Bath vs Exeter - Friday night

[Puja]

Bath: De Glanville; Rokoduguni, Joseph, Ojomoh, Muir; Bailey, B Spencer; Boyce, Dunn, Stuart, McNally, Ewels (capt), Reid, Underhill, Bayliss

Replacements: du Toit, Cordwell, Rae, W Spencer, Ellis, Simpson, Cipriani, McConnochie

Exeter: Hogg; Nowell, Slade, Whitten, O'Flaherty; H Skinner, J Maunder; Hepburn, Yeandle (capt), Iosefa-Scott, S Skinner, Lonsdale, Ewers, Kirsten, S Simmonds

Replacements: Innard, Moon, Williams, Armand, Capstick, S Maunder, J Simmonds Hendrickson

[Danno]

Looks like another tough night for Bath

[FKAS]

Bath's defensive intensity has nosedived since Reid went off injured.

[Puja]

Such a shame for Bath. Absolutely robbed of a win with that late try. Would've loved to see them get one over Exeter.

Still 3 minutes to go, but I don't see Bath scoring the try they need.

Puja

[Puja]

Bath's defensive intensity has nosedived since Reid went off injured.

The bench in general has been Bath's downfall. Simpson's been a massive downgrade as well, coming on for Spencer (who did look utterly knackered when he was dragged off, mind) and keeping the props on so long cost them in the later scrums.

Puja

[Puja]

How the hell is Ewers MotM? He was man-marked out of the game by Underhill, who was outstanding and led by example in both defence and attack.

Puja

[Timbo]

How the hell is Ewers MotM? He was man-marked out of the game by Underhill, who was outstanding and led by example in both defence and attack.

Puja

Think they have to give it to someone on the winning team. Arguably the key player for Exeter was Ben Moon, who turned the scrum from being slightly in Bath’s favour to completely dominant for Exeter. That was probably the winning of the game.

[FKAS]

How the hell is Ewers MotM? He was man-marked out of the game by Underhill, who was outstanding and led by example in both defence and attack.

Puja

Let me guess, Dayglo picked him?

I missed the end of the game. I almost feel for Bath, the intensity in defence was outstanding which I found especially amusing after the talk of hiring a defence coach the day before. I did wonder if knowing that was the announcement Hooper and Hatley had spent the entire build up to the game working on it, maybe not appreciating Griffith's being there.

There was a blinding hole in the defence out wide in the first half but Exeter's plan was seemingly to use Yeandle there. After finding the space available there on a couple of occasions you'd have thought some bright spark would have ensured that it was someone with pace there and not Yeandle. I'm also mystified as to the continued selection of Skinner. He looks average and given what teams are deploying in the Prem that is nowhere near good enough. His kicks to touch are poor, he isn't trusted to kick at goal, game management is poor and I didn't see the backline ripping it up with him at the helm it was floaty passes behind the gainline without ever getting to the outside to make ground.

[Oakboy]

I don't understand Skinner's selection at FH either. However, I'd not envy any FH playing with Maunder (or his brother). It seems to me that Exeter are fielding XVs with 3 or 4 sub-standard players every week, not always out of necessity. Strange!

Simmonds winning try may have looked simple but his acceleration over 5 yards that late in the game was pretty special. He has a lot to offer.

[Scrumhead]

Sad for Bath TBH. I didn’t expect to win this, but must be tough to get so close and not see it through.

[twitchy]

I mocked bath yesterday but they were much improved. I thought it was interesting that baxter said that exe need to get back to enjoying rugby again.

[Which Tyler]

Massive improvement from Bath; lost by the bench TBH; and to a degree, the delay in throwing them in meaning that the starters were absolutely shagged out. Spencer could barely manage a trot by the time Simpson was replaced; but Spencer at barely-a-trot was still contributing more than fresh Simpson.
Equally, Bailey with one arm was more committed and more inventive that fresh and healthy Cipriani (not that I would expect any FH to keep out a Sam Simmonds at full pelt off a stable scrum that ties in the flankers - or any other back TBH).

Rugby's always been about small margins, and that was a hell of a turnaround - we did really well to disrupt Exeter at their favourite plays, but just couldn't keep it up.

I see signs of promise and team spirit, and want additions - others see nothing but the table and want a complete overhaul.
Both are valid thoughts at the moment.

[twitchy]

Rugby's always been about small margins, and that was a hell of a turnaround - we did really well to disrupt Exeter at their favourite plays, but just couldn't keep it up.

I see signs of promise and team spirit, and want additions - others see nothing but the table and want a complete overhaul.
Both are valid thoughts at the moment.

The problem always is with these turnarounds is that the question arises of "what the hell were they doing previously"?

[Puja]

I see signs of promise and team spirit, and want additions - others see nothing but the table and want a complete overhaul.
Both are valid thoughts at the moment.

I mean, if you can do that every week, then absolutely there's something worth building on there. The question is whether that was a one-off best-possible performance from this setup or whether that level of effort and drive is now the new normal.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Yup - it's 1 data point, not a trend.
What it does suggest though, is that the team still care about each other, and the coaches don't appear to have lost the dressing room.

It also proves that they have the capacity, which is nice to see.
Otherwise, from COML

Saw one spectator in a headdress behind the stands who was being requested politely by the stewards to deposit his disrespectful attire in safe keeping until after the game. Don’t know whether he did or not . Hopefully it will go the same way as the Saracens fez did.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Much improved from Bath. Proper guts in that performance. The defensive shifts were top drawer at times, as Exeter started to turn the screw. Really good showings from Bailey and Ojomoh. I kind of forgive the try butchery as even before he's taken the kick Muir is screaming for it back on the inside. His pro's far outweighed that con, even though it would have won the game. Really felt for Bailey times playing outside of first Spencer and then Simpson. To take Exeter to the wire with where Bath are right now was some performance. Fair play.

The pack were generally excellent. Underhill superb, and Stuart really stood out. Proper gutsy all round.

[Banquo]

Anyone know what the plot is with Joe Simmonds?

[Oakboy]

Anyone know what the plot is with Joe Simmonds?

No idea, but it would not surprise me if his departure was linked to two new half-backs arriving next season.

[Timbo]

Anyone know what the plot is with Joe Simmonds?

No idea, but it would not surprise me if his departure was linked to two new half-backs arriving next season.

His departure?

[p/d]

Anyone know what the plot is with Joe Simmonds?

No idea, but it would not surprise me if his departure was linked to two new half-backs arriving next season.

His departure?

It could be an age thing

[FKAS]

Anyone know what the plot is with Joe Simmonds?

No idea, but it would not surprise me if his departure was linked to two new half-backs arriving next season.

Have there been rumours about who is arriving there next season?

If Simmonds is off then he'd have options. Welford Road has a sizeable hole to fill and Newcastle could badly do with an upgrade.

Might explain Baxter wanting to spend the first part of the season seeing what his youngster can do if he knows Simmonds is off, depending on whether Skinner will make the grade will depend on their transfer plans. I think their other option Walsh might have more about him but hey ho.

[FKAS]

No idea, but it would not surprise me if his departure was linked to two new half-backs arriving next season.

His departure?

It could be an age thing

He's only a few weeks off his 25th birthday.

[p/d]

His departure?

It could be an age thing

He's only a few weeks off his 25th birthday.

…. Oakboy not Simmonds

[FKAS]

It could be an age thing

He's only a few weeks off his 25th birthday.

…. Oakboy not Simmonds

[Oakboy]

It could be an age thing

He's only a few weeks off his 25th birthday.

…. Oakboy not Simmonds

I'm certainly in grandfather territory compared with the lad!!!