WHOSE TURN FOR A BATH?

If things were a bit tight last weekend, we’re on a crash diet this Saturday. At least we had access to Tompkins (thank goodness) Maitland and Christie for our trip to Coventry. Tompkins starts for Wales but neither Christie nor Maitland are included in the Scotland squad so both could be available for the visit of Bath. With Lawes still concussed, Isiekwe starts for England along with Daly, Malins, and Maro. Jamie is on the bench. So we’re on emergency rations with what’s left! England have released Orlando Bloom – I mean Bailey back to Bath (although rumour has it he has a hamstring injury so won’t be available) leaving Charlie Ewels and Will Stuart with the squad. If that is the case, Bath are struggling to find a fit recognised fly-half (Danny Cipriani and Tian Schoeman have been out injured for the past 3 weeks) although Cam Redpath &  Max Ojomoh has been worthy stand-ins. Redpath isn’t in the Scotland squad so could be available for Bath. Bath have also had injuries to Tom Dunn, Taulupe Faletua, Jo Cokanasiga, Tom de Glanville Ethan Staddon and Richard de Carpentier although again it is rumoured that 1 or 2 could feature on Saturday (possibly De Glanville?). Sam Underhill will definitely be missing due to a combination of COVID & Concussion and Muir picked up a knock last weekend

Bath are on a bit of a roll, having won their past 2 Premiership games (both at home against Worcester 22-19 & Quins 21-17). Sarries on the other hand have lost their last 2 Premiership games to Gloucester & Wasps. Apparently Sarries haven’t lost 3 successive Premiership games since December 2017 (and have never lost 2 home games in a row since moving to Allianz/StoneX) while Bath haven’t won 3 successive games for almost a year and last won away in March 2021. The last game between the 2 teams at Allianz was a 17-17 draw!

Who can forget the last time the 2 teams met when Sarries thrashed Bath down at the Rec 71-17. Bath will be up for revenge but even the biggest pessimist among Sarries supporters wouldn’t expect that sort of a turnaround. Bath’s recent successes have been due in no small measure to former Saracen Ben Spencer who has continued to perform week in week out for Bath (as he did for Sarries). Many would rate him the best scrum half in the League – unfortunately for Ben, one of those who doesn’t is Eddie Jones! Nathan Hughes had a stormer last week and the centre pairing of Redpath & Joseph looks pretty solid. Thanks to PG Tips on the Bath Board for a possible starting team:

Rokodoguni, Hamer-Webb, Joseph, Clark, Muir (Redpath?), Ojomoh, B Spencer, Cordwell, Du Toit, Rae, W Spencer, McNally (Capt.), Coetzee, Richards, Hughes.  (Update Bailey’s hamstring may be less serious than first thought although playing him would be risky)

As for Sarries, well it’s almost a case of if you’re fit you’re playing. Without Tompkins, the midfield looks a little bare. I would imagine the coaches will persist with Manu at 10 for now. Davies will probably start ahead of Van Zyl now he is fit again. The availability of Maitland could tempt the coaches to go with Goode at 10 and Maitland at 15 but I suspect not. So we will probably see something like:

Goode, Lewington, Lozowski, Morris, Segun (Maitland), Manu Vunipola, Davies, Mako Vunipola, Woolstencroft, Koch, Hunter-Hill, Swinson, McFarland, Earl. Billy Vunipola

Sarries need to watch their discipline. It has cost them dearly over the past couple of months and could well be the case again. No backchat and cut down on those silly penalties! Bath managed to demolish the Quins front row last week so that will be a challenge for Mako, Wolfie & Vincent. Lets hope Wolfie gets his arrows straight! Sarries should just have enough in the tank to win this, especially playing at home, but it won’t be easy and don’t expect another thrashing as happened at The Rec. Personally I’ll take any win!

The referee is Sara Cox – just her 2^nd Premiership game but I remember when she reffed us in the Championship last year (away to Pirates) everyone was pretty complimentary and definitely didn’t blame her for the defeat. Craig Maxwell-Keys and John Meredith are her assistants and Claire Hodnett (about whom we have been less complimentary) is in the replay van. It would be good to get some positive comments about the officials after the last 2 weeks!