The Bath Rugby Thread

[HERSH]

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[Scrumpy]

Is Olly Barkley back at the club?

[Bathman_in_London]

Just back for a visit I think if you are referring to his twitter?

[Scrumpy]

But wasn't he on loan and it looks like they have nothing to play for, so they might not want him for the rest of the season.?

[Scrumpy]

Meet Baths new Hooker to replace Mearsy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21443475

[Bathman_in_London]

Please no!

[Bathite]

Surely not, with Webber and Guinaza as international hookers with Batty a great 3rd option and Dunn pushing them all hard as the young pretender, we are pretty well stocked

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

HERSH? or Chuter (last I read he was on Sales hitlist)

Hes been shot as a serious force for at least 3 years. As a player coach I can see some value.
But surely Bath arent looking to repeat the same mistake with broken down leicetser rejects again?

[Bathite]

I really hope not and now that Geech is gone, I think that Tigers retirement plan strategy has also left the building

[Scrumpy]

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Its quite ironic that Geech was instrumental in the RFU whingeathon about the state of the funded academies and the need to centralise them. I assume he will be given the new role as Head of Player Development and open up the system to aging former Tigers players with long term health problems, and ensure its well enough funded to increase their wages.

[sirtidychris]

Don't forget brett Sharman as well, whether we will keep him on or not i don't know but he is a good back up to Webber.

[Bathman_in_London]

Teams up:

15. Nick Abendanon
14. Horacio Agulla
13. Matt Banahan
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Tom Biggs
10. Stephen Donald
9. Peter Stringer
1. Paul James
2. Rob Webber
3. David Wilson
4. Dominic Day
5. Dave Attwood
6. Francois Louw ( c )
7. Carl Fearns
8. Ben Skirving

Replacements

16. Ross Batty
17. Nathan Catt
18. Anthony Perenise
19. Will Spencer
20. Mat Gilbert
21. Chris Cook
22. Tom Heathcote
23. Semesa Rokoduguni

Looks pretty strong to me, glad the centre combo gets another try-out...

[Scrumpy]

I see Bristol have signed Robbo, thoughts?
I think he may steady the ship but without funds I can't see what good it will do.

I like the look of that team to be honest although I would start Heathcote at 10.

[Bathman_in_London]

He did pretty well at Edinburgh so he might be good for them. I guess it was the nearest currently available job to his house!

I would like McHeatcote at 10 too, although Donald has looked good with Stringer so far, so I can see why they've gone for him again. The pack looks huge! Another good win should see us start to push upwards.

[Scrumpy]

We usually pick up a few points during the 6 nations.

Have a good one

[sirtidychris]

London irish team

London Irish team to face Bath: 15. Tom Homer; 14. Topsy Ojo; 13. Guy Armitage; 12. Shane Geraghty; 11. Marland Yarde; 10. Ian Humphreys; 9. Pat Phibbs; 1. Max Lahiff; 2. Scott Lawson; 3. Halani Aulika; 4. George Skivington; 5. Bryn Evans (Captain); 6. Matt Garvey; 7. Jebb Sinclair; 8. Chris Hala'ufia.

Replacements: 16. Mike Mayhew; 17. Jerry Yanuyanutawa; 18.Leo Halavatau; 19.Jamie Gibson; 20. Ofisa Treviranus; 21. Jon Fisher; 22. Steven Shingler; 23. Jack Moates.

Hopefully our pack will dominate this one giving eastmond a good platform to show some magic again....shame johnathan Joseph is still out with a toe injury as banahan vs joseph would have been good to see for next season (if you believe the rumours !) Guy armitage vs banahan will be a mighty old collision though 6ft 5 vs 6ft 7 !!

[sirtidychris]

Boom !!!! Bath smashed it , maximum points onwards and upwards

[Bathman_in_London]

Onwards and upwards indeed. Probably a closer game than the scoreline made out but a very impressive forwards performance indeed. Attwood is playing very well at the moment.

The Eastmond/Banahan combo seems to be working well too and Heathcote is looking good feeding off Stringer's pass. I just hope a Scottish club dont try and nab him.

[Scrumpy]

I fear they will Bathman unless his the No1 choice at Bath.

[Scrumpy]

2 signings to be announced today?

Anyone heard anything?

Claassens gone, not a surprise.

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/sport/10237568.RUGBY__Claassens_to_leave_Bath_at_end_of_season/

[Bathman_in_London]

http://www.bathrugby.com/news/team-news/bath-rugby-bolster-forwards-with-double-signing


Never heard of either of them! Another solid TH is a good addition I think and a rampaging 8 is what we need. I would imagine they both count as foreign though?

[HongKongCherry]

I'm rather annoyed. you've actually gone and signed 2 decent forwards. What happened to the powder puff front 5 I knew and loved?!

[twoeightnine]

Are these two starting immediately? If so, where is the salary cap as I had assumed that we were up to it?

On the upside there is no club that couldn't use a good TH and I've thought for a while that we need a stronger No.8. Wonder what his thoughts will be having played on the concrete of Queensland and having to change it for the sludge of the west country!

[Scrumpy]

I have to admit I don't know either of them, are they any good?

[Bathman_in_London]

To be honest I don't know either of them really. However an Argie TH is normally a good bet. Houston has been picked up from a french D2 side, so I would imagine a serious pre-season will be needed to kick him into shape.

HKC, times are changing as I'm sure a recent result told you...

[sirtidychris]

Very good signings (potentially), both have a good pedigree but are under the radar so wont bust the salary cap, Gold is showing a shrewd eye for selctions here. The argie is a 6ft 3 tighthead playing for Racing metro with a number of international caps and the ozzie number 8 has a good super rugby pedigree and has been capped for ozzie A and toured with the wallabies...why on earth he moved to colombiers with that pedigree i dont know.

[HongKongCherry]

To be honest I don't know either of them really. However an Argie TH is normally a good bet. Houston has been picked up from a french D2 side, so I would imagine a serious pre-season will be needed to kick him into shape.

HKC, times are changing as I'm sure a recent result told you...

I shall reserve judgement on that result until after our visit to the Rec. I have absolutely no argument that on the day Bath were a far better side, however, there does need to be a level of context taken into account. Anyone at the game will know that the momentum only went in your favour once we started chucking the kids on. That doesn't excuse our performance, but the forthcoming game will be a better judge of where we are.

And boy do i not want another result like that!!

[Bathman_in_London]

You are right HKC, it was only LV after all. But as you know, we haven't had much chance to wind you lot up in the last couple of seasons!

[sirtidychris]

Game against gloucester is on 1 march so will likely have ben morgan and burns back playing getting match time, 12trees is 50/50 as might be rested but will probably be playing given that he will likley be a bench player for england for the next game...so will be a different gloucester team.

Im glad baths other two upcoming games against northampton and Quins fall on international weekends as they will be much more depleted than us by call ups...( there are some benefits to being mediorce !)
Saints
Lawes
Hartley
Wood

Quins
Care
Marler
Robshaw
Brown
Kohn ?

[HongKongCherry]

Morgan definitely won't be playing and as 36 is in this week's 23 i can't see him being released. Burns is meant to be fit for the game, but we've been told that before!

[Bathman_in_London]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAkEc89iRu4

Some footage of Houston playing in France. He seems to have filled out a little since his Queensland days... Still, what he should be able to give us is a little more front foot ball, he looks like the sort of man who makes ground like Waldroum or Johnson/Vunipola at Wasps. I would certainly enjoy seeing him have a run at Ryan Lamb!

I'd say there is no better time to play Quins! Or Saints for that matter...

[boomeranga]

Re Leroy, unfortunately it may be worth keeping expectations low-ish and hoping for the best. I remember he was announced as the next big thing when he was 18, but he never quite arrived. 2011 he seemed to get fit and he played off the bench at 8 for the Rags and he showed a bit, but then they cut him. The widely accepted reason is that he is lazy and they couldn't get the best from him.

The positive (to finish on a more helpful hopeful angle) is that he does have a lot of ability. Someone just needs to work out how to put the cracker under him so he recognises it won't last for ever. Whoever can do that will get a reasonable player. Hopefully it's Gary Glitter.

[sirtidychris]

boomeranga

Sounds like bath will be losing one undermotivated 8 in simon taylour and gaining another, he cant be that awesome because he's been chilling out in the french lower leagues for 2 years. Theres still room for Faletau however given that skriving and taylour will likely move on, Leroy cant cost much and taylour will be on a fair bit.

[Bathite]

Taylor - undermotivated? That's very harsh, he's been one of our best players at the start of this season

[sirtidychris]

Perhaps it is overharsh, a few fingers have been pointed at him though over his committment in previous seasons and whether he is just going through the motions to collect the pay cheque, something i felt was rife in the bath last season.

[Bathite]

Rife yes, but not at Taylor. Last season, he was one of the few to impress me with his attitude, along with Skirving and Caldwell. He is injured a lot though, but he's quite old, so I guess if you looked at number of minutes played, you could argue he's not that committed

[Bathman_in_London]

I have to say I agree with Bathite there and think that Taylor has been pretty good for us at time when very few people have stood out. However he is surely off at the end of the season? I can't see any reason to offer him another contract. Especially if we have Leeroy, Koster and Skirving still around.

[Scrumpy]

Ryan Lamb has joined the Tigers can't see Ford coming to Bath now.

[sirtidychris]

Perhaps im wide of the mark here then.. still i'm looking forward to a young competitive load of number 8's. I always orginally thought Fearns would be a number 8 but he is definatley a 6 at Bath, i miss zak feaunati in his prime how many years did he top the metres carries charts !

Vic, how come you can't see Ford coming to bath ? Whatever happens i just hope we keep Heathcote !

[Scrumpy]

I think Heathcote is under contract for a couple more seasons I also see no benefit of Heathcote moving to Scotland if he has a shout at being 1st choice No10 for Bath, I can see us signing Andy Goode as cover.

[Bathman_in_London]

Well maybe not sirtidy, maybe some of us have just been looking for anything positive!

Zak was a bit of an under the radar signing and he worked out ok, it would be good if Koster/leeroy were the same.

Heathcote is contracted for next season too. Then will be the crunch time as it will be his first contract as an international. If he is already getting international game time he might not feel the need to move, but if he isn't he may feel he has to go. Frankly if that happens then Robbo has a lot to answer for!
Still hopefully he will get a lot of game time in the next year to convince him to stay.

[DaveM]

Perhaps im wide of the mark here then.. still i'm looking forward to a young competitive load of number 8's. I always orginally thought Fearns would be a number 8 but he is definatley a 6 at Bath,

Surely Fearns is largely a 7 at Bath now?

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Perhaps im wide of the mark here then.. still i'm looking forward to a young competitive load of number 8's. I always orginally thought Fearns would be a number 8 but he is definatley a 6 at Bath,

Surely Fearns is largely a 7 at Bath now?

Hence why he would play at 6 or 8 for England

[Scrumpy]

Bath Rugby team to face Northampton Saints:

15. Nick Abendanon

14. Horacio Agulla

13. Matt Banahan

12. Kyle Eastmond

11. Tom Biggs

10. Tom Heathcote

9. Peter Stringer

1. Charlie Beech

2. Rob Webber (c)

3. Anthony Perenise

4. Dominic Day

5. Dave Attwood

6. Carl Fearns

7. Mat Gilbert

8. Ben Skirving

Replacements

16. Ross Batty

17. Nathan Catt

18. Kane Palma-Newport

19. Will Spencer

20. Nick Koster

21. Michael Claassens

22. Sam Vesty

23. Semesa Rokoduguni

[Bathman_in_London]

Decent team considering who isn't available. Slightly concerned about how our 2 props will do though. Interesting to see that Webber is captain on his 3rd of 4th start for the club.

Lets hope the winning run continues!

[sirtidychris]

A close loss by bath in a great game with ebb and flow. Stringer and McHeathcote were excellent again and with young george ford contributing to tigers loss with a couple of missed easy penalty kicks, one starts to worry about whats going on in baths fly half position next season, given the promise/ talent of bath academy heathcote.

Our scrum gave away some penalties but also won some penalties so things were honours even which is good as there was a chance we would get demolished here.At one point the team was 20-9 down but the team did really well and showed some fight to get two tries to go in front, before being edged at the end. In the battle of the fullbacks Abendanon screwed up one definate try and another possible try in a day to forget, while Foden is starting to show his world class talent again by setting up the match winning score.

All in all a match we could have won but we got the bonus point away from home. Although Saints are without Pisi, mujati, wood, hartley and Lawes, we were without Wilson, James, Louw and Banahan so this is probably about where we are at the minute (on a par with Saints/gloucester).

[formerly known as Sam]

with young george ford contributing to tigers loss with a couple of missed easy penalty kicks

If it makes you feel any better he may have been dire with the boot but was dangerous ball in hand and attacked from gainline throughout. If you can find someone else to goal kick and combine it with a bit of experience (he plays better with Geordan at 15) he'll do ok for you.

[Bathman_in_London]

I have to say I would prefer if Heathcote wasn't pushed aside, he seems to be playing pretty well now he has recovered from his injury.

I haven't watched the match yet, but frustratingly it sounds like we were in the game and could have won. The story of our season in many ways, consistently losing the tight games, especially away from home.

I think 6th spot has to realistically be the target now and frankly if we lose to Glaws then I think we will be stuck in 7th for the rest of the season.

[Bathman_in_London]

Bath Rugby team to face Gloucester Rugby

15. Nick Abendanon

14. Horacio Agulla

13. Matt Banahan

12. Kyle Eastmond

11. Tom Biggs

10. Tom Heathcote

9. Peter Stringer

1. Paul James

2. Rob Webber

3. David Wilson

4. Dominic Day

5. Dave Attwood

6. Francois Louw ( c )

7. Carl Fearns

8. Ben Skirving

Replacements

16. Ross Batty

17. Nathan Catt

18. Anthony Perenise

19. Will Spencer

20. Mat Gilbert

21. Michael Claassens

22. Sam Vesty

23. Semsea Rokoduguni


As strong as could be baring injuries. I like the look of the pack.

[Scrumpy]

I liked the look of last weeks team too!

C'mon Bath its time to remind Glaws who the biggest club in the South West are, tear them a new one and spoil Tindalls 150th game for Glaws.

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