GO WEST! EXETER v BATH

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:16:18:42:37 by CoochieCoo.

Great article as always PG. Here's hoping your optimism for a turn over is well placed and Exeter Go South.

Might want to find someone else to cover Ellis on the bench as he is already on the pitch.

Miracles can and do happen but regrettably I cannot see one this Sunday. If we keep the Exeter score to under 30, it will be an achievement in view of their last home demolition of Northampton.

I just want us to show some real fight and aggression, matching their physicality and not to be bullied like we let Bristol do last weekend. We must take every scoring opportunity we can and that means kicking for goal and NOT touch for a driving maul. It is important that we do not let our heads drop, concentrate and play for the full 80 minutes like they do. A bad beating will certainly affect our brittle confidence.

I will be there cheering the lads on and at least I have learnt from bitter experience to keep my bragging bets on the result to an absolute minimum. The last 2 visits to the Chiefs have proved very expensive and I seemingly bought a share in the Otter brewery.

C'mon Bath. Exeter by 20/25 points.

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

I think the excellently pithy: "C'mon Bath. Exeter by 20/25 points." would probably have sufficed BoB, and sadly, reflects all of our fears.

Thanks hemington-fixed now.

I am not that optimistic but miracles occasionally happen.

PG

Exeter may have been turned over a couple of times at home this season, but ultimately we do not look like a team capable of doing that. They would have scored from the sustained pressure we had 2/3 times near Bristol's line, we didn't. I can't see anything other than an Exeter win really unless something amazing happens.

Some slight possible good news. Exeter's Ollie Devoto up before the beak tonight after a citing for that head high tackle on Marcus Smith, who I believe had an HIA, last Saturday. If found guilty, it may mean he misses our game.

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

Devoto may not make their bench either as he is up before the beak after the Quins game.

Quote:

Bathovalballer
Some slight possible good news. Exeter's Ollie Devoto up before the beak tonight after a citing for that head high tackle on Marcus Smith, who I believe had an HIA, last Saturday. If found guilty, it may mean he misses our game.

Won’t make any difference. I expect either a trouncing or a fairly narrow defeat but not narrow enough for a bonus point!

I'm expecting a lively opening 20 minutes where we should score a couple but don't. An Exeter flurry of short range tries either just before or after half time. A couple of late tries for us. And a final score of - something like - 39-17 to Exeter.

We seem to have been going for the Exeter tactics c2015 recently - only without the execution. I expect them to kick pens out and maul over from 5m 3 or 4 times then cut loose and score some from the backs. Given that we scored a bakers dozen from 70% territory and possession at home last week I can see a whacking unfortunately, but would love to be proven wrong at the weekend.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Quote:

dr.bath1865
I'm expecting a lively opening 20 minutes where we should score a couple but don't. An Exeter flurry of short range tries either just before or after half time. A couple of late tries for us. And a final score of - something like - 39-17 to Exeter.

That seems a likely outcome. No doubt a flurry of Exeter fans will suggest they are ripe for the taking & we shouldn’t minimise our chances. Unfortunately they left us in their wake a long time ago & we are way off finding the recipe to match them. We had our moment in the sun at the beginning of the season!

Bizarrely though BathMatt Zach on Sunday said we were top of the table for scoring when in the red zone

Would love to see the stat that shows this because it sure don't feel right. Perhaps I misheard? Anyone else?

A LBP would be a good result for us on this one.

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu

Quote:

gaz59
Bizarrely though BathMatt Zach on Sunday said we were top of the table for scoring when in the red zone
Would love to see the stat that shows this because it sure don't feel right. Perhaps I misheard? Anyone else?

Bath have 21 tries scored in the prem vs Exe 40, Sale and Wasps 36 and Sarries 39. How can that stat be accurate unless the other teams all just run them in from outside the red zone (i.e. we rarely score through the backs)?

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Never trust a statistician or any statistic. Any figure can be interpreted to read what you want. Our being the most efficient in the red zone is total fiction and not to be trusted. Witness last weekend and 8 minutes on Bristol's line.

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

Quote:

TG Kesmo
Devoto may not make their bench either as he is up before the beak after the Quins game.

4 week ban, quite rightly so in my view I thought that it was pretty reckless and was amazed that it wasn't a red at the time under this seasons rules.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Any chance we'll have JJ back?

Unsure whether EJ likes to keep an outside back as a travelling reserve. I assume he does and JJ is the man.

Quote:

BathMatt53

Quote:

TG Kesmo
Devoto may not make their bench either as he is up before the beak after the Quins game.

4 week ban, quite rightly so in my view I thought that it was pretty reckless and was amazed that it wasn't a red at the time under this seasons rules.

Agreed I thought at the time it was very similar to Batty’s high tackle and could not see why, if that was a straight red, this was not. The mitigation of the second tackler did not help Batty so it should not have helped Devoto. There was some pretty ordinary refereeing last weekend.

I’d like to see the stats for these incidents. My feeling is that forwards are more likely than backs to get red.

Referee said it was only a yellow as the player was falling into Devoto's tackle. No where near as dangerous as the Bristol player who cleared out one of our forwards and did not even get a warning

Quote:

warrenball
Referee said it was only a yellow as the player was falling into Devoto's tackle. No where near as dangerous as the Bristol player who cleared out one of our forwards and did not even get a warning

That's a bit like, "He fell onto my fist officer"


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Chiefs very much odds on for the home win with all the bookies, Oddschecker - Chiefs v Bath...

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

Yes Skybet has them with a 13 point head start, not surprisingly.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

The gulf in class is so wide I doubt anyone would be surprised to see a similar score line to their home game against Saints.

It's refs, not just players who need to adapt their behaviour. After a dodgy first week, the officials at the World Cup got it right and that would have been a straight red.

BATH RUGBY SIDE TO FACE EXETER CHIEFS:

15. Tom Homer
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
13. Max Wright
12. Jackson Willison
11. Ruaridh McConnochie

10. Rhys Priestland
9. Will Chudley

1. Beno Obano
2. Jack Walker
3. Christian Judge
4. Josh McNally
5. Elliott Stooke
6. Mike Williams
7. Francois Louw (C)
8. Zach Mercer

Replacements

16. Tom Dunn, 17. Lewis Boyce, 18. Sam Nixon, 19. Tom Ellis, 20. Josh Bayliss, 21. Ollie Fox, 22. Freddie Burns, 23. Tom De Glanville

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:06:11:59:35 by BathMatt53.

EXETER CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE BATH

15 Phil Dollman
14 Tom O’Flaherty
13 Ian Whitten
12 Tom Hendrickson
11 Olly Woodburn
10 Joe Simmonds (capt)
9 Nic White
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Elvis Taione
3 Harry Williams
4 Jannes Kirsten
5 Jonny Hill
6 Dave Ewers
7 Jacques Vermeulen
8 Sam Simmonds

16 Jordon Poole
17 Ben Moon
18 Enrique Pieretto
19 Will Witty
20 Don Armand
21 Jack Maunder
22 Gareth Steenson
23 Jack Nowell

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

GULP!!

Not sure which is stronger the starting XV or their bench - ouch....couldn't be a worse time playing them off the back of a poor defeat to Quins...We have a reasonably strong side out - Bench is where the difference really is....

Looks like their strongest available side, best team in the league, at home, with lots of our best 23 away at Internationals. The silver lining is that its not on TV...

COYB!!

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

What’s happened to Chris Cook, pulled out before the game last week and now dropped altogether, let’s hope it’s just a small injury and not something else

Could be a shocker. Hoping we can keep it respectable.

Those that can bear it should be able to watch the match here: [www.betuk.com]

We have a decent side out. The squad are missing a lot of players but there is enough quality in there to put in a competitive shift. Considering our season so far and the quality of the opposition though, I am not expecting a win. I would however like a performance that suggests we have at least considered the idea of going round, not just over defenders.

Not a good match up at all & having seen them labour away with no penetration whatsoever last week I cannot see our back line making a dent.

Quote:

dcsh
Those that can bear it should be able to watch the match here: [www.betuk.com]

DCSH - is there a way to make the small screen full size on BetUK (without an account)?

Adopted Players: All of the little blighters!!!

14 mins in. Exe two tries already. 12-3

Quote:

supermarinematt
14 mins in. Exe two tries already. 12-3

Are you sure ? Couldn’t that possibly be Bath with two tries in the first 14mins !

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
Adopted Player 2020/21 Cam Redpath
Adopted Player 2021/22 Darren Atkins
Adopted Player 2022/23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb
Adopted Player 2023/24 Tom Carr-Smith
Adopted Player 2024/25 Max Ojomoh

"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS

Our Scrum is being battered and a number of knock ons. Most of the game in our half and 22. Plenty of penalties given away also. 18 mins 15-3

Not even getting my predicted brave first 20. This could get very ugly very fast. Our defence is shocking.

Jeez, this is a shoeing

Exe try. 22-3 30 mins

McNally yellow card

McNally has never justified his place, for me!!!

Adopted Players: All of the little blighters!!!

Bonus PT try Exe. 29-3 34 mins. As it stands, if we keep this below 50pts we'll be doing well

Not enjoying this away trip at all!! We are not even 2nd best and what is going on up Front and why are we the only side who cannot catch the ball.. Can only get better.

Cripes. 29-3.

We’ve got the version of the Chiefs that we really didn’t want today.

But we’re not helping ourselves. Dumb yellow card. Awful tackling. Zero intensity.

Switching it off now!!! For anyone saying "That's not supporting", I need SOMETHING to get behind!!!

Adopted Players: All of the little blighters!!!

Attacking phase when down to 14. Go side ways, pick and drive on the Exe 5m and get turned over ....

Men against lettuce in the first half. Cripes.

This is pathetic. We couldn’t make it any easier for them if we tried despite having 1 Welsh, 1 South African & 4 English internationals in our ranks!

And Zach is injured!

29-3 HT

Fortunately for me, the streaming link doesn't seem to want to work. I suspect that's for my own health.

Hope England turn up later!

Adopted Player:
[23-24] - Joe Cokanasiga
[22-23] - Mike Williams
[21-22] - Ben Spencer
[20-21] - Will Vaughan
[19-20] -
[18-19] - Taulupe Faletau

I'm not sure if I'm more disappointed by our attack or our defence.

The first 35 minutes was them on the ball and us in reverse, getting outmuscled in every facet. The 5 minutes before HT showed how toothless we are in attack with our one out runners just heading mindlessly into a defence that must have been amazed at how easy defending was this afternoon.

I'm usually one of the more optimistic on here... but this has been completely pathetic.

That half was an embarrassment. Can't really say anymore than that. Exe haven't gotten out of 2nd gear really. Been way to easy for them.

Given up 6 penalties, only made 56 MTRS to Exe 250plus. We had one scrum of our own and that got hammered and Exe won the ball.

There was not one positive in that half

Anyone watching Bulls v Highlanders (Sky)? How on Earth are the two teams allowed to wear those two strips?!?!

Adopted Players: All of the little blighters!!!

I think the “where have the gainsayers gone” thread might get resurrected later. I watched it for five minutes, in time to see their third try. It really did look like a horror show. I remember the game, not so very long ago (was it 2014/2015 in the LV cup?) when Exeter fans were utterly jubilant at The Rec because it was the first time they had ever beaten Bath since the late seventies. How times change, eh?

Quote:

plong

Quote:

dcsh
Those that can bear it should be able to watch the match here: [www.betuk.com]

DCSH - is there a way to make the small screen full size on BetUK (without an account)?

I zoom in on my iPad, other browsers usually allow zooming either up in the address bar or by holding control and scrolling the mouse wheel.

But Bath don’t look any better even if the picture fills the screen! Totally out classed.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:07:15:23:58 by dcsh.

....Made a note in my diary on the way here. Simply says: 'Bu88er’.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

50 seconds into 2nd half. Exe try. 36-3

Eve walk in a try within a minute of the restart.

On top of everything else, our restarts are atrocious. Utterly atrocious.

Pathetic 50 seconds and yet more feeble tackling.

Well, Hooper banging on about bringing Webb in to take a tilt at the title looks ridiculous 10 days later with a home loss and what looks like a darts score at half time today.

Try Bath. Mercer. 36-8. Missed a conv almost infront of posts



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:07:15:38:42 by supermarinematt.

Quote:

Ali1969
Pathetic 50 seconds and yet more feeble tackling.

Don’t worry Hoops is the man to sort it .............

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
Adopted Player 2020/21 Cam Redpath
Adopted Player 2021/22 Darren Atkins
Adopted Player 2022/23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb
Adopted Player 2023/24 Tom Carr-Smith
Adopted Player 2024/25 Max Ojomoh

"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS

The comeback’s on. Mercer try...

...until Rhys missed the conversion from all but bang in front.

Normal service resumed. Exe try. 50 mins. 43-8

Wasps thumping Glos and will overtake us.. Could be a disastrous 6 days for us and Hoops.

For those who missed the memo, Season Tickets Renewal from 24th March...

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Our defence is SO poor. It’s quite amazing watching, sort of oddly fascinating to see how bad we can be.

Burns is on! Good luck mate.

Watching this online and it is so painful. Outside of everything else, we have zero imagination.

Priestland has had 6 (?) kick offs to date and everyone has been long into the 22 and Exeter have dealt comfortably with every one.

We score a try and Exeter try a short kick off, get the ball and eventually score ...... why are we so badly robotic.

For the last 3 (?) seasons it has been clear that we have no real attacking strategies .... how can we have gone so far without even defining how we want to attack.

Wright try. 43-15

Wright injured scoring try. TdG on

We did something good! Wright hit a good line!

Our handling is so poor, can't keep hold of the ball

RMac try. 63mjns. 43-20. Conv missed



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:07:15:56:32 by supermarinematt.

Where was this bite in the first half? Better handling and better defence and it wouldn’t be as embarrassing.

50 up. Exe try. 50-20



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:07:16:04:04 by supermarinematt.

Just hold onto the ball!

Exe try. Cut us apart. 57-20. 75 mins

Just when you thought we might have saved a shred of embarrassment... a softer try to concede you will rarely see.

Utterly pathetic showing. Pathetic.

Oh, for the love of God, END THE F###IN' GAME NOW!!!

Adopted Players: All of the little blighters!!!

Well I hope the senior management are having a long hard look at the coaching/playing structures.

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
Adopted Player 2020/21 Cam Redpath
Adopted Player 2021/22 Darren Atkins
Adopted Player 2022/23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb
Adopted Player 2023/24 Tom Carr-Smith
Adopted Player 2024/25 Max Ojomoh

"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS

Game over. Awful, awful game from us. 57-20.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:07:16:14:48 by supermarinematt.

Anyone still think Hooper is the man for the job? Hopefully BC has seen enough.

Fortunately the Super rugby season has started.

I never expected a win, but it’d be nice not to be embarrassed like that.

Quote:

Old Bath Tub
Well I hope the senior management are having a long hard look at the coaching/playing structures.

Shouldn't take long, considering there don't appear to be any/either!!!

UNACCEPTABLE!!!

Adopted Players: All of the little blighters!!!

I’m less annoyed about them getting comprehensively outplayed at Sandy Park than dominating Bris at the Rec in possession and territory but losing tbh. Didn’t expect anything today, they are on a different level to Bath at the moment - our season will not be defined by today’s result. Onward to the L Irish game...

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

I can usually find a silver lining but I'm struggling today. That was a complete embarrassment.

We didn't deserve a try bonus point, so I'm oddly relieved that we didn't have the brains and the coolness to secure one in the last minute.

Zach never gave up. That's about it.

Hats off to Zac for working his nuts off in such a tough game.

Exeter simply different class as a team, Baxter is their greatest asset.

Utterly pathetic the entire club needs to take a good long hard look at themselves and I am not on about the score but the manner of the defeat. That is the poorest I have seen any team play for many a year. Congrats Exeter you deserve your huge win.

Quote:

BathMatt53
For those who missed the memo, Season Tickets Renewal from 24th March...

Haha. Can’t to see the prices after that display!

This season has been so frustrating. We really started to look like we were getting the pack and our defence into shape until recently but our discipline and lack of any attacking ideas is woeful.

We still look light in the 2nd row and 9/10/12 are just so average.

I really want to trust Hooper knows what he wants to do but until we show an inkling that we are playing to any strategy then it keeps getting harder.

Our idea plan seems to be box kick it .... maybe get it back and try to win a penalty.

Didn’t watch, but I guess Hooper’s dominant pack didn’t dominate then?

That result illustrates one of the (many) big problems Bath have got. If, say, Exeter had been playing Northampton, Harlequins, Sale, Wasps, Gloucester, etc, you wouldn’t be able to say with certainty that there would be a thrashing (irrespective of the actual outcome). But with Bath, I’m afraid, you could have confidently predicted a tonking with absolute certainty. It’s a huge problem for Hooper and co to solve.

Quote:

recman
That result illustrates one of the (many) big problems Bath have got. If, say, Exeter had been playing Northampton, Harlequins, Sale, Wasps, Gloucester, etc, you wouldn’t be able to say with certainty that there would be a thrashing (irrespective of the actual outcome). But with Bath, I’m afraid, you could have confidently predicted a tonking with absolute certainty. It’s a huge problem for Hooper and co to solve.

Not sure that’s true - Saints were always going to be drubbed at Sandy Park a couple of weeks ago due to their weaker pack and so it turned out: 57-7. Same with Wasps who they smashed 38-3.

Don’t forget Bath beat Exe in the reverse fixture. They have pushed on and the rest of the league hasn’t, maybe Sale aside.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

I should have added “at Sandy Park”. I would have to look back at the Saints forum to see if they all believed they were going to get thrashed before the game.

Quote:

recman
I should have added “at Sandy Park”. I would have to look back at the Saints forum to see if they all believed they were going to get thrashed before the game.

One person suggested a thumping, but while a loss was expected no-one really expected us to lose that badly.

Quote:

shendy

Quote:

recman
I should have added “at Sandy Park”. I would have to look back at the Saints forum to see if they all believed they were going to get thrashed before the game.

One person suggested a thumping, but while a loss was expected no-one really expected us to lose that badly.

I think that there was also an expectation here that we could keep it a bit tighter, but no suggestion that we would win.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:07:18:51:05 by BathMatt53.

Game was lost when they picked the sides!

Underhill, Ewels, Stuart, Watson, Joseph, Dunn, Faletau, Webb all missing thats half the team!


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Not saying anything at the moment as I am so angry, embarrassed and truly deflated. (Also much money down on the drinks bill for the victor's fans whose team didn't have to work too hard.} That was a gutless, pathetic and completely useless exhibition by people wearing the yellow jerseys. That is the only thing our so called team got right, the colour of the jerseys truly reflected our absolutely pathetic performance. Why did we bother to take the field, in yet another local Derby which means so much to the players, when we are not prepared to compete.

Am looking at a permanent ban for what I truly think about the team, coaches and management.

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

Interesting that Exeter, Bristol & Sale have very few international call ups (don't know about injuries) and therefore not only keep their players but can practice and play with the same combos over the AI and 6 nations periods. We and other teams have been messed around with players coming and going or just not being available (as well as injuries)

Yeandle, cowan Dickie, francis, skinner, Slade, Hogg, Hill, cuthbert, kvesic, Dennis all not involved. Nowell sub. All have our problems.

Forgot Devoto as well

Thanks to heaven those Exeter players were not available as the score board would have been in triple figures. What annoyed me is they didn't have to play well or try to hard, we just gifted them scores by being out muscled, knocked off the ball , gave it up in contact, knocked backwards in contact, dropped or knocked the ball on, missed tackles, played like complete novices. Woeful and should have never happened.

Progress, what progress? All those involved should hang their heads in shame.

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

Quote:

chief in exile
Forgot Devoto as well

Devoto was banned that's his silly fault! I didn't even consider injuries. I wasn't making excuses by the way.


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Baths biggest problems are all mental.

They went into this game knowing they would lose in all likelihood and they played like it.

There are team that turn up when they think they can win and switch off when the odds are against them.,

If we'd have has all our international stars, the result would have been the same.

It's not to criticise Hooper because we're now in the third or fourth form of this mental 'weakness' (in a rugby sense). I don't know how you root it out but we're not threatening for titles until we do.

Adopted Player:
[23-24] - Joe Cokanasiga
[22-23] - Mike Williams
[21-22] - Ben Spencer
[20-21] - Will Vaughan
[19-20] -
[18-19] - Taulupe Faletau

Not pretty. Not pretty at all.

Of course it was a very poor performance and Hoops in his post match interview looked very bereft and said so. No doubt this hurts him and the players after their successful planning to beat them at the home game which we all praised. Yes it does hurt but we knew what we were up against. Please be a little more constructive in your criticism as comments like the players performance was reflective of the colours of their jerseys is out of order as this would not be said to the face of a player.

Perhaps self isolation is the way to go in such situations!

Quote:

Ali1969
Utterly pathetic the entire club needs to take a good long hard look at themselves and I am not on about the score but the manner of the defeat. That is the poorest I have seen any team play for many a year. Congrats Exeter you deserve your huge win.

Agree, whilst accepting defeat is part of game , the way it happened is more than concerning.

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
Adopted Player 2020/21 Cam Redpath
Adopted Player 2021/22 Darren Atkins
Adopted Player 2022/23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb
Adopted Player 2023/24 Tom Carr-Smith
Adopted Player 2024/25 Max Ojomoh

"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS

A question I’d like to ask is if Joseph didn’t make the England 23 why wasn’t he playing or on the Bench vs Exeter?

Quote:

bathstigg
A question I’d like to ask is if Joseph didn’t make the England 23 why wasn’t he playing or on the Bench vs Exeter?

Possibly travelling reserve for England - they don't just take 23 to the ground.

What’s the point in taking more than 23 players as reserves when they could play for their clubs in a top flight league.

All teams do it - in case a forward, back or one of the specialist positions pulls up before (sickness, warm up etc). Otherwise they wouldn’t be able to fill the bench?

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

I agree to an extent Coochie Coo, but then I'd not say to any fit, powerful rugby player that they were carp or lacked commitment, even if at times such criticisms are justified. MOTD pundits are willing to say it about Prem footballers and entire teams sometimes. The fact that a rugby player could deck you doesn't make such criticisms invalid and in many ways that's what all fan forums do. Player x was great, player y was rubbish. At times Bath teams are like rabbits in the headlights without real fight and self-belief and it is frustrating, especially for those who went down to watch almost knowing what was coming.

Quote:

TomReagan
I agree to an extent Coochie Coo, but then I'd not say to any fit, powerful rugby player that they were carp or lacked commitment, even if at times such criticisms are justified. MOTD pundits are willing to say it about Prem footballers and entire teams sometimes. The fact that a rugby player could deck you doesn't make such criticisms invalid and in many ways that's what all fan forums do. Player x was great, player y was rubbish. At times Bath teams are like rabbits in the headlights without real fight and self-belief and it is frustrating, especially for those who went down to watch almost knowing what was coming.

Rugby players play knowing the risks that they may incur on plying their trade. It is not a question of being decked by them if you insult them by saying they are not showing courage it is a question that insulting them behind the protection of anonymity is unacceptable. We are not MOTD and have our own rules. Criticise the players of their performance but to insinuate they are cowards or not deserving of the shirt etc is unacceptable.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:07:22:38:17 by CoochieCoo.

Ok Bruce, Hoops, Tarquin and co, time for some blunt honesty.

Firstly what is the vision for our club? The public stuff on website is about epic world class rugby. Fine but what does that actually look like? Be SMART here

Now, with that clarity of vision, how closer have we got in past 3 seasons? Do we actually want to be a club competing in finals and beating the likes of Exeter? If so then how close are we now? From what you guys know about recruitment and retention for us and other clubs how much closer or not will we be by end of next season?

Personally I think Hoops has potential and character to be a top DoR? Hats is obviously a top forwards coach and Dempsey came with plaudits for his work on attack at Leinster

But the answers to those questions above must show that something has to change. So what extra resource or support is needed to bridge a gap that is a serious gulf and getting wider? Who or where can you find that because if not a) this year forget top 4 challenge - even if we squeaked into 4th spot the idea of going back to zSandy Park or god forbid Ashton Gste for a semi 🙈🙉😱 and b) next year we will be bottom third of league and fighting for survival
.. again!!!!

Time and opportunity to turn it around but burying head in sand is not needed now

Don't answer, just sort it, please

The fact that Mr Hooper looked and sounded bareft in the post match interview just compounds and confirms the problem. He and his fellow coaches haven't got a clue what the causes or faults of our woeful play are, or, more importantly, the wit and knowledge to put them right. To be fair to Mr H, he is not a trained coach and has never had the benefit of either playing in a regular winning team or working under a coach in such an environment. If he had, he might know what to do to put things in place to improve matters and, hopefully, lead to regular success in the fullness of time.

At the moment, we need a root and branch reassessment of the clubs coaching and playing resources and abilities with the consequent tough, brutal but necessary decisions taken to give us a chance of real sustained improvement. Not patting ourselves on the back by scraping wins in appaling weather conditions and go on deluding ourselves we are on the right track. The last two weekends have emphatically blown such assumptions to smithereens. We cannot live with the top sides who want to play robust physical rugby at pace, with skill and guile and unremitting effort. Today, we were utterly clueless or showed any ability on how to either stem the opposition or even match them.

You would think after the defeat to Bristol, we would have seen a positive reaction this week, admittedly against a better side. But no, nothing of the sort. That first half was an absolute travesty where our basic handling, kicking and tackling skills were found out to be sub standard. If Exeter had not emptied their bench early in the second half, to give some reserves a run out, that scoreline could have been up in the 70-80 points.

Under the present regime, will we see a positive reaction against a hungry London Irish who want to stay up? We are very lucky Saracens are to be relegated or otherwise we could have been in a very difficult dog fight to retain our Prem status and will be in future seasons if this malaise is not corrected.

Please Bruce do something or the idea of you filling a new stadium will become a pipe dream.

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

For all of our weaknesses, evident as you note for several seasons BoB, I don't think we'd be in a relegation fight. It's a suggestion that's frequently made on the back of two or three substandard performances but luckily for us we have a squad of talented individuals who'll always win enough games to be mid-table. With the right ethos, coaching etc however it could and should be so much more, which is why I've learnt to be so resigned to underachievement, in the hope that one day we might become the sum of our parts.

That was pretty ugly. Let's hope it was just one of those days.

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu

Of which we have quite a few...!

Quote:

hemington
Interesting that Exeter, Bristol & Sale have very few international call ups (don't know about injuries) and therefore not only keep their players but can practice and play with the same combos over the AI and 6 nations periods. We and other teams have been messed around with players coming and going or just not being available (as well as injuries)

Seems like Exeter, Bristol and Sale have got the right approach to recruitment.

Quote:

Bathovalballer
The fact that Mr Hooper looked and sounded bareft in the post match interview just compounds and confirms the problem. He and his fellow coaches haven't got a clue what the causes or faults of our woeful play are, or, more importantly, the wit and knowledge to put them right. To be fair to Mr H, he is not a trained coach and has never had the benefit of either playing in a regular winning team or working under a coach in such an environment. If he had, he might know what to do to put things in place to improve matters and, hopefully, lead to regular success in the fullness of time.
At the moment, we need a root and branch reassessment of the clubs coaching and playing resources and abilities with the consequent tough, brutal but necessary decisions taken to give us a chance of real sustained improvement. Not patting ourselves on the back by scraping wins in appaling weather conditions and go on deluding ourselves we are on the right track. The last two weekends have emphatically blown such assumptions to smithereens. We cannot live with the top sides who want to play robust physical rugby at pace, with skill and guile and unremitting effort. Today, we were utterly clueless or showed any ability on how to either stem the opposition or even match them.

You would think after the defeat to Bristol, we would have seen a positive reaction this week, admittedly against a better side. But no, nothing of the sort. That first half was an absolute travesty where our basic handling, kicking and tackling skills were found out to be sub standard. If Exeter had not emptied their bench early in the second half, to give some reserves a run out, that scoreline could have been up in the 70-80 points.

Under the present regime, will we see a positive reaction against a hungry London Irish who want to stay up? We are very lucky Saracens are to be relegated or otherwise we could have been in a very difficult dog fight to retain our Prem status and will be in future seasons if this malaise is not corrected.

Please Bruce do something or the idea of you filling a new stadium will become a pipe dream.

So we win three on the spin, then we lose a close game against a very good Bristol side which most agree we should have won and we get absolutely hammered by Exeter at Sandy Park where the Stains (who are nobodies idea of a poor side) got beaten even more badly and now suddenly we are relegation fodder and we have to rip everything up and start again?

The lack of any objectivity or perspective is just ludicrous.

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu

There's no way we easily deserved to beat Bristol, like. Pure fabrication.

I probably don't know what i'm talking about.

Quote:

Danchinho
There's no way we easily deserved to beat Bristol, like. Pure fabrication.

And that's not what I said. Pure fabrication.

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:03:08:01:18:14 by joethefanatic.

It is a result of no relegation that I really didn't care about yesterday's defeat, indeed the scale of it made me laugh. It has absolutely no bearing on the season, we are patently not good enough to have any realistic chance of either winning the Premiership or being competitive in Europe so at the moment with relegation out of the question the games feel more like the 'friendly' matches in the amateur days. Each game gives you bragging rights against the opponent, nothing more, no penalty for lousy play (or lousy coaching) and only one or two teams really in contention for honours.

It came as no surprise that Exeter beat us easily, the gulf in club management, strategy and coaching is so evident (and appearing to get bigger) that we will have to get used to it unless there are some unforeseen changes.

So people are resigned to see underachievement and accept we will only be mid or lower table at best? That is an incredible indictment of a once proud rugby club who led England in playing methods and results for many a year, and that was in the days when players were part time at best, not full time well paid professionals. We have the players (5/6 or more currant internationals), the best training facilities money can buy and a wealthy chairman who is prepared to support the club. But not the will it appears to want to improve and rise above mediocrity.

I sincerely hope the management, coaches and players read this website and at least acknowledge what their efforts have done to a great rugby club. Take a long hard, honest look at yourselves and ask is that acceptable, especially to the (very long) suffering supporter base that you do not deserve? This is nothing new and very regrettably becoming the norm at Bath, as evidenced over the past two weeks. I believe the points against in our last three league results at Exeter are something like 66, 38 and now 57. That is poor by any standards and other sides have improved their performances at Sandy Park (including Worcester who won 5-6 last season and Bristol and Sale who have won there this) and ours continue abysmally. Why? Yes Northampton got thumped at Exeter, but the next week, won away at Gloucester proving that result was a one off. Would the present Bath do that?

Where is the pride, passion and sheer bloody mindedness that was associated with any good rugby team, especially at this club? If an inquiry shows any coaches, players or management are not up to the job, or are not prepared to put in the hard yards and commitment, they must go, And the sooner the better. Sandy Park has truly provided the line in the sand. Now do something Bath Rugby starting today please.

With the current leadership group, this is highly unlikely to happen and the self congratulation and belief everything is going on smoothly will continue to prevail. That is why an honest, independent inquiry of the club's playing and coaching activities is urgently needed. If you do nothing else Bruce, start with that.

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

I’m with Warrenball tbh - I think that post sums up my views as well. I just see it as a (very) lost game of rugby and it’s not something that is really that important - Gareth Thomas summed it up perfectly in his pre-game tribute to Matthew Watkins. Sure I get a bit grumpy about it but it won’t ruin my weekend / month / year. As for ‘long suffering’ Bath has just been average (I.e. mid table) for a long time so I’m not sure what supporters really expect? Nearly all of the teams in the league spend the same money so all 12 have a right to win their games and the league reflects that - teams are boom and bust all over the place, just look at Glos.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

'should have won against Bristol'? Back in the Bath glory days, bar the odd thrashing, Bristol normally dominated possession and territory in matches between the two, but didn't have the attacking skill that Bath did which is why Bath (almost) always won. Did that mean Bristol were then the better team or deserved to win or even should have won? No

Quote:

warrenball
It came as no surprise that Exeter beat us easily, the gulf in club management, strategy and coaching is so evident (and appearing to get bigger) that we will have to get used to it unless there are some unforeseen changes.

+1

Project Hooper isn’t working and we won’t have any chance of closing the gap until BC makes significant changes in management. It’s a shame that Exeter are so far ahead of us, but more concerning that Bristol and Sale appear to be leaving us behind as well.

We have a squad good enough to easily make top 4, although not good enough to win the PL. what we are missing is a credible coaching setup that matches the quality of our squad.

Doubt anything will change though so we are going to have to accept failure until Hooper’s contract finishes.

' That is why an honest, independent inquiry of the club's playing and coaching activities is urgently needed. If you do nothing else Bruce, start with that.'

Yeah great, let's make it a public enquiry and get Hooper in front of the Commons Select Committee as well, that should do it. Ask Greta to organise a protest on the Rec to mobilise the youth, get all angles covered.

Chiefs fan in peace.
On about the 70 minute mark, my son said to me, “wow, I’ve only just noticed noticed that Rokoduguni is playing “. We then watched him and I don’t think he ventured out of the 5m channel running down the touch line. Chiefs wingers were all over the park, swapping wings, looking for the ball in the centre, giving the team options. Is this a normal thing at Bath, part of the coaching strategy maybe ?? Roko is so dangerous with ball in hand, I’m amazed he just sits on the wing rather than go looking for the ball.

Well spotted broken arrow. Regrettably neither our players or the coaches can. All of our wingers carry a threat but none seem to be able to either get the ball in space or go looking for it. Great shame when talent is wasted.

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

For my 20p worth, I feel that the atmosphere at Bath has become 'overly' professional. There are definitely huge benefits to 'focusing on the process' and playing the percentages etc. - and I'm not advocating a 'chuck out the play book' fast-and-loose style of play (I think Freddie Burns embodies this atm) - but it seems that a certain joie de vivre is missing at our club. Broken Arrow's point above is an example of this. Roko is sticking to a stats-driven game plan by hugging the touchline, but where's the fun in that? The same goes for the box kicking and the sterile platitudes of nothingness in post match interviews. It's all so 'meh'...! We've won a few games by tight margins - but nothing spectacular all season - and will probably come about 6th/7th, as usual.
Chiefs looked like they're enjoying it so much more.
Please Hoops, bring the passion, the fire and the fun back. Remember 2015?

Just had an email from the club- Flash sale 70% off. Sounds about right. Desperately trying to drum up business and interest. Wonder why or has the revolution begun earlier than we all thought possible ?

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

Right a good night's sleep behind me following that game. My view does not change or mellow, the way we capitulated was frightening, right from the off we couldn't catch a cold let alone a ball. The all conquering scrum pushed off it's own ball and shoved all round the park, bullied at the breakdown. Then our backs unable to string any phases together and at times like like they had only just met.

It is not fair to criticise one player but it is right to mention the likes of Stooke and Mercer who never stopped giving their all, I am pretty sure having sat and watched the game not all players can say that.

The management, let me ask this question when was the last time you saw Bruce or Tarquin at pitchside hugging the DoR and embracing the players and crowd like Tony Rowe does week in week out. It shows the special bond he has with Baxter and the players. Personally I believe in Hats we have one of the best coaches in the world but we are severely lacking elsewhere in the coaching and management department. Like I have said before no point having an all singing all dancing stadium if you don't have a team to match or supporters to fill it.

If Bath carry on the way they are going playing this turgid boring rugby when the rest of the game is playing fast attacking rugby I will guarantee that only the die hard fans (Stupidly which I am one of them) will remain.

Not all 'doom and gloom because we can turn it around but we need to be honest with ourselves and the right changes need to be made, someone mentioned an independent review of the club being done which I think is brilliant providing it is 1. Truly independent and not one of Bruce's mates. 2. The person doing the review knows what they are doing & 3. Most importantly the club actually listens to the outcomes and acts appropriately.

The Sale case shows that none of this “improvement” stuff is rocket science. They’ve had some investment, they’ve brought in some good players (but not superstars), and (who’d have thought it!) they’ve improved and are challenging for the title.

It really can be that simple.

(Yes I know the season’s not over, and Sale could nosedive, but the probability is that they won’t.)

But oh no, not at Bath. Not simple at all. Very complex. Very complex indeed.

Quote:

Rich.
'should have won against Bristol'? Back in the Bath glory days, bar the odd thrashing, Bristol normally dominated possession and territory in matches between the two, but didn't have the attacking skill that Bath did which is why Bath (almost) always won. Did that mean Bristol were then the better team or deserved to win or even should have won? No

You’re wrong Rich. Bath scored because they were always offside:-)

Quote:

Ali1969
Right a good night's sleep behind me following that game. My view does not change or mellow, the way we capitulated was frightening, right from the off we couldn't catch a cold let alone a ball. The all conquering scrum pushed off it's own ball and shoved all round the park, bullied at the breakdown. Then our backs unable to string any phases together and at times like like they had only just met.
It is not fair to criticise one player but it is right to mention the likes of Stooke and Mercer who never stopped giving their all, I am pretty sure having sat and watched the game not all players can say that.

The management, let me ask this question when was the last time you saw Bruce or Tarquin at pitchside hugging the DoR and embracing the players and crowd like Tony Rowe does week in week out. It shows the special bond he has with Baxter and the players. Personally I believe in Hats we have one of the best coaches in the world but we are severely lacking elsewhere in the coaching and management department. Like I have said before no point having an all singing all dancing stadium if you don't have a team to match or supporters to fill it.

If Bath carry on the way they are going playing this turgid boring rugby when the rest of the game is playing fast attacking rugby I will guarantee that only the die hard fans (Stupidly which I am one of them) will remain.

Not all 'doom and gloom because we can turn it around but we need to be honest with ourselves and the right changes need to be made, someone mentioned an independent review of the club being done which I think is brilliant providing it is 1. Truly independent and not one of Bruce's mates. 2. The person doing the review knows what they are doing & 3. Most importantly the club actually listens to the outcomes and acts appropriately.

Yup, well put.

Quote:

Ali1969
...someone mentioned an independent review of the club being done which I think is brilliant providing it is 1. Truly independent and not one of Bruce's mates. 2. The person doing the review knows what they are doing & 3. Most importantly the club actually listens to the outcomes and acts appropriately.

Brilliant you say, then you proceed to point out exactly why it is a stupid idea!


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

The Club puts together an encouraging string of wins playing with belief and purpose. They then get hammered by Exeter who are acknowledged to be on top of their game.

They have not suddenly become bad players. They lost belief in themselves and believed all the talk about how strong Exeter’s were and they believed the people who said that an LBP would be a good result.

Forget skills coaches and attack coaches, yet again it proves the need for someone to get into their heads and instil a sense of invincibility. We all know they are capable of better.

I thought the club already employed a mind coach?

Look how poor Ireland were against England..............are all the Irish rubbish.........or did they just have a poor day at the office?

Quote:

Boldangrey
The Club puts together an encouraging string of wins playing with belief and purpose. They then get hammered by Exeter who are acknowledged to be on top of their game.
They have not suddenly become bad players. They lost belief in themselves and believed all the talk about how strong Exeter’s were and they believed the people who said that an LBP would be a good result.

Forget skills coaches and attack coaches, yet again it proves the need for someone to get into their heads and instil a sense of invincibility. We all know they are capable of better.

The biggest part of the problem is that we were comfortably beaten at home by Bristol who have already added two seriously good players to their squad for next season and a couple of excellent loan players

Exeter have also strengthened their squad

So, will we be closer to closing the gap on the top 3 or further away

And if the view is we will be closer then what have we done to narrow this gap?

That was about the least enjoyable trip to a prem game I've ever had. I don't want to go all 'BathOvalBaller over the top' but in the first half we were truly truly awful. Defence was porous, intensity was lacking, ball skills were completely absent and the worst thing was that heads seemed to drop once the first Exe try was scored. From the body language it looked like we were resigned to losing this and from the moment of the first botched restart we trudged around the pitch looking demoralised. The second half transformation was significant and we looked a lot more involved in the game, making tackles, stringing some play together but after the shocking first half the damage was done.

I'm coming around to the view that we shouldn't adopt the 'glass half full' view, despite some OK performances and a marginal improvement this year. We're becoming a side that settles for mid table mediocrity and we need some serious motivation and someone to develop a game plan to get us out of it, if not this year then certainly for next.

Quote:

Bathovalballer
With the current leadership group, this is highly unlikely to happen and the self congratulation and belief everything is going on smoothly will continue to prevail. .

BoB
What is the evidence of "self congratulation and belief everything is going on smoothly"?

You make these wild assertions in your rants without any foundation. I've not heard anything from Hooper or others to suggest "self congratulation" or anything like it.

Have you tried contacting the club with your concerns?

PG

Any news on Max Wright?

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

Exeter supporter in peace.

I posted on our board that Zac Mercer looked like the only Bath player with any real interest. I sit 5 rows back on the half way line and many of the Bath players both on being substituted and after the game seemed unconcerned about what they had just been part of; yet in terms of pure talent you had some superb players out there. It does look, from the outside at least, as if most of your problems are in the top three inches and your coaching team is just not engaging with the players' brains. Even though you looked more organised in the second half you still lost it 28-17 so the improvement was perhaps more apparent than real. However with the league as tight as it is you may well make top 6 but would this be a good thing or just paper over the cracks?

It amazes me that so many people outside the club can see that we are not together as a team and the players, with one or two notable exceptions, do not seem over bothered about a very poor performance. Some of this attitude has been allowed to be displayed and the coaches should be a) stopping such comments at source, and b) really get the team motivated and bought into their game plans (do we have any?) and have them fired up.

Two completely independent Exeter supporters who have a ref link, commented on various comments coming from the Bath ranks which seem to indicate an acceptance of the fact that they were going to get beaten, and therefore seem to indicate defeatism. As said many times, we have very talented players recognised by other supporters and some good youngsters, but we are not gelling or performing to anything like their abilities. That is why I believe we should go outside the club for proper advice and help.

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

Quote:

Exeforever
Exeter supporter in peace.
I posted on our board that Zac Mercer looked like the only Bath player with any real interest. I sit 5 rows back on the half way line and many of the Bath players both on being substituted and after the game seemed unconcerned about what they had just been part of; yet in terms of pure talent you had some superb players out there. It does look, from the outside at least, as if most of your problems are in the top three inches and your coaching team is just not engaging with the players' brains. Even though you looked more organised in the second half you still lost it 28-17 so the improvement was perhaps more apparent than real. However with the league as tight as it is you may well make top 6 but would this be a good thing or just paper over the cracks?

The difference in Bath performance second half to first half was night and day. If Bath had played like that from the start we'd still almost certainly have lost but at least we'd have put up a fight.

Exeter are an excellent team in very good form but there was still no excuse for Bath's abject first half performace.

Agree that Mercer was our best player on the day.

How is Max Wright? He looked in a lot of pain with his arm/shoulder being supported as he left the field. Possible break or shoulder dislocation?

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

In watching several rugby games over the weekend it did strike me, yet again, that the Bath team didn't really appear to be a team at all. I have commented in the past about the lack of evident collective "team spirit" on the field and this flaccidity and disconnect doesn't seem to have changed. Our players just don't seem to like each other very much, or play for each other, or put themselves too much on the line. A few notables do of course. Zac and Francois will always seek to inspire and graft, and some of the youngsters are showing mettle and commitment, but as to the rest - it just appears to be easy Saturday come, easy Saturday go.
The team is full of "stars" and bags of young potential, but there is no discernible bonding spirit. No connectivity and dynamic interplay. No fun and chance the arm.This doesn't seem to be the case with other teams who seem to be real teams, even if they haven't quite our firmament of talents. Bristol, Wasps, Sale, Exeter, even Worcester, Irish and Glaws - they all play as teams, they seem to enjoy playing with their mates, they give it their all, right to the end. Even if they are losing or getting thumped.
But Bath seem to just roll over, go through the motions, attempt a few half-hearted training moves to keep the coaches happy and then head for the showers.
The Ford and Burgess disaster was some seasons ago, but I do wonder whether it bit so deep into the club that its after taste has not quite disappeared yet. Certainly something is not right in the state of Farleigh.
Maybe time the team put the fun back into its rugby. Nothing to lose in trying. Hell, they might even find they enjoy it. I know the fans would.

Excellent post Deckchair. Certainly confirms what was picked up on the ref's mike by people I know on Saturday. We do not appear to be a close, bonded unit, and possibly the 'stars' situation, which I know was the case when Mike Ford was here, caused considerable rifts and factions in the playing squad. IIRR, that led to Bruce instigating a full review of the situation at the club. Still think an enquiry would help, by an external individual, and get to the root of the problem once and for all.

Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano


Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni

Quote:

Bathovalballer
Excellent post Deckchair. Certainly confirms what was picked up on the ref's mike by people I know on Saturday. We do not appear to be a close, bonded unit, and possibly the 'stars' situation, which I know was the case when Mike Ford was here, caused considerable rifts and factions in the playing squad. IIRR, that led to Bruce instigating a full review of the situation at the club. Still think an enquiry would help, by an external individual, and get to the root of the problem once and for all.

I thought Hooper was the root of the problem!! Are you not sure a quality 9 and or 10 wouldn't bring about the desired effect you are looking for!

Yep, overthinking it all IMO, the players and the fans alike.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Quote:

Bath Supporter Jack
Look how poor Ireland were against England..............are all the Irish rubbish.........or did they just have a poor day at the office?

I can't be bothered getting annoyed by Bath's rubbish anymore, I just laugh about it now, but I had to reply to the above post. Utterly delusional.

Open your eyes, Bath offer nothing. Week after week it's just error after error after error, and when they do manage to actually hold onto the ball and pass it to someone accurately, it's just one out running straight into contact. Our shambles of a pitch has kept things tight at home and given us a few wins, so people think everything is fine, but it isn't.

If you want to see what a proper club is like, watch how Bristol Bears conduct themselves. Singing Blackbird on our own pitch at full time, pretty disrespectful but they've got a brilliant culture, are properly coached, and are having a great time. Ask Lahiff or Attwood.

Still waiting for that one, fantastic performance that'll be talked about for years. Still waiting, 4 years later... At least we have London Irish next to paper over the cracks beautifully.

Anyway, back to not giving a f anymore...