Pride and Precision: Bath v Sale

The home leg of Bath’s double header with Sale has a “do or die” look about it-for both sides. Bath in ninth can hope for no more than pride, but Sale will wish to hold onto their tenuous grip on sixth: they can afford few slips in their remaining three games. One of those is a likely banana skin away at Newcastle, so Steve Diamond’s team will want safety before then. Last Sunday Bath found the pride to come back from 14-3 down to a respectable 17-17 with ten minutes to go. What they could not do was find the precision to win when the momentum seemed to have edged their way. The next score or error was expected to tip the balance and after both fly halves missed kicks, it was a Bath infringement that paved the way for Sale’s win. With an injury depleted squad and a recent record of self- destruct, Bath’s chances look no better than evens – even at home.

If pride is to be restored, the boys in blue, black and white will hope for passionate and continuous support from their home crowd. The long suffering Rec supporters could take some persuading though: the prevailing mood seems to be exasperation with performance and mystified questioning of tactics. When the team are not the target of ire, referees are. Bath have undoubtedly had the rough end of some fifty: fifty decisions this season, but the huge collection of yellow cards smacks of self-inflicted wound. No official is biased, but they are only human and Bath’s tendency to concede penalties under pressure builds a picture of guilt, so indiscipline and penalties become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Sale have played a simple and effective game all season. They are doughty competitors at the breakdown, build pressure and territory through a strong and disciplined set piece and attack urgently when the time is ripe. Danny Cipriani marshals them well, especially when served quick ball by Stringer, while their preferred threequarter line of Addison, James, Tuitupou, and Edwards combine strong midfield thrust and pace out wide. This week though, they face disruption, if not enforced change. Cipriani’s high profile court case has been adjourned until Friday. Even if he is released to play, it seems doubtful that he will be in a fit state of mind to take the field. There is every chance that the Ford brothers could be lining up against each other. George’s critics will doubtless quip that Joe should get the better of the duel, but George’s ambitions should ensure he is out to secure his place on the Australia tour.

Bath must find something from somewhere and hope that a dry spring day will help them find some of the attacking flair that lit the Rec at this time last season. The side will probably include at least four internationals behind the scrum. Three of these are rumoured to be in Eddie Jones’s thoughts as under performers at club level. They must show him – and the Rec faithful- what they are made of. Come on Bath, it is time to give us some cheer!

Possible Teams:
Bath:, Catt, Webber, Wilson. Attwood, Ewels, Garvey, Louw, Houston. Cook, Ford. Banahan, Devoto, Joseph, Rokodoguni.  Priestland.

Replacements: Auterac  Dunn, Thomas, Day, Mafi. Homer, Hastings, Clark.

Sale:
Lewis-Roberts, Taylor, Cobilas, Evans, Mills, Nield, Seymour (capt), Easter. Stringer, Ford, Addison, James, Tuitupou, Edwards. Haley;

Replacements: Briggs, Harrison, Mujati, Ostrikov, Lund, Cusiter, MacLeod, Brady.