The Bath Rugby Thread

[HERSH]

First topic message reminder :

The dedicated home of all things Bath Rugby,

Please feel free to discuss all things Bath related, so pull up a chair an have a quite drink among friends, mines a Bath Ales Dark Side please.

Other fans welcome but remember, play nicely.

[beshocked]

Gold seems unsure where Eastmond and Banahan are best used. Are they wingers or centres?

[Bathite]

Improving the squad feeling is easier said than done but that's what you need to do.

Look at Quins,Sarries and Leicester - try and emulate them.

Obviously you need your own identity but copying bits off these sides will only help you.

Bruce Craig has financial muscle so use it. Look to try things new and push boundaries.

Bath is a desirable city but this needs to be backed up off the pitch and on it.

What is Bath's gameplan/ style?

Quins have the exciting offloading game.

Leicester have the power game but also can mix up their game in attack.

Saracens are the defensive powerhouse who focus on building pressure.

Bath need to figure out what they want to be and build a team reflecting this.

Wow, fire up the patronising laser and set it to 11!

[Bathite]

Bathman in London my point is you need the players who are going to execute a certain game style.

Did Gold sign Donald?

No he didn't, very few of these players are his, but I expect that to change over the summer.

Bear in mind Saracens when they first started doing well didn't have Ashton,Hodgson,Wigglesworth,Strettle,Brown,Stevens,Tomkins etc.

Saracens in the 2009/10 season showed you don't need stars to do well. Just the right ethos and mentality.

I don't think any of those players other than Hodgson have made the difference. It's been the Britz, De Kock, Barritt, Joubert, Burger that brought the improvement. They were all half decent squad players abroad but took on the challenge and the extra rand along with some of their countryman in charge.

[Bathite]

Gold seems unsure where Eastmond and Banahan are best used. Are they wingers or centres?

You may be unsure, but Gold isn't. If you watched enough games you'd see that both are viewed very much as centres that can play wing, not the other way round. This was pretty obvious from the signings of Roko and Agulla as well.

[Bathite]

Any other Beshocked shanter I need to clear up?

[sirtidychris]

I am expecting at least 2 more saafff afrikkans to come in as thats how brendan venter got saffacens moving forward using his home ties and Gold has stated several times he wants to link up with a rainbow nation club side for player swaps. I'd be expecting more nick koster type players to be coming in who are off the main radar of the france sides but are bloomin good to those in the know. I also wouldn't be surprised if we bring in nick kennedy if attwood goes and maybe some Sale players.

[beshocked]

Bathite it's not meant to be patronising. I know you Bath guys are proud of your heritage etc and think everything is rosy but it's not.

I agree. Most of it is down to the pack. The foundation is in the pack.

Most of the backs IMO underperform. Part of their job is to score tries and they fail at that.

Gold perhaps isn't quite as good a coach as you think. If he was you would think he would have done better than Meehan so far.

If you believe in him fair enough. Results haven't exactly gone his way.

I hope Donald does leave. You need someone who actually cares about the club. Unfortunately I doubt your backup has what it takes. Afterall his international loyalties seem to be fickle.

[Scrumpy]

To be fair GG does need more time to bring the players in to suit his style.

As for Meehan deep down I don't think any Bath fan wanted him to go.

[Scrumpy]

Rugby Paper links us with several players as always.
Osprey's scrum half Kahn Fotuali'i and Worcesters Matt Kvesic

Apparently George Ford is on his way to the Rec, and that Micky Young is close to signing for us along with tighthead Kieran Brookes. RP also claims Tom Johnson has been speaking to us, and that we have made an offer on Justin Melck.

[tigerleghorn]

What is Bath's obsession with Tigers players about?

With the exception of Agulla and Ford if he does move, the others over the last couple of seasons seem to be a generous offer to cull our squad of players slightly passed it or out of form.

[Scrumpy]

Don't bite the hand that feeds you tiger without Bath taking your over priced injury prone has-been’s you'd be left to foot their wage bill.

[tigerleghorn]

Don't bite the hand that feeds you tiger without Bath taking your over priced injury prone has-been’s you'd be left to foot their wage bill.

I'm not knocking it. Just curious. Could be another three heading your way next season. That makes seven or eight in the last few years right?

[The Great Aukster]

How has Cardwell been going since he came back? Any return to the form he was showing last season

Isn't Caldwell's contract now up at Bath?

[Bathman_in_London]

tlh

About that if Young and Brookes happens. To be fair players like Hipkiss and Vesty still had something to offer and are good premiership level squad players. Moody while a good player was never going to last 3 years, I think there may have been a bit of vanity on BC's part in signing the England captain.

I think Caldwell's contract is up at the end of the season? Not sure if hes staying or going to be honest.

[beshocked]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21120250

Stringer signs for Bath on short term deal for cover for Claasens.

[Scrumpy]

Not a bad move.

[tigerleghorn]

Looks like Ford will be joining you despite the strenuous denials earlier.

I wonder what Heathcote thinks? Seems an odd move if true. Two 10's away for Internationals and work needed elsewhere in your squad. Hey ho, at least it's a signing from us who's not of pensionable age hey?

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/George-Ford-leave-Leicester-Tigers-summer/story-17928917-detail/story.html

[Scrumpy]

Great news.

[Bathman_in_London]

Signing an exciting young player should never be seen as a bad move but I do wonder how its going to work.

Presumably he has been told he will be no.1, so Donald will be off. But where does Heathcote fit in? Having 2 20 year old FHs who could be away during internationals will surely cause long term issues? Unless young Ollie Devoto is considered 3rd choice, which would mean we would have the youngest set of Fh's around!

[PJHolybloke]

I wouldn't be surprised if young Tom McHeathcote is tempted North to one of the Scottish Clubs, the SRFU tend to like their internationals close to "home".

That would leave Ford, DeVoto and possibly MMM in that order, having said that, I'm not sure what MMM's contract status is.

[PJHolybloke]

Furthermore, he's a SH...

[Bathman_in_London]

Yeah if MMM plays FH we will be in trouble! I think his contract is up for renewal but I could be wrong.

[beshocked]

What about Sam Vesty? You still have him right?

[Bathman_in_London]

Yes but I think his contract runs out this season too. There was talk about him moving to a player/coaching role though.

[PJHolybloke]

Vesty filled in at 10 a lot while OB1 was injured and before Beaver turned up, if anything he was better than Donald.

Maybe GG has an experienced Saffer he could bring in to school Ford & Devoto in the art of the kick & chase game?

[PJHolybloke]

I was chatting with a Munster fan at the weekend, and we got onto the subject of club songs or chants, he asked me what Bath sing and when I told him we don't he was a bit surprised.

Does anyone know why that is? Maybe it's because we don't have anything to shout about anymore?

I've heard the odd vociferous fan being shushed by people around them before, maybe there is a hardcore opinion that it's undignified, or maybe it's because "Bath" or "Bath Rugby" doesn't scan well into the usual drawn out:

Glaaaaaaaaawwwwsterrrrrrrrrr
Tiiiiiiiiiiiiigerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs

style chants.

Are there any other clubs in the AP like Bath, or are we on our own?

[yappysnap]

Teams without songs off the top of my head:

London Irish
Sale
Newcastle
Saracens (intentionally ignoring the filth that comes out of the speakers there)

[yappysnap]

Teams with songs:
Saints- When the Saints go marching in...
Quins- Come all within...

[yappysnap]

All other teams have had their fans effect a zombie like chant

[PJHolybloke]

Teams without songs off the top of my head:

London Irish The Fields of Athenry
Sale
Newcastle
Saracens (intentionally ignoring the filth that comes out of the speakers there)

The others might not have songs, but I've heard the fans chanting the club name.

Bath have neither song nor chant, nada, zip, nowt, feck all.

[yappysnap]

Maybe the club think that the chanting would make the fair people of Bath worry that there was a riot going on? Or disturb their afternoon tea and scones?

[PJHolybloke]

Yeah, maybe.

[DaveM]

Telegraph are reporting Bath to sign Ford, Garvey, Joseph and Watson. I really, really hope they are going to sign a backs coach and actually try to play some rugby or they will be wasting some serious talent.

[Guest]

Even if it is only speculation, nice to see that only young English players are being touted as targets. Although there may well be conveyor of young saffers too - certainly seems to have benefited Louw.

[Jimpy]

Teams without songs off the top of my head:

London Irish The Fields of Athenry
Sale
Newcastle
Saracens (intentionally ignoring the filth that comes out of the speakers there)

The others might not have songs, but I've heard the fans chanting the club name.

Bath have neither song nor chant, nor any trophies won in the professional era really, nada, zip, nowt, feck all.

There, fixed it

[PJHolybloke]

Teams without songs off the top of my head:

London Irish The Fields of Athenry
Sale
Newcastle
Saracens (intentionally ignoring the filth that comes out of the speakers there)

The others might not have songs, but I've heard the fans chanting the club name.

IBath have neither song nor chant, nor any trophies won in the professional era really, nada, zip, nowt, feck all.

There, fixed it. Oh, hang on, apart from the two European cup wins, sorry PJ I was wrong

Don't mention it Jimpy.

[Bathite]

European Challenge Cup doesn't count then?

[Jimpy]

I've got a chant for you all...

'We're just a bus stop near Bristol. We're just a bus stop neeeaaarrrr Bristol'.



Sorry, I suppose Barf have done alright, considering their limited ability

[Jimpy]

HERSH, sorry, Victor should be back very soon.

How i've missed him.

[Bathman_in_London]

LV team for the weekend:

15 Jack Cuthbert

14 Richard Lane

13 Matt Banahan

12 Ben Williams

11 Olly Woodburn

10 Tom Heathcote

9 Mark McMillan

1 Charlie Beech

2 Rob Webber

3 Anthony Perenise

4 Stuart Hooper ( c )

5 Dave Attwood

6 Nick Koster

7 Mat Gilbert

8 Ben Skirving

Replacements

16 Ross Batty

17 Nathan Catt

18 Kane Palma-Newport

19 Will Spencer

20 Will Skuse

21 Peter Stringer

22 Sam Vesty

23 Semesa Rokoduguni


Good to see Rob Webber finally getting his debut. I'm sure he will be keen to try and work his way back into the EPS sooner rather than later.

[Scrumpy]

Jimpy I'm not hersh how many more times?

Man up and talk rugby!

[Bathite]

Koster at 6 and Skirving at 8 seems strange, but they might lineup differently come scrum time. Is Chris Cook injured? Would be terrible news if he's missed out due to MMM and now Stringer? Interesting that Cuthbert is at 15, I would of thought we'd let him go in the summer and persist with Devoto at FB? Webber is great news, but I wonder what Guinaza has to do to get a game? Bit of a pointless signing at this point in time.

[Jimpy]

Jimpy I'm not hersh how many more times?

Man up and talk rugby!

Now now, don't get excited, you know what happens when you do..

[Bathman_in_London]

I think Guinaza was either injured when he signed or got injured straight away in training? I thought Cook had a niggle, a real shame as I'd like to see him get some game time over MMM.

Good to see the 2 young wings playing and hopefully Catt and KPN will get some game time, I rate both of them.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Jimpy I'm not hersh how many more times?

Man up and talk rugby!

Now now, don't get excited, you know what happens when you do..

What, you mean when the pair of you get bans for behaving like 5-year-olds with short fuses?

I suggest you both leave it there.

[Scrumpy]

I'm more than happy too, but when the said posters sends pm's to wind up and taunt it gets rather annoying after a while, I have placed him on my foes list yet he responds to everything I say I can't help but look, yet I'm the one who was banned for 3 days for saying a village must be missing him!

I'm here to talk rugby which is becoming increasingly difficult to do with people like him on here.

[Scrumpy]

Anyway back to rugby rumours are Toulon are interested in signing Francois Louw.

[PJHolybloke]

I think the only way to keep a player of Louw's standard from the lure of the big French Euros is to show ambition in the signings made over the summer, if the rumours are true that's already underway, but I wonder if there are more SA players in the crosshairs?

Maybe GG has his eye on a few Baffers?

I wouldn't say I've written this season opff completely, but I am feeling a certain amount of excitement about the changes to the squad that are going to be made before August.

I hope iyt's not going to be another disappointment.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

I was chatting with a Munster fan at the weekend, and we got onto the subject of club songs or chants, he asked me what Bath sing and when I told him we don't he was a bit surprised.

Does anyone know why that is? Maybe it's because we don't have anything to shout about anymore?

I've heard the odd vociferous fan being shushed by people around them before, maybe there is a hardcore opinion that it's undignified, or maybe it's because "Bath" or "Bath Rugby" doesn't scan well into the usual drawn out:

Glaaaaaaaaawwwwsterrrrrrrrrr
Tiiiiiiiiiiiiigerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs

style chants.

Are there any other clubs in the AP like Bath, or are we on our own?

Possibly because b'aaathhh was also the name of Saddam Hussein's party

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Yes but I think his contract runs out this season too. There was talk about him moving to a player/coaching role though.

Part of me wants tigers to re- sign him and play him in alternate games at 10 and 12 as a massive ffffuuuuuu to certain traitorous mercenaries.

But most of me isnt that bitter

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