BATH RUGBY - 2014/15

The dedicated home of all things Bath Rugby,
 
Please feel free to discuss all things Bath related, even crazy post 2015 RWC signings, The Rec development ongoing saga or the latest Dyson!   
 
Other fans welcome (even Glaws thugs fans  ) but play nice   
 
Pre season
Sat 16th Aug 14;15 Bath vs Scarlets
Sat 23rd Aug 14:15 Jersey vs Bath
 
Sat 6th Sep 14 14:00  Sale Sharks v Bath Rugby
Sat 13th Sep 14 15:00 Bath Rugby v London Welsh
Sat 20th Sep 14 15:15 Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Sat 27th Sep 14 15:15 Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby
Fri 3rd Oct 14 19:45  Bath Rugby v Saracens
Sun 12th Oct 14 14:00 Wasps v Bath Rugby
Sat 15th Nov 14 15:00 Bath Rugby v Newcastle Falcons
Sat 22nd Nov 14 15:00 London Irish v Bath Rugby
Sat 29th Nov 14 15:00 Bath Rugby v Harlequins
Sat 20th Dec 14 15:00 Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby
Sat 27th Dec 14 15:00 Bath Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
Sat 3rd Jan 15 15:00 Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby
Sat 10th Jan 15 15:00 Bath Rugby v Wasps
Sun 15th Feb 15 15:00 Saracens v Bath Rugby
Sat 21st Feb 15 15:00 Bath Rugby v Northampton Saints
Sat 28th Feb 15 15:00 Exeter Chiefs v Bath Rugby
Sat 7th Mar 15 15:00 Bath Rugby v Sale Sharks
Sun 29th Mar 15 14:30 London Welsh v Bath Rugby
Sun 12th Apr 15 15:00 Newcastle Falcons v Bath Rugby
Sat 25th Apr 15 15:00 Bath Rugby v London Irish
Sat 9th May 15 15:00 Harlequins v Bath Rugby
16/17 May Bath Rugby v Gloucester Rugby
 
 
http://www.bathrugby.com/

how many irish players are playing with Bath this year?

Just the one in the 1st XV squad I believe. Old Man Stringer.

I think Bath are in for a great season, and I love the fixture list having the final match of the season against Glaws at the Rec. Should be a cracker. The only issue is that nasty trio of fixtures in Sept/Oct playing Sarries, Leicester and Saints in consecutive games. That'll really show whether you mean business this season.

Really like the options you guys have in the backs, a great balance of creativity, pace and power. I think a top 4 finish beind Leicester, Sarries and Saints is on the cards - reckon you'll get in ahead of Quins this time around.

It’s a real possibility that Bath might have only 1 win out of the first 5 games.

Sale away is a banana skin, should beat Welsh at home but the other three!!!!!

Not nice.  

True - the opening set of fixtures might be more about picking up some hard won bonus points, but at the key point of the season in March/April you have a run against Chiefs, Sale, LW, Newcastle and LI.

If you're competitive going into that run of fixtures then you set yourselves up nicely, with that soft fixture at the end against Glaws.

Piece of cake.

funnyExiledScot wrote:True - the opening set of fixtures might be more about picking up some hard won bonus points, but at the key point of the season in March/April you have a run against Chiefs, Sale, LW, Newcastle and LI.

If you're competitive going into that run of fixtures then you set yourselves up nicely, with that soft fixture at the end against Glaws.

I have a suspicion that those teams wont be a push over many seem to expect this season. Certainly from a Falcons point of view..we've recruited very shrewdly this summer...and if we can come together well....we'll surprise a few this year.

Big if!

We shall see...i hope everyone totally writes us off will be fine with me...

GeordieFalcon wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:True - the opening set of fixtures might be more about picking up some hard won bonus points, but at the key point of the season in March/April you have a run against Chiefs, Sale, LW, Newcastle and LI.

If you're competitive going into that run of fixtures then you set yourselves up nicely, with that soft fixture at the end against Glaws.

I have a suspicion that those teams wont be a push over many seem to expect this season. Certainly from a Falcons point of view..we've recruited very shrewdly this summer...and if we can come together well....we'll surprise a few this year.

I realise that there are no "easy" games, but in a comparative sense (and whether you like it or not) a match against the Falcons is going to be easier than a match against Leicester, Saints or Sarries.

You may well turn out to be the "surprise package" this year, but I'm sure Wasps, Sale, Glaws and LI fans will feel the same way.

However, looking at the fixture list now, that looks like a run of games where, more likely than not, there is an opportunity to gain some momentum. The three in a row against Saints, Leicester and Sarries on the other hand does not.

Sorry FES...i wasnt suggesting WE will be the surprise team...i was merely suggesting that that group...us, Sale, LI etc the lower league teams might be stronger than in previous years...as most have had good recruitment this sumer.

That's true, but Bath have recruited well also, as have the other top sides.

I'm not writing anyone off. Exeter Chiefs have shown that a group of relatively unknown players excellently coached and put together can challenge for the top 4, and in your case I rate Dean Richards as among the very best of coaches in the Aviva.

I still think however that Leicester, Saints, Sarries, Quins and Bath (in no particular order) will be the top 5, with some distance between 5th and 6th next season.

How about the bottom 4?

Welsh, Falcons, Sale, Irish. (in no particular order)

I think that's probably right, but it's harder to call the bottom four in my opinion. It's not clear how the new regime at Glaws will work out, and I can see Falcons and Sale pushing Wasps and Chiefs next season.

I do think that LI and LW will be in the bottom four though, and to be honest I can't see past those two as relegation candidates.

Bath are in 7s action tonight on BT sport.

Group B - Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester Rugby, London Irish (Kingsholm Stadium)

Scrumpy wrote:How about the bottom 4?

Welsh, Falcons, Sale, Irish. (in no particular order)

We'll finish top of that lot...

Good to see the minnows enjoying their time in the lime light at home!

Scrumpy wrote:Good to see the minnows enjoying their time in the lime light at home!

Thank you. I thought it was exceptionally courteous of you to not only let your hosts win, but to also provide the entertainment for the evening. You're always welcome at our Holm

GeordieFalcon wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:How about the bottom 4?

Welsh, Falcons, Sale, Irish. (in no particular order)

We'll finish top of that lot...

Welsh will go down with Falcons in 11th. Top 6 will be Tigers, Sarries, Saints, Quins, Bath and Gloucester. The other 4 teams could finish in any order between 7th and 10th.

Ozzy3213 wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:How about the bottom 4?

Welsh, Falcons, Sale, Irish. (in no particular order)

We'll finish top of that lot...

Welsh will go down with Falcons in 11th.  Top 6 will be Tigers, Sarries, Saints, Quins, Bath and Gloucester.   The other 4 teams could finish in any order between 7th and 10th.

 
Or Irish could go down, with Sale 11th and the others in any order.
 
Scrumpy, We maybe minnows but we may be developing a nasty bite for a little fish.

Geordie it was a reference to our (Bath) wonderful performance at Castle Grim in the 7s last night, letting everyone beat us like that spreads the joy before the real season starts.

Wasn't a fan of our new away kit, dull very dull.

We won't go down. Our pack is considerably stronger this year than last. I will be amazed if we end up in the bottom two.

Someone has to go down!

Scrumpy wrote:Someone has to go down!

True...very hard to say who. Think it will be Welsh but they will battle hard once again.

Scrumpy wrote:Geordie it was a reference to our (Bath) wonderful performance at Castle Grim in the 7s last night, letting everyone beat us like that spreads the joy before the real season starts.

Wasn't a fan of our new away kit, dull very dull.

Ah sorry dude. Crossed wires

Ozzy3213 wrote:We won't go down.  Our pack is considerably stronger this year than last.  I will be amazed if we end up in the bottom two.

And we can say the same...and we have also improved our backs considerably.
Not big name signings but shrewd intelligent ones.

And we have a new pitch will be novel instead of playing on a mudbath in freezing Tyneside in December.

I agree that Newcastle have also recruited strongly...I am not sure that the pitch element will necessarily be to your advantage though.

Ozzy3213 wrote:We won't go down.  Our pack is considerably stronger this year than last.  I will be amazed if we end up in the bottom two.

I'd agree with that Ozz but your backs are considerably weaker to counter that.

I suspect Welsh will finish bottom but the other 3 positions could be any mix of Irish, Falcons, Exeter imo.

Falcons are a bit of unknown for me this year (even as a fan). We've recruited well but still don't have the 10 to guide us and the pitch could hinder us more than help.

Big season for Exe coming up, didn't really make any progress last year and dropped back a bit imo.

I hope they do well.

I tend to agree that Exeter could get dragged into things this year. They have some excellent youngsters coming through, but their recruitment does not appear to have been great for this year.

I can't name one new signing for them.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:We won't go down.  Our pack is considerably stronger this year than last.  I will be amazed if we end up in the bottom two.

I'd agree with that Ozzy but your backs are considerably weaker to counter that.

I suspect Welsh will finish bottom but the other 3 positions could be any mix of Irish, Falcons, Exeter imo.

Falcons are a bit of unknown for me this year (even as a fan). We've recruited well but still don't have the 10 to guide us and the pitch could hinder us more than help.

Back 3 may be weaker, but we will be better in the centres, and about the same in the half backs I reckon.

Yarde & JOC are two massive talents to lose mind, absolute quality.

Think we are definitely stronger at half back as well Ozzy.

Yarde didn't actually play that much for us last season due to injuries so I don't think we will miss him too much. We still have quality players on the wing. JOC is a loss but if Homer returns and is playing his best (and he did look sharp at the end of last season) then we won't notice JOC's departure. In fact, Homer's goal kicking will actually give us an extra weapon.

JOC has more ability in his little toe than Homer has in his whole body. Homer is a poor player for me, JOC will be hugely missed.

Possibly...think fans of other clubs underestimate Homer though because he doesn't score many tries. At his best before his injury problems he was a very dangerous running player.

JOC was a fantastic signing for us but he was often on a different wavelength to those around him. Consequently I don't think he affected the outcome of many games. There were probably only 3 games where he was a genuine contender for man of the match.

There is a touch of irony to being on a Bath Rugby thread discussing London Irish!

JOC is a world class player for sure, and on that basis will be missed, but he played a fair bit with an injury which was restrictive, and as SB has said, was at times on a different wavelength to some of our other players.  Consequently I don't think we ever saw him at his best.  Tom Homer divides opinion, even amongst London Irish fans.  I have seen him provide a good running threat, just not often enough.  He needs to kick on strongly this season in that regard, and if he does we will have a very good full back.  He is also worth his wait in gold off the tee, and given the amount of games we lost last season where our kickers were at under 50% of the tee, I suspect he will prove to very valuable to us this time around.

Ozzy3213 wrote:There is a touch of irony to being on a Bath Rugby thread discussing London Irish!

Was just thinking the same thing Ozzy!

Bath have to have one of the biggest and meanest packs in the league now and I would imagine that Plan A is to throttle and bully the opposition. On paper, that could work against all of the other teams, with the possible exception of Saints and Sarries.

I don't see it working against Tigers either George.  Whilst the Tiggers pack possibly not as big as Bath's, or even Sarries or Saints, they are one of the smartest, and I can't see them being dominated by a team just with physicality.  Those teams will have to be clever as well, and I'm not sure where the cleverness will come from in the Bath pack.

Any news on Burgess's position yet?

Is he a back rower or a 12.

I'd love to see him as a 6 (though bath have enough of those!) Then if he can perform and even partially get to grips with the breakdown etc he could be challenging Mr Wood for that England shirt. His carrying and tackling could be immense.

Ozzy3213 wrote:I don't see it working against Tigers either George.  Whilst the Tiggers pack possibly not as big as Bath's, or even Sarries or Saints, they are one of the smartest, and I can't see them being dominated by a team just with physicality.  Those teams will have to be clever as well, and I'm not sure where the cleverness will come from in the Bath pack.

Tigers are certainly adept at moving the big men around, as they often show against French opposition.

George Carlin wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:I don't see it working against Tigers either George.  Whilst the Tiggers pack possibly not as big as Bath's, or even Sarries or Saints, they are one of the smartest, and I can't see them being dominated by a team just with physicality.  Those teams will have to be clever as well, and I'm not sure where the cleverness will come from in the Bath pack.

Tigers are certainly adept at moving the big men around, as they often show against French opposition.

The cleverness comes in the form of Francois Louw, arguably the best openside in the world..on his day. Baths dip in form at the end of the season had an uncanny timing with his injuries, Guy mercer aint the same. Personally despite his absence during the SH Championship i would have made him captain as Hooper is 3rd choice lock at best IMHO, however apparently Hooper is a coaches player and a great leader by all accounts...still for me the first test a captain has to pass is being a guaranteed starter and Hooper is a squad player.

I heard a rumour that big Matt will be pushed forward to lock this season...is that likely?

I think it will be dependent on where Burgess plays?

Louw definitely has street smarts, but as a unit there is a lack of intelligence in the Bath pack imo. I'm guessing that first choice pack will be Houston/Fearns, Louw, Garvey, Attwood, Hooper, Wilson, Webber, James. Now that is a seriously physical unit, none strike me as intelligent players, who see what is happening in a game and can deal with all different scenarios. The will smash through walls for sure, and as plan A that's a good one, but what's plan B when it's not working, and who's going to implement it?

Catt and Thomas on the bench, along with Mercer provides a fair amount of nous

What about:

1 James
2 Webber
3 Wilson
4 Garvey
5 Attwood
6 Fearns
7 Louw
8 Burgess

Ouch...thats a beast of a pack!!

When Louw is your smallest forward you look forward to a rainy January slug fest!

Burgess has made the most meters in NRL this season, it does seem likely that he'll be a ball carrying 6/8. He will certainly brighten up some A league fixtures at the beginning of the season!

I do agree with Ozzy above though, I think there is something missing in the Bath side which is going to hamper our chances of winning anything this season. Aside from Ford we can lack a bit of direction and if he has one of his off days then there really is no plan B! I would think Bath can make 4th this year, but I think there is a real gap between the top 3 (Sarries, Saints, Tigers) and the rest.