Bath Vs Wasps, Monday, 3.00

[Which Tyler]

Bath:
15. Anthony Watson
14. Ruaridh McConnochie
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Josh Matavesi
11. Gabriel Hamer-Webb
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Ben Spencer

1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Will Stuart
4. Josh McNally
5. Charlie Ewels (C)
6. Zach Mercer
7. Sam Underhill
8. Taulupe Faletau

16. Jack Walker, 17. Lewis Boyce, 18. Christian Judge, 19. Elliott Stooke, 20. Miles Reid
21. Max Green, 22. Max Clark, 23. Tom de Glanville


Wasps:
15 Lima Sopoaga
14 Zach Kibirige
13 Malakai Fekitoa
12 Ryan Mills
11 Marcus Watson
10 Jacob Umaga
9 Dan Robson

1 Tom West
2 Tommy Taylor
3 Biyi Alo
4 Joe Launchbury (c)
5 James Gaskell
6 Jack Willis
7 Thomas Young
8 Brad Shields

16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Simon McIntyre, 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Tom Willis
21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Jimmy Gopperth, 23 Matteo Minozzi

[Scrumhead]

Not quite sure on Wasps’ approach here starting their first XV minus the props?

I’d fancy Obano and Stuart to be well on top of West and Alo.

As an aside, I seem to recall West and Stuart were both in the JWC winning side (2015?) and Wasps academy together.

[Raggs]

West is a very good loosehead, and likely knows Stuart fairly well. Alo has a good argument for being our best tighthead up until the break.

To be honest, it'd be tough to pick a best loosehead/tighthead from Wasps, maybe Zhavania.

[fivepointer]

Stuart is looking in tremendous nick. In fact, both Bath front rows are in great order. Wasps will have their hands full in the scrums and containing them in the loose.
Tasty looking match up at SH and the back row battle should be absorbing.
T Willis on the bench pleases me.

[Scrumhead]

Agreed. Bath’s entire pack has looked pretty good TBH.

Spencer has been a great addition and if they do manage to sign a big name 10 to replace Priestland, that could bring their deadly outside backs in to play. Hooper is quietly doing a good job IMO.

[Which Tyler]

Anyone got a working stream for Sarries v LIrish?
RugbyPass seem, one again, to have forgotten to actually show the match, and are just showing adverts for RugbyPass

[Which Tyler]

it's odd seeing a minute's applause at rugby - guess silence doesn't mean as much without a crowd

[Which Tyler]

That's one way to play advantage I guess

[Raggs]

West got the better of Stuart that time, unlucky not to get more from it.

[Which Tyler]

Willis living up to his hype

[Mellsblue]

Great example when a only a pen for holding on doesn’t seem enough. Wasps have a real chance of a try if Obano let’s go. As it is, we have another boring kick at the posts.

[Raggs]

Not sure Robson can be offside there, there was no tackle, so no ruck, no offside line?

[Which Tyler]

That was a thing of beauty, untilt epthe needless forward pass

[Which Tyler]

And another injury.
Not looking good for Taylor

[Which Tyler]

Play the F***ing whistle!

Well taken, but still

[Which Tyler]

Absolutely genuine this time, but...
Wasps and uncontested scrums, getting flashbacks

[Mellsblue]

Absolutely genuine this time, but...
Wasps and uncontested scrums, getting flashbacks

Ha, I’m not so sure! Gatland is sitting at home in NZ with a knowing smile on his face after realising chapter 4 ‘The Double Bluff’ in his dossier ‘How to get to Uncontested Scrums’ is finally put in to action.

[Raggs]

We were winning the scrums. No hooker makes lineout time a nightmare too. Glad I'm not watching now.

[Which Tyler]

Well played by West and Barnes - that was a lot of pressure there, and the right decision in the end.
XV v XV, uncontested scrums.

Bath advantage in the lineout

[Which Tyler]

We were winning the scrums. No hooker makes lineout time a nightmare too. Glad I'm not watching now.

You really weren't.
1 a piece from the clear wins

[Which Tyler]

Spencer notnhaving a good day at the office today

[Mikey Brown]

Spencer notnhaving a good day at the office today

Does anyone else have the same odd feeling when following the form of any contender at 9 that they'll have to be pretty much immaculate for every second of every game to actually stand a chance of breaking in ahead of Youngs?

[16th man]

Spencer notnhaving a good day at the office today

Does anyone else have the same odd feeling when following the form of any contender at 9 that they'll have to be pretty much immaculate for every second of every game to actually stand a chance of breaking in ahead of Youngs?

Better the flawed / limited player you know I suppose.

[twitchy]

Fun game.

[Which Tyler]

Willis MOTM so far
Been a right PITA