Exeter vs Bath - semi-final - 4.30pm Saturday

[Banquo]

Joe Simmonds remains a contender for me.

Have to say I don’t think Bath are well coached. But Exeter are.

[padprop]

Bath are well coached when things are going their way. When they’re not steamrollering scrums and getting tackled on the gainline they can look rudderless. Like most teams tbh.

[Banquo]

Bath are well coached when things are going their way. When they’re not steamrollering scrums and getting tackled on the gainline they can look rudderless. Like most teams tbh.

That’s not the case tbh- good sides find a way. And by the way, they had a long period of it going their way but failed to capitalise. My yardstick would be a player by player theoretical comparison- and Baths starters today would stack up well v Exeter imo. They certainly are not 28 points short.

[fivepointer]

I think Bath are further along than where they were when the season started. They do have the personnel to raise their level and should be looking to do so.
Today they failed to make the most of their chances and were ultimately given a lesson by Exeter. Had they scored just before h/t, who knows where the game would have ended up?
Hard to identify an Exe player who didnt play well but have to single out 2 non internationals for a mention. Ewers and O'Flaherty i thought were outstanding.

[Digby]

Exeter are impressive in consistently delivering on the little things that Baxter wants them to be doing. That's boring, and thus hard to maintain. Bath look much improved but also something of a surprise as a top 4 side, had Sarries finished 2nd and Bath in 5th nobody would have batted an eyelid. My big query for Bath remains the slow pace they play at, and how Priestland is supposed to use that wide passing game in the age of the blitz and with that not happening how will Bath look to get their wide players in receipt of the ball other than as kick receivers? Which is a lot for Bath to be working on, and it's hardly surprising they've barely even started.

[Mr Mwenda]

Anything from Cokanasiga?

[Banquo]

Anything from Cokanasiga?

Ok but looked a bit slow on the turn

[Scrumhead]

Whats the thoughts on Redpath vs Devoto? Both had some classy moments, probably only room for one in the EPS

I thought Redpath was the stronger of the two today (I’d have him up there with Bath’s best performers) and he’s been in good form since moving to Bath.

Devoto has so much promise, but just can’t stay fit enough to build up a run of form.

[Banquo]

Exeter are impressive in consistently delivering on the little things that Baxter wants them to be doing. That's boring, and thus hard to maintain. Bath look much improved but also something of a surprise as a top 4 side, had Sarries finished 2nd and Bath in 5th nobody would have batted an eyelid. My big query for Bath remains the slow pace they play at, and how Priestland is supposed to use that wide passing game in the age of the blitz and with that not happening how will Bath look to get their wide players in receipt of the ball other than as kick receivers? Which is a lot for Bath to be working on, and it's hardly surprising they've barely even started.

Bath haven’t tried to use their ostensive strengths until today, and unsurprisingly struggled to maintain some initial success. They’ve had some time - and more importantly a decent set of players- to create a more flexible strategy. But they haven’t- and imo a coaching fail.

[Banquo]

I think Bath are further along than where they were when the season started. They do have the personnel to raise their level and should be looking to do so.
Today they failed to make the most of their chances and were ultimately given a lesson by Exeter. Had they scored just before h/t, who knows where the game would have ended up?
Hard to identify an Exe player who didnt play well but have to single out 2 non internationals for a mention. Ewers and O'Flaherty i thought were outstanding.

So no mention for the uncapped Simmonds ? I thought Ewers was-well Ewers, and O Flaherty again looked talented but a bit brainless.

[Digby]

Exeter are impressive in consistently delivering on the little things that Baxter wants them to be doing. That's boring, and thus hard to maintain. Bath look much improved but also something of a surprise as a top 4 side, had Sarries finished 2nd and Bath in 5th nobody would have batted an eyelid. My big query for Bath remains the slow pace they play at, and how Priestland is supposed to use that wide passing game in the age of the blitz and with that not happening how will Bath look to get their wide players in receipt of the ball other than as kick receivers? Which is a lot for Bath to be working on, and it's hardly surprising they've barely even started.

Bath haven’t tried to use their ostensive strengths until today, and unsurprisingly struggled to maintain some initial success. They’ve had some time - and more importantly a decent set of players- to create a more flexible strategy. But they haven’t- and imo a coaching fail.

I like the idea of a rugby coaching unit working on ostensive strengths. I think Bath should be further forwards as a club given the investment under Craig, but starting again under Hooper they've made some decent strides. I don't know if Hooper can push them further or if he merely stopped the rot, and actually I don't know if they looked decent after the restart merely from pumping iron in the downtime and went with that until the power wasn't enough. I certainly Hooper gets to have another season, and they should be wary about yet another change anyway.

[Banquo]

Exeter are impressive in consistently delivering on the little things that Baxter wants them to be doing. That's boring, and thus hard to maintain. Bath look much improved but also something of a surprise as a top 4 side, had Sarries finished 2nd and Bath in 5th nobody would have batted an eyelid. My big query for Bath remains the slow pace they play at, and how Priestland is supposed to use that wide passing game in the age of the blitz and with that not happening how will Bath look to get their wide players in receipt of the ball other than as kick receivers? Which is a lot for Bath to be working on, and it's hardly surprising they've barely even started.

Bath haven’t tried to use their ostensive strengths until today, and unsurprisingly struggled to maintain some initial success. They’ve had some time - and more importantly a decent set of players- to create a more flexible strategy. But they haven’t- and imo a coaching fail.

I like the idea of a rugby coaching unit working on ostensive strengths. I think Bath should be further forwards as a club given the investment under Craig, but starting again under Hooper they've made some decent strides. I don't know if Hooper can push them further or if he merely stopped the rot, and actually I don't know if they looked decent after the restart merely from pumping iron in the downtime and went with that until the power wasn't enough. I certainly Hooper gets to have another season, and they should be wary about yet another change anyway.

Yes, maybe, no they didn’t and no I don’t think so.

[Digby]

You think bite the bullet on a proven DoR?

[Puja]

Anything from Cokanasiga?

Looked unfit and ring-rusty, yet somehow still a threat. He needs a good few games to get back up to speed and then he'll really be something again.

Puja

[Oakboy]

I thought Slade looked good under pressure. Hill grafted effectively. Picking a combined XV would see Simmonds at 8 without doubt even though Faletau is one of my favourite players.

[FKAS]

Bath are well coached when things are going their way. When they’re not steamrollering scrums and getting tackled on the gainline they can look rudderless. Like most teams tbh.

I agree I think since Hatley came in Bath have developed really well. They are significantly better than when Blackadder was in charge. There's no shame in coming up short against Exeter one of the premier teams on the continent.

Bath have some work still to do. It will be interesting to see who they bring in to develop the squad. The attacking game plan might need a little tweaking to take on the big teams they've got good set pieces which is always a good place to start from.

[padprop]

Orlando Bailey is meant to a really good 10 coming through for Bath isn’t he? May be the one to light the touchpaper, without putting too much pressure on the lad.

They’ll have the pack to bully the lesser teams and at least get parity with the better ones, and have great depth in the back three. Just need to sew it together.

[Banquo]

Bath are well coached when things are going their way. When they’re not steamrollering scrums and getting tackled on the gainline they can look rudderless. Like most teams tbh.

I agree I think since Hatley came in Bath have developed really well. They are significantly better than when Blackadder was in charge. There's no shame in coming up short against Exeter one of the premier teams on the continent.

Bath have some work still to do. It will be interesting to see who they bring in to develop the squad. The attacking game plan might need a little tweaking to take on the big teams they've got good set pieces which is always a good place to start from.

Still a good way from the sum of their parts imo -not sure Hooper knows how to do the head coach gig.

[morepork]

Jesus the effective pick and go when right on the line is hard to counter when you are, you know, defending the line. Shirley a coach should be able to put forward a plan to keep them down the other end? Do Exeter win all their games like that?

[Puja]

Jesus the effective pick and go when right on the line is hard to counter when you are, you know, defending the line. Shirley a coach should be able to put forward a plan to keep them down the other end? Do Exeter win all their games like that?

Quite a lot of them, yeah. Once they get into the 22, they're an absolute bugger to get rid of, and they've got a well-drilled lineout and drive, so basically any penalty given away in your own half has a better than average chance of resulting in them scoring 5 or 7 points.

Puja

[morepork]

That needs a jackal. Be interesting to see any significant reduction in conversion of tries by Exeter in the 22 when playing a team that has a bona fide jackal. It’s borderline cynical but hard to stop. The loosies selected can potentially take the wind out of that sail. *note for future England opponents *

[Puja]

That needs a jackal. Be interesting to see any significant reduction in conversion of tries by Exeter in the 22 when playing a team that has a bona fide jackal. It’s borderline cynical but hard to stop. The loosies selected can potentially take the wind out of that sail. *note for future England opponents *

They play against Sale regularly (who have both of the Curry twins) and Bath today had Underhill and have taken on all comers in Europe so far. They're incredibly well drilled and very rarely get caught without support or poor ball presentation when they've gone into near the line grinding mode.

Be interesting to see whether Jack Willis, who is probably the turnover king in the NH right now, will be able to make a dent when they play in the final.

Puja

[twitchy]

Luke Cowan Dickie is the most effective guy I have seen at tap and go's. I don't know how he does it but he can score against a set defense when everyone can see him coming and isn't taken off guard. It's his weird super power. He constantly surprises me.

[Banquo]

Jesus the effective pick and go when right on the line is hard to counter when you are, you know, defending the line. Shirley a coach should be able to put forward a plan to keep them down the other end? Do Exeter win all their games like that?

Baths head coach/DOR was actually saying exactly the first part before the game. The plan was to keep them down the other end- mind, surely most plans are!- but they couldn’t keep it up all game; two mistakes in their own third of the pitch, two tries in the first half. Exeter’s points acquisition in the oppos 22 was exceptionally

[twitchy]

Bath played extremely well in the first part of the game and were unlucky not to score. They actually had a really good game plan.