Sale Time
Garvey: turnovers
By P G Tips
October 4 2016
As they prepare to face Sale Sharks on Friday, Bath’s coaches face a crucial shortage. The need and the demand is enough back row forwards: the source of supply is increasingly uncertain. Leroy Houston’s call up to the Wallaby squad is the latest blow to a resource that seemed to be in surplus at the start of the season. Injuries to Faletau, Denton, Garvey, Mercer and Sisi and Springbok commitments of Francois Louw have forced Blackadder and Co to field a series of makeshift trios and rely on the flexibility of youth. News from Monday’s United game that Levi Douglas left the field early through injury only increases the concern. The coaches must wish they could buy, rent, beg steal or borrow a ready - made solution. The choice they make is the latest speculation about selection in a season that has seen eight loose forwards chosen for the past five matches: the same starting trio appearing only in two of those. Will Zach Mercer be entrusted with the No 8 shirt? Will Matt Gilbert, recently used in a United game, get a recall from Hartpury? How will Bath match the threat of a genuine openside in Tommy Seymour, the athletic Josh Beaumont and the growing form of Cameron Neild?
Sale have not found consistency yet this season, despite a promising start with an opening weekend away win, but they have been growing in strength with two successive try bonus points and an impressive victory at home against Tigers last Saturday. At their best they are relentless in attack and stubborn in defence. Having lost Cipriani to Wasps in the close season they have swapped his unpredictability for the directness of AJ McGinty and have found an unexpected bonus in the more reliable goal kicking of Addison. They will hope he can cash in on the advantage they will expect at the breakdown, where their experience could win penalties against Bath’s scratch selection. Penalties have exercised the mind of DOR Steve Diamond recently: he was bitter in his condemnation of Craig Maxwell-Keys’ handling of the scrum against Leicester. He will be dismayed therefore that Tom Foley, who drew the ire of Dean Richards for similar reasons last week has charge of the coming match. This will be a test of both packs and the referee. The notorious “goal-line stand” of three years ago in which Bath were denied a winning penalty try despite seven Sale scrum collapses remains fresh in the memory, while Henry Thomas and Rob Webber have swapped clubs since then, so these are familiar foes with points to prove who will doubtless seek penalty chances at the set piece. Penalties are not the only threat though, as Sale’s recent try record shows. Odogwu and Edwards are bustling wrigglers on the wing and Haley a sweeping counter attacker from fullback. Bath’s defence will need to police the midfield closely while ensuring they leave no small change for Phillips around the fringes.
So who will Bath name and how will they approach the match? The good news is that Luke Charteris and Jonathan Joseph are likely to be fit. I expect that these two will join the squad but changes otherwise will be minimal. At Kingsholm Bath turned the game round at half time, going from 35% to 72% territory dominance and 68% of possession. The impact of the bench brought a strong finish and two tries, which suggests that Zach Mercer’s youthful enthusiasm could be held back for a repeat performance this week. It may be an attritional encounter to start with, relying on the heavy tackling of Garvey, Ellis and Catt (and Garvey’s turnovers) until the gaps in the Sale defence have been probed. Last week their midfield alignment at the breakdown was concave, while most other teams are convex – in other words the obeyed the offside line. Expect Banahan and Joseph to snap up any gaps like a special offer. Try scoring chances may be at a premium, but if the game breaks up in the final quarter, Watson and Rokodoguni will go hunting bargains in the corners.
This will be a stern test, but with a home crowd to spur them on, I expect Bath to have just too much for Sale. They should finish the day’s trading in profit – with their fifth win of the season.
Possible Teams:
Bath:
Catt, Batty, Thomas, Attwood, Stooke, Garvey, Ellis, Ewels. Fotuali’i, Ford. Rokodoguni, Banahan, Joseph, Watson. Homer
Replacements: Auterac, Dunn, Palma –Newport, Charteris, Z Mercer. Cook, Brew, Williams.
Sale:
Harrison, Briggs, Longbottom, Evans, Mills, Neild, Seymour, Beaumont (Capt.). Phillips, McGinty. Odogwu, Leota, Addison, Edwards. Haley
Replacements: Webber, Lewis-Roberts, Aulika, Ostrikov, Lund, Stringer, Mugford, McGuigan
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:10:16:16:40:25 by Stuart Anderton.
Quote:The Oilman
As always an excellent preview. Has all the makings of a good Friday night contest.
Think you need to look at Sales injury list before predicting teams. Webber, Longbottom, Stringer all long term injuries. Not sure Haley is fit yet after a prolonged lay off.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2016:10:04:22:04:37 by Chris1850.
We should have taken them out of their comfort zone of a game on a Friday evening and played it in daylight!!
1. Catt
2. Batty
3. Thomas
4. Ewels
5. Attwood
6. Garvey
7. Ellis
8. Mercer Z
9. Fotuali'i
10. Ford
11. Watson
12. Banahan
13. Joseph
14. Rokoduguni
15. Homer
Dunn, Auterac, Palma-Newport, Stooke, Mercer G, Cook, Brew, Williams
Quote:malco
I think it's far more likely we'll get:
1. Catt
2. Batty
3. Thomas
4. Ewels
5. Attwood
6. Garvey
7. Ellis
8. Mercer Z
9. Fotuali'i
10. Ford
11. Watson
12. Banahan
13. Joseph
14. Rokoduguni
15. Homer
Dunn, Auterac, Palma-Newport, Stooke, Mercer G, Cook, Brew, Williams
Spot on.
That's the 23 I'd pick!
Just read the injury report from Mike the Taxi, and wonder what is the position with Walker and Van Vuuren? I thought VV played against Sarries Storm on Monday and wonder what he was like and what he is showing to offer.
