Pre Season News

[FKAS]

STARTING XV
15 Mike Brown
14 Josh Bassett
13 Will Wand
12 Dan Kelly
11 Malelili Satala
10 Jamie Shillcock
9 Tom Whiteley
1 Archie van der Flier
2 Charlie Clare
3 Will Hurd
4 Côme Joussain
5 Harry wells
6 Olly Cracknell
7 Emeka Ilione
8 Kyle Hatherell

Replacements
Finn Theobald-Thomas, Archie Vanes, Tim Hoyt, Nicky Smith, James Whitcombe, Tom Manz, Hanro Liebenberg, Sam Williams, Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Volavola, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Solomone Kata, Joseph Woodward, Charlie Myall, Izaia Perese

Interesting to see young Archie Van Der Flier getting a start the English loosehead is a big unit and had a successful loan spell with Notts last season winning their young player of the season award. Think he had a knack for scoring tries as well.

[Which Tyler]

Bath v Munster
Saturday 31 August, 3.00

Ref: Anthony Woodthorpe
TJs: Andy Wrigley & Simon Harding

Starting XV:​
1 Arthur Cordwell
2 John Stewart
3 Kieran Verden
4 Jacques du Plessis
5 Ross Molony
6 Ewan Richards
7 Thompson Cowan
8 Miles Reid (c)

09 Louis Schreuder
10 Orlando Bailey
11 Ruaridh McConnochie
12 Will Butt
13 James Short
14 Austin Emens
15 Ciaran Donoghue

Replacement forwards: Niall Annett, Jasper Spandler, Kepu Tuipulotu, Ioan Emanuel, Archie Stanley, Mikey Summerfield, Francois van Wyk, Charlie Ewels, Will Jeanes, Quinn Roux, Jaco Coetzee, Ted Hill, Arthur Green, Ethan Staddon
Replacement backs: Tom Carr-Smith, Ieuan Davies, Finn Russell, Louie Hennessey, Max Ojomoh, Joe Cokanasiga, Tom de Glanville, Luke Graham, Tyler Offiah, Jack Woods

[Epaminondas Pules]

Sale Sharks Starting XV:  

15. Will Addison, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford, 9. Raffi Quirke, 1. Simon McIntyre, 2. Tommy Taylor, 3. James Harper, 4. Le Roux Roets, 5. Ernst van Rhyn, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry (c), 8. Jean-Luc du Preez

Replacements:  

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 19. Ben Bamber, 20. Tom Burrow, 21, Rouban Birch, 22. Tristan Woodman, 23. Gus Warr, 24. Tom Curtis, 25. Sam Bedlow, 26. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 27. Tom Roebuck, 28. Alex Wills.

[FKAS]

Damn that's a strong Sale side for their game Vs Connacht.

[FKAS]

Nottingham Team
15 Stapley
14 Williams
13 Christian-Goss
12 Roper
11 Olowofela
10 Arden
9 Venner
1 Owen
2 Clayton
3 Richardson
4 Ferreria
5 Shine
6 Vereti
7 Tweedy
8 Cherry

Dickinson, Loman, Ecclesfield, Bryan, S.Green, Wright, Riches, Yarnell, Goodwin, Parkeston, Pohe, A.Johal, Graham

[Epaminondas Pules]

Bath v Munster
Saturday 31 August, 3.00

Ref: Anthony Woodthorpe
TJs: Andy Wrigley & Simon Harding

Starting XV:​
1 Arthur Cordwell
2 John Stewart
3 Kieran Verden
4 Jacques du Plessis
5 Ross Molony
6 Ewan Richards
7 Thompson Cowan
8 Miles Reid (c)

09 Louis Schreuder
10 Orlando Bailey
11 Ruaridh McConnochie
12 Will Butt
13 James Short
14 Austin Emens
15 Ciaran Donoghue

Replacement forwards: Niall Annett, Jasper Spandler, Kepu Tuipulotu, Ioan Emanuel, Archie Stanley, Mikey Summerfield, Francois van Wyk, Charlie Ewels, Will Jeanes, Quinn Roux, Jaco Coetzee, Ted Hill, Arthur Green, Ethan Staddon
Replacement backs: Tom Carr-Smith, Ieuan Davies, Finn Russell, Louie Hennessey, Max Ojomoh, Joe Cokanasiga, Tom de Glanville, Luke Graham, Tyler Offiah, Jack Woods

Jack Woods is really good! Just a shame he's Welsh!

[Which Tyler]

Jack Woods is really good! Just a shame he's Welsh!

We get a fair few like that coming through our academy

[Which Tyler]

Bath's entire (fit) squad

Munster

1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Diarmuid Barron (C)
3. John Ryan
4. Gavin Coombes
5. Fineen Wycherley
6. Ruadhán Quinn
7. John Hodnett
8. Jack O'Donoghue

09. Ethan Coughlan
10. Billy Burns
11. Shay McCarthy
12. Seán O'Brien
13. Tom Farrell
14. Liam Coombes
15. Patrick Campbell

Replacements: Scott Buckley, Max Clein, Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Ronan Foxe, Conor Ryan, Jack Daly, Alex Kendellen, Jack Oliver, Luca Cleary, Tony Butler, Bryan Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Mike Haley.

Bit of a mismatch on the starters. Will be a good learning experience for the lads.

[FKAS]

Bath v Munster
Saturday 31 August, 3.00

Ref: Anthony Woodthorpe
TJs: Andy Wrigley & Simon Harding

Starting XV:​
1 Arthur Cordwell
2 John Stewart
3 Kieran Verden
4 Jacques du Plessis
5 Ross Molony
6 Ewan Richards
7 Thompson Cowan
8 Miles Reid (c)

09 Louis Schreuder
10 Orlando Bailey
11 Ruaridh McConnochie
12 Will Butt
13 James Short
14 Austin Emens
15 Ciaran Donoghue

Replacement forwards: Niall Annett, Jasper Spandler, Kepu Tuipulotu, Ioan Emanuel, Archie Stanley, Mikey Summerfield, Francois van Wyk, Charlie Ewels, Will Jeanes, Quinn Roux, Jaco Coetzee, Ted Hill, Arthur Green, Ethan Staddon
Replacement backs: Tom Carr-Smith, Ieuan Davies, Finn Russell, Louie Hennessey, Max Ojomoh, Joe Cokanasiga, Tom de Glanville, Luke Graham, Tyler Offiah, Jack Woods

Jack Woods is really good! Just a shame he's Welsh!

So's IFW doesn't seem to matter when it comes to international windows though...

[FKAS]

Shillcock off injured inside the first 10 mins.

[Which Tyler]

[Epaminondas Pules]

Nice to see Offiah score on his first outing

[Which Tyler]

Indeed - though still some people out there who don't understand the physics of passing backwards.

Bath's first try also some good thinking from the kids. O'Donoghue with an excellent 50:22, looks like Bailey with the quick throw to Emens to fall over the line, Short and Richards also up and available with only 1 defender back there trying to prevent the throw.

Shame to see John Stewart go off in the 3rd minute with what looks like a knee injury - hopefully precautionary rather than anything else.

[FKAS]

Nice to see Offiah score on his first outing

The rumour I heard was that he had offers from around half the league. Seems the expectation is he'll develop into a serious player. Will we see him step up early to the under 20s do you think?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Nice to see Offiah score on his first outing

The rumour I heard was that he had offers from around half the league. Seems the expectation is he'll develop into a serious player. Will we see him step up early to the under 20s do you think?

He's one where initially the view was that his name was carrying him a little, which was a tad unfair, but at U16 he looked decent if not really standout. He's really improved during sixth form and rightly was in the U18 mix, with some other very good players in and around him. Wing for U18s this season was seriously competitive, so just making the 6 Nations festival squad was bloody good.. Just look at Gus Hall and Jack Bracken who both ended up U20 world cup winners. He was also doing both rugby and athletics before making the decision to focus purely on rugby. Reports from the old L Irish academy were of a real work ethic and willingness to learn, and I think that shows in his improvement, especially in U6th / Year 13. He's got all the raw attributes to make it.

There were a lot of clubs sniffing around, but I gather having spoken to Bath he was utterly sold. He may get some U20s time, but it is a congested position and then some. Most of the candidates though are fresh graduates into senior academies.

[Margin_Walker]

Yeah agree, I think Offiah could go either way and it can often by hard to tell with wings transitioning to senior rugby

Watching bits and pieces of him from 16 he always looked decent, without looking like a sure thing (albeit he was playing up a year for a lot of that). Quick, agile and strong enough to have a good shot without being a complete freak at that level. I think the name gets people to look at you a little closer, but it's on him from here on in and having the work ethic will be key.

[Which Tyler]

Cardiff v Bath Friday night.
Double-header weekend for us, hosting Ealing on Saturday

Bath Rugby:
1 Arthur Cordwell
2 Hame Faiva
3 Kieran Verden
4 Will Jeanes
5 Ewan Richards ©
6 Ethan Staddon
7 Thompson Cowan
8 Arthur Green

09 Tom Carr-Smith
10 Ciaran Donoghue
11 Tyler Offiah
12 James Short
13 Louie Hennessey
14 Luke Graham
15 Austin Emens

Replacements: Abdul-Khalik Akenzua Al-Kareem, Rory Crum, Ieuan Davies, Ioan Emanuel, James Linegar (U18), Max Pearce, Max Robson-Smith (guest), Ed Scragg (guest), Jasper Spandler, Mikey Summerfield, Connor Treacey, Jack Woods


Cardiff with
1. Domachowski
2. Belcher
3. Assiratti
4. McNally
5. Williams
6. Botham
7. Thomas
8. Martin

09. Davies
10. De Beer
11. Stephens
12. Grady
13. Hillard
14. Hamer-Webb
15. Winnett

Bench: Hughes, Byrne, Litterick, Thornton, Donnell, Mulder, Sheedy. Bowen, Lawrence, Emmanuel, Lee-Lo, Young

Given the number of ex-Bath players at Cardiff, I'd have preferred to keep our current Welsh youngsters hidden from sight

[Epaminondas Pules]

Saracens Men team to play Bedford Blues:

1 Phil Brantingham

2 Theo Dan

3 Ollie Hoskins

4 Harry Wilson

5 Hugh Tizard

6 Andy Onyeama-Christie

7 Toby Knight

8 Tom Willis

9 Ivan van Zyl (c)

10 Fergus Burke

11 Brandon Jackson

12 Nick Tompkins

13 Alex Lozowski

14 Tobias Elliott

15 Elliot Daly

Replacements:

Samson Adejimi

Sam Crean

Fraser Balmain

Olamide Sodeke

Reggie Hammick

Charlie Bracken

Louie Johnson

Rotimi Segun

Max Eke

Josh Hallett

Angus Hall

Jack Bracken

Oscar Wilson

[FKAS]

Sarries looking a bit light on lock numbers. Presumably Itoje is still being eased in, where's Isiekwe? I assume MacFarland is still injured.

Otherwise that's a pretty strong team.

[Mellsblue]

Lambs to the slaughter.

[FKAS]

BACKS
Josh Bassett
Mike Brown
Ollie Hassell-Collins
Solomone Kata
Dan Kelly
Izaia Perese
Jack van Poortvliet
Malelili Satala
Freddie Steward
Ben Volavola
Will Wand
Tom Whiteley
Joseph Woodward
Ben Youngs

FORWARDS
Olly Cracknell
Charlie Clare
Emeka Ilione
Kyle Hatherell
Joe Heyes
Tim Hoyt
Will Hurd
Côme Joussain
Hanro Liebenberg
Tom Manz
Sam Williams
Nicky Smith
Finn Theobald-Thomas
Archie Vanes
James Whitcombe
Harry Wells

Only the one flyhalf in the squad which is odd. I hope Volavola isn't going to play the whole game. Threlfall was added to the squad late on last time out and hopefully will be again this time. That or Woodward might get a go at 10, maybe Whiteley.

[Which Tyler]

Double-header weekend for us, hosting Ealing on Saturday

For that one, we're putting out

Bath Rugby:
1 Francois van Wyk
2 Tom Dunn
3 Archie Griffin
4 Quinn Roux
5 Charlie Ewels
6 Josh Bayliss
7 Guy Pepper
8 Jaco Coetzee

09 Louis Schreuder
10 Orlando Bailey
11 Ruaridh McConnochie
12 Will Butt
13 Max Ojomoh
14 Joe Cokanasiga
15 Tom de Glanville

Replacements: Niall Annett, Ieuan Davies, Jacques du Plessis, Austin Emens, Louie Hennessey, Ted Hill, Ross Molony, Miles Reid, Billy Sela, Archie Stanley, Kepu Tuipulotu, Jack Woods

A few bench players named in both squads

[jimKRFC]

Bristol side vs Dragons at Clifton tonight:

15. Max Malins, 14. Siva Naulago, 13. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11. Gabriel Ibitoye, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Ellis Genge (captain), 2. Harry Thacker, 3. George Kloska, 4. Josh Caulfield, 5. Joe Batley, 6. James Dun, 7. Paddy Pearce, 8. Benjamín Grondona.

System players: 16. Will Capon, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Joe Owen, 20. TBC, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Jack Bates, 23. Rich Lane.

Backrow already struggling with Luatua, Mata and Harding out. As it's TBC I assume Krips is also out...

Really pleased to see Kloska start, fingers crossed he makes the break through this season.

[Adam_P]

Mixed experience team for Saints vs Leinster tomorrow. Apparently Hutchinson is now our most capped player. Looking forward to see how that backrow goes together, could be lovely.

[FKAS]

Scarlets team to play Leicester Tigers (Mattioli Woods Welford Road; 15:00)

15 Tom Rogers; 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Macs Page, 12 Eddie James, 11 Blair Murray; 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Archie Hughes (capt); 1 Sam O’Connor, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 3 Sam Wainwright, 4 Jac Price, 5 Max Douglas, 6 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Vaea Fifita.

Reps: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Jamie Hughes, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Will Evans, 20 Ben Williams, 21 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 22 Will Plessis, 23 Efan Jones, 24 Charlie Titcombe, 25 Gabe McDonald, 26 Jac Davies, 25 Iori Badham