BATH RUGBY - 2013/14

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New Thread for the new season - https://www.606v2.com/t54781-bath-rugby-pre-season-2014-15

All set for a huge game this weekend. Good to see many players rested for it, we might be near full strength.

I'd like to see this team, assuming that Watson and Webber are still out..

James-Batty-Wilson
Attwood-Day
Garvey-Fearns-Louw

Stringer-Ford
Eastmond-Joseph
Banahan-Bendy-Roko

Catt, Guinaza, Orlandi, Hooper, Alfie, Young, Heathcote, Agulla

Scrumpy wrote:Good win for Bath, brave fight from Newport in the 1st half but they simple didn't have the fire power to beat Baths 2nd XV

There's still a vast difference in things like number of international caps etc, second string or not.

And it wasn't Newport you played either.

Risca Rev wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:Good win for Bath, brave fight from Newport in the 1st half but they simple didn't have the fire power to beat Baths 2nd XV

There's still a vast difference in things like number of international caps etc, second string or not.

Games over fella's, it was a brave 1st half effort from Newport but they were outclassed, it happens sometimes no point dwelling on it.  

A wins a win, but that was hard to watch the end. Ford lost his head big time

Ford was lucky to be able to bank that experience and not be on the losing side I have yet to see a concerted game plan from the backs, which has to be down to Bath having a coach for everything bar attack.

A little disapoointed that Cook, Ovens and Woodburn have disappeared from any likely match day squad.

I am loving the look of the pack though and the strength in depth. Fearns to be Bath player of the season! closely followed by Attwood, Garvey, Louw and Webber.

Ford struggled, as he has previously tended to, in adverse weather conditions. Stringer didn't help with some iffy passing. Take the missed drop goal attempt, you've got to give the ball to the side of the ten he is going to kick from not have hun reaching heavily to the wrong side whilst the opposition pack fly towards him. That link of communication must be worked on if the Bath team is to tick.

Sam, agreed Ford is going to get games this season where he will look the callow youth that he is, albeit wise beyond his years. This will probably hamper Bath in any really big games towards the end of the season. The potential is though there for all to see.

The conditions impacted the game last night, I am still drying out, but I am not sure what the game plan is, in order to use the different threats all along the back line. Time will tell.

Recwatcher, actually Ford always turned it on at the end of the season for Tigers. He's played in three finals and won two. Not to mention his man.of the match performance in the semi final against Sarries a couple of years back where he sliced their backline to ribbons.

He tends to struggle in the winter weather when the game slows down and he can't inject tempo to the attack as easily. Look back at the Saxons loss to Scotland A last year for a prime example. It should just be an experience thing as he has a good kicking game from hand which if he doesn't over complicate he should be able to fall back on and just direct that Bath pack, which should be all that is required during the bad weather.

Definately a game for heathcote, he seems great with teritorial place kicking 10 man rugby. Tbh with the conditions yesterday ill take the win but we should be putting a lot more points on a weakened glos team like that. I don't think we can judge the backs and mike ford too harshly though as the weather nullified any ambition. Onwards an upwards !!!!!!!

Bath can't lose tonight, can they?

15. Anthony Watson
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Matt Banahan
10. George Ford
9. Peter Stringer
1. Paul James
2. Rob Webber
3. Anthony Perenise
4. Stuart Hooper ( c )
5. Will Spencer
6. Matt Garvey
7. Francois Louw
8. Carl Fearns

Replacements

16. Ross Batty
17. Nathan Catt
18. Juan Pablo Orlandi
19. Dominic Day
20. Alafoti Fa'osiliva
21. Martin Roberts
22. Gavin Henson
23. Horacio Agulla

6-16 57mins

6-21 good solid win for the blue black and white

But why can''t we pick up bonus points, that was one missed tonight.

I feel for Wuss fans.

Ford played much better this week and the back row are proving a fearsome combination. The scrum creaked a little with Murray giving James a contest.

A few chances did go missing and with respect to Worcs a lack of bonus points in that type game is an obvious pity.

The Exeter fixture coming up is going to be a big game.

The league table makes very enjoyable reading, a third of the season gone already, a top four has to be achieved.

To be fair, Recwatcher, for an outsider like me, the weather made it hard to get a good reading on your team.  Not sure whether the point spread between the teams would have been lower or higher in better weather.  Worcester seemed to drop everything.  Rain does make things difficult.  
But, clearly, there was a huge talent gap between Bath and Worcester.

I'm pretty happy with another 4 points to be honest, we now have more away wins than last season and its November!

I hope for the sake of Eastmond and others outside him we have some drier weather for our next league game, the outside backs were basically on defensive duty all night. While the weather was bad I feel we ought to at least have a go.

Still, second today and probably 3rd going into the LV break, can't argue with that!

I think bath will really shine in the run in when the pitches harden and the game expands (injuries being kind !), yes we have a monster set of forwards but i reckon they are still as mobile as any and with Ford, eastmond , joseph they will have alot of fun, as supposed to plodding around in the rain tackling huge guys running at them all day !!!!

15. Nick Abendanon ( c )
14. Richard Lane
13. Ollie Devoto
12. Kyle Eastmond (Should be at Twickers)
11. Tom Biggs
10. Tom Heathcote
9. Martin Roberts
1. Nathan Catt
2. Ross Batty
3. Anthony Perenise
4. Dominic Day
5. Ryan Caldwell
6. Will Skuse
7. Mat Gilbert
8. Leroy Houston

Replacements

16. Tom Dunn
17. Charlie Beech
18. Kane Palma-Newport
19. David Attwood (Should be at Twickers)
20. Nick Koster
21. Chris Cook
22. Matt Banahan
23. Anthony Watson

A pretty decent LV team that, I hope Kyle gets to touch the ball this week.

Bathman_in_London wrote:A pretty decent LV team that, I hope Kyle gets to touch the ball this week.

We're in trouble if he doesn't!

Hey we have won 2 games on the bounce where he probably got 1 touch! I would have thought he would have been 13 with Devoto at 12, but lets see how we get on.

Not much go forward in that backline! Plenty of little gas men, but lacking serious ball carrying.

Artist impression of our new stadium, if it ever gets the go ahead.

http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Rec-s-new-look/story-20076949-detail/story.html

Team up for tomorrow. Looks like we secured the release of Orlandi, which is good, as with Wilson, James, Perenise out, we are struggling. Devoto at 12 is an interesting shout.

15. Nick Abendanon 
14. Anthony Watson 
13. Jonathan Joseph 
12. Ollie Devoto 
11. Matt Banahan 
10. George Ford 
9. Martin Roberts 
1. Nathan Catt 
2. Rob Webber 
3. Juan Pablo Orlandi 
4. Stuart Hooper ( c ) 
5. Dave Attwood 
6. Matt Garvey 
7. Carl Fearns 
8. Leroy Houston 

Replacements 

16. Ross Batty 
17. Charlie Beech 
18. Kane Palma-Newport 
19. Dominic Day 
20. Mat Gilbert 
21. Chris Cook 
22. Tom Heathcote 
23. Tom Biggs

That's a pretty strong team considering.

I have heard chat about Devoto as a long term Twelvetrees type of 12/10, so it will be interesting to see how that pans out, it might not be the strongest midfield defensively though.

Hmm, Slade-Shoemark-Naqelevuki vs Ford-Devoto-Jospeh should be an excellent battle. Am also looking forward to seeing how the back three challenge pans out - Banahan-Abendanon-Watson vs James-Arscott-Nowell

Some good young english talent on show in this game, always good to see in the LV

Slade vs ford should be a good match up, as should Nowell and Watson. You wouldn't be surprised to see those 2 as part of the England back 3 in a few years.

I'm glad arscott is back playing again, I really rate him as a player, far worse players than him have gone on to play internationally. Sadly his time has probably passed now.

Looks like eastmonds wants to quit rugby union.

Can,t blame him for getting frustrated when he sees what England are happy with in the centres, plus the fact he is not seeing much of the ball at bath

Hope someone in the England set-up also has a word with him. I've no idea if he'll make it to the top but, if we have any thoughts of giving him a chance, then we will want to put a lid on that asap.

Bath say it is has all been dealt with now.

Rugby Fan wrote:Hope someone in the England set-up also has a word with him. I've no idea if he'll make it to the top but, if we have any thoughts of giving him a chance, then we will want to put a lid on that asap.

Bath say it is has all been dealt with now.

Injury has not helped, however Lancaster dosn't know his mind so does what Farrell tells him.

Eastmond should have been on the bench instead of Goode - another classic Lancaster wasted opportunity!!!

Agree, Eastmond amongst others should have been given some time this AI. If he's not even getting games for Bath i can understnad his frustration.

Do you think he'll go back to League?

His been getting plenty of game time for Bath, but the conditions hasn’t been idea for running rugby so he hasn't seen much quality ball.

He is a young man, young men make mistakes and are prone to errors of judgment, leaving the game at halftime was one of those. But he is becoming frustrated with Union and its probably hard at the moment as he is seeing what England are happy with in the Centres in the AIs despite him having a great summer tour for England and his other mates are playing League in a home world cup.

Can’t be easy for him at the moment!

Did I read correctly that there was a game where neither Eastmond or Joseph actually touched the ball? If true then that is shocking. Two players who's strength is ball in hand absolutely wasted.

Sometimes you can only play to the conditions.

Bath have had awful conditions to play in this year so far everytime they step on the pitch the heavens open, last week was dry so they moved the ball wide and looked very dangerous.

Whilst I agree you have to play the conditions, that is a shocker of a statistic if correct.

It was Mike Ford who said that after the Worcester game. I don't know if he was exaggerating but certainly Ford Jr. seems to enjoy punting the leather off the ball rather than getting it out to the backs.

While you have to play the conditions and its been a while since we were this high in the table, having a centre combo of JJ and Eastmond will only work if they actually get the ball!

Hopefully it will be dry again for the Wasps game so the more attacking style from the Lv match can come into its own.

Can see why eastmond is fed up at the moment, the england rugby league team is playing a world cup semi final against new zealand at home, which he probably had a good chance of being involved in, whilst he cant make the squad for the union team and he's not getting any ball to showcase his talents and push his case further. TBH the pitches and conditions will stay awfull until late April, and Gold aint changing his tactics so wouldn't be surprised to see Kyle leave unless lancaster starts playing him, which is massively unlikely with the return of tuilagi and barrit and the rise of Burrell.

Just watching last nights Rugby Club and Barnes interviewing Lancaster and they talk specifically about England centres. Lancaster mentioned Barritt, Manu, Twelvetrees, Tomkins, Burrell, Trinder and Joseph. I think that tells us where he has Eastmond in the pecking order at the moment. Unless Bath change their style of play dramatically, I can't see Eastmond having any chance of forcing his way in.

Strangely (or not) Lancaster was mentioning Eastmond during the AI's as someone who could come in.
This recent breakdown/strop (its not entirely clear what happened) may well have cost him. Having said that, England would have to change their style of play to accommodate him, and the picking of Tomkins showed the preference for size I think.

All I can think of is that maybe he has an attitude that SL doesn't want in the squad which is a shame as he is a great little player.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Just watching last nights Rugby Club and Barnes interviewing Lancaster and they talk specifically about England centres.  Lancaster mentioned Barritt, Manu, Twelvetrees, Tomkins, Burrell, Trinder and Joseph.  I think that tells us where he has Eastmond in the pecking order at the moment.  Unless Bath change their style of play dramatically, I can't see Eastmond having any chance of forcing his way in.

Did you see the Exeter game? Bit of dry weather and we are actually alright! (I was surprised!)

Can't see that logic either, as Joseph has been pretty terrible for us to be honest.

I'll be so disappointed if he pursues with Tompkins and doesn't give Burrell a shot.

Tomkins has the influence of bloomin andy farrell all over it..as does alex goode. The AI's should have blooded Luther burrell from the bench, Goode offered sweet FA. Sadly with Lancasters "credit in the bank" approach Tompkins is now 4th in Line. Lancasters credit in the bank centres

1) Tuilagi
2) Twlevetrees
3) Barrit
4) Tompkins
5) Burrell
6) Trinder
7) Eastmond
8) Joesph

Bath v Wasps

15. Nick Abendanon
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Ollie Devoto
11. Matt Banahan
10. George Ford
9. Peter Stringer
1. Nathan Catt
2. Rob Webber
3. David Wilson
4. Stuart Hooper ( c )
5. Dave Attwood
6. Matt Garvey
7. Carl Fearns
8. Leroy Houston

Replacements

16. Ross Batty
17. Charlie Beech
18. Juan Pablo Orlandi
19. Dominic Day
20. Mat Gilbert
21. Martin Roberts
22. Tom Heathcote
23. Anthony Watson

Oh dear, no Kyle Eastmond!!!!

Scrumpy wrote:Bath v Wasps

15. Nick Abendanon
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Ollie Devoto
11. Matt Banahan
10. George Ford
9. Peter Stringer
1. Nathan Catt
2. Rob Webber
3. David Wilson
4. Stuart Hooper ( c )
5. Dave Attwood
6. Matt Garvey
7. Carl Fearns
8. Leroy Houston

Replacements

16. Ross Batty
17. Charlie Beech
18. Juan Pablo Orlandi
19. Dominic Day
20. Mat Gilbert
21. Martin Roberts
22. Tom Heathcote
23. Anthony Watson

Oh dear, no Kyle Eastmond!!!!

Does anyone have any news? Is Eastmond injured? Has he been given leave? Or is it he just hasn't been selected?

I don't have any infomation other that it was mentioned he was at the Rec for the last game.

I have a really bad feeling about this and really really hope i'm wrong.

Cracking win, shame no bonus point, but can't complain, as that is a cracking result away from home

What do Bathites think of the rumours circulating about Bradley Davies coming to the Rec?

Great win, it was very nice to see that we never allowed them to get into the game.

Onward and upwards.

George Carlin wrote:What do Bathites think of the rumours circulating about Bradley Davies coming to the Rec?

First I've heard of it. A player I rate, but does he call a lineout at club or country? We could well lose Caldwell and/or Hooper next year, so there might be space, but I'd worry that he is too similar to Attwood. Second row not an area of weakness for us really.

I thought the rumour was he was going to Wasps? That would make more sense with the Dai Young connection.

Very pleased with that win, we have some tricky fixtures coming up, so any points are good!