Playing for Pride? Bath v Toulon

Ford: Tricky Choice
By P G Tips
January 19 2016

Bath have only pride to play for when Toulon visit the Rec this Saturday. After Leinster’s squad of young hopefuls delivered them a lesson in focus, application and brave intent, two wins from five leave the Blue Black and White with only domestic ambition this season. Both last weekend’s fixtures brought determination and winning rugby out of the two Pool 5 teams who had so far underperformed. Leinster’s spirited and adventurous approach gave the lie to earlier results while Toulon, perhaps embarrassed at accusations of a prima donna attitude, finally shook off their lethargy for a last minute heartbreaker of a win against Wasps. That performance now puts them at the head of the group – just, but in no position to be complacent. They will surely come to Bath with their strongest available team- fired up to produce knockout quality rugby. So-how should Bath approach the match?

They might take a leaf out of Leinster’s book and field a side who have had few starts – perhaps the hunger would ignite a similarly spirited response? Exeter – chasing a first ever Premiership playoff place were another to give leading players a rest. In doing so they passed up the chance of a famous win in Bordeaux, while making their priority perfectly clear. Deciding which option to take will be a tough task for Mike Ford’s coaching team this week. On the surface, it is simple. Winning breeds winning and testing yourselves against the best builds big game experience and generates the confidence to succeed. After pushing Toulon so hard, surely they will not throw in the towel for the home tie?

 

On the other hand, this is a season in need of rescue.  Missing out on Europe this year must place securing qualification for next season top of the agenda. That can only be won by a Top Six finish. Some of the key players in delivering that will be involved in the Six Nations and have been playing, or in training camp, solidly since August 2013. Maybe it would do a few good to have a rest? Fatigue certainly told at the end of the 2015 season as Bath lost out by a single league point on a playoff place, with murmurs that a few players, George Ford in particular, had been over played. What harm could it do to give starts to some of Bath’s talented squad players? Let them give it a lash to see how they do?

 

Among those who must be aching for a start are Catt, Evans, Priestland, Devoto, Agulla: all have had some experience of tough European fixtures. They will be itching to prove themselves in front of a capacity home crowd.  We know that Toulon will bring intensity, physicality and tempo and that they can be brutal opponents when their tails are up. Whichever selection Bath opts for will need the “knock your block off” spirit of the Felix Mayol two weeks ago. It is hard to see beyond a Toulon win, nor a performance of pride and defiance from Bath. Toulon should prevail, but the margin will depend on who Bath choose.

 

Possible Bath Team:

Auterac, Webber, Wilson, Day, Hooper (Capt), Garvey, Louw,Houston.
Cook, Ford. Banahan, Eastmond,  Joseph, Rokodoguni. Watson
Replacements:  
Lahiff, Batty, Thomas, Ewels, Denton. Matawalu, Priestland, Homer

 

Team I would be tempted to choose:

Catt, Webber, Thomas, Ewels, Hooper, Denton, Houston, Louw. Evans, Priestland. Agulla, Devoto, Eastmond, Rokodoguni. Homer

Replacements: Lahiff, Dunn, Wilson, Day, Mercer. Cook, Ford, Banahan