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

He should still be on the bench- it's not whether he can manage but whether he can manage better than 36 at 10 or Goode at 10. To which questions I expect the answer to be a resounding yes

Matt Stevens has agreed to return home!


Not to Bath but to Durban this summer to play Super 15 rugby for Natal Sharks.

That's an interesting move, but understandable with his age and Johnston in his position.

Can't say I am hugely upset to see Stevens go. He's been okay and has had some good games but he's had a few when he's got mullered too.

Plus when I have spoken to him I haven't got a particularly positive vibe.

Wish him all the best at Sharks though.


Bruce's Bath are impressing me. The squad depth of Bath gets stronger all the time and you are making some smart signings.

For England's sake I hope you can turn Auterac and Thomas into scrummaging gems.

I know you disagree Bathite but I think Burgess is a great signing for you. As to what his best position is - well it's difficult to say.

beshocked wrote:Can't say I am hugely upset to see Stevens go. Plus when I have spoken to him I haven't got a particularly positive vibe.

Was that before or after you asked him to sign your right man breast so you could get it tattooed?   

Ha ha very funny. In all seriousness have you Bath fans met him? What do you think of him?

Just wish Bath could get some bonus points!! It's been the difference between playoffs and not in a couple of the last few seasons, Bath like England never hammer home an advantage, and lack of try BPs is going to cost us.

Just been watching some Burgess clips. Look forward to seeing him in Blue Black and White!

Bath have struggled to pick up Bonus points since they were brought in.

beshocked wrote:

I know you disagree Bathite but I think Burgess is a great signing for you. As to what his best position is - well it's difficult to say.

I think it is a big risk. It might pay off, it might not, but the good news is we won't be relying on him, as we've got great 6 and 12/13 options. So if he makes the switch and gets the right level then brilliant, but if not, we are no worse off

Scrumpy wrote:Matt Stevens has agreed to return home!


Not to Bath but to Durban this summer to play Super 15 rugby for Natal Sharks.

Wonder if he and Lee Mears are planning on opening coffee shops there too.

Did anyone feel the Earth move?

4.3 Earthquake in the Bristol Channel

Another ex Bath prop Duncan Bell has just signed a contract to the end of the season with Dragons in the R12 !
In his day he was one of the most destructive tightheads in the AP but now I just hope he has good medical insurance.

He's been Head Coach at Lydney RFC, so I suspect has been keeping in some kind of shape?

I doubt he will have trouble with the scrums or lifting in the lineouts, its the other stuff props are expected to do these days at the breakdown. He had a beer named after him a few weeks back and pretty sure he was heavily involved in the tasting!

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:He's been Head Coach at Lydney RFC, so I suspect has been keeping in some kind of shape?

The shape being round!!!

Good luck to the bloke, he must be very close to 40!

Theres nothing better than seeing an old school prop in full flight, I hope Dragons fans get a glimpse of that!

Wasn't he playing American Football for Bristol Aztecs?

All he has to do is not reverse backwards at a stunning rate of knots. Balls to the running etc. Think it's a pretty handy move, as firstly he was available and secondly won't cost much. Also he'll probably do better than what we have.

I saw him last year when he came to our place with Lydney and he looked in better shape than when he was at Bath!

Pretty brave move though as odd games for Lydney is a big difference but also you are a long time retired. I would also guess that they have said to him that all they want is a stable scrum and decent lineout. Anything in between those events will be a bonus.

He was a good prop and as emergency cover I would say that the Dragons have done OK there. He also used to play at Pontypridd, I think, and has ties with the valleys so a bit of a homecoming.

Errrm I have a feeling everyone is being a bit optimistic here, he's out of shape, too old and been out the game too long....they would have been better off getting a lad like Charlie beech etc on loan who is young and trying to prove themselves but can't get game time. These come backs e.g Josh lewsey, Jason Robinson etc never work when retirement was due to age. Dave flatman interview the other day mentioned about how much strength hed lost since retiring...Poor descision from dragons for not looking to youth and good luck belly, hope it works out okay for you.

We do look to youth. That's half the problem.

sirtidychris wrote:Errrm I have a feeling everyone is being a bit optimistic here, he's out of shape, too old and been out the game too long....they would have been better off getting a lad like Charlie beech etc on loan who is young and trying to prove themselves but can't get game time. These come backs e.g Josh lewsey, Jason Robinson etc never work when retirement was due to age. Dave flatman interview the other day mentioned about how much strength hed lost since retiring...Poor descision from dragons for not looking to youth and good luck belly, hope it works out okay for you.

Yep, like Rev says we've been trying youth products for years. We've tried our own, parachuted youngsters in from other regions, got some from England, got some from France, but all have scrummaged in reverse! Lyn and Kinglsey are good coaches. I trust them to have evaluated this option appropriately before making the move. There must be something they've seen or heard to reassure them of their decision. Surely?!

Outside the youth issue I just would thought there has to be a good prop out there in a squad somewhere who is currently playing professional rugby. Belly is a bath legend but has to be a faded force, and the scrum has changed since his day as well.

Yeah, but they probably stretch our budget too much. It's a bit of a surprise (as I thought Douglas and the one from London Scottish were the cover), but I admire the coaches for trying to resolve our issues.

Fair play fingers crossed for all parties.

Strong lineup for Friday night, good to see Mercer and Roko on the bench and the bench will be key against sarries.

Looking forward to it.

Morning Bath fans.

When Eastmond first joined there was a lot of speculation about him playing 9. Was that tried at all? As i'd love to see him in the England team but just can't see him getting a place in the centre's. With his natural talent though he could be a perfect no9 especially as bench cover for there and wing/centre. Could it happen?

Oh god, don't you start! Just had this debate with Beshocked!

Never going to happen. He's a brilliant centre and offers options that no other centre in the EPS can. Doesn't deserve to start, but in my opinion, should be in the WC squad, as he offers game changing ability, as well as the ability to play anywhere 11-15. But not 9, ever.

He's behind 12 trees, barrit, and burrell for the 12 shirt which is a shame as he offers something different. After lighting up the scene in Argentina the torrential rain that followed bath earlier this year, led him to getting fed up and throwing his dummy out the pram which made him lose his bath place and shunted him down the england order when burrell really hit his straps. With tuilagi coming back the centres are stacked but I reckon as the pitches firm up towards season crunch time ford and eastmond will be immense. I believe he has a chance of sneaking into the kiwi tour but he's got to smash it from now on in as some of Lancaster and farrells favourite s are ahead of him.

We've lost are heads, take the 3 points!

Boy did we miss Webber, Ferns, Wilson and the huge lose of Garvey last night

I'm not saying we would have won with those boys on the field but it would have been more of a battle.

Could Saffercens have played anymore cynically last night!
In truth there was only one team wanting to play rugby whilst the other wanted to win at all cost no matter how they did it? Some will say that’s smart play by Sarries and in some ways I agree, Bath need to harden up a bit when the need requires it otherwise we won't win anything. But we now know how not to play a team like Sarries and with this young squad that defeat will do them the world of good in the long run.

Lesser teams would have folded and lost by a bigger margin.

Goode played well and I can see SL dropping Ford to bring in Barritt for the Wales game and maybe give Ford game time against Italy.

Great to see Garvey and Agulla back fit. Clearly resting a lot of the big guns and a fair few missing with 6Ns, but still a strong enough side I think.

Good to see Ben Williams get a run out too, who along with and Cook and Woodburn are becoming the forgotten backline prospects and would hate to see them leave for better prospects elsewhere.

Cook will leave i'm sure of it. Woodburn gets more of a chance next year without Biggsy and Williams is always injured. In fact he's probably already picked up an injury since the teamsheet has been written!

Bathite wrote:Oh god, don't you start! Just had this debate with Beshocked!

Never going to happen. He's a brilliant centre and offers options that no other centre in the EPS can. Doesn't deserve to start, but in my opinion, should be in the WC squad, as he offers game changing ability, as well as the ability to play anywhere 11-15. But not 9, ever.

+1 It seems being small and having a pass better than Barritt means you should be a 9...barmy.

Hood83 wrote:

Bathite wrote:Oh god, don't you start! Just had this debate with Beshocked!

Never going to happen. He's a brilliant centre and offers options that no other centre in the EPS can. Doesn't deserve to start, but in my opinion, should be in the WC squad, as he offers game changing ability, as well as the ability to play anywhere 11-15. But not 9, ever.

+1 It seems being small and having a pass better than Barritt means you should be a 9...barmy.

But.... He is very small for a centre, and Int teams seem to be leaning towards bigger centre's now. He can pass well but more importantly seems to have brilliant vision and instincts, and at 9 he'll get the ball all the time!

It could be brilliant for him, especially with the ball the England pack can produce.

At 12 he's behind 36, Burrell and perhaps Barrett. At 13 it's Manu, Burrell.

At 9 he is behind care Dickson Youngs Dickson Simpson wigglesworth robson. As well as the three 9s at bath that prevent him playing there to learn his trade. 

Should players who aren't first or second choice for their country retrain to new positions?

The guy has played a handful of Union games, picked up England caps and is in the Saxons already. Why chuck all that away based on nothing other than his size. It's brain dead. Really struggling to see why people can't see that. There aren't too many small lads in league either and he did just fine there! I think the whole point in an int squad, especially a RWC squad is that you want different options. Barritt tuilagi Burrell and even 36 to an extent are all very similar.Kyle  provides something different and would be devastating off the bench. 

Ps. Fairly sure eastmond is about the same size as Ford Lambie etc so not sure what the problem is

Ford and Lambie are both 10's. Both are well known for their dodgy tackling as well and there has often been questions about their defense. Centre is a far more difficult position to defend in especially at Int level.

I just don't think Lancaster or Farrell will ever trust someone of Eastmonds size there.

They've trusted him enough to pick him in squads and play him so far so not sure what your point is

Oh dear!

We'll played exe.

Great news for Bath Stringer signs a new 1 year contract.

"I feel I still have a lot of rugby in me, and still enjoy getting out there and training and playing with the lads
Peter Stringer

Good man

C'mon u baaaaaaaaaath

Ripping Irish apart, even Davy Wilson is doing it.

Any news on on Webber will be back?

Bath Rugby vs Gloucester

15. Nick Abendanon
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Matt Banahan
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Horacio Agulla
10. George Ford
9. Micky Young
1. Paul James
2. Ross Batty
3. David Wilson
4. Stuart Hooper ( c )
5. Dave Attwood
6. Matt Garvey
7. Carl Fearns
8. Leroy Houston

Replacements
16. Tom Dunn
17. Nathan Catt
18. Anthony Perenise
19. Dominic Day
20. Guy Mercer
21. Peter Stringer
22. Gavin Henson
23. Anthony Watson

Is there any news on when Webber will be fit to play again?

LondonTiger wrote:Is there any news on when Webber will be fit to play again?

We have any Bath fans still on here?

I'm here. Both Webber and Joseph are going to be fit enough to return to the 23 for the Worcester game, which is great news

Bath Rugby team to face London Wasps

15. Nick Abendanon
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Matt Banahan
10. George Ford
9. Peter Stringer
1. Nathan Catt
2. Rob Webber
3. Anthony Perenise
4. Stuart Hooper ( c )
5. Dominic Day
6. Matt Garvey
7. Guy Mercer
8. Leroy Houston

Replacements
16. Ross Batty
17. Paul James
18. David Wilson
19. Alafoti Fa’osiliva
20. Carl Fearns
21. Micky Young
22. Gavin Henson
23. Anthony Watson

London Wasps team to play Bath Rugby
15. Andrea Masi
14. Will Helu
13. Elliot Daly
12. Chris Bell (c)
11. Tom Varndell
10. Andy Goode
9. Joe Simpson
1. Matt Mullan
2. Carlo Festuccia
3. Phil Swainston
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Kearnan Myall
6. Ashley Johnson
7. James Haskell
8. Nathan Hughes

16. Tom Lindsay
17. Simon McIntyre
18. Taione Vea
19. Tom Palmer
20. Sam Jones
21. Charlie Davies
22. Joe Carlisle
23. Charlie Hayter