Saints or Sinners? Bath v Northampton

This Saturday’s Rec clash could easily be dismissed by rivals as a meeting of under achievers. It is some years since Northampton could be damned with that tag, their recent pedigree in Premiership and Europe testament to consistent quality, even when missing out on silverware. Bath though have flattered to deceive for 7 years. Empty handed despite a season of flair and entertainment last year and now languishing in 8th with almost a quarter of Premiership matches played, have Bath shot their bolt? Saints fell to a last minute defeat on the opening weekend with almost as much drama and shock as Japan’s RWC ambush of the Springboks. Since then, one hammering of misfiring Falcons apart, they have either lost, or laboured to wins in dampening weather. So – are we to expect a mid table effort this weekend or will two of last year’s most impressive teams finally get their act together?    

To do that, Northampton will need to rediscover the total game which served them so well in the Autumn of 2014. So far this term they have shown they can dominate up front and thrill with attack from deep: just not both on the same day. A similar accusation can be made of their hosts. There is no doubting the strength of the Saints line up, which this season has been strengthened with the arrival of Brookes, Matfield, Patterson and Gibson up front and JJ Hanrahan behind. The return of Ben Foden, absent through injury most of last season, has been welcome for them and he seems to be timing his push for restoration to the England squad well. Joining him are two other backs with a point to prove to new England boss Eddie Jones – Lee Dickson and Luther Burrell could both argue that they were mistakenly overlooked for the World Cup. Burrell in particular will relish a run at Bath’s lightweight midfield to showcase his talent.

When they get it right, Northampton can keep the ball alive for long periods, play the phases patiently, exert pressure and provide the killer punch out wide ruthlessly. They have not lost at the Rec in recent years – the closest Bath have come to a win was in the controversial and unsatisfactory draw two seasons ago.

If Bath are to win, how can they do it? For sixty minutes of last weekend’s defeat they looked to have the answer. The high tempo game brought early reward and the positive approach could so easily have brought a cherished victory.  To build on those sixty minutes Ford and his fellow coaches will want to iron out three faults: careless execution, ill discipline and failure to sustain the intensity in the final minutes. To these communal failings must be added individual judgement. Whoever chose to go for the lineout instead of kicking the goal for a losing bonus will rue the decision in review this week. Ford’s challenge is to instill cold-eyed judgement without blunting the ambition and quick thinking which have become his son’s (and Bath’s) trademark.

The Rec faithful may be hopeful that, having come so close to victory against Tigers without four international forwards, the boys in Blue, Black & White can bounce back when at full strength. I expect the pack will be reinforced and that the halfbacks will aim to play the ball into Saints’ territory and unleash Rokodoguni, Watson & Banahan once in the 22. The weather may not be kind – mild rain and a 16mile an hour wind are forecast, so the conditions will probably not be ideal. Bath have to get it right soon, with daunting European matches coming next. After those, Christmas and the New Year bring some more winnable Premiership fixtures. Poor performances last season were usually followed by a rebound. We hope for that this weekend, in what is bound to be a tense, tight, tussle.

Possible Teams:
Bath: Auterac. Batty, Thomas, Hooper (Capt), Attwood, Garvey, Louw, Houston. Cook, Ford. Banahan, Eastmond, Devoto, Rokodoguni, Watson.
Replacements: Catt, Webber, Wilson, Ewels, Denton. Matawalu, Priestland, Agulla

Northampton Saints: Waller, Haywood, Brookes, Paterson, C. Day, Gibson, Wood, S. Dickinson. Dickson, Myler. Tuala, Pisi, Burrell, North. Foden.

Replacements: Waller, Williams, Hill, Matfield, Clark. Fotual’I, Hanrahan, Pisi