Bath v Quins; 7.45 tonight

[Which Tyler]

Ref: Pascal Gaüzère
TJs: Maxime Chalon, Julien Dufort
TMO: Éric Gauzins

Bath United:
15. Anthony Watson (c)
14. Gabe Hamer-Webb
13. Max Wright
12. Jackson Willison
11. Aled Brew
10. Freddie Burns
9. Max Green

1. Lewis Boyce
2. Jack Walker
3. Christian Judge
4. Matt Garvey
5. Rhys Davies
6. Tom Ellis
7. Mike Williams
8. Josh Bayliss

16. Ross Batty, 17. Lucas Noguera, 18. Sam Nixon, 19. Levi Douglas, 20. Nahum Merigan
21. Ollie Fox. 22. Alex Davies, 23. Tom de Glanville

Harlequins:
15 Aaron Morri
14 Vereniki Goneva
13 Luke Northmore
12 Paul Lasike
11 Gabriel Ibitoye
10 Brett Herron
9 Danny Care

1 Joe Marler
2 Max Crumpton
3 Kyle Sinckler
4 Tevita Cavubati
5 Dino Lamb
6 James Chisholm
7 Chris Robshaw (c)
8 Alex Dombrandt

16 Jack Musk, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Will Collier, 19 Glen Young, 20 Semi Kunatani
21 Niall Saunders, 22 Tom Penny, 23 Ross Chisholm.

I'm guessing that the 2 teams are approaching this match with slightly differing priorities...
The Bath forum have spent the last couple of weeks calling for precisely this sort of team as it's a dead rubber, and R&R for the first XV is mroe important than this match. They're now complaining that we'll have lost all choesion and thrown the match by doing this...

[Banquo]

Watson's first ever appearance at 15 for Bath is cause for celebration.

[Which Tyler]

Watson's first ever appearance at 15 for Bath is cause for celebration.

I'm pretty sure it's a typo - no-one would be THAT experimental!

[Mikey Brown]

Watson's first ever appearance at 15 for Bath is cause for celebration.

I'm pretty sure it's a typo - no-one would be THAT experimental!

As if also making him captain didn't make it clear enough that it was a joke.

[fivepointer]

Entirely sensible, pragmatic selection from Bath. Bit surprised that Quins havent followed suit and rested more regular starters.

[Scrumhead]

Quins have loads of injuries which is limiting selection, but I think Gustard is desperate for a morale-boosting win after the Sale massacre and knowing we have Clermont to come.

Having Crumpton and Morris back is a boost. Ross Chisholm has been a real bomb scare at 15 so even a little bit of added security will be a huge bonus and Elia needs a rest after being pretty much our only fit hooker.

[Mikey Brown]

I agree with everything you've said, but being at the point where bringing those two in is a big boost for us, well... it's a worry.

[Scrumhead]

Fair comment, although I think Crumpton is arguably our best hooker. Elia has massively stepped up this season and his throwing has really improved.

Morris is a much better player than Chisholm IMO. He’s just a bit of a crock.

[Raggs]

I almost wish Ibitoye had dropped that. It's a wet muddy pitch, the ball is going to be slippery. Don't put it down with one hand, there's no need.

[Which Tyler]

Surprisingly entertaining game so far.

Did not expect parity up front, whilst Baths backs look the better set, if lacking a little cohesion.

Care the least impressive SH on display as of half time.

I expect Quin's experience to turn it around in the second half, however

[Which Tyler]

Watson off hurt - didn't see what or how

[Puja]

Well, that was a very low-quality game. No-one there pressed their England credentials for Eddie in the crowd and Dombrandt edged further away from international reckoning with a very poor performance, even with his try.

Puja

[Timbo]

That pitch is bloody shite. I haven’t seen one decent game at The Rec for about a year.

Watson off as a precaution according to Hooper. Not his knee just tweaked something.

Dombrandt is a weird one. Loads of potential, and almost worth bringing into the squad just so he can see the all round standard he needs to reach. But in terms of performance he’s obviously behind Billy, and I’d probably pick a fit Wilson, Ludlam, Simmonds and possibly Ben Earl ahead of him at 8. Maybe Mercer too.

[Scrumhead]

Dombrandt was in the wider training group for the RWC so he’s seen the standard he needs to aspire to.

It’s a tricky one. He’s a very ‘natural’ rugby player who has good instincts (as demonstrated by his try) and I don’t want that to get coached out of him. At the same time, he needs coaching to realise his potential. His style reminds me of a young Sergio Parisse and it would be great if he could get to that level. I genuinely think he has the ability.

Simmonds should 100% be in the England squad, but whether we can accommodate him at 8 is another question and he’s not going to be picked ahead of Underhill or Curry on the flank.

Earl has had a great start to the season and would fully deserve a recall to the squad. I’ve noticed that when Billy’s not playing, he often plays at 7 but packs down at 8 for attacking scrums, but I don’t think he’s an 8 at test level. I’d like to see him develop at 7 to be a very credible alternative to Curry/Underhill.

In the future I can see the future of the 8 shirt being a shoot out between Mercer and Dombrandt. Mercer is a cracking player who has all of the tools to be more of a Read style of 8, including the lineout capability our other 8s lack. Unfortunately he’s injured so we’re unlikely to see him in the mix until the summer tour.

[Peej]

Earl is having a great season, but currently isn't a go-to for Sarries in the big games - though with the need to use some heavy rotation he is getting more game time and certainly making the most of it. But would he be picked over Vunipola or Wray the play offs or the finals? I'm not so sure. We'll probably get a chance to find out though.

Of all of the 8s coming through, I like Mercer the best. He's dynamic, he's smart, he works hard. But I don't think Eddie likes him.

It's noticeable that Hughes, having been raved about for the first few weeks of the season, has been noticeably quieter in the last few rounds, and far less influential as Bristol have been on the back foot.

[Puja]

It's noticeable that Hughes, having been raved about for the first few weeks of the season, has been noticeably quieter in the last few rounds, and far less influential as Bristol have been on the back foot.

Yeah, that's my fault - I picked him for my fantasy rugby team.

I will note that BillyV is only 27, so he's still got another RWC cycle in him yet.

Puja

[Peej]

Aye, but I really haven't been that impressed with the Property Tycoon for England of late. Part of it is that England don't use him as well as he could, but he hasn't been a dynamic, destructive carrier, and doesn't get through a lot of tackles like his business partner.

[Mikey Brown]

It’s tricky though, like with Tuilagi you can argue the focus he draws from the opposition defence is worth a place on its own. But you can’t really prove it one way or the other.

[Raggs]

It’s tricky though, like with Tuilagi you can argue the focus he draws from the opposition defence is worth a place on its own. But you can’t really prove it one way or the other.

Exactly this. There's no "Defenders fixed when not passed the ball" stat.

[Which Tyler]

That pitch is bloody shite. I haven’t seen one decent game at The Rec for about a year.

Pitch was ripped up and relaid with much improved drainage when Bruce took over - so 10 years ago.
Those things only last so long until they get clogged up, and that's bound to happen sooner if you're on a flood plain.
Of course, the pitch being about 6 inches above the water table means that there's only so much that can ever be done about it - hence the desire to raise the pitch 3.8m with a new stadium.

Basically, the drainage needs to be redone - but with planning aplication for the new stadium due in at some point in the next few weeks - it's probably not worth doing right now.

It’s tricky though, like with Tuilagi you can argue the focus he draws from the opposition defence is worth a place on its own. But you can’t really prove it one way or the other.

Yes but...
How long will that aura last if he continues to play poorly at international level?

He'll always attract defenders because of what he CAN do - but if he doesn't actually do it, it'll down from 3 defenders; to 2; to 1 with another just keeping an eye on him.

Class is permanent, whilst form is temporary; but his poor form has lasted a complete calendar year. I wonder if he's just become complacent that he's not going to be dropped regardless, so is just slightly less motivated. Which is exactly why I'd have dropped him for 1 match in the RWC; and would now for the 6N - even if it harms the team for that 1 match.

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. I'm not saying his form/impact should go unquestioned, just that it's harder to quantify than with some other players.

I do wonder though if the ball-playing stuff doesn't come as naturally to him as with Mako, and perhaps takes a bit more of his concentration during a game.

[Timbo]

‘Poor form’ seems to be vastly overstating things to me. He hasn’t been dominating consistently like he can, but he’s still playing like a very good international level 8.

[fivepointer]

Just caught up with the game. Not the worst i've seen. Both sides had their moments, but both were guilty of lapses and inconsistency - but that has been their season to date.
Dombrandt was OK I thought. A couple of errors but some very good interventions. Interesting contrast with Bayliss who i really like and is a real workhorse but rarely produces eye catching moments.
Green looked good before going off.

[Banquo]

‘Poor form’ seems to be vastly overstating things to me. He hasn’t been dominating consistently like he can, but he’s still playing like a very good international level 8.

quite. No idea what people expect tbh. Just look at how he played in the RWC semi.

[Mellsblue]

‘Poor form’ seems to be vastly overstating things to me. He hasn’t been dominating consistently like he can, but he’s still playing like a very good international level 8.

quite. No idea what people expect tbh. Just look at how he played in the RWC semi.

Flat track bully