Bath vs Saracens (Friday 19:45 - BT Sport)

[Guwuffle]

Attwood and Ashton are both back this week as Bath start their sequence of opportunities to throw a spanner in the works for others (they've got Saracens, Sale x 2, Leicester and Northampton to play so could have a pretty big effect on the final constitution of the top 4/6).

Bath

15. Anthony Watson
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Ollie Devoto
11. Horacio Agulla
10. George Ford
9. Chris Cook

1. Nathan Catt
2. Rob Webber
3. Henry Thomas
4. Charlie Ewels
5. Dave Attwood
6. Matt Garvey
7. Francois Louw ( c )
8. Amanaki Mafi

Replacements

16. Tom Dunn
17. Max Lahiff
18. David Wilson
19. Leroy Houston
20. David Denton
21. Guy Mercer
22. Will Homer
23. Rhys Priestland

Saracens

15 Alex Goode (200)
14 Chris Ashton (90)
13 Marcelo Bosch (59)
12 Brad Barritt (c) (164)
11 Duncan Taylor (85)
10 Owen Farrell (128)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (146)

1 Mako Vunipola (92)
2 Schalk Brits (163)
3 Petrus Du Plessis (123)
4 Maro Itoje (45)
5 George Kruis (116)
6 Michael Rhodes (19)
7 Will Fraser (73)
8 Billy Vunipola (53)

Replacements

16 Jared Saunders (31)
17 Richard Barrington (74)
18 Titi Lamositele (16)
19 Alistair Hargreaves (78)
20 Kelly Brown (127)
21 Neil De Kock (250)
22 Mike Ellery (22)
23 Ben Ransom (63)

[Mellsblue]

Attwood and Ashton are both back this week as Bath start their sequence of opportunities to throw a spanner in the works for others (they've got Saracens, Sale x 2, Leicester and Northampton to play so could have a pretty big effect on the final constitution of the top 4/6).

Bath

15. Anthony Watson
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Ollie Devoto
11. Horacio Agulla
10. George Ford
9. Chris Cook

1. Nathan Catt
2. Rob Webber
3. Henry Thomas
4. Charlie Ewels
5. Dave Attwood
6. Matt Garvey
7. Francois Louw ( c )
8. Amanaki Mafi

Replacements

16. Tom Dunn
17. Max Lahiff
18. David Wilson
19. Leroy Houston
20. David Denton
21. Guy Mercer
22. Will Homer
23. Rhys Priestland

Saracens

15 Alex Goode (200)
14 Chris Ashton (90)
13 Marcelo Bosch (59)
12 Brad Barritt (c) (164)
11 Duncan Taylor (85)
10 Owen Farrell (128)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (146)

1 Mako Vunipola (92)
2 Schalk Brits (163)
3 Petrus Du Plessis (123)
4 Maro Itoje (45)
5 George Kruis (116)
6 Michael Rhodes (19)
7 Will Fraser (73)
8 Billy Vunipola (53)

Replacements

16 Jared Saunders (31)
17 Richard Barrington (74)
18 Titi Lamositele (16)
19 Alistair Hargreaves (78)
20 Kelly Brown (127)
21 Neil De Kock (250)
22 Mike Ellery (22)
23 Ben Ransom (63)

On paper you'd look at those teams and think the result could go either way…………

[Stom]

Attwood and Ashton are both back this week as Bath start their sequence of opportunities to throw a spanner in the works for others (they've got Saracens, Sale x 2, Leicester and Northampton to play so could have a pretty big effect on the final constitution of the top 4/6).

Bath

15. Anthony Watson
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Ollie Devoto
11. Horacio Agulla
10. George Ford
9. Chris Cook

1. Nathan Catt
2. Rob Webber
3. Henry Thomas
4. Charlie Ewels
5. Dave Attwood
6. Matt Garvey
7. Francois Louw ( c )
8. Amanaki Mafi

Replacements

16. Tom Dunn
17. Max Lahiff
18. David Wilson
19. Leroy Houston
20. David Denton
21. Guy Mercer
22. Will Homer
23. Rhys Priestland

Saracens

15 Alex Goode (200)
14 Chris Ashton (90)
13 Marcelo Bosch (59)
12 Brad Barritt (c) (164)
11 Duncan Taylor (85)
10 Owen Farrell (128)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (146)

1 Mako Vunipola (92)
2 Schalk Brits (163)
3 Petrus Du Plessis (123)
4 Maro Itoje (45)
5 George Kruis (116)
6 Michael Rhodes (19)
7 Will Fraser (73)
8 Billy Vunipola (53)

Replacements

16 Jared Saunders (31)
17 Richard Barrington (74)
18 Titi Lamositele (16)
19 Alistair Hargreaves (78)
20 Kelly Brown (127)
21 Neil De Kock (250)
22 Mike Ellery (22)
23 Ben Ransom (63)

On paper you'd look at those teams and think the result could go either way…………

Yet I'd still take the Sarries forwards and Bath backs...which means a Sarries win is more likely, imo.

[Mellsblue]

Attwood and Ashton are both back this week as Bath start their sequence of opportunities to throw a spanner in the works for others (they've got Saracens, Sale x 2, Leicester and Northampton to play so could have a pretty big effect on the final constitution of the top 4/6).

Bath

15. Anthony Watson
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Ollie Devoto
11. Horacio Agulla
10. George Ford
9. Chris Cook

1. Nathan Catt
2. Rob Webber
3. Henry Thomas
4. Charlie Ewels
5. Dave Attwood
6. Matt Garvey
7. Francois Louw ( c )
8. Amanaki Mafi

Replacements

16. Tom Dunn
17. Max Lahiff
18. David Wilson
19. Leroy Houston
20. David Denton
21. Guy Mercer
22. Will Homer
23. Rhys Priestland

Saracens

15 Alex Goode (200)
14 Chris Ashton (90)
13 Marcelo Bosch (59)
12 Brad Barritt (c) (164)
11 Duncan Taylor (85)
10 Owen Farrell (128)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (146)

1 Mako Vunipola (92)
2 Schalk Brits (163)
3 Petrus Du Plessis (123)
4 Maro Itoje (45)
5 George Kruis (116)
6 Michael Rhodes (19)
7 Will Fraser (73)
8 Billy Vunipola (53)

Replacements

16 Jared Saunders (31)
17 Richard Barrington (74)
18 Titi Lamositele (16)
19 Alistair Hargreaves (78)
20 Kelly Brown (127)
21 Neil De Kock (250)
22 Mike Ellery (22)
23 Ben Ransom (63)

On paper you'd look at those teams and think the result could go either way…………

Yet I'd still take the Sarries forwards and Bath backs...which means a Sarries win is more likely, imo.

I have Sarries as very strong favourites despite a fairly equal set of players and Bath playing at home. It was more a comment on the respective position the clubs are in as a whole rather than the strengths of the players. I'll admit that in my initial post I was in no way clear that is what I meant.

[Which Tyler]

I think I might try to find some gardening to do - or take the dogs out for a nice long walk...

I'd take the Bath backs + Goode (for Agulla, Watson to wing) with a coin toss at SH
I'd take the Sarries pack + Louw (shifted across to BSF)

I'd then look at the bench and see a 6: split, with no lock cover, whilst Attwood makes his debut after injury; glance across at Itoje Kruis and Hargreaves and run away screaming.
Banahan, Hooper, Day and Ellis all big losses for Bath this week

[TheNomad]

The Sarries pack just looks so strong.

The half backs must be loving life at the minute, and are certainly playing as if they are - I thought that was the best I'd ever seen Farrell play last match

As good as some of the Bath players are, I can only see a Sarries win

[fivepointer]

Wouldnt write Bath off. Saracens form before last weekend was patchy and this is at the Rec on a Friday night.

Attwood back at just the right time to get some games before the Oz tour.

[PPJ]

Agree with WT Banahan is a big loss,watched Attwood Monday night and he did ok but it's a big ask up against the Sarries 2 nd row first hit out.
I hope Will Homer doesn't get on until late if at all or until the game is won or lost,charged down twice on Monday night.
I want Ford to have a good game against Farrell ,looking forward to it.

[Mellsblue]

Wouldnt write Bath off. Saracens form before last weekend was patchy.

When the had a large chunk of their 1stXV on international duty?

[Puja]

Wouldnt write Bath off. Saracens form before last weekend was patchy and this is at the Rec on a Friday night.

Attwood back at just the right time to get some games before the Oz tour.

I think you'll find missing 5 of your starting pack and being down to third choice fly-half will tend to put a dent in your form. They're a very different proposition with their internationals back.

Puja

[16th man]

Saracens are playing some brilliant rugby at the moment

[Tigersman]

Bye Bye Ford Snr.

If that was to happen wonder if Ford jnr will be okay?

[Mellsblue]

Bye Bye Ford Snr.

If that was to happen wonder if Ford jnr will be okay?

Why wouldn't he be?

[Mellsblue]

Have we given up on straight feeds at the lineout as well.

[Tigersman]

Bye Bye Ford Snr.

If that was to happen wonder if Ford jnr will be okay?

Why wouldn't he be?

A big part of the Bath move was because he wanted to play for his dad.

[Mellsblue]

Watson tackles Goode in the air because Ashton blocks him on purpose.

[Mellsblue]

Bye Bye Ford Snr.

If that was to happen wonder if Ford jnr will be okay?

Why wouldn't he be?

A big part of the Bath move was because he wanted to play.

Edited.

[Peej]

That's a harsh red card. Don't see how Garner can say Ashton didn't change his line, he clearly stepped across Watson - especially odd given that he claimed Goode DID change his line on Roko shortly before

[Mellsblue]

'Ashton hasn't changed his line'. Very true but why is Ashton running towards touch?

[Peej]

Bath are falling apart.

Yes his legs go above the horizontal but that's physics. I don't want to see tackles that bring guys down on their backs or sides punished - I do want to see those that turn guys as they lift and drink email them down onto their heads. Like the spear tackles used to be officiated

[Which Tyler]

Have to say, the red was harsh but technically correct. Ashton didn't change his line, he was always on a blocking line, he also didn't push Watson, but the collision was so close to Goode he was straight in with no ability to change his own line and get out of it. Unsympathetic, but correct under the current laws.

Yellow seems absolutely correct and just a hot head under huge pressure. Hips above shoulders =yellow. (Cook also cost us the first try, with a pass to no-pne costing us 40m, and then the kick to Ashton in space)

The Goode penalty was also harsh IMO, I initially thought he'd dropped his shoulder, but the reverse angle showed that to be wrong.

I'm not enjoying this match.

[Peej]

Have to say, the red was harsh but technically correct. Ashton didn't change his line, he was always on a blocking line, he also didn't push Watson, but the collision was so close to Goode he was straight in with no ability to change his own line and get out of it. Unsympathetic, but correct under the current laws.

Yellow seems absolutely correct and just a hot head under huge pressure. Hips above shoulders =yellow. (Cook also cost us the first try, with a pass to no-pne costing us 40m, and then the kick to Ashton in space)

The Goode penalty was also harsh IMO, I initially thought he'd dropped his shoulder, but the reverse angle showed that to be wrong.

I'm not enjoying this match.

Yeah, I think it's the laws as they stand and how they're applied I don't like.

Hope that comically terrible kick from Barrit at least raised a smile for you, WT

[Peej]

But I gave to say, I don't see how that's not obstruction. Can a guy at the side of a maul pull a defender in to allow the player with he ball to bind on to him?

[Which Tyler]

That doesn't look good either Davey, gonna have a long summer. Only benefit is a chance to properly rehab, hasn't been fit for 12 months.

[Peej]

10 week ban for Wilson coming up, it seems