aren't there anymore!

So how could Tiger pull up old articles?

It's a fake and a very low tactic to try and discredit a fellow 606er.

Hersh, pls stop lying

You can use derivations of LT's original link to find all the old 606 articles - here is an example for you: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A85225034 - goodbye

But thats as far as you can go try clicking on the other sports etc....

FACEPALM.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/ArticleSearch?phrase=Rugby%20union&contenttype=-1&show=20

What you mean like this article from dogtooth, for example?: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A85209618

But that doesn't prove anything, I know what I did and didn't say and I didn't type that, Tiger obviously has another agenda than just discussing rugby.

But let’s try and stay on topic.

Have Bath missed a trick by not signing up Edwards or Ellis?
Both IMO are better than Ford.

HERSH wrote:
But that doesn't prove anything, I know what I did and didn't say and I didn't type that, Tiger obviously has another agenda than just discussing rugby.

But let’s try and stay on topic.

Have Bath missed a trick by not signing up Edwards or Ellis?
Both IMO are better than Ford.

No, it proves that you are lying about it being fake and that your claims that LT made it up are inaccurate. Unless you are suggesting that LT somehow has access to the old BBC 606 site and has been on there hacking? Face the facts, that's what you wrote. If you wish to change your opinion, then that's fine, nobody will hold that against you

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

biltongbek wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

HERSH wrote:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A78009186


That wasn't me, I have always been a huge fan of Meehan's, I can't believe that you have made that up to try and discredit me when it was you that was wrong, I have no option but to report that to the mods.

I think perhaps we should leave you to take your medication, while PJ and RecW have a sensible discussion.

For what it is worth I thought Caldwell was one of Bath's better players. However your front row and back row seemed seriously underpowered. The backs were pretty meh, but the main problem was up front. Expect Gold to sort this out.

London tiger, whether Hersh said that or not is really irrelevant 18 months later to be honest. we all say things (or not say things) we don't recall. It is however not really acceptable to tell one to take medication though. By implication that is below the belt and can be construed as a personal insult or attack.

biltong, you can't be serious? No problem with Hersh saying he's changed his mind, but denying that he every wrote that and suggesting LT made it up is utterly ridiculous - surely you see that?

Asbo, as I said, what people may have said or said 18 months ago is hardly relevant now, we can all change our opinions, it is however not necessary to tell the man to take his medication.