RugbyRebels

Bristol Bears team to face Bath Rugby at the Principality Stadium on Saturday (3.05pm KO, live on TNT Sports and ITV Sport):

15. Rich Lane (58 apps), 14. Kalaveti Ravouvou (28 apps), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (46 apps), 12. James Williams (51 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (55 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (49 apps), 9. Harry Randall (142 apps); 1. Ellis Genge (58 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (39 apps), 3. Max Lahiff (107 apps), 4. Josh Caulfield (34 apps), 5. Joe Batley (71 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (150 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (93 apps), 8. Viliame Mata (14 apps).

System players: 16. Will Capon (97 apps), 17. Yann Thomas (128 apps), 18. George Kloska (61 apps), 19. James Dun (50 apps), 20. Joe Owen (32 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (48 apps), 22. Siva Naulago (43 apps), Santiago Grondona (12 apps).


Bath Rugby Starting XV: 1 Francois van Wyk, 2 Jasper Spandler, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Ewan Richards ©, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Ethan Staddon, 8 Arthur Green, 9 Louis Schreuder, 10 Ciaran Donoghue, 11 Austin Emens, 12 Orlando Bailey, 13 Louie Hennessey, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville

Replacements: 16 Kepu Tuipulotu, 17 Arthur Cordwell, 18 Kieran Verden, 19 Will Jeanes, 20 Tom Cowan, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Ruaridh McConnochie, 23 Miles Reid

Showpiece game but Bath putting out a 2nd XV. Understandable given they have the league sewn up and a Euro final in 2 weeks.

Will surely help Bristol's top 4 bid and annoy the other contenders.

Fingers crossed Batley comes through OK.

Ooft - that could be ugly looking at those lineups. Like you, I understand why Bath are doing it, but it's not good scenes for what should be a big marketing event for the league.

Puja

Bristol's management are going to be furious with that Bath selection. Take the game over the bridge to spread the good word of Prem rugby and Bath rest most of the big names.

A] Good to see that Bailey's back.
B] Didn't expect to see that much rotation - thought it would be next week, despite that one being at home.
C] As ever, we've earned the right to rest, and JvG has earned the right to have his judgement trusted

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 2:30 pm Bristol's management are going to be furious with that Bath selection. Take the game over the bridge to spread the good word of Prem rugby and Bath rest most of the big names.

ITV must be a bit miffed too

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 2:30 pm Bristol's management are going to be furious with that Bath selection. Take the game over the bridge to spread the good word of Prem rugby and Bath rest most of the big names.

You'd've thought there would be some kind of coordination and agreements. I know it's Bristol's big day out and Bath don't have to play ball if they don't want to, but it's potentially a big advertising stage for Bath as well and Brizzle didn't have to pick them to be the opposition, so there was a little leverage there. Surely Bristol should've talked to them beforehand to make sure this kind of embarrassment wasn't on the table?

A little rotation is one thing and it wouldn't've been a massive deal if they'd rested 4-5 first teamers as that would at least've been a contest. That, however, is two of the first XV, five who'd make the bench, and sixteen whom it'd be kind to call 2nd string and it's turned what should've been an event into a damp squib. Rugby in this country really doesn't help itself sometimes.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 5:09 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 2:30 pm Bristol's management are going to be furious with that Bath selection. Take the game over the bridge to spread the good word of Prem rugby and Bath rest most of the big names.

You'd've thought there would be some kind of coordination and agreements. I know it's Bristol's big day out and Bath don't have to play ball if they don't want to, but it's potentially a big advertising stage for Bath as well and Brizzle didn't have to pick them to be the opposition, so there was a little leverage there. Surely Bristol should've talked to them beforehand to make sure this kind of embarrassment wasn't on the table?

A little rotation is one thing and it wouldn't've been a massive deal if they'd rested 4-5 first teamers as that would at least've been a contest. That, however, is two of the first XV, five who'd make the bench, and sixteen whom it'd be kind to call 2nd string and it's turned what should've been an event into a damp squib. Rugby in this country really doesn't help itself sometimes.

Puja

Agreed. Bath have earned the right to rest if they so choose but does it have to be everyone all at once? The Welsh haven't seen a competitive game at the Principality in a while now, this was a prime chance to offer them some entertainment.

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 5:12 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 5:09 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 2:30 pm Bristol's management are going to be furious with that Bath selection. Take the game over the bridge to spread the good word of Prem rugby and Bath rest most of the big names.

You'd've thought there would be some kind of coordination and agreements. I know it's Bristol's big day out and Bath don't have to play ball if they don't want to, but it's potentially a big advertising stage for Bath as well and Brizzle didn't have to pick them to be the opposition, so there was a little leverage there. Surely Bristol should've talked to them beforehand to make sure this kind of embarrassment wasn't on the table?

A little rotation is one thing and it wouldn't've been a massive deal if they'd rested 4-5 first teamers as that would at least've been a contest. That, however, is two of the first XV, five who'd make the bench, and sixteen whom it'd be kind to call 2nd string and it's turned what should've been an event into a damp squib. Rugby in this country really doesn't help itself sometimes.

Puja

Agreed. Bath have earned the right to rest if they so choose but does it have to be everyone all at once? The Welsh haven't seen a competitive game at the Principality in a while now, this was a prime chance to offer them some entertainment.

as before.....grim for the broadcasters too. Too late now, but suspect they'd have changed plans knowing Bath's cunning plan.

Puja wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 5:09 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 2:30 pm Bristol's management are going to be furious with that Bath selection. Take the game over the bridge to spread the good word of Prem rugby and Bath rest most of the big names.

You'd've thought there would be some kind of coordination and agreements. I know it's Bristol's big day out and Bath don't have to play ball if they don't want to, but it's potentially a big advertising stage for Bath as well and Brizzle didn't have to pick them to be the opposition, so there was a little leverage there. Surely Bristol should've talked to them beforehand to make sure this kind of embarrassment wasn't on the table?

A little rotation is one thing and it wouldn't've been a massive deal if they'd rested 4-5 first teamers as that would at least've been a contest. That, however, is two of the first XV, five who'd make the bench, and sixteen whom it'd be kind to call 2nd string and it's turned what should've been an event into a damp squib. Rugby in this country really doesn't help itself sometimes.

Puja

Alas no.

Accept Bath can pick who they want and rest whoever they like but some awareness of the bigger picture would be nice. We dont get many Prem games on free to air so you would have thought PRL and the clubs would be very keen to see a competitive fixture.

Looks like a chance missed.

Try Donoghue!

We won't go into how well made it was

And now some tempers - rightful ones

It's been a good game so far.

Don't like that risk from Donoghue.
Good execution and result, but too much can go wrong

Was always going to happen, but Dammit!

Randall appealing that an injured player isn't rolling away is... classy

Jeez we're knackered

Hope we've an oxygen tank waiting in the changing room

Can't help thinking it's a shame Bath haven't got a strong bench. 25 minutes would not have hurt them that much, surely?

TFFT1
Really needed that after 2 disallowed

RICH LANE had no right not make that tackle!

Oakboy wrote: ↑Sat May 10, 2025 4:09 pm Can't help thinking it's a shame Bath haven't got a strong bench. 25 minutes would not have hurt them that much, surely?

Not just for the bench, but for the composure

The 100m turnaround hurts.
Heads have dropped, whilst legs are shot, to allow Bristol to put the scoreboard... quite honestly, still shy of where it should have been given the selections.

Bath boys will have learned an absolute tonne today - gave Bristol a proper scare, rattled enough to give away those cards.

Proud of the boys.

Gave Bristol a proper scare, rattled enough to give up those cards.

Even 36 points flatters Bristol at the end, and they should really have been targeting 50.

Bath's youngters will have learned an absolute tonne, whilst Briss won't scare us with a first XV.

Coaches will need to work on the kids for composure, and execution under pressure. S&C will need to work on busting a gut even once shattered. Neither of which is new when dealing with kids.

Donoghue specifically will have learned, and needs to internalise, a massive amount about the difference between what's expected of a FH Vs FB. I've a feeling it's his first loss in a Bath shirt, but don't quote me on that.

I've not seen Donoghue before. Good hands, quick and tackles hard. I was impressed.

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sat May 10, 2025 5:10 pm Proud of the boys.

Gave Bristol a proper scare, rattled enough to give up those cards.

Even 36 points flatters Bristol at the end, and they should really have been targeting 50.

Bath's youngters will have learned an absolute tonne, whilst Briss won't scare us with a first XV.

Coaches will need to work on the kids for composure, and execution under pressure. S&C will need to work on busting a gut even once shattered. Neither of which is new when dealing with kids.

Donoghue specifically will have learned, and needs to internalise, a massive amount about the difference between what's expected of a FH Vs FB. I've a feeling it's his first loss in a Bath shirt, but don't quote me on that.

Yeah, you deserve to be proud of them. Had no right to make that a contest, let alone as close as it was. Some very strong and brave performances from the youngsters.

Puja

Bath did well and i liked the contributions of Donoghue. I think Green has a bit going for him and i'm keen to see more.

5 pts were expected for Bristol and they delivered that. They still look like they're operating well below full throttle and prone to too many daft errors.

Good on them for staging the game in Cardiff. A crowd of 51,000 is a very good return.

I though De Glanville went well- rarely seems to have a bad game. With Carreras coming in and Harris/Donoghue/Emens/Arundell all able to play full back, does he need a move?