Bargain Hunting? Sale v Bath
Watson: return?
By P G Tips
April 23 2019
After flattering to deceive at Gloucester, Bath next travel to a Sale side nursing a grievance. Following a humbling home defeat to Worcester, Sale pulled themselves together and dominated much of a feisty Challenge Cup Semi Final, only to fall to La Rochelle in a match littered with controversial moments. Frustration at such narrow failure should fire them up, as will the knowledge that, like Bath, they now depend on final Premiership position for entry to Champions Cup rugby next season.
Sale’s grievance comes from two of the Semi Final’s controversial incidents: a penalty try against Solomona for a high tackle that prevented a try and referee Nigel Owen’s failure to show red to La Rochelle forward Jules Favre for lashing out with his boot at Solomona’s face in the dying seconds. Yellow was deemed sufficient and anyway, Sale could not make the man advantage tell to snatch back the match.
Sale this season have been almost as much an enigma as Bath. They are not blessed with as many internationals in their squad, but still possess potent strike threats in Ashton and Solomona, a feisty pack fashioned in DOR Steve Diamond’s own image and the livewire tactical direction of Faf De Klerk at scrum half. Why then are their performances so inconsistent and do they languish in 8th place in the table? It seems that they actually punch above their weight, but with limited strength in depth injuries hit them harder than most and the absence of the Du Preez brothers (now back with South Africa’s Sharks after loan periods) has removed two thirds of the trio that directed play in their better wins earlier this season.
Sale remain a tough proposition at home though, especially on a Friday night and Bath, reminded of their poor away form by Gloucester in the second half two weeks ago, last won away in December. With the Curry brothers and Beaumont keen to press claims for World Cup places and both Ashton and Solomona in sharp try scoring form, they will be confident of exposing Bath’s vulnerabilities to win.
For Bath, the urgent need for three victories meets the distraction of last week’s news of Blackadder’s departure. He has been a popular figure with the squad, despite disappointing runs of results. Senior figures and star players have obviously bought into the club’s vision for the future as contract renewals over the past six months have shown. It remains to be seen, however, if supporters’ reservations about the elevation of Stuart Hooper as DOR are shared by the players, or will influence performances in the run in. A few names rejoin the selection mix as Bath chase a bargain. Max Lahiff is recovered and likely to start but injury continues to sideline Charteris and Batty, while there is an outside chance that Watson or Rokodoguni may feature in the 23.
Bath opened their last away match like title contenders, producing 20 minutes of almost total dominance for a 17-0 lead. That suggests that the green shoots of Girvan Dempsey’s influence on attack are close to flowering, but the fragility and lack of control in the last quarter that has bedevilled so many games remains. Bath need to back the philosophy of that opening twenty at Kingsholm, involve their wingers early and more often. They also need to find a “surge” in the final ten minutes to close out a game, rather than hanging on in hope.
Win and Bath can entertain hopes of Top 4. Lose and they must kiss goodbye to Champions Cup rugby next season.
Possible Teams:
Bath: Obano, Dunn, Lahiff, Attwood, Stooke, Ellis, Underhill, Mercer. Chudley (Capt.), Burns, Cokanasiga, Roberts, Joseph, McConnochie. Homer.
Replacements: Catt, Walker, Perenise, Ewels, Reid, Fotuali’i, Priestland,Watson.
Sale Sharks:
Harrison, Webber, John, Beaumont, Phillips, Ross (Capt.), B Curry, T Curry, Ross. De Klerk, McGinty. McGuigan, Ashton, O’Connor,S James, Solomona. L James.
Replacements: Langdon, Bristow, Jones, Postlethwaite, Moore. Evans, J-L Du Preez. Cliff, Redpath, Reed.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:30:21:11:35 by P G Tips.
(AJ Bell Stadium, 7.45pm) Live on BT Sport
Referee: Thomas Foley (65th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Jack Makepeace & Simon McConnell.
TMO: Stuart Terheege.
Citing Officer: Shaun Gallagher.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
I sniff them out like a shark scenting blood!
PG
He's done it again!
14. Joe Cokanasiga
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Jamie Roberts
11. Ruaridh McConnochie
10. Freddie Burns
9. Kahn Fotuali’i
1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Max Lahiff
4. Dave Attwood
5. Charlie Ewels (c)
6. Tom Ellis
7. Sam Underhill
8. Zach Mercer
Replacements
16. Jack Walker
17. Jacques van Rooyen
18. Anthony Perenise
19. Levi Douglas
20. Elliott Stooke
21. Will Chudley
22. Rhys Priestland
23. Semesa Rokoduguni
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:25:12:11:56 by BathMatt53.
Looks great on paper, which makes me far more optimistic than I was.
15. Luke James,
14. Denny Solomona,
13. Sam James,
12. James O’Connor,
11. Chris Ashton,
10. AJ MacGinty,
9. Faf De Klerk;
1. Ross Harrison,
2. Rob Webber,
3. Will-Griff John,
4. Josh Beaumont,
5. James Phillips,
6. Ben Curry,
7. Tom Curry,
8. Jono Ross.
REPLACMENTS: 16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Valery Moroz, 18. Joe Jones, 19. Matt Postlethwaite, 20. Josh Strauss, 21. Will Cliff, 22. Cameron Redpath, 23. Arron Reed
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:04:25:12:12:47 by BathMatt53.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Plus the bench looks strong as well, could be interesting!
Quote:rainbow
Unfortunately the game, BB, will not be played on paper i suspect Bath will revert to their season long failings.
Had the game been played on paper we would now be in the top 6 or even the top 4. Both teams are good on paper but they have home advantage which will give them the edge especially on a wet Friday night.
Quote:miller8
Home advantage?? All 4000 of them? I expect Bath fans will boost the number by a 1/3rd
That may be so but it is always a difficult place to go to & as far as I know our record there is pretty poor.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Can our forwards play for 80 mins? I know there has been much talk of mental fragility but recently I put down some of that to our legs going after starting the game at 100mph and then visibly running out of steam. You can't have confidence when you know you are knackered.
I thought at Glos all the tempo went out of the window and it came down to individual effort. We need to fizz passes from 9 with quick possession for the whole game, not just the first half. To achieve that play smart, take your breaks.
Quote:Bath HammerQuote:miller8
Home advantage?? All 4000 of them? I expect Bath fans will boost the number by a 1/3rd
That may be so but it is always a difficult place to go to & as far as I know our record there is pretty poor.
I am in Lancashire and will be there tomorrow night for £100 x 4 terrace places and on site parking. I have been coming to this match on and off during the last 20yr and yet to see us win so travel in hope once again rather than expectation. I am looking forward to it...
Adopted players: 24/25 J Bayliss; [24] O Lawrence; [23] J Cokanasiga; [22] M Green; [21] A Watson; [20] T Faletau; [19] M V Vuuren; [18] T Faletau; [17] D Denton; [16] H. Agulla; [15] L Houston; [14] W Spencer; [13] F. Louw
Family . Community . Nation - [sdp.org.uk]
My mind's been going places without me lately - Bushfire The B52's
Fingers crossed for same result tomorrow!
Quote:ilovebathtime
This is the strongest side we've had all season and I am confident we can win, but at the same time I just know that a game away at an unfashionable team has defeat written all over it, and really it doesn't seem to matter what team we put out
I don’t know whether they would be considered unfashionable but if you look at their lineup it’s impressive despite the players they have missing. Their backs & half-backs are certainly as good or better than ours as is their back row. A win against such a lineup won’t be easy whether home or away.
Really great seeing Watson back, and likewise Roko. Finally some more options out on the wing, and I think we needed them. Big Joe, a hell of a talent, hasn't looked to be at the races recently. Granted he's been deprived of ball, and when he has had it on a few occasions hasn't been put in a position to utilise his strengths, but he needs to look for work a little more. Could easily have seen him dropped and Watson come in at 14....either way, lovely to have these options. Also pleasing to see some continuity developing in terms of team selection.
Why is van Rooyen still being named though.....maybe I'm being harsh but I've not seen anything close to how well he performed in Super Rugby last year which got us excited at the announcement he was joining us. He seems to drop the ball on far too many occasions, and prone to errors at scrum time too. I'd like to see Vaughan being given some more opportunities at this stage.
Can't call this one. Away we can start well and tail off dismally. Sale have quality in many areas, but if something does finally click for us we could certainly win. A win by 5 for either team.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
If we get parity of possession and reasonably quick ball at times then we can hope that Freddie will engineer some exciting stuff with that backline
But we know just how strong Sale are with an oppressive defence and very quick on counter attack through Faf, Denny and Ashton
If it stays dry and little wind it should be a very good match but as some have said it may come down to focus and keeping errors out especially in last quarter
Will be watching nervously from sanctuary of behind sofa