Domestic Dogfight

Following European embarrassment, Bath move to domestic dogfight almost as soon as they have digested their Christmas turkey. The visit of Worcester Warriors is the first chance to execute the findings of the “long hard look” promised by Mike Ford after Wasps had dealt a cruel blow to Bath’s continental hopes. 

It also gives  an opportunity to refresh, rest and revitalize and should be a moment to restore confidence. Should be, but not guaranteed. Worcester sit only one place below Bath – divided by one bonus point less. That said, the men from the orchard of England are perennial Premiership strugglers and a holiday season home tie would usually have the bookmakers heavily backing Bath. Time then to get back to winning ways?

Worcester strengthened their squad on promotion – shoring up their pack with O’Callaghan and Dowson.  To their traditional doggedness, cussedness and back to basics approach they have added some more flair and verve in attack of late, thanks to Wynand Olivier, Cooper Vuna and Bryce Heem – the latter keeping former Rec favourite Tom Biggs out of the starting squad for the past few weeks. Behind these, Chris Pennell, one of the best fullbacks in England, offers additional attacking threat and the full range of defensive skills too.

The clue to Bath’s game plan may be in their woes from the last few matches. As Ford has promised root and branch review (and maybe reform –though that could take longer) it would be natural to expect wholesale changes to approach and even personnel. Life does not work like that, though and the whole coaching team will want to identify what has worked and make more of it, while minimizing the negatives. The last is easier said than done –ill discipline and concession of penalties at the scrum and in the red zone are as much a credit to opposition pressure as a damnation of Bath weakness.

For this match I expect some changes – there are batteries to recharge and some fine players have had to wait in the wings in recent weeks.  Injuries unfortunately have to be factored in too- and the health of Hooper, Louw and Eastmond will be of particular concern. Sunday’s weather is expected to be a respite from the blustery fare of Christmas week, so should set fair for a mild festive romp- if one side or the other can gain the edge to allow them to open up.

If Bath get the right selection mix of first choices, squad regulars and youthful promise right, they should have enough pedigree to win – especially in strength from the bench. When the attack has been right, as it has but rarely – against London Irish and fitfully in Coventry v Wasps, Bath have reminded us of last season. They can do so again. First though they must the show dog and the fight to win this domestic basement battle and get the winning premiership show back on the road.

Merry Christmas!

Possible Teams:

Bath: Catt, Webber, Thomas, Ewels, Attwood, (Capt), Garvey, Mercer, Houston. Cook, Priestland, Agulla, Devoto, Joseph, Rokodoguni. Homer

Replacements: Auterac. Batty, Wilson, Denton, Fa’osiliva. Matawalu, Ford, Williams.

Worcester: Leleimalefaga, Annett, Rees, O'Callaghan, Barry, Cox, Betty, Dowson (capt). Arr, Heathcote. Vuna, Mills, Olivier, Heem. Pennell. Bregvadze, Ruskin, Milasinovich, Cavubati, Mama, Mulchrone, Lamb, Howard.