Bath v Leicester; Saturday, 3.00. BTSport

[Mellsblue]

Staggered JVP has been overlooked again. Tomorrow’s weather a perfect test for him

Very good.

Just wiling away time awaiting Natalie’s arrival on the Norton show

The twenty year wait is over. I believe she’s on tonight.

[p/d]

Oooh ..just lovely. I think I heard her whisper my name, but can’t be sure

[Banquo]

Tbh, I'm of the opinion that he needs to wrest that 9 jersey out of Wigglesworth's hands. Promise and potential is all very well, but he's not made a case for being a better scrum-half than Wigglesworth is right now. If he wants to start, work harder, get better, earn it.

If he was being starved for minutes and experience, then that would be another thing, but he's really not. Wiggy's a challenge that he needs to improve to get past, not an impediment.

Puja

So all this talk about Wiggy being the right starter for various conditions has been a waste of time? Wiggy is the better player in your eyes? That would have saved a debate .

Smart-arse! If you note, I said he wasn't a better scrum-half than Wiggy right now, not that he was worse! Therefore, when conditions apply, Wiggy's got a definite lead.

Puja

so ...

[Which Tyler]

Ewan Richards out, De Carpentier into lock, Dingley onto the bench

[Puja]

Kelly is having a blinder. Absolutely beautiful long wide pass off his left to set up the first try and then a brilliant half-break and offload to set up the second.

Also in the build-up to the second was a very satisfying moment where Nathan Hughes carried the ball in one hand pretending like he was Lomu and lost it forward when he got tackled.

5-14, if anyone's after the score.

Puja

[Puja]

We just can't seem to stop giving away penalties. Bath are being a nuisance at the breakdown, but we're helping them by getting isolated and making silly mistakes.

Hughes is enjoying being the main man - Bath have run every single set piece move through him. As I type that, he's off for an HIA.

Puja

[Puja]

We were in utter control for 15 minutes. I don't think we've had a single phase ball in hand that hasn't ended in a Bath penalty since then and are now 20-14 down.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Could you get cocky again please Puja?

[Puja]

Our rucking is shocking. Every ball is messy and loose. Wouldn't be surprised to see Liebenberg on for Reffell at half time just to steady things up.

Puja

[Puja]

Could you get cocky again please Puja?

I'd love to if they'd give me something to be cocky about!

Puja

[Which Tyler]

But when you're cocky, Bath score 2 tries in about as many minutes.
When your pissed off, Bath give stupid penalties and forget how to defend in the midfield

[Which Tyler]

WTF was Spencer thinking there?

[Puja]

"That's minging by Burns" - Flatman describing the failed tackle on Bayliss that led to his try. Concise and accurate punditry.

Puja

[Puja]

WTF was Spencer thinking there?

Probably that, even if he gave the ball straight back to us, we'd just lose it in contact again.

Puja

[Puja]

Big moment here. Bath already had a back row in the second row with the late withdrawal and have just had to replace McNally with Bayliss through injury. A 5m scrum to Bath turns into a 5m scrum to Leicester and four brutalised scrums later, Burns walks over under penalty advantage to retake the lead.

Could be a long game for Bath from here. Any scrum looks like it's going to be on gimballs from here on out. They need to regather the momentum, pronto.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Could be a long game for Bath from here. Any scrum looks like it's going to be on gimballs from here on out. They need to regather the momentum, pronto.

Not a chance, too much to do and 4 players within a year of the academy covering the right 5.

Bayliss preferred to Dingley when a lock is needed with 25 to go

[Puja]

Could be a long game for Bath from here. Any scrum looks like it's going to be on gimballs from here on out. They need to regather the momentum, pronto.

Not a chance, too much to do and 4 players within a year of the academy covering the right 5.

Bayliss preferred to Dingley when a lock is needed with 25 to go

Muir had a good go at turning the momentum with that run off the loose kick just as I was typing my post. He's such a good nuggety player.

And, as I type that, he has a nice run and then forces Leicester to carry over our own line.

Puja

[Puja]

How is that not a yellow card for Bath? Leicester maul going forwards at pace in the 22 and Hughes then comes around to grab the ball carrier. Then, if that wasn't enough, when we started going forward again, Coetzee then decides he may as well use the advantage and tackles Clare completely to kill the maul.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Tigers not at their best but had enough to control the 2nd half. Bath's makeshift pack put in a big effort but its hard when you lose your only lock with over a quarter to play.

[Oakboy]

I thought Hughes should have scrummed down in the 2nd row.

[Scrumhead]

Could be a long game for Bath from here. Any scrum looks like it's going to be on gimballs from here on out. They need to regather the momentum, pronto.

Not a chance, too much to do and 4 players within a year of the academy covering the right 5.

Bayliss preferred to Dingley when a lock is needed with 25 to go

Muir had a good go at turning the momentum with that run off the loose kick just as I was typing my post. He's such a good nuggety player.

And, as I type that, he has a nice run and then forces Leicester to carry over our own line.

Puja

Agreed on Muir. A very handy player to have who must be a pain to play against. He’s big, gangly, fast and determined with a good nose for the try line. What’s not to like?

[FKAS]

How is that not a yellow card for Bath? Leicester maul going forwards at pace in the 22 and Hughes then comes around to grab the ball carrier. Then, if that wasn't enough, when we started going forward again, Coetzee then decides he may as well use the advantage and tackles Clare completely to kill the maul.

Puja

Dickson completely missed Coetzee tackling Clare at the back. Should have been a penalty try, he doesn't tackle Clare there five metres out and the momentum is carrying them over.

Dickson was pathetically bad as per usual.

Bath had clearly done some good analysis on Leicester. Had a sweeper in place to pick off the signature Burns chips, targeted the breakdown at the right times to frustrate in attack and notices the lack of backfield cover in the Tigers defence on the blindside to score two tries. The Bailey/Ojomoh midfield combined nicely though I almost forgot Joseph was on the field.

Borthwick made good changes at the right time Whitcombe, JVP and Liebenburg added some real impetus. Tigers attack did look a bit flat though, Burns struggled to get us going and had it not been for tireless work from Kelly we'd have been on trouble.

[Which Tyler]

Dickson is probably the worst ref in the Prem at the moment (but one the URC must be pretty jealous of) - and he was bad both ways, and I don't think he decided that match at all.

[FKAS]

Dickson is probably the worst ref in the Prem at the moment (but one the URC must be pretty jealous of) - and he was bad both ways, and I don't think he decided that match at all.

Yes he was equally incompetent.