The Bath Rugby Thread

by HERSH Wed 15 Aug 2012, 1:37 pm

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. guinness

Other fans welcome but remember, play nicely.

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Fri 01 Mar 2013, 4:02 pm

VictorU3 wrote: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.

Pity Bristol didnt get promoted last year really

by Scrumpy Sat 02 Mar 2013, 12:21 pm

My head hurts after last night celebrations! Yahoo

Well done boys

by Scrumpy Sun 03 Mar 2013, 8:08 pm

Where have all the Bath fans gone?

by Bathite Mon 04 Mar 2013, 9:14 am

by Bathman_in_London Mon 04 Mar 2013, 10:08 am

A bit late, but a good result for us on friday. Would have liked to get the BP though, that could have been vital later in the season, especially as our last 3 games are very tough. Our pack is coming together nicely, Webber is looking good post injury and Attwood has to be one of if not the form lock in the league?

Top 6 is going to be tough, the Saints win lifts them away from us and there is still a gap. I hope that we play as strong a team as possible against Quins in the cup, we have a bit of momentum now, it makes sense to keep going!

by Scrumpy Tue 05 Mar 2013, 11:59 am

So we won't be getting Goode then.

by HongKongCherry Tue 05 Mar 2013, 12:04 pm

VictorU3 wrote:So we won't be getting Goode then.

That'll leave more prawn sandwiches for you then! Wink

by Scrumpy Tue 05 Mar 2013, 12:07 pm

HongKongCherry wrote:
VictorU3 wrote:So we won't be getting Goode then.

That'll leave more prawn sandwiches for you then!

Ha ha ha very good HKC.

by HongKongCherry Tue 05 Mar 2013, 2:28 pm

I have my moments, not often

drumroll

by Scrumpy Tue 05 Mar 2013, 3:20 pm

HongKongCherry wrote:I have my moments, not often

Bit like Glaws then! thumbsup

by HongKongCherry Tue 05 Mar 2013, 3:32 pm

VictorU3 wrote:
HongKongCherry wrote:I have my moments, not often

Bit like Glaws then!

I let you have that one. However, I shall take a leaf out of HERSH's book and ignore the fact you've beaten us twice out of three occasions and simply refer you to the league table! Wink

by Scrumpy Tue 05 Mar 2013, 3:36 pm

Lots of points to play for yet HK. thumbsup

by sirtidychris Tue 12 Mar 2013, 2:32 pm

Ben skirving to leave for bristol at the end of the season.. so thats likely skirving and taylour out with koster and that ozzie fella covering.

by Bathman_in_London Fri 15 Mar 2013, 9:23 am

Skirving has been a good player for us and will be very good at championship level, he could have certainly gone straight to another prem team I think.

But I guess while he hasnt done anything wrong, building a squad to climb the table will mean getting rid of some of the steady performers and bringing in new players.

I wouldnt be surprised if AR gets a few more out of contract Bath players either.

by sirtidychris Fri 15 Mar 2013, 11:29 am

Skiriving has done very well and agree he is an AP level player, he would be a good squad player to hold onto for bath but don't feel he should be our starting number 8 or even guareenteed a bench place so can see why he has gone for Bristol.

Bristol ishould be a Premiership club and im very excited by the prospect of a rejuvinated push up to the AP, with andy robinson, ben skriving, nicky robinson etc. They are a big city with a great fan base and history and i love the bath derbys.

I think next season is their big chance if london welsh go down i cant see them being strong enough to automatically going up again like harlequins, northampton etc, therefore this is bristols chance, and it looks like they know it.

I miss the days when bristol had gus pichot, julian white, jason white, mark regan, andy sheridan, prime david lemi, felipe contepomi, jason little, gareth archer, brian lima, simon shaw etc etc

by Bathman_in_London Fri 15 Mar 2013, 2:33 pm

I agree, Bristol are a good club with a good history, it would be nice to have them back as a real local rival.

Some really good players there, losing all of those would hurt anyone. But for a try, Bath could be in the same situation now.

by twoeightnine Fri 15 Mar 2013, 2:41 pm

What sort of crowds Re Briz getting now? I remember the last time they were in the Premiership and despite all the statements of Bristol being a rugby city, the crowds never came and the money men left.

I had forgotten how good some of the players were. I loved Contepomi scoring a try, running into the stand and aplauding.

by sirtidychris Sat 16 Mar 2013, 12:20 pm

Bristols attendances last time they were in the premiership

2008/09 7,499
2007/08 9,175
2006/07 11,370
2005/06 9,265

not great but not terrible either...

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 17 Mar 2013, 5:04 pm

Bath available on fantasy AP game:

https://www.606v2.com/t20652-bath

Good squad with Dagg, Bowe, Franks included

by Bathman_in_London Tue 19 Mar 2013, 4:53 pm

Attwood and Wilson have signed new Bath deals.

http://www.bathrugby.com/news/team-news/attwood-and-wilson-extend-bath-rugby-contracts

Good news!

by sirtidychris Tue 19 Mar 2013, 5:37 pm

Very good news, honestly thought we would lose attwood ! he's one of the best in england but is ignored by the national set up meaning we never lose him...win win.

by Bathman_in_London Wed 20 Mar 2013, 9:25 am

He has looked good this season in tandem with Day. Wilson has looked strong with Webber and James alongside him too, very pleased.

Now we just need a big performance on Friday to be level with Wasps in 6th place.

by Bathite Wed 20 Mar 2013, 9:33 am

Is it on TV this Friday? quite often ESPN show the Friday games

by Bathman_in_London Wed 20 Mar 2013, 10:25 am

I dont think so? Might be wrong though.

by Bathman_in_London Wed 20 Mar 2013, 11:40 am

http://www.bathrugby.com/news/team-news/bath-rugby-confirm-centre-signing

Excellent.

by Scrumpy Wed 20 Mar 2013, 12:56 pm

Great news for Bath, glad Attwood has resigned too.

by Bathite Wed 20 Mar 2013, 1:03 pm

So next year we might be looking at

James / Catt / Beech
Webber / Guinaza / Batty
Wilson / Orlandi / Perenise
Day / Caldwell
Attwood / Hooper
Louw / Garvey / Skuse
Fearns / Gilbert
Houston / Koster

?? / Stringer / Cook
Heathcote / Ford / Donald?
Biggs
Eastmond / Williams
JJ / Banahan
Agulla / Roko
Bendy / Devoto

Still looks a bit light in the back three, with Classens replacement the big omission. Might have missed some in the back row as well.

by Bathman_in_London Wed 20 Mar 2013, 1:36 pm

Not a bad squad there.

I think Ovens and Mercer might still be under contract for next season in the back row.

If Watson comes that would help out the back 3.

SH is the issue at the moment I think. Classens off, Stringer only here until the end of the season. Cook is ok but even if we signed Micky Young as reported we would still be light. Should have gone after Karl Dickson I think.

Anyway, a decent squad is building, of mostly young english players, which can only be good.

by Bathite Wed 20 Mar 2013, 2:25 pm

Oh yeah, forgot about Watson as well!

by Scrumpy Wed 20 Mar 2013, 4:07 pm

When will the Ford announcement be made?

by mbernz Wed 20 Mar 2013, 4:22 pm

Bathite wrote:So next year we might be looking at

James / Catt / Beech
Webber / Guinaza / Batty
Wilson / Orlandi / Perenise
Day / Caldwell
Attwood / Hooper
Louw / Garvey / Skuse
Fearns / Gilbert
Houston / Koster

?? / Stringer / Cook
Heathcote / Ford / Donald?
Biggs
Eastmond / Williams
JJ / Banahan
Agulla / Roko
Bendy / Devoto

Still looks a bit light in the back three, with Classens replacement the big omission. Might have missed some in the back row as well.

Joseph is also very handy on the wing, he's been playing at FB a bit for Irish this season as well. Likewise Eastmond if needed.

by sirtidychris Wed 20 Mar 2013, 9:56 pm

Devoto has signed for a Cornish side...pirates I think? Which does leave us light at fb, will probably see jj play fullback as well.as centre, we need a top flight scrum half,.I always thought g ford was more a scrum half than fly half.size wize anyway. Last year there was talk of signing Joe Simpson, would love to get him, Ben Spencer or mike Phillips on board!

by Bathman_in_London Thu 21 Mar 2013, 9:41 am

Devoto is dual registered though so he can come back if needed. I think Agulla could possibly play there too? I wouldnt mind seeing Eastmond have a go at the back, Halfpenny has shown a small man can still play there and it would allow him to get the ball with a bit of space in front of him to work with.

by sirtidychris Fri 22 Mar 2013, 5:05 pm

He is always compared to Jason Robinson who was great at fullback, its true Kyle would have alot more room to play with as he is blessed with a great side step and attacking brain...something Alex Goode doesn't have!

by sirtidychris Sat 23 Mar 2013, 2:13 pm

Seasons over then lads, we are a mid/lower table team at the moment and don't deserve to be anywhere else, exactly same as last year, dumped out the lv by a second team and losing silly games against the worst teams in the ap..simply awful furious

by formerly known as Sam Sat 23 Mar 2013, 3:02 pm

What's happened to Woodburn? He looked a decent winger for you guys last season. Agulla is a decent fb as well.

I always thought g ford was more a scrum half than fly half.size wize anyway.

Seeing as Ford's biggest asset is his ability to see the bigger picture a guide his team into space it would be foolish to put him in a position where the opposition can get to him easier and limit his operating time. Added to that he's not physical enough to play 9.

by Bathite Sat 23 Mar 2013, 3:24 pm

Woodburn did look good last year, but he's no way near as good an option as Agulla or Biggs

by sirtidychris Sun 24 Mar 2013, 1:30 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:What's happened to Woodburn? He looked a decent winger for you guys last season. Agulla is a decent fb as well.

I always thought g ford was more a scrum half than fly half.size wize anyway.

Seeing as Ford's biggest asset is his ability to see the bigger picture a guide his team into space it would be foolish to put him in a position where the opposition can get to him easier and limit his operating time. Added to that he's not physical enough to play 9.

Surely number 10's have to be more physical than number 9's ? barring mike Phillips most 9's are midgets with flyhalfs making more tackles and taking more contact. Given that ford is the size of a scrum half, but very small for a fly half, i thought that he may be a viable option there, i would see him like a morgan parra, grieg laidlaw, goal kicking, play making number 9 . i do agree that his strength is his ability to read the game which makes him an asset at 10. I spose it will never happen but with heathcote and ford in the same team and us looking short at 9, it might be an option.

by formerly known as Sam Sun 24 Mar 2013, 1:47 pm

Physicality is not all about size though, it's about aggression and toughness. Ford is actually pretty good in the tackle due to his technique but he doesn't have that aggression to get stuck in ala Ben Youngs, a man of similar size. Scrum halfs need to be aggressive buggera otherwise the opposition will bully them all game and I doubt Ford would adapt to that.

Anyway, I think you'll have Micky Young at 9 next season.

by yappysnap Sun 24 Mar 2013, 1:58 pm

Scrum halves are expected to cover behind the defensive line and take down forwards one on one if needed. Ford could not do that.

by sirtidychris Sun 24 Mar 2013, 5:58 pm

If he can't tackle forwards one on one then he shouldn't be playing top club rugby, let alone in contention for an international call up, whilst I can understand arguments that he shouldn't be a scrum half, I can't agree that the postion of scrum half is more physical than flyhalf, at flyhalf you have to tackle all sorts of monsters targetting your channel, its why we love wilko for being such a beast in the tackle and are so frustrated with cipriani and in times gone by Charlie hodgson for thier turn style defense. I agree that scrum halfs have to ne mouthy little agressivr terriers barking orders at the forwards and in the refs ear and maybe ford doesnt have that grit, but if he defends the 10 channel for tigers then his defense will be fine to cover 9

by Bathman_in_London Mon 25 Mar 2013, 11:47 am

sirtidychris wrote:Seasons over then lads, we are a mid/lower table team at the moment and don't deserve to be anywhere else, exactly same as last year, dumped out the lv by a second team and losing silly games against the worst teams in the ap..simply awful

Really really poor. There just seemed to be no directiojn or even tactics at all. Too many silly mistakes.
The only plus I suppose is that with Wasps and Exe gaining the same no. of points as us, nothing has really changed in terms of the battle for 6th spot, we are still effectively 1 win behind Wasps.

Sale were at home and playing for their lives in pretty poor conditions, but still, we have been poor all season. Whats the point of having a load of ex forwards as coaches, if you can't even grind out a miserable win?! Annoing about losing Attwood early on with a knock too.

The team better really raise their game for next week. It has been noticeable too how the fringe players who played in the lv/amlin (up to the lv semi) seem to be dropped as soon as the big names come back, with form not getting a look in.

by twoeightnine Mon 25 Mar 2013, 12:09 pm

As far as I see we have been poor all season with a few flashes of average. I am surprised we are so high. Given the coaches we brought in, unfortunately its not been a huge surprise to me.

I suppose that there is a chance of 6th and maybe the coaching team will change their spots over the summer, bring in players that they want and play some ball in hand rugby rather than the poorly executed safety first, kick and chase version that we have now.

Or we could say that we will have a big hand in how the table will look as we are playing either teams in the top or bottom of the table.

by sirtidychris Mon 25 Mar 2013, 12:48 pm

With Gary Gold i always thought the tactic would be kick and chase, he has a great rugby pedigree in coaching but his style of play has usually involved massive forward packs and a kicking based game. We obviously have to give him time and the signings he's made so far are very promising, but i do miss steve meehan and i don't think craig realised what a gem he had.

With our AP run in Sale was a must win game, we have the hardest finish to the season out of any club and we needed maximum points from Sale and Welsh to stand a chance of HC rugby but to be honest we wont beat quins, tigers or sarries with all there internationals and the play offs within grasp. I see us 8th just above wuss and irish at season end. Last chance to salvage anything now sits on Amlin challenge cup with a home game against Stade reasonably winnable. Then we need some freakish good luck to beat Toulouse, Leinster, Perpingnon and or Biarittz in the semis then final !!

The Run In:
30/03/13 London Welsh AVIVA Premiership Home
06/04/13 Stade Francais Amlin Cup Home
13/04/13 Harlequins AVIVA Premiership Away
20/04/13 Leicester AVIVA Premiership Home
May 04/05/13 Saracens AVIVA Premiership Away

by **LondonTiger** Mon 25 Mar 2013, 1:17 pm

yappysnap wrote:Scrum halves are expected to cover behind the defensive line and take down forwards one on one if needed. Ford could not do that.

Teams generall run the forwards at Ford and he has tackled pretty damn well this season. According to the Telegraph 66 tackles made and just 1 missed in the AP this season.

As we have seen with Goode standing in at 9 against fiji when Care was binned, and Murphy for Tigers when youngs was binned - even good players can look silly at Scrum Half when they have to fill in.

Ford is a 10. Him and Heathcote will just have to fight it out.

by SecretFly Mon 25 Mar 2013, 1:22 pm

Funny how this thread is still going ...and the initiator is ...banned? Still banned? Or just decided to leave?

by sirtidychris Mon 25 Mar 2013, 1:38 pm

HERSH was a marmite character on these boards but was eventually banned for good after getting carried away with a few other folks on one weekend a while ago when facets of the old 606 reared its ugly head and the mods copped a fair amount of unwarranted abuse. Whilst he is sadly missed by some and was probably the loudest bath fan on here, he wasn't by any means the only one and hence why this thread is still going.

by SecretFly Mon 25 Mar 2013, 1:46 pm

Well I know there were more Bath men than the 'loudest' version. But Hersh was a character and this place is becoming cold and lifeless from the lack of them.

Some people didn't know how to take him, and I'm sure he shot his mouth off a little too easily at times....but, I just found him a fun addition to the site.

by sirtidychris Mon 25 Mar 2013, 2:28 pm

He definately spiced things up and made the board more interesting, maybe when he gets a new computer he'll be back under a different guise, spose theres a fine line on these boards to making things fun and interesting but avoiding the complete chaos of childish slanging matches, thats were the mods come in. I definatly prefer this site to the madness of the old 606, however I think some posters cry to the MODs too quickly when being wound up, but then as always some people take it too far in there wummery.

by Bathman_in_London Wed 27 Mar 2013, 2:14 pm

http://www.bathrugby.com/news/team-news/gilbert-and-hipkiss-sign-on-for-more-with-bath-rugby

I did wonder if Hipkiss would be let go, but he's probably a good man to have in the squad, even though he is probably going to be second choice to JJ.

Gilbert has looked good to me, not entirely sure why the Scarlets would let him go?

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