A Crucial Clash: Exeter v Bath

Eastmond: shone
By P G Tips
February 23 2015

Bath let an opportunity slip last weekend: twice. A chance to close the gap on Saints was lost as was one to widen the gap on a chasing pack which now numbers 5 clubs packed tight as sardines. Another defeat at Sandy Park next Saturday could undermine all the good built up in the first half of the season. While Bath struggled to cope with Northampton’s streetwise breakdown stranglehold, Chiefs dominated Quins at the Stoop and would have taken five league points but for two tries ruled out for forward passes. Next Saturday Bath will still miss their England starts, and possibly those injured too, while Exeter can call on their architects of victory and key strike runners. Bath’s loose forward trio were bested by Northampton at home, while the Exeter back row enjoyed their usual dynamic performance. Henry Slade, Jack Nowell and Sam Hill also played a strong part in their win, while Bath’s backs seemed to lack confidence, individually and collectively. With the Exeter star waxing and Bath’s appearing to wane, the omens do not seem good. This could be a crucial point in the season. Lose and Bath drop to third, win and they keep a healthy gap at least between their own second place and fourth.

Exeter’s threat, as always, will be their high tempo offloading and the accuracy of their passing. Recent Bath efforts have seemed more lacklustre than usual and both discipline and accuracy deserted the Rec men last weekend – at lineout, in penalty count and mostly in kicking- both for field placement and goal. Any slackness will be readily punished by an Exeter team with their tails up, motivated by the knowledge that bath are the only side against whom they have not yet forged a Premiership win and by their passionate home support.

Bath showed before Christmas that they could cope with international absences, enjoying wins against Newcastle Falcons, London Irish and Harlequins while depleted by call ups and a back row shortage. The missing mojo is not down to missing players alone. So- how do Bath get it back and how can they win in Devon? The first step must be back to basics. This week must see work on the set piece, both scrum and lineout, to restore the dominance and go-forward of early season. Next: kicking – from hand and tee. Shorter tactical kicking can maximise pressure on the opposition, giving the chasers a chance to profit, or to create mayhem in the defence, while denying the opposition the counter attack chances that have bruised Bath in the last 2 AP fixtures. Touches found offer a chance to pressurise the opposition lineout, rather than ceded ground to counter running or more astute and accurate kicking. Chances must also be taken – which may require patience to build the position for goal attempts rather than reliance on long distance chances to build a margin. Finally, the choice to go wide should be earned, won up front and taken wisely. Sam Burgess’ physical threat has been swallowed well by defences of late. Maybe it is time to use him more as a decoy, which worked so well against Montpellier and give him his head closer to the line as against Wasps. One Bath back who did shine against Saints was Kyle Eastmond with several trademark breaks and cut-out passes which should have gained more reward. If fit, he needs to be put into space more often, with a variety of supporting runners to increase his options.

Game management is also needed. Who steps into George Ford’s shoes when he is not available? Olly Devoto is distributing well, offers physical go-forward close to the set piece and has good game vision. As a fly half he needs some help, so it would be good to see the scrum half and second receiver take on some of the kicking duties and Bath to play more with ball in hand. In front of him the forwards have a reputation to restore after being shaded in recent encounters. This is a vital weekend for Bath’s play-off hopes. Success will require guts, focus, accuracy & something a little special. Bath should be up for the challenge.

Possible Bath team: Auterac, Webber, Thomas, Hooper, Day, Garvey, Louw, Houston. Cook, Devoto. Woodburn, Eastmond, Burgess, Rokoduguni, Homer. Bench: Obano, Batty, Palma Newport, Fa’osiliva Fearns, Burgess. Stringer, Jennings, Arscott,

Exeter: Moon, Cowan-Dickie, Francis, Mumm, Welsh, Ewers, White, Waldrom. Chudley, Slade. Jess, Hill, Nowell, Whitton. DollmanBench: Yeandle, Rimmer, Brown, Lees, Johnson, Lewis, Steenson, McGuigan

A Crucial Clash: Exeter v Bath

Posted by: Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged)

Date: 23/02/2015 17:18

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:03:03:19:00:32 by Stuart Anderton.