ST STEPHEN’S DAY: BATH v LONDON IRISH
Dunn: implacable
By PG Tips
December 21 2020
For the first time in years Bath host a Boxing Day, or to the Irish, St Stephen’s Day fixture. The calendar has restored an amateur tradition in the professional era, but will the fixture go ahead amid what many consider amateurish management of the Covid 19 risk in recent European fixtures? The day is named after St Stephen the first Christian martyr, but Bath may wish first to consult St Raphael, patron saint of healing before taking the field. If the game is played it will give fans something to cheer in dark times, but what sort of match can we expect?
Bath will hope to summon up the spirit of past luminary Stephens to inspire them to their first home win of the new season. The focus and intensity of a Borthwick, the rumbustious charges of an Ojomoh or Stevens, the robustness at scrum half of a Hatley, the tactical kicking and direction of a Donald at his best and the slick finishing of a Stephenson. But- will Bath be able to field today’s version of these past heroes, a first choice selection, or will self -isolation dictate a reserve crew takes to the field? As well as the Covid induced isolation, EPCR reported “injuries to other squad members” as a factor in Bath’s decision to withdraw from last Saturday’s La Rochelle fixture, unable to field a squad. If able to raise a matchday 23, of whatever stature and experience, Bath sorely need a win to boost confidence and revive a season which has been a disappointment so far. One win, three defeats and a concession from five fixtures is a far cry from the resurgence in the final third of last season.
London Irish with a similar start to the Premiership, can at least point to wins in European competition – a thorough bonus point thrashing of Agen in South West France followed by a closer bonus point win at home against Pau last weekend. Therefore the momentum could be said to be with Irish, who stand seventh in the Premiership table, a single point behind Bath. While 2,000 fans are expecting to take their seats at the Rec for Saturday’s 2PM kick-off, there is no indication yet whether restrictions on travel outside Tier 4 will be waived for sports teams. Could Irish find themselves prevented from travelling?
In a squad with a good mix of experience and youthful promise, Irish possess some well-known danger men up front- notably Argentine hooker Creevy,Tongan lock Mafi, Scots international Cowan and Samoan Ioane. Behind them, the experienced Phipps and Jackson at half back have been putting the team in the right parts of the field and releasing dangerous runners like Phil Cokanasiga (brother of Bath’s own Joe), Curtis Rona, James Stokes and former Rec favourite Tom Homer. Bath will need to work hard on defence this week to plug the gaps so ruthlessly exploited two weeks ago by Scarlets.
It will be touch and go for Bath to name a squad, after announcing withdrawal from their La Rochelle match on 17 December. Unless players were already in isolation it may be that none of the 12 referred to will be able to take part on the feast of Stephen. While some fans had been calling for squad rotation once European rugby was a lost cause, this Premiership selection may be a question of last man standing. That may pay dividends: Gloucester showed, in beating Ulster, the surge of energy that young players, desperate for game time, can bring. If all protocols can be satisfied in time to stage the match, it seems likely though that the coaches will want to field the strongest available team – suggesting no place for Orlando Bailey or squad scrum halves Max Green and Ollie Fox. Perhaps new signing Jamie Bhatti, fresh from Edinburgh may get the call, as he presumably has not been exposed to the Scarlets player who tested positive. We await Thursday’s team announcement with more than usual curiosity.
Bath’s most impressive performers to date have been up front. There have been standout showings in all three rows, but it is the implacable spirit and work ethic of Tom Dunn that most epitomises what Bath need now-a combination of determination, concentration and accuracy. Both fans and coaches will be hoping he has recovered from the knock he suffered against Scarlets. Rhys Priestland may be recovered from concussion in time to take his place at ten. His tactical and goal kicking would certainly strengthen the side but hopefully he will continue to set the backline running, which proved effective against Worcester and in the first half against Scarlets. While pick and drive has brought Bath a few tries this season, a more varied game is needed to be sure of putting sides away.
The great Irish novelist James Joyce’s semi -autobiographical novel Stephen Hero -is a tale of a young Irishman’s rebellion against church, country and family. Bath will need a rebellious, defiant spirit this St Stephen’s Day. But who will be their Stephen hero?
Possible Teams:
Bath: Entirely Covid dependent. We wait and see.
London Irish: Dell, Creevy, Chawatama, Coleman, Mafi, Rogerson, Cowan, Ioane. Phipps, Jackson. Parton, Cokanasiga, Rona, Stokes. Homer.
Replacements: Matu’u, Elrington, Green, Nott, Tuisue. Meehan, Brophy-Clews, Hassall-Collins.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2020:12:30:14:31:54 by P G Tips.
Quote:dcsh
The point about travelling from a tier 4 location is an interesting one, but I guess we’ll see what happens.
Indeed, particularly given what has been said this evening.
[www.bbc.co.uk]
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
We won't have TJ Ioane on Saturday, he's on loan to Glasgow Warriors. Have a merry Christmas and hope for a good game on Saturday.
Are you a Wearsider by any chance?
PG
My post above may reappear adding that the game is on BT Sport 2 Extra but cannot be recorded or paused.
"Today we share the disappointing news that our Boxing Day, Gallagher Premiership Rugby match against London Irish has been cancelled.
London Irish returned a small number of positive tests in this week's round of PCR testing, but had further players who presented with symptoms yesterday.
Due to the impact of this and in accordance with Premiership Rugby and Public Health England, London Irish are unable to safely fulfil a Premiership standard matchday-23 and the game cannot therefore go ahead.
Bath Rugby can confirm that in line with all 2020-21 league regulations the Club is able to safely field a matchday-23 this week. A Premiership Rugby panel will now be convened to determine the allocation of points and a further announcement will be made in due course.
Commenting on the news, Stuart Hooper said: “We stand by all Premiership Clubs today and while we are disappointed with this news, the health and safety of everyone in our sport must be our top priority. I know this news will be hard felt by our supporters who were due to attend and, but I know you’ll understand and join me in wishing all those affected this week a full and safe recovery.”
This news follows Leicester Tigers game against Newcastle Falcons being cancelled yesterday. "
PG
a.. Bath were able to field a 23
b. The match was called off by London Irish due to cases in their squad
PG
J
Quote:ChippenhamRoman
28-0 to Bath, no?
J
“Under new regulations brought in for the 2020-21 season, the decision will be made according to responsibility for the cancellation rather than fault, so two points will be awarded to the team that was responsible and four points to the team that was not.”
Quote:ChippenhamRoman
28-0 to Bath, no?
J
No. 4 points to Bath, 2 points to LI.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2020:12:23:14:46:22 by Rokobilly.
Quote:Technically 7 points available 5 points awarded for bonus point win and 2 points for try bonus and finishing score within 7 points for a losing side. The inconsistencies in Europe we get 0 points even though isolating players not our fault vs La Rochelle (not Rochdale on auto correct) 5 points. I think 4 points to us and 1 to Irish is just.TomReagan
Oh, if 6 points available then 3 points each. That would definitely be 'doable'?!
Unless you have proof of unsafe behaviour a rugby team can't control the spread of a virus.
We should want rugby teams to actively report cases as those cases have externalities that impact other teams (look at the impact of a positive Scarlets case) and not punish those who do.
And that's not even considering the wisdom of getting teams to scramble together an (inevitably-young) C string to go against full strength opposition.
I looked at the league table and Bath remain on 6pts overall. 5 from the win at Worcester, 1 losing point against Newcastle.
Quote:exbathballboy
Have Bath been given 4 pts? And London Irish 2 pts?
I looked at the league table and Bath remain on 6pts overall. 5 from the win at Worcester, 1 losing point against Newcastle.
Only played 3 though so not been added, odd but it is Christmas!
[www.bathrugby.com]
I believe that under the revised rules for this season it will need to be determined if Irish did everything they could to prevent the match being cancelled. If they did then the points are divided 4-2 to Bath, if Irish (or their players) are found to have done something wrong then the points will be 5-0 to Bath.
[www.bathrugby.com]
No injuries thankfully but man of the match? No stand out candidates....
Quote:The premiership adapted their rules following the mess around the Worcester v Sale match at the end of last season and with the likelihood that this season would have more games called off. So they looked to minimise the impact if a club had followed all the procedures and still couldn’t field a team over the course of the 22 rounds.Rawce
So we can’t play and the opposition get a 28-0 score line and 5 table points, while we get 0. The next week, our opposition can’t play and we get 4 table points and our opposition 2, with a 0-0 score line. Shame we didn’t play La Rochelle first and Scarlets last week. My issue is not with getting points in such a scenario, mostly because is a nightmare and rugby is only a game, just the inconsistency across competitions.
The European Cups shortened structure leaves little room to lose a game and qualify, so there is a built in inconsistency in the importance of a single match between the two competitions already. Agree it looks strange in terms of match points and points difference, and how you explain it all to the general public is a mystery.
Quote:All Premiership clubs were due to be tested on Monday with a decision on whether London Irish v Northampton and Leicester v Bath can go ahead on Sunday, along with the other four fixtures, dependent on the results.