Wasps or Hornets? Wasps v Bath
Priestland: start?
By P G Tips
December 8 2015
When Bath take on Wasps on Sunday they may find themselves thinking they are actually in a hornets nest. Their hosts lost their first home game last week, failing even to get a bonus point against a rampant Exeter Chiefs. They will be smarting from that scalping, as well as conscious of their welcome status as leaders of Pool 5 the European Champions Cup “Pool of Death”. That has been gained with impressive wins over Leinster & Toulon, the first a shock triumph in Dublin, the second a bonus point affair in Coventry. As fine as their attacking play has been, Wasps have also been ruthless in defence, denying their vaunted opponents more than 2 penalties apiece. As Wasps also stand above Bath in the domestic table and are playing their customary brand of high tempo rugby a big sting seems on the cards. A sting with deadly venom.
Wasps stand 6th to Bath’s 9th in the Aviva Premiership –only 3 league points ahead so it is early in the season to be feting them or damning their visitors but there is little doubt whose fans are happier. Wasps defeats have come against high flyers and their play in most matches has shown plenty of the quality and adventure that made them such a threat last year. Bath on the other hand have looked patchy and inconsistent, only one of their 6 AP matches giving the fans much to cheer about. Home defeat to Saints last Saturday suggested a malaise in the camp – either sluggishness or a slump in morale – because while many put in excellent individual performances, team cohesion seemed to be lacking.
Mike Ford and fellow coaches will be wary of the many big stingers in the Wasps ranks. Perhaps key of these is Joe Launchbury, a winning lineout presence, dynamic threat in the loose and a growing talisman who is being touted as a possible England captain. With him in the front five the Coventry crew are spoilt for choice with the likes of Mullan, Johnson, Cittadini, Davies and Gaskell. Whoever is chosen is likely to be backed up by a loose forward trio of real power and breakdown nous in Haskell, Hughes and Smith. Behind them a half back pairing that blends pace and spark with pragmatism can orchestrate an equally varied and complete attack threat –the power of Halai or Tagicakibau, the dash of Wade and Daly, steadiness of Jacobs and the blitzkrieg of Piutau. Fans at the Rich will be licking their lips at the prospect of catching Bath cold.
This though is a different competition –one where Bath will aim to restore their fortunes and self-belief. Neither Montpellier not Toulouse could dent that self belief last year and both fell at home to stunning rugby from the Rec men. Can bath do it? Yes, of course: they have the personnel and pedigree – what they need is to get back their mojo. As Ford has said – no more excuses, we must get winning again! Changes will need to be made to last week’s team – not to scapegoat players, but to rest where needed, iron out faults and try a different approach. Davey Wilson must start and so too Rhys Priestland. Both young locks did well in the loose last week, but it is hard to tell if the absence of Attwood & Hooper contributed to Bath’s woes at the set piece. If fit, they must feature. Dave Denton too should be given a start for his lineout presence and pace. Discipline has been mentioned so many times this season that it seems facile to cite it- specific discipline areas must be targeted, the scrum being number one. Improved execution is another must- there will be few chances to score at the Ricoh –they must be taken. If that means pragmatism, so be it. Banahan, Devoto & Rokodoguni all looked sharp against Saints and Agulla, if given the chance will be itching to us his bustling style to bust the gainline. Strike power out wide is there –it needs to be brought effectively into play.
Prediction is perilous at this point in the season, but a win would do much to disperse the gloom at Farleigh and the Rec. For Wasps a win would see them clear Pool leaders and credible European candidates. This will be a buzzing affair –with a sting in the tail: but whose tail?
Possible Teams:
Bath: Auterac. Batty, Wilson, Hooper (Capt), Attwood, Garvey, Louw, Denton. Cook, Priestland. Banahan, Devoto, Joseph,Rokodoguni, Watson.
Replacements: Catt, Webber, Thomas, Ewels, Houston. Matawalu, Ford, Agulla
Wasps:
Mullan, Johnson, Cooper-Woolley, Davis, Launchbury, Haskell, Smith,Hughes. Simpson, Jackson. Halai, Jacobs, Daly, Wade. Piutau.
Replacements: McIntyre,Festuccia, Swainston, Gaskell, Jones. Robson, Lozowski, Tagicakibau.