RugbyRebels

Saturday; 3.30

Bath:
15 Anthony Watson
14 Semesa Rokoduguni
13 Jonathan Joseph
12 Ollie Devoto
11 Matt Banahan
10 George Ford
09 Will Homer

1 Nathan Catt
2 Rob Webber
3 David Wilson
4 Charlie Ewels
5 Dave Attwood
6 Matt Garvey
7 Francois Louw (c)
8 David Denton

16 Tom Dunn; 17 Max Lahiff; 18 Kane Palma-Newport; 19 Dom Day; 20 Leroy Houston
21 Chris Cook; 22 Rhys Priestland; 23 Jeff Williams


Leicester:
15 Mathew Tait
14 Adam Thompstone
13 Peter Betham
12 Jack Roberts
11 George Catchpole
10 Owen Williams
09 Ben Youngs

1 Ellis Genge
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Ed Slater (c)
5 Sebastian de Chaves
6 Tom Croft
7 Will Evans
8 Jordan Crane

Replacements
16 Harry Thacker; 17 Logovi'i Mulipola; 18 Greg Bateman; 19 Dom Barrow; 20 Laurence Pearce
21 Jono Kitto; 22 Tommy Bell; 23 George Worth

That must be the first time in ages Bath have been able to get close to fielding their best side? Though surprised at Cook benching.

Whereas we're taking the piss slightly and openly declaring that we've got more important things to care about than playing Bath.

Should be an interesting game to see the youngsters go, but I can't see anything other than a comfortable Bath victory.

Puja

Banquo wrote:That must be the first time in ages Bath have been able to get close to fielding their best side? Though surprised at Cook benching.

IIRC we haven't been able to play Ford - Eastmond - Joseph even once this season - and aren't about to tomorrow (though I actually prefer the 10-13 axis tomorrow).
Of the tight 5, only Attwood would have been first choice (given Wilson's drop in form and Auterac's rise up the ranks).

Still - quite possibly the closest to first choice all season.

Very pleased to see Genge, Evans and Catchpole start.

Which Tyler wrote:

Banquo wrote:That must be the first time in ages Bath have been able to get close to fielding their best side? Though surprised at Cook benching.

IIRC we haven't been able to play Ford - Eastmond - Joseph even once this season - and aren't about to tomorrow (though I actually prefer the 10-13 axis tomorrow).
Of the tight 5, only Attwood would have been first choice (given Wilson's drop in form and Auterac's rise up the ranks).

Still - quite possibly the closest to first choice all season.

after all that

Is it just me, or is this the most anti-climactic final day of the Premiership ever? The top 4 is decided, the relegation is decided and 5 clubs go into the last day knowing their final game cannot affect their final league position, no matter the result. Given that Leicester appear to have given up on getting 3rd already, the only real things to fight for are which of Wasps and Exeter get a home semi and which of Sale, Quins and Saints don't get into Europe automatically, although if Quins win the Challenge Cup final, then even that little bit of excitement will have been retrospectively nullified.

Puja

It does lack a bit of edge for sure but you cant have every game a cliffhanger. Think the Quins v Exeter game might be lively, and Saints and Sale have something to play for against opposition that might not be overly committed.

Tigers obviously resting players ahead of the play offs and that does make sense. If they cant make 2nd spot, they know they are going away so there's nothing much in finishing 3rd or 4th.

Bath 10 v 19 Tigers at half time. Tigers with 3 tries. Genge has been awesome!!! Bath have not been!!!

Agree about Genge but he was up against the awful Davey Wilson(what's happened to him) but it was in the loose he reall showed well.He gave away the matches first scrum penalty once we had changed our prop and was taken off just after that.
Roko,Louw,Watson,Garvey were standouts for Bath.

Impressed by Will Homer.

Looks like there are a few decent SHs arriving finally. Just need Harrison to move for more game time.

Stom wrote:Impressed by Will Homer.

Looks like there are a few decent SHs arriving finally. Just need Harrison to move for more game time.

He's played 23 games this season. Would've played more were it not for injuries.

Epaminondas Pules wrote:

Stom wrote:Impressed by Will Homer.

Looks like there are a few decent SHs arriving finally. Just need Harrison to move for more game time.

He's played 23 games this season. Would've played more were it not for injuries.

I'm often impressed by him, too, but feel he needs to be first choice. Likewise with Simpson and Robson...

But I'm quite happy with the selection

Epaminondas Pules wrote:

Stom wrote:Impressed by Will Homer.

Looks like there are a few decent SHs arriving finally. Just need Harrison to move for more game time.

He's played 23 games this season. Would've played more were it not for injuries.

How many of those were due to Youngs being with Eng for an unusually long time? If Youngs is dropped by Eng, and a player who has had sweets thrown at him and been told he is too fat must be worried, will his game time significantly reduce?

Genuine questions as I don't know. It could be that when both were available for Leicester Harrison still had decent time on the pitch.

Wasps have shown that a combination of injuries and rotation can lead to two Eng hopefuls getting enough game time. There's also the argument that being undisputed first choice and playing all season leads to a player playing too many games. Another argument is that 18 games at Leicester with Champions Cup matches is better than 27 games at Glos with Challenge Cup matches.

To cut to the chase, sharing duties at a top club can be beneficial if handled correctly.

Mellsblue wrote:

Epaminondas Pules wrote:

Stom wrote:Impressed by Will Homer.

Looks like there are a few decent SHs arriving finally. Just need Harrison to move for more game time.

He's played 23 games this season. Would've played more were it not for injuries.

How many of those were due to Youngs being with Eng for an unusually long time? If Youngs is dropped by Eng, and a player who has had sweets thrown at him and been told he is too fat must be worried, will his game time significantly reduce?

Genuine questions as I don't know. It could be that when both were available for Leicester Harrison still had decent time on the pitch.

Wasps have shown that a combination of injuries and rotation can lead to two Eng hopefuls getting enough game time. There's also the argument that being undisputed first choice and playing all season leads to a player playing too many games. Another argument is that 18 games at Leicester with Champions Cup matches is better than 27 games at Glos with Challenge Cup matches.

To cut to the chase, sharing duties at a top club can be beneficial if handled correctly.

He's seen as second choice now so will feature plenty. Obviously if Lenny is with England he will start more, but equally we'll rotate when Len is back. We have done that a lot this season and then played Kitto when injuries or rest have dictated.

There's also no guarantee he'd be first choice anywhere else. I really like Sam, he stuck around and fought for his opportunities rather than just moving for game time, and now he's being rewarded.

Harrison has played in 23 games but only started 11.

Point is he is easily good enough to be a Premiership starting SH week in, week out.

fivepointer wrote:Harrison has played in 23 games but only started 11.

Point is he is easily good enough to be a Premiership starting SH week in, week out.

But where?

fivepointer wrote:Harrison has played in 23 games but only started 11.

Point is he is easily good enough to be a Premiership starting SH week in, week out.

And Harrison obvs doesn't want to move, it's his club.

I'm sure if/when he wants to leave he will leave.

Digby wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Harrison has played in 23 games but only started 11.

Point is he is easily good enough to be a Premiership starting SH week in, week out.

But where?

I suggested a trip across the midlands to Saints would be perfect in a thread a while back.

fivepointer wrote:

Digby wrote:

fivepointer wrote:Harrison has played in 23 games but only started 11.

Point is he is easily good enough to be a Premiership starting SH week in, week out.

But where?

I suggested a trip across the midlands to Saints would be perfect in a thread a while back.

Maybe. I think they should be looking for more in a starter, and if he played lots some of the issues in his game would come more to the fore. Also right now I doubt anyone is doing homework on how to stop Harrison which is giving him more leeway than the top players get to operate under. He's a good player in the AP, and he's excellent as squad cover, but that might be about the right level.

Homer was awful,let's be honest,his kicking out of hand terrible,his pass was often taken by the receiver head height or around the knees,Work in progress yes but a lot of work.

Cook had been looking good in most games I've seen- uncomplicated game, relative quick linking, decent pass and a very good boot. Is it a lack of breaking that's holding him back?

Cook was dropped because of his 10 mins in the bin cost us the game at Saints,Homer showed he's nowhere near ready and from his charge down in the first minute he was struggling ,Bath man management has been awful this season and our lack of top class 9 will cost us again next year.

PPJ wrote:Cook was dropped because of his 10 mins in the bin cost us the game at Saints,Homer showed he's nowhere near ready and from his charge down in the first minute he was struggling ,Bath man management has been awful this season and our lack of top class 9 will cost us again next year.

Do you not think Cook is up to it, either?

Banquo wrote:

PPJ wrote:Cook was dropped because of his 10 mins in the bin cost us the game at Saints,Homer showed he's nowhere near ready and from his charge down in the first minute he was struggling ,Bath man management has been awful this season and our lack of top class 9 will cost us again next year.

Do you not think Cook is up to it, either?

Talent is there, kicking a bit inconsistent, and his discipline hasn't been inconsistent so much as just not good enough. Worth carrying on with him absent of a much better alternative given age and skillset (and it would seem suitability to play 9 in this Bath team)