Wuss v Bath; BTSport, Friday night

[Which Tyler]

Worcester:
15 Chris Pennell
14 Bryce Heem
13 Jackson Willison
12 Ryan Mills
11 Josh Adams
10 Sam Olver
9 Francois Hougaard

1 Ethan Waller
2 Jack Singleton
3 Gareth Milasinovich
4 Donncha O’Callaghan (c)
5 Will Spencer
6 David Denton
7 Sam Lewis
8 GJ van Velze

16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Darren Barry, 20 Alafoti Faosiliva
21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Jamie Shillcock, 23 Perry Humphreys

Bath:
15. Anthony Watson
14. Jack Wilson
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Ben Tapuai
11. Aled Brew
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Chris Cook

1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Henry Thomas
4. James Phillips
5. Elliott Stooke
6. Matt Garvey (c)
7. Paul Grant
8. Zach Mercer

16. Michael van Vuuren; 17. Lucas Noguera; 18. Max Lahiff; 19. Levi Douglas; 20. Josh Bayliss
21. Kahn Fotuali’i; 22. Freddie Burns; 23. James Wilson

[fivepointer]

Tricky game to call. Wuss have improved while Bath are struggling with form and injuries (only 1 fit lock!) I wouldnt be shocked with a narrow home win.

[Scrumhead]

100% agree. If Worcester had Lance fit, I’d have had them down as favourites.

Without wanting to be harsh, I just don’t think Olver is up to standard but I still think there’s a good chance of Worcester nicking this one at Sixways.

[Puja]

Incidentally, if Worcester win, then Northampton officially become London Irish's closest challengers for relegation, at least for a day (and with them facing Gloucester, maybe longer). Looking at the sides laid out, I think they've got a reasonable chance.

Worcester have built a very quietly effective team. Youngsters like Singleton have come through, there's been canny undervalued signings like Waller, Spencer, Lewis, and Denton - it's oddly like they're the blueprint for our "Budget Pack" thread. In the backs, Hougaard's been a driving force for quality and Mills is looking like the player that we hoped he'd be, once upon an age grade. And they're spoiled for choice on the wings. I hope they manage to keep it together for next season, because it's really interesting to see.

Puja

[Banquo]

Incidentally, if Worcester win, then Northampton officially become London Irish's closest challengers for relegation, at least for a day (and with them facing Gloucester, maybe longer). Looking at the sides laid out, I think they've got a reasonable chance.

Worcester have built a very quietly effective team. Youngsters like Singleton have come through, there's been canny undervalued signings like Waller, Spencer, Lewis, and Denton - it's oddly like they're the blueprint for our "Budget Pack" thread. In the backs, Hougaard's been a driving force for quality and Mills is looking like the player that we hoped he'd be, once upon an age grade. And they're spoiled for choice on the wings. I hope they manage to keep it together for next season, because it's really interesting to see.

Puja

Saints might be a classic ‘too good to go down’ !

[Which Tyler]

Saints might be a classic ‘too good to go down’ !

What? Again?

[Banquo]

Saints might be a classic ‘too good to go down’ !

What? Again?

Fair point

[padprop]

Why do Bath never sign any injury cover? or have I missed someone they have signed. Havent seen Attwood for a while so I assume its a serious injury and their 3 available locks are well below the other top 4's standard.

I dont know why they have an obsession about flankers that can play second row and vice versa. Surely it would make more sense to commit to 5 locks (With one as a development) and 8 or so back rowers than 2-3 full time locks and and 10 back rowers in which a few can do a job in the row.

[Peej]

Worcester also scored 4 tries against Sarries last week at Alianz. It takes a pretty decent side to do that, even with Sarries' blip in defensive form. I'm backing a Warriors win. (edit: which will almost certainly result in a resounding Bath victory)

[fivepointer]

Just a note that missing from Bath's selection tonight are - Auterac, Catt, Walker, Batty, Perenise, KPN, Charteris, Attwood, Ewels, Ellis, Falateau, Louw, Underhill - and thats just the forwards.
I think their injury list is the most severe in the Premiership.

[Digby]

Worcester also scored 4 tries against Sarries last week at Alianz. It takes a pretty decent side to do that, even with Sarries' blip in defensive form. I'm backing a Warriors win. (edit: which will almost certainly result in a resounding Bath victory)

I looked at Wuss last week and thought they could score tries, even to the point they might sneak a surprise win over the team Sarries had out, so much so I took a punt on them winning. It didn't work out but I can't see any reason they can't score more tries tonight

[Which Tyler]

Why do Bath never sign any injury cover? or have I missed someone they have signed. Havent seen Attwood for a while so I assume its a serious injury and their 3 available locks are well below the other top 4's standard.

I dont know why they have an obsession about flankers that can play second row and vice versa. Surely it would make more sense to commit to 5 locks (With one as a development) and 8 or so back rowers than 2-3 full time locks and and 10 back rowers in which a few can do a job in the row.

We've brought in Noguero Paz, Charles, Prerenise, Andrews/Mitchell and Phillips after knowing the injury statuses of Catt, Batty/Walker, Knight, Thomas, KPN and Attwood. Bare in mind that the injury dispensation is C£400k. I strongly suspect that we've spent the entire dispensation, and whatever was left in reserve of the salary cap already.

As for our locks, Attwood is apparently over his knee injury (though we won't know for sure until he actually plays on it), but hurt his Quad in his first contact session back, Charteris and Ewels are both relatively short-term injuries.
We've 4 dedicated locks, plus another 2 locks (Phillips and Douglas) who can play backrow, and 7 dedicated backrowers plus 1 (Garvey) who can play lock as well (8 dedicated BR if you include GMercer).

[Which Tyler]

Just a note that missing from Bath's selection tonight are - Auterac, Catt, Walker, Batty, Perenise, KPN, Charteris, Attwood, Ewels, Ellis, Falateau, Louw, Underhill - and thats just the forwards.
I think their injury list is the most severe in the Premiership.

By my reckoning:
Catt, Auterac
Batty, Walker, Charles
Perenise, Knight, Palma-Newport
Attwood, Charteris, Ewels
Louw, Underhill, Ellis, Faletau
15
Clark
Rokoduguni,Banahan, Williams
Homer
5
There's talk that Allison (SH) and Lewis (The/IC) may also be injured, but no-one seems to know for sure.

[Which Tyler]

At last, some possession!
Keep that up and this is eminently winnable

[16th man]

Good steam off the scrum playing conditions.

[twitchy]

Obano and his rap singing.

[Mellsblue]

Nice try. Simple yet effective.

[Mellsblue]

Obano and his rap singing.

They’ll be discussing the ‘66 World Cup and Greaves v Hunter next.

[Which Tyler]

Nice try. Simple yet effective.

Mostly made by the Wuss player pretending to be bath's FH, forcing Cook to run

[16th man]

Why did Heem not pass? Garvey has to be close to a yellow there.

[twitchy]

Been discussed loads but adams really is top quality isn't he.

[Which Tyler]

We got away with that one.
I hate agreeing with Healey - at least he's neutral today though

[twitchy]

Shame wuss didn't pull one back. Think that's the game.

[Which Tyler]

Shame wuss didn't pull one back. Think that's the game.

I disagree, shame that they have this time; though I have to wonder how far players are allowed to role after being tackled these days (recurring theme this season)

[Which Tyler]

Phillips with the try all right 5s must dream of scoring.