Bath v Saints - Friday, 7.45

[Which Tyler]

First match of the season is a re-run of the last match of last season.
Being a Friday match, I expected a team's up a couple of hours ago - presumably it's 48 hours, not lunchtime 2 days in advance.

Ref: Luke Pearce
TJs: Dan Jones & Jamie Leahy
TMO: Tom Foley

Bath's Preview
Saints' Preview

[Puja]

First match of the season is a re-run of the last match of last season.
Being a Friday match, I expected a team's up a couple of hours ago - presumably it's 48 hours, not lunchtime 2 days in advance.

Don't we normally get them the day before?

Puja

[fivepointer]

Teams announced midday tomorrow i think.

Cant think of a better opening game. Well done the schedulers.

[Which Tyler]

Thursday lunchtime for Saturday games, Friday lunchtime for Sunday games.
I think I'd always assumed it was Wednesday lunchtime for Friday games - but apparently they're also Thursday lunchtimes, and I'd just never noticed before.
TBH, I'm not generally thinking about the weekend's match this early in the week, but first of the season and all that

[Puja]

Thursday lunchtime for Saturday games, Friday lunchtime for Sunday games.
I think I'd always assumed it was Wednesday lunchtime for Friday games - but apparently they're also Thursday lunchtimes, and I'd just never noticed before.
TBH, I'm not generally thinking about the weekend's match this early in the week, but first of the season and all that

I'm fairly certain it's always been Thursday lunchtimes for Friday games, and Friday lunchtimes for Sat and Sun games (in time for the fantasy rugby team to be selected), but I do have memory problems, so it's entirely possible that I'm wrong.

Puja

[Banquo]

Thursday lunchtime for Saturday games, Friday lunchtime for Sunday games.
I think I'd always assumed it was Wednesday lunchtime for Friday games - but apparently they're also Thursday lunchtimes, and I'd just never noticed before.
TBH, I'm not generally thinking about the weekend's match this early in the week, but first of the season and all that

I'm fairly certain it's always been Thursday lunchtimes for Friday games, and Friday lunchtimes for Sat and Sun games (in time for the fantasy rugby team to be selected), but I do have memory problems, so it's entirely possible that I'm wrong.

Puja

always the lunchtime day before the game down to NL1. Pain in ar5e for getting programmes done #1stworldissue

[FKAS]

Thursday lunchtime for Saturday games, Friday lunchtime for Sunday games.
I think I'd always assumed it was Wednesday lunchtime for Friday games - but apparently they're also Thursday lunchtimes, and I'd just never noticed before.
TBH, I'm not generally thinking about the weekend's match this early in the week, but first of the season and all that

I'm fairly certain it's always been Thursday lunchtimes for Friday games, and Friday lunchtimes for Sat and Sun games (in time for the fantasy rugby team to be selected), but I do have memory problems, so it's entirely possible that I'm wrong.

Puja

always the lunchtime day before the game down to NL1. Pain in ar5e for getting programmes done #1stworldissue

Yeah I bet.

I quite like it with the internationals where they release the teams earlier in the week. Gives time to discuss the selections and generate interest in the games.

[Which Tyler]

always the lunchtime day before the game down to NL1. Pain in ar5e for getting programmes done #1stworldissue

Cheers.

I quite like it with the internationals where they release the teams earlier in the week. Gives time to discuss the selections and generate interest in the games.

That's probably what's confusing me. And I absolutely agree about not only the ease of printing programmes, but building discussion and anticipation - especially for the likes of tomorrow night, when we really ought to all be licking our lips with anticipation!

[Banquo]

always the lunchtime day before the game down to NL1. Pain in ar5e for getting programmes done #1stworldissue

Cheers.

I quite like it with the internationals where they release the teams earlier in the week. Gives time to discuss the selections and generate interest in the games.

That's probably what's confusing me. And I absolutely agree about not only the ease of printing programmes, but building discussion and anticipation - especially for the likes of tomorrow night, when we really ought to all be licking our lips with anticipation!

yeah, its actually embargoed, ridiculously

[Which Tyler]

Actively embargoed? Jebus FSM!

[Banquo]

Actively embargoed? Jebus FSM!

yup. We can't tell anyone until after midday tomorrow for this Saturday.

[Banquo]

https://x.com/SaintsRugby/status/1836720820371980576

BATH RUGBY vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
Gallagher Premiership, Round 1
Friday 20 September, 2024
Recreation Ground
Kick-off: 7.45pm

15 George Furbank (c)
14 James Ramm
13 Fraser Dingwall
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Ollie Sleightholme
10 Fin Smith
9 Tom James

1 Emmanuel Iyogun
2 Curtis Langdon
3 Trevor Davison
4 Angus Scott-Young
5 Chunya Munga
6 Josh Kemeny – Saint #2090
7 Tom Pearson
8 Sam Graham

Replacements:
16 Robbie Smith
17 Tom West – Northampton Saints debut
18 Luke Green – Northampton Saints debut
19 Callum Hunter-Hill – Northampton Saints debut
20 Juarno Augustus
21 Archie McParland
22 Toby Thame
23 Tommy Freeman

Not available for selection:
Emeka Atuanya, George Hendy, Tom Litchfield, Tom Lockett, Alex Mitchell and Burger Odendaal.

Coles injured too

[Which Tyler]

Bath Rugby:
1 Beno Obano
2 Tom Dunn
3 Will Stuart
4 Quinn Roux
5 Charlie Ewels
6 Ted Hill
7 Miles Reid
8 Alfie Barbeary

09 Ben Spencer ©
10 Finn Russell
11 Will Muir
12 Will Butt
13 Ollie Lawrence
14 Joe Cokanasiga
15 Tom de Glanville

16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Jacques du Plessis, 20 Guy Pepper, 23 Jaco Coetzee
21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey

Looks first choice except Redpath at 12, Underhill at 7, and du Toit on the bench

[Banquo]

Bath Rugby: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Will Butt, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer ©; 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Miles Reid (100), 8 Alfie Barbeary

Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk (debut), 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Jacques du Plessis, 20 Guy Pepper (debut), 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Jaco Coetzee

Bath easily, imo

[Puja]

Looks first choice except Redpath at 12 and du Toit on the bench

No Ojomoh?

Puja

[Which Tyler]

No Ojomoh?

Injured in Pre-season, "won't be back soon"
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/sport/ot ... ow-9553867

[FKAS]

With Scott-Young in the second row the Saints tight five looks a bit under powered. Could be an area for Bath to exploit.

[Adam_P]

Yeah Bath is the wrong team to play with our current second row state. Surprised Hunter-Hill isn't starting alongside Munga for sheer ballast alone

[fivepointer]

Bath look to have a definite edge in the front 5 and pack overall. Saints will miss Mitchell and surprised that Freeman isnt starting. Home win for me.

[Adam_P]

Freeman didn't feature in pre-season so assume it's a playing time management thing

[Which Tyler]

Home win for me.

Wish you guys would all stop saying this - same in the predictions thread.
It's terrifying me!

[Banquo]

Bath look to have a definite edge in the front 5 and pack overall. Saints will miss Mitchell and surprised that Freeman isnt starting. Home win for me.

England game minutes I’d think

[Which Tyler]

England game minutes I’d think

Wouldn't that count against Lawrence and Stuart starting for Bath?

[Banquo]

England game minutes I’d think

Wouldn't that count against Lawrence and Stuart starting for Bath?

depends on what blocks they are planning on playing them in, I'd think....

[Banquo]

With Scott-Young in the second row the Saints tight five looks a bit under powered. Could be an area for Bath to exploit.

Yes, as noted in predictions thread, Saints have a weakness at lock