Bath vs Wasps; Friday night, BTSport

[Which Tyler]

Bath:
15. Anthony Watson
14. Jack Wilson
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. James Wilson
11. Aled Brew
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Kahn Fotuali’i

1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Henry Thomas
4. Charlie Ewels
5. Luke Charteris
6. Matt Garvey (c)
7. Paul Grant
8. Zach Mercer

16. Michael van Vuuren; 17. Lucas Noguera; 18. Max Lahiff;19. Elliott Stooke; 20. James Phillips
21. Chris Cook; 22. Freddie Burns; 23. Darren Atkins


Wasps:
15. Willie Le Roux
14. Christian Wade
13. Juan De Jongh
12. Kyle Eastmond
11. Marcus Watson
10. Danny Cipriani
9. Dan Robson

1. Simon McIntyre
2. Tom Cruse
3. Jake Cooper-Woolley
4. Joe Launchbury ©
5. Kearnan Myall
6. James Haskell
7. Thomas Young
8. Nizaam Carr

16. Ashley Johnson; 17. Ben Harris; 18. Marty Moore; 19. James Gaskell; 20. Guy Thompson
21. Joe Simpson; 22. Rob Miller; 23. Gaby Lovobalavu

[fivepointer]

Potentially game of the weekend. Good match ups across the park but Wasps backs might hold the key.

[Scrumhead]

Hard to call. Personally, I think Wasps have the stronger 23 but given that it’s at The Rec, that may be a leveller.

[Mikey Brown]

Can Burns seriously not get ahead of Priestland?

[Banquo]

Can Burns seriously not get ahead of Priestland?

Burns passes too much for Bath's plan

[Which Tyler]

It really doesn't help that he missed pre-season, and hasn't really done much when he has started.
It's not like Rhys is a bad player after all, and he has been in better form this season; whilst also better suiting Todd's territorial game plan.
I would expect Freddie to settle in better when he gets game time and familiarity, either during the 6N, or after a pre-season.

[Which Tyler]

I think this one will come down to the conditions - we're due really heavy rain / hail, and some fairly high winds tonight. If they arrive before KO then that would favour Bath; if it holds off, then Wasps would have to be favourite - though surely only narrowly whichever way.

[Digby]

Of course in the heavy rain Bath might be exposed playing a winger at fullback

[Which Tyler]

FFS, I've only just noticed... Grant at 7 with Mercer at 8 seems a little odd, but nevermind

[Which Tyler]

Eastmond out, Lovobalavu to IC; which changes things a little

[I R Geech]

Wally Le Roux, I take it all back. That was sublime.

[16th man]

Willie La Roux appears to have remembered he's a pretty good rugby player. Amazing burst and off load.

[16th man]

Well it was a brief recovery as he then goes and butchers a 3 on 2 with an awful pass.

Bath need to start putting men into the ruck to try to slow this down.

[twitchy]

Quality from wasps.

[Oakboy]

Cipriani is simply our best FH.

[I R Geech]

Thing is, I'm not sure Wasps are even playing that well. Bath are simply dreadful.

[Mellsblue]

Of course in the heavy rain Bath might be exposed playing a winger at fullback

Agreed. The sensible option would’ve been John Wilson in the 15 shirt.

[Which Tyler]

Could someone pass the vaseline please?


Were not even slowing Wasps ball, let alone challenging at the tackle/ruck; and then we can't string 2 phases of our together

[Adam_P]

Bath are doing their best Northampton impression, I think they might even be bettering us for passive defence and inaccurate ball playing. Wasps backs are really very good

[Which Tyler]

That should help slow Wasps scoring down a little

[twitchy]

What a game.

[morepork]

Priestland is a committed defender isn't he?

[Peej]

Watson should've been binned for the first one.

Also, if Pearce says he's happy Joseph jumped into the tackle and thats why he flipped over Lovabolovu, and it wasn't a result of foul play, then surely that's a penalty against him?

[Which Tyler]

Is that the 3rd final warning for the Wasps props?
Or is it one each plus a team warning?

[16th man]

Some nice finishing but jeez the defending is pathetic.