Bath v Leinster Sat 1pm

[fivepointer]

Bath: McConnochie; Hamer-Webb, Clark, Redpath, Prydie: Bailey, B Spencer; Cordwell, Du Toit, Stuart, W Spencer, Ewels (capt), Ellis, Underhill, Bayliss.

Replacements: Doughty, Vaughan, Jonker, McNally, Williams, Simpson, Ojomoh, Butt.

Leinster: Keenan; Larmour, Ringrose, Henshaw, O'Brien; Sexton, McGrath; Porter, Kelleher, Ala'alatoa, Molony, Murphy; Doris, van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: Sheehan, Healy, Abdaladze, Baird, Deegan, Gibson-Park, Bryne, Frawley

[Puja]

Wouldn't it be kinder to just pretend this game wasn't happening and avert your eyes from the bloody murder that's about to happen?

Puja

[fivepointer]

Nah, gotta man up.
It does give us a chance to see how Stuart gets on. He could do with a decent game with the 6Ns coming up. And seeing how Bailey copes at 10 should be interesting. Underhill will have something to prove.
Bath are going to get stuffed but there could be sub plots of interest.

[Which Tyler]

I don't like this thread.

Of all the games to show on UK terrestrial TV!
This is NOT going to be a good advert for English rugby.

[twitchy]

I don't like this thread.

Of all the games to show on UK terrestrial TV!
This is NOT going to be a good advert for English rugby.

Ha. I was just looking at my tv scheduler and saw :

"Heineken Cup" - then "Bath v Leinster"

I think the only game I'm going to bother with today is scarlets vs bristol.

[Which Tyler]

I think the only game I'm going to bother with today is scarlets vs bristol.

TBH, I couldn't give a damn about the competition in this format anyway; I can barely be bothered to watch a 13-team Prem sans relegation.

Yes, I'm sure Bath's performances aren't helping my engagement, but I've always been adamantly against expansion and ring-fencing as well; and Bath's performances shouldn't stop me enjoying watching Quins or Leicester, Toulouse or Leinster play (especially against someone else).


Quite honestly, I'm more interested in watching the kids against Quins:

[Banquo]

Bath: McConnochie; Hamer-Webb, Clark, Redpath, Prydie: Bailey, B Spencer; Cordwell, Du Toit, Stuart, W Spencer, Ewels (capt), Ellis, Underhill, Bayliss.

Replacements: Doughty, Vaughan, Jonker, McNally, Williams, Simpson, Ojomoh, Butt.

Leinster: Keenan; Larmour, Ringrose, Henshaw, O'Brien; Sexton, McGrath; Porter, Kelleher, Ala'alatoa, Molony, Murphy; Doris, van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: Sheehan, Healy, Abdaladze, Baird, Deegan, Gibson-Park, Bryne, Frawley

Is that the best Bath can field? Genuine Q, as it seems an odd mix.

[Which Tyler]

Is that the best Bath can field? Genuine Q, as it seems an odd mix.

Pretty much.
LHP - Obano injured, Boyce - injured, Schoeman and Morozov should be fit though
HK - Dunn injured
THP - that's 1st and 3rd choice, which seems fair
LK - that's all 3 locks in the 23
BR - Faletau, Coetzee and Reid all injured - and those 4 all probably ahead of De Carpentier (arguable in Williams case - as a back rower)

SH - that's 1st and 2nd choice (and the 3rd time I've been "suprised" we still have Simpson given that we only had him until Christmas)
FH - Cipriani and Schoeman both injured
CE - I'm not aware of JJ being hurt, but the other 4 centres are all in there
Back 3 - Watson, DeGlanville and Cokanasiga are definitely all injured, don't know about Muir or Rokoduguni

At best, we could (probably) be stronger at LHP, OC and R wing.
No idea what the covid situation is, but Schoeman, Morozov, Joseph and Muir were all named last week before it was cancelled.

[Mikey Brown]

Wouldn't it be kinder to just pretend this game wasn't happening and avert your eyes from the bloody murder that's about to happen?

Puja

I wanted to see how Redpath goes but looking at these two kits is hurting my eyes.

Comical TMO situation here.

[Mikey Brown]

Sexton is such a prick.

[Mikey Brown]

Underhill with another nasty head knock.

Might actually see Ewels at 8 here?

[Spiffy]

Underhill with another nasty head knock.

Might actually see Ewels at 8 here?

Sorry to see Underhill down, the poor bloke is having a run of bad luck with injuries.
Was looking forward to his direct head to head with van der Flier who just keeps getting better and better as the complete 7.

[FKAS]

Just out of interest what's Bath's biggest margin of defeat?

[Mellsblue]

Hamer-Webb knocking on the ball, missing the ball when trying to dive on it and getting sin-binned is Bath’s season microcosm.

[p/d]

Simpson obviously missed out on a trip to the sun over Christmas

[fivepointer]

Bath fronted up for 30 minutes but losing Bayliss and Underhill along with Leinster getting into their stride killed the game before h/t.
Thought Bailey did well and Cordwell at prop put in a manful effort.
Leinster are a high quality side but Bath were dreadful at times. Its pretty sad to see them at such a low ebb.

[Spiffy]

Sexton is such a prick.

Ireland supporters would say what Tigers fans used to say about Austin Healy - Yes, but he's OUR prick.

[paddy no 11]

Wouldn't it be kinder to just pretend this game wasn't happening and avert your eyes from the bloody murder that's about to happen?

Puja

I wanted to see how Redpath goes but looking at these two kits is hurting my eyes.

Comical TMO situation here.

How do they reach these decisions, o brien was a yard in front of henshaw when he passed it

[Puja]

Sexton is such a prick.

Ireland supporters would say what Tigers fans used to say about Austin Healy - Yes, but he's OUR prick.

That's one of the reasons I usually love the Lions - we get to share players like that so they can be everybody's prick for a short time.

Pua

[twitchy]

Incredible.

[Puja]

Incredible.

I don't get how Hooper is still in a job (and Tarquin et al). The whole structure there is just broken.

Puja

[I R Geech]

They are dreadful. The only way you can distinguish Bath from a pub team is that they all have matching kit.