Bath to Pass Tough Winter Test? L Irish v Bath

The wet and windy months of winter have seldom been Bath’s favourite time of the season.

 This year, 9 absences on international duty and injuries to other front line players are stretching team resources and testing the club’s strength in depth. The November Premiership fixtures also pair Bath with 3 teams who have some points to prove. Next up are London Irish who will be desperate to bounce back after slumping to defeat at Sale on the back of two yellow cards. A tough encounter is in prospect.

To Irish this would be a grudge match anyway. Losing 4 talented youngsters to Bath last season has rankled with their supporters and the team feel they got the rough edge of some refereeing decisions in each of their matches with Bath last year. Their sense of grievance could be heightened by a look at the table – Irish in tenth, with Bath in third. Bath struggled last Saturday to put away a typically cussed Newcastle side, so relative League placing may not be the best form guide this month while so many first choices are missing. Enjoying home advantage and the extra motivations of saving face and taking revenge, Irish will fancy this one as winnable.

In Ojo, Fenby & Lewington Irish possess ample back-three pace, while their centres proved last year that, given decent ball, they can be a potent force both in crossing the gain line and exploiting space. Their pack lacks stand out stars, but not experience. They will bear the brunt of Brian Smith’s wrath this week as both yellow cards conceded at Sale were by forwards. They will be a wounded beast on Saturday-smarting and dangerous.

Irish are an enigma. Despite running last season’s high flyers Saracens & Quins close, they are yet to win in the Premiership at home. Their two victories have been away, against Tigers and fellow strugglers Newcastle. Expect them to do what any side under pressure will: revert to simplicity, concentrate on the basics and fight for every inch of territory, every shred of possession.

So – Bath have been here before, last week in fact. They may have struggled, but they did not ever really look likely losers against the Falcons. Batty, Day & Hooper were outstanding up front and Joseph looked very sharp in the backs. Devoto too put in a good shift, offering go forward on the gainline and making some deft tactical kicks. Having put away one tough Premiership encounter I expect few changes in personnel and the same squad to grow in confidence and ambition. If they can get Joseph, Woodburn and a revitalised Banahan into space they have enough to win. That is what I (& Mike Ford) will expect.

Possible Teams

Bath: 

Catt, Batty, Thomas, Hooper, Day, Sisi, Mercer, Houston. Cook, Henson, Banahan, Devoto, Joseph, Woodburn, Arscott
Bench: Catt, Dunn, Palma -Newport, Ewels, Garvey, Young, Clark, Lane

London Irish:

Court, Paice, Aulika; Skivington (capt), Cox; Low, Narraway, Guest., Allinson, Noakes. Lewington, Mulchrone, Sheridan, Ojo. Fenby.
Bench: Stevens, Hagan, Halavatau, Leo, Treviranus, Steele, Geraghty, Homer..