Stoop to Conquer? Harlequins v Bath
Eastmond: to shine?
By P G Tips
May 4 2015
Bath’s push for a home semi is challenged by two clubs finding late season form. Gloucester have just won the European Challenge Cup and Friday’s opponents Harlequins snatched a rare bonus point victory two weeks ago at Sale. Quins have persevered with their positive, ball-in-hand approach all season, even when a secure forward platform has been lacking. Their results have consequently been mixed, but they have won their last two Premiership matches. So, as Bath head to the Stoop in need of a win, what sort of Quins performance should they expect?
Harlequins hopes of making the Top six and qualifying for the premier European tournament must be academic only, but they will want to finish their season on a high. Their try scorers in Salford included the usual suspects – Robshaw, Care and Yarde, plus a key role in one try played by Nick Easter. Fly half Nick Evans can be added to these four as a key threat. The back row and half backs dictate both direction and tempo of Quins’ game which they have the pace out wide to exploit if they can win sufficient possession. A pacy and elusive back line can attack from far out as well as exploiting gaps created by pressure closer to opponent’s goal lines. Evans is an astute tactician who can kick Quins into the right areas of the pitch if given quality ball to work with. Quins front five may not be as dominant a force as two seasons ago, but their dynamic and creative loose forwards are capable of snatching turnovers and creating opportunities for counter attack.
For Bath, Mike Ford has vowed to play the running game until the season ends, so it seems that both clubs will approach the game with the same plan. Or will they? Bath’s try bonus victory at the Rec in November was eventually secured by forward dominance, with Quins unable to resist Bath’s scrummage legally. Selections for that match were heavily impacted on both sides by the Autumn Internationals, but now Quins must play out the rest of the season without Joe Marler, England’s first choice loosehead. Also missing through injury are tight heads Kyle Sinckler and Will Collier – both of whom have international aspirations. So, ironically in light of Bath’s own tighthead woes, it could be the tight five where Bath find the obvious advantage. Last season’s Stoop encounter in May brought frustrating defeat for Bath, so a solid forward platform will be needed to gain the upper hand. So too the sort of aggressive defence which so blunted Saracens at the Rec in October. Expect bath to want to assert scrum dominance early and to play the territory to set up driving mauls. Harlequins will be lacking Mike Brown so some early searching kicks from George Ford should be on the menu too. Subdue first, then cut loose could well be the plan. This is the sort of game for Kyle Eastmond’s dancing feet and for Banahan & Rokodoguni to continue their revival as finishers. Bath to win, but it could be close. The bonus point: who knows?
Possible Teams:
Bath: James, Webber, Lahiff, Attwood, Hooper , Burgess, Louw, Houston. Stringer, Ford. Banahan, Eastmond , Joseph, Rokodoguni. Watson
Bench: Auterac, Batty, Palma -Newport, Day, Fa’osiliva. Cook, Devoto, Homer
Harlequins:
Lambert, Ward, Shields, Easter, Robson, Wallace, Robshaw, Clifford. Care, Evans. Walker, Sloan, Lowe, Yarde, Lindsay-Hague
Bench:Buchanan, Gray, Marvo, Matthews, Talei, Dickson, Botica, Monye
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:05:12:13:42:05 by Stuart Anderton.
Roko is out according to BT Sport to play for the Army
Pretty sure that Wilson will at least be on the bench. I think the last report was that he is back in full training.
With Roko out I expect Agulla to be gunning to prove a point!
Very excited about this one. A fifteen minute walk for me to the ground as well, happy days!
Think it is worth starting Davey as long as he is fully fit- for at least 60 minutes and test him out and bring him up to match fitness. We are going to need him if we are to progress in playoffs.
Also, I would start Cookie against Care because Cookie is faster than Strings and we have to guard against Cares broken field running from set pieces.
Personally I would also start Alfie over Sam if we are going to outmuscle them for 60 minutes and then bring on Sam when the play may begin to break up and he can use his power and speed and off loading game to good effect.
Still feel (because of history) Quins have the jinx on us at The Stoop and we will only get a LPB. Will that be enough for a home semi? I don't think so.
Hopefully not my last though as I have tickets to the final.
I actually think if we "are going to outmuscle them for 60 minutes" Burgess would start with Alfie brought on late to exploit the broken field opportunities.
PG
Pretty sure that I read somewhere that Wilson is back in training, but I can't find the article.
Either way, with their third choice tighthead and second choice loosehead and one of our England boys back, we really should be looking to dominate at scrum time.
Personally, I'd not pick Sam to start in this one. They have a very savvy back row and I'd prefer to see either Alfie or Fearns start.
I am very excited for this one. Having a week off really does whet the appetite even more!
Touch wood, the injury situation at this time of the year is better than it has been for a long time. Last year we had Flo and Garvey missing from the backrow, Webber and Batty both crocked and George playing with one arm.
Still if we are ever going to break the hoodoo, we will very likely never have a better chance with our practically fully fit squad.
But still I have a nagging feeling this is a banana skin for us to slip up on, especially if we start badly. Who is the ref as we need to have someone sympathetic to a strong scrummage?
C'mon you Bath.
Shame to miss Hooper, I'm guessing the calf injury that forced him off at half time vs Irish is still there. Hope he's ok for the playoffs, we will need him.
Quote:Bathovalballer
Who is the ref as we need to have someone sympathetic to a strong scrummage?
Mr G Garner
Quote:Tricky=Legend
....A fifteen minute walk for me to the ground as well, happy days!
Can I book a parking sace at your place for the final?
Quote:miller8
You have it the wrong way round Boy, Wilson was always definitely back for the end of the season whilst Thomas is touch and go. The good news is that both Wilson and Agulla were fully involved in first team training down at the Rec on Monday morning. Thomas was in training kit but not involved, The only absentee was Hooper.
Going by the Chronicle article of 22nd April...
Quote:Chronicle
The coaches are still hopeful that Thomas will be fit to feature away at Harlequins on May 8.
A date hasn't been set for Wilson's return, but everyone at the club expects him to be back in action before the end of the season. If Bath get to the Premiership final at Twickenham, their campaign would finish on May 30.
Trikidiki, you can actually park for free on my road, it's the first one that doesn't have parking restrictions near to Twickers. Feel free to PM me for details!
BC
Quote:Boy
Goddamn Chronicle making a fool of me.
You blaming the Chronicle for that now Boy??
Quote:Tricky=Legend
Trikidiki, you can actually park for free on my road, it's the first one that doesn't have parking restrictions near to Twickers. Feel free to PM me for details!
Thanks for the offer. We normally park over at Twickenham Green and go to The Prince Belusha before and after the match until traffic settles.