Bath vs Newcastle

[Puja]

Bath: Burns; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Clark, Banahan; Priestland, Cook; Auterac, Walker, Perenise, Charteris, Stooke, Ewels, Louw (c), Grant

Replacements: Dunn, Obano, Andrews, Phillips, Mercer, Allinson, Tapuai, Brew

Newcastle: Hammersley; Goneva, Harris, JP. Socino, Van der Merwe; Willis, Takulua; Vickers, S. Socino, Welsh, Green, Witty, M. Wilson, Welch (c), Latu

Replacements: Lawson, Mavinga, Davison, Robinson, Hogg, Stuart, Hodgson, Josh Matavesi

[Stom]

Pleased that Walker is starting. He was good off the bench last week, and I still think he's got a ton of potential. Here's hoping he gets a run of games and comes good. Would be nice to have that kind of depth at hooker for England.

Jesus, just think about it... George, LCD, Taylor, Walker, Singleton...and that's before you get to the kind of players we used to pick - Dunn, Buchanan, etc. and it's ignoring TYoungs!

[Puja]

I've noticed it's also ignoring Hartley

Puja

[Stom]

I've noticed it's also ignoring Hartley

Puja

Because Hartley is past 30, and I was talking about younger players. But George isn't young anymore! It's crazy he doesn't have more caps...

[Puja]

I've noticed it's also ignoring Hartley

Puja

Because Hartley is past 30, and I was talking about younger players. But George isn't young anymore! It's crazy he doesn't have more caps...

Youngs is 30 as well. He just seems younger cause he's only been hooking for a shorter period of time. And you're spot on about George.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Pleased that Walker is starting. He was good off the bench last week, and I still think he's got a ton of potential. Here's hoping he gets a run of games and comes good. Would be nice to have that kind of depth at hooker for England.

Jesus, just think about it... George, LCD, Taylor, Walker, Singleton...and that's before you get to the kind of players we used to pick - Dunn, Buchanan, etc. and it's ignoring TYoungs!

A bit harsh on Dunn. Personally I think he's pretty close to Taylor and not too far off LCD. He's just had a delayed breakthrough becasue of injury.

Walker was very highly rated in age grade rugby, so I'll be curious to see how he kicks on in the Premiership.

Interesting to see Burns at 15.

[Mikey Brown]

Aye, good to see Bath field an EQP fullback.

[Banquo]

Aye, good to see Bath field an EQP fullback.

vg

[Puja]

Aye, good to see Bath field an EQP fullback.

vg

Probably better for them to have someone who's played there before, rather than shoe-horning in a winger who's never played there in his life.

Interesting to see Auterac over Obano, who has looked like living up to the hype so far this year.

Puja

[Banquo]

cripes

[Mikey Brown]

Why isn't Joseph doing anything about this scoreline?

Does he even care?

[Banquo]

Why isn't Joseph doing anything about this scoreline?

Does he even care?

yes, heartless bastard. Why hasn't he score 4 tries to make sure Bath are ahead.

[Banquo]

looks like Barf have woken up

[Banquo]

JJ read the board at half time and thought....I haven't been attacking well enough.

[Mellsblue]

Sounds like he's begun to dominate.

[fivepointer]

Falcons win 33-32. Brilliant result for them.

[bitts]

Falcons win 33-32. Brilliant result for them.

Fully expected Falcons to lose this and I would say 'thats why we won't get top six.'

Slowly starting to believe.

Can't wait to watch the game.

[Timbo]

Why isn't Joseph doing anything about this scoreline?

Does he even care?

yes, heartless bastard. Why hasn't he score 4 tries to make sure Bath are ahead.

And then you see what he's capable of...

[Mikey Brown]

Will be really interesting to see how Flood fits in when he's back. I have no idea whether he's still the same player or not.

[bitts]

Will be really interesting to see how Flood fits in when he's back. I have no idea whether he's still the same player or not.

Even if it takes a little while for him to get up to speed, he's going to be a great asset. He may have got some stick when playing for England, but Flyhalfs capable of running a prem game aren't easy to come by of you're not a top side. Just as Wuss.

I have less idea how Mermoz is going to fit in.

[kk67]

Woah. What is happening at Bath..?. Is Jürgen Klopp managing them as well..?

[Banquo]

Why isn't Joseph doing anything about this scoreline?

Does he even care?

yes, heartless bastard. Why hasn't he score 4 tries to make sure Bath are ahead.

And then you see what he's capable of...

didn't see the game, did he play well?

and yes, he is capable of it....which is my contention. He's not deliberately refraining from being quality, my contention is at least in part he is being constrained by the team he is in- both Bath and England have been iffy for a while, and frankly, he's not the only who has not looked at his best.

[Which Tyler]

JK personally had a decent game, scored one try on his own, and was vital in Week's. He's definitely kickng more this season, and that bit didn't work too well yesterday; his distribution was neither great nor dire. He seems to be the only Bath player who's adapting his tackle technique to the new laws, more trying to push the player to floor without going off his feet himself - which gives up more ground, leaves the carrier free to offload, but allows himself to go for the ball more quickly. I don't think it's working. Oh, he also gave away a penalty when Bath were in a try scoring position for side-step... because a Falcon's player was busy standing in the gate on Bath's side - harsh but accurate.

Bath as a whole seem to be trying to play last year's laws and interpretations, and just trying to tinker with what Todd was brining in for us anyway - but the game has moved on.
We either committing too few players to the ruck, and almost forgetting to actually co plete the tackle, or prevent the offload, or were putting too many in, leaving the defensive line under-rated.
Newcastle were very good at manipulating our fringe defence, SH carrying widish and pulling the guard defender onto him, then popping the ball inside to the support runner.

Beyond that, we were asleep for the first 15 minutes, really strong in the scrum, and finally have a functioning line-out. Rhys had a poor game though, he gave up on a Falcon's kick through to allow their 3rd try, a couple of restarts straight into touch, too willing to boot the ball away in attack, and a decision to go for the corner that I don't really understand. In a high scoring match, against a team who have scored 3 tries in 15 minutes against you, 22 minutes left to play and 13 points up... Go for the sticks, 3 points pushes you to a 3 score margin, whilst a try.... also pushes you to a 3 score margin. TBP was already secured, and whilst we had the momentum, it never felt comfortable, and Newcastle were still breaking through our line too frequently

[Digby]

JK personally had a decent gamee defence...

Return of the space cowboy

[Which Tyler]