DAUNTING DERBY: BRISTOL v BATH

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:02:02:09:14:11 by P G Tips.

A good assessment of the Bristol players PGTips
I think your new Saafi will be surprised to find he's playing at Prop and Inside Centre! (You'll probably edit it and make me look foolish now:-))
Let's hope for a good contest on Friday - looking forward to the time when we can all rub shoulders again .

I doubt it HS!

The new one - Tian, will know by now he has a namesake Juan ( who has already said “Howzit” to him) who plays at Loose Head.

PG

I clearly, unlike you PGT, didn't do my homework.

What's wrong with props in the backs then?

Kyle Sinkler played at both 10 and 12 as a teenager!


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

Victor Ubogu on the wing!

PG

Anthony Perenise try vs Saints, 2012.

[www.youtube.com]

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Quote:

BathMatt53
Anthony Perenise try vs Saints, 2012.
[www.youtube.com]

Thats a fantastic try for anyone, Dan Carter included let alone a prop!


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

I remember that

Just looked him up is he still there - he's 38!

On 23 July 2019, Perenise left Bath to sign for French club named Rouen in the Pro D2 from the 2019-20 season.[2]

We (Bris) may have less out due to Six Nations but we have some injured first choice players as well. Strangely, both teams seem to be missing 'normal first choice: players in similar positions:

Front row:
Sinckler and Thacker
Obama and Stuart

2nd row
Vui (assuming he's not yet ready)
Ewers

Back row
Earle
Underhill

Scrum Half
Randall

Outside backs
Malins (though he'd have been on bench perhaps)
Watson

I'm assuming the England shadow squad players will play + I don't know if Bath have any normal first choice players who are injured.

It's a great shame that yet again international call ups have affected this match - someone needs a word with PRL about ensuring it doesn't happen again next season. But they are both strong squads and I'm sure it'll be a good game!

Rich
England shadow players are with their clubs, just following the same Covid testing regime as the main squad.
They should be available to play.

As you say- hope for a good match.

PG

Hoping along the lines of:

Bhatti
Dunn
Judge
McNally
Stooke
Bayliss
Mercer
TF

Spencer
Rhys
RMC
Redpath
JJ
Roko
Tom D G

Reps

Schoeman
Walker
Thomas
Williams
Reid
Chudleigh
Harmer-Webb
Schoeman

Apologies if I have named anyone who is unavailable. Do we know who is officiating?

Chronic reporting Faletau & Redpath available for selection as per Premiership regulations. Sheedy too- for Bristol.

Question is: will either club feel they can slot in at the last minute?

PG

Quote:

Ali1969
Hoping along the lines of:
Bhatti
Dunn
Judge
McNally
Stooke
Bayliss
Mercer
TF

Spencer
Rhys
RMC
Redpath
JJ
Roko
Tom D G

Reps

Schoeman
Walker
Thomas
Williams
Reid
Chudleigh
Harmer-Webb
Schoeman

Apologies if I have named anyone who is unavailable. Do we know who is officiating?

Is "Chudleigh" a Farleigh Towers pipe and slippers gag?

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu

Quote:

shipwrecked

Quote:

BathMatt53
Anthony Perenise try vs Saints, 2012.
[www.youtube.com]

Thats a fantastic try for anyone, Dan Carter included let alone a prop!

Love the comment from Evans describing the "maori side step" !!!

Cheers PG re the Shadow!

Re Sheedy, Redpath and Falatau slotting back in, I know you had problems the other week and missed some training days but they will all have had one or two weeks in club camp prior to going off to Wales and Scotland, so they should be fine to slot back in I'd have thought.

Quote:

Rich.
We (Bris) may have less out due to Six Nations but we have some injured first choice players as well. Strangely, both teams seem to be missing 'normal first choice: players in similar positions:
Front row:
Sinckler and Thacker
Obama and Stuart

2nd row
Vui (assuming he's not yet ready)
Ewers

Back row
Earle
Underhil

Scrum Half
Randall

Outside backs
Malins (though he'd have been on bench perhaps)
Watson

I'm assuming the England shadow squad players will play + I don't know if Bath have any normal first choice players who are injured.

It's a great shame that yet again international call ups have affected this match - someone needs a word with PRL about ensuring it doesn't happen again next season. But they are both strong squads and I'm sure it'll be a good game!

Our biggest absence is Obama!

Quote:

bathstigg

Quote:

Rich.
We (Bris) may have less out due to Six Nations but we have some injured first choice players as well. Strangely, both teams seem to be missing 'normal first choice: players in similar positions:
Front row:
Sinckler and Thacker
Obama and Stuart

2nd row
Vui (assuming he's not yet ready)
Ewers

Back row
Earle
Underhil

Scrum Half
Randall

Outside backs
Malins (though he'd have been on bench perhaps)
Watson

I'm assuming the England shadow squad players will play + I don't know if Bath have any normal first choice players who are injured.

It's a great shame that yet again international call ups have affected this match - someone needs a word with PRL about ensuring it doesn't happen again next season. But they are both strong squads and I'm sure it'll be a good game!

Our biggest absence is Obama!

Barrak or Beno?


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

Ha! That must either have been my bad swipe typing on my mobile or the annoying spellcheck. Barack would no doubt have made a good player but not, I suspect a prop



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:27:22:11:30 by Rich..

Credit where its due - I'm enjoying the noticeably increased and more varied comms coming from the club on many channels, such as this.

[www.bathrugby.com]

Small steps but going in the right direction.

Looks like they were training at the Odd Down 4G?

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:28:11:57:11 by BathMatt53.

BATH RUGBY SIDE TO FACE BRISTOL BEARS
15. Tom de Glanville
14. Ruaridh McConnochie
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Josh Matavesi
11. Gabriel Hamer-Webb

10. Rhys Priestland
9. Ben Spencer

1. Juan Schoeman
2. Tom Dunn
3. Christian Judge
4. Josh McNally (C)
5. Elliott Stooke
6. Josh Bayliss
7. Miles Reid
8. Zach Mercer

REPLACEMENTS
16. Jack Walker
17. Jamie Bhatti
18. Henry Thomas
19. Mike Williams
20. Taulupe Faletau
21. Will Chudley
22. Cameron Redpath
23. Joe Cokanasiga

Seriously mobile back row. Taulupe Faletau and Cameron Redpath available but on the bench is an interesting one. Good to see Gabriel Hamer-Webb starting. Slight concerns with the 4 porps and their lack of recent match exposure but I guess we will see...

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:28:12:02:41 by BathMatt53.

Looks as strong as can be at present.

Wonder what has happened to Ellis & W Spencer?

PG

Bris

15. Charles Piutau; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Semi Radradra, 12. Piers O’Conor, 11. Henry Purdy; 10. Ioan Lloyd, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Bryan Byrne, 3. John Afoa, 4. Dave Attwood, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Steven Luatua (c), 7. Dan Thomas, Nathan Hughes.

System players: 16. Will Capon, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. Jake Armstrong, 19. Ed Holmes, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Tom Kessell, 22. Callum Sheedy, 23. Alapati Leiua.

What on earth is a System Player. Pat Lam been reading the same books as Eddie?

Quote:

BathMatt53
Credit where its due - I'm enjoying the noticeably increased and more varied comms coming from the club on many channels, such as this.
[www.bathrugby.com]

Small steps but going in the right direction.

Looks like they were training at the Odd Down 4G?

Thats refreshing I agree Matt, watched the video on subtitles, funny to note that all Neal's 'erms new included in the subtitles!
I hope that becomes a bit of a feature, is Odd Down a local 4G pitch then? I presume its not part of our training facilities.


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

Quote:

P G Tips
Looks as strong as can be at present.
Wonder what has happened to Ellis & W Spencer?

PG

I thought that Ellis had a shoulder problem?

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Quote:

shipwrecked
is Odd Down a local 4G pitch then? I presume its not part of our training facilities.

Yes, its the pitch next to the lottery funded cycle track - its a council facility. Looking at the details I note that it is actually 3G - I hadn't noticed as in my time 3g was the stuff that people put in their gardens that was like sandpaper.

No rugby posts on the artificial turf I think but there are on the (currently swampy) grass next to it.

[www.better.org.uk]

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Would feel more confident with Redpath and Faletau starting, but not sure when they got back so understand why.

Think it could be a very long evening, I really hope not, but if expect the worse can’t be disappointed.

Jamie Bhatti ? Have I been asleep and missed something?

Quote:

johnnyf
Jamie Bhatti ? Have I been asleep and missed something?

He's joined Bath for several hours..

Quote:

johnnyf
Jamie Bhatti ? Have I been asleep and missed something?

Signed as cover for Lewis Boyce just before Christmas on a short term deal I believe. Back to Scotland for next season though, back to original club Glasgow having left Edinburgh for us. Believe Boyce is long term injured, not sure season or a few months

Matters little which side we could/have put out, we are going to get hammered!

Quote:

nick holder
Matters little which side we could/have put out, we are going to get hammered!

Sad but true, we could go full strength and comfortably lose.

We are not going to beat Briz at their own game (altho it might have been fun to try) so Faletau and Redpath on the bench seems sound. We are going to have to try to draw them into playing our game. But with O'Conor and Radradra playing, I fear for Josh at 12. Pace not his strong suit.

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu

Have to deny them as much ball as possible or at least slow it down legally backed up with a fast, aggressive defence to keep pushing them further behind gainline hoping they will make errors in trying to push it wide and quick from deep

Hmm, can live in hope I guess!

With Bristol nailed on to score >40pts the only way to get a league point out of this fixture is for Bath to score 4 tries, anyone think that likely?

Hell, that Brizzle side looks strong.

A real test for the boys.

I think we'll get thumped again tomorrow! Well played Briz

Adopted Players: All of the little blighters!!!

Quote:

OutsideBath
With Bristol nailed on to score >40pts the only way to get a league point out of this fixture is for Bath to score 4 tries, anyone think that likely?

Arguably a game plan designed from the start to score 4 tries or more will run against any chance, however unlikely, of winning

But there again a game plan designed to give us best chance of sneaking a win maximises the probability of coming away with nothing

Sounds like a great poll question

And the 4 tries for Bath are scored by Spencer, McConnachie, Hamer-Webb and Stooke ! Sadly Bristol will probably score 8 by anyone !


Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
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"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS

Not at all hopeful. We were overtaken by Exeter years ago & now, it seems, by Bristol. This shouldn’t be the case for a club like Bath & hopefully the coaching set up next season will stem the decline. Until then, though, I assume we will continue to struggle.

I can only see a spanking for Bath, but when you have low expectations its not so bad and at least rugby is on. Paddy Power has Bristol at 1:4

Quote:

Bath Hammer
Not at all hopeful. We were overtaken by Exeter years ago & now, it seems, by Bristol. This shouldn’t be the case for a club like Bath & hopefully the coaching set up next season will stem the decline. Until then, though, I assume we will continue to struggle.

If the coaching change is proven to be correct it just feels like tinkering around the edges rather than the fundamental changes required.

Win or lose I would like to see a good performance, particularly from the rapid Bath back row and the many youngsters on the pitch. The front row performance will show us what we are in for, , for better or worse, over the next 2 months with the 1st choice with England and Boyce injured.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

If the weather gets really bad it makes it difficult for Bris to play their expensive game, maybe get the ref on our side, send a couple of bris players off, get the rub of the green, you never know in a contest between two teams

Quote:

OutsideBath
With Bristol nailed on to score >40pts the only way to get a league point out of this fixture is for Bath to score 4 tries, anyone think that likely?

Sudden positive covid test at Farleigh anyone for two points?

Quote:

SJS

Quote:

OutsideBath
With Bristol nailed on to score >40pts the only way to get a league point out of this fixture is for Bath to score 4 tries, anyone think that likely?

Sudden positive covid test at Farleigh anyone for two points?

Don't worry we will get the 2 points, 4 tries and within 7 points !!

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
Adopted Player 2020/21 Cam Redpath
Adopted Player 2021/22 Darren Atkins
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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

Matavesi picked due to his Fiji knowledge of Semi and trying to mark the beast (good luck). Will Spencer must be pleased he joined Bath again (not). Our bench is very very strong, and much better than Bristols purely in the fact they are called replacements and not 'System Players', power rangers or whatever the latest douche phrase is (can i say douche ?) Come on you bath ! (we will get royally humped IMHO)

Reading this thread makes me wonder if I should wash my hair instead of watching the game!

Crikey, CC, how much hair have you got?!

Quote:

Mike the Taxi
Crikey, CC, how much hair have you got?!

Rinsing can take ages Mike, especially with bottled spa water heated to 22.5^oC at 19.46 on a Friday.


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

Looking forward very much to seeing some rugby again after a two week break, but I fear that the result could be quite humiliating for our boys. It would have been hard enough with a full strength side but we are badly depleted.
The one sure thing is that I can be proved totally wrong, that our young side takes it to Brizz and secures a great victory against all the odds. Oh how I wish ...............

Quote:

CoochieCoo
Reading this thread makes me wonder if I should wash my hair instead of watching the game!

Have you got any paint to watch drying as that could be preferable.

Quote:

shipwrecked

Quote:

Mike the Taxi
Crikey, CC, how much hair have you got?!

Rinsing can take ages Mike, especially with bottled spa water heated to 22.5^oC at 19.46 on a Friday.

Go get 'em, Bath Boys. Keep fighting, regrouping and hang in there. Any team can be beaten on any day. Esp in dank soulless Ashton Gate ..............

Love the spirit Annie, can you do the pre-match pep talk via Zoom of course

For me, I've got a sweep stake with myself on the time when I can't bear to watch anymore and switch over to a recorded Taskmaster to lift mood

Quote:

gaz59
Love the spirit Annie, can you do the pre-match pep talk via Zoom of course
For me, I've got a sweep stake with myself on the time when I can't bear to watch anymore and switch over to a recorded Taskmaster to lift mood

20 minutes?

Quote:

gaz59
Love the spirit Annie, can you do the pre-match pep talk via Zoom of course
For me, I've got a sweep stake with myself on the time when I can't bear to watch anymore and switch over to a recorded Taskmaster to lift mood

That’ll be about 8 mins in then ?

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
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Adopted Player 2024/25 Max Ojomoh

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

Wayne missed the deliberate knock on by Bristol, then gives them a penalty 90 m up field,
Thanks for nothing as Bristol score.
Top ref in the world? Really?

Hmm

Quote:

gaz59
Love the spirit Annie, can you do the pre-match pep talk via Zoom of course
For me, I've got a sweep stake with myself on the time when I can't bear to watch anymore and switch over to a recorded Taskmaster to lift mood

Still watching Gaz ?

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
Adopted Player 2020/21 Cam Redpath
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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

Nothing wrong with second try though.
We need a defensive coach!

P G Tips


Jaco Coetzee: my adopted Player, 2023-24.

Well, that was easy for Bris. 8 mins and 2 tries already. 10-0

Let’s look on the brightside their kicker is rubbish

Far too easy for the second.

Both Bath second rows off for HIAs

Stooke has failed his HIA

Quote:

P G Tips
Nothing wrong with second try though.
We need a defensive coach!

Are you sure we haven’t got one ?

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
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"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS

Not straight, ref

Bristol allowed to throw the ball the wrong side of their jumper, all fine with Wayne, and Josh M gives away a penalty.
Nothing going Bath's way, two howlers from Wayne resulting in 11 point swing in favour of Bristol.

McNally failed HIA too.

We've won 6 turnover though!

I don’t think Wayne is as good as he used to be !

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
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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

Are we heading for some sort of record score?

I love Bayfield’s comment: Why are you kicking to Radrada?

Aah Joes come on that will help

Grim

We are not a very good rugby team. This is only a matter of time before they wear us down and put 50 on us

Well, we look all at sea as per usual. Losing both locks so early on means the set piece will be terrible. 5 back rowers might mean a few turnovers but I don’t trust us to do anything with the ball. We need an identity, we won’t find it in this match. We are being embarrassed so far.

Didn't even lay a finger on him let him run right by us. 27mins 20-3

Andy Uren breezes in - no defence , we are ...............!

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
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"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS

Quote:

supermarinematt
We are not a very good rugby team. This is only a matter of time before they wear us down and put 50 on us

I actually don’t think it’s fair. Bristol appear to be very good at rugby.

Coochie commentating on Radio Bristol, very scathing of Bath, RP in particular, and the point about kicking to the same man.

Quote:

Rawce
Well, we look all at sea as per usual. Losing both locks so early on means the set piece will be terrible. 5 back rowers might mean a few turnovers but I don’t trust us to do anything with the ball. We need an identity, we won’t find it in this match. We are being embarrassed so far.

Hoops might find it if we give him 10 years !

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
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"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS

Yellow card Priestland

For what's worth, Wikipedia tells me that Ioan Lloyd only 6 months older than Orlando Bailey

Yellow for Rhys for pulling his hand out of a delib KO.
Bad to worse to unbelievably disasterous.

Harsh yellow for RP ?

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
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Adopted Player 2024/25 Max Ojomoh

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

Yellow card for Rhys.

I know that I am making these comments partially in anger but there comes a time when you have to ask what Hooper is doing. We have no attacking plan, our defence has become embarrassing and the players seem to have lost confidence in themselves and each other.

I know that I am making these comments partially in anger but there comes a time when you have to ask what Hooper is doing. We have no attacking plan, our defence has become embarrassing and the players seem to have lost confidence in themselves and each other.

Very harsh yellow. Pen yes.
Especially given what wasn't given before their first try.

Great offload for the BP try.
Poor defence again though.

Bristol another try Byrne. I think game over and time up for Hooper!

Quickest bonus point of the season so far.

I can’t remember being this far behind Bristol in terms of performance in any game in the last 30 years. It is quite possible that there were games like that and I have suppressed their memory. It doesn’t make it feel any better though.

Straight to Radradra again!

Bris tried to give the ball up 3 times in the run up to that try. We are awful.

Hooper has to go. He has no clue, the players do not seem to trust each other and we make so many basic mistakes

30 missed tackles says everything.

Stupid, STUPID restarts!

PG

This is shocking. We look like a side that hasn’t met let alone played together before. Lack of energy, no intelligence no guts.. At some stage even Bruce will have to say enough is enough

No coherency, no identity, no attack, no leaders on the pitch, defence has gone awol. Hats’ reign looking disastrous.

Taking nothing away from Bristol who are excellent, but am I allowed to say we are utter .............
.

Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
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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

Quote:

Rokobilly
For what's worth, Wikipedia tells me that Ioan Lloyd only 6 months older than Orlando Bailey

Yep, 19 year old flyhalf running the game for Bristol. Have to say though Ioan Lloyd will be world class in a few years.


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

Hooper out

Everyone who took positives from the Wasps game should took a long hard look at themselves.

Pathetic .
Can't see Bruce accepting this.

Players an embarassment to themselves and the club.
Coaches clearly doing nothing.

Worst half of rugby I have ever suffered as a Bath fan.

Quote:

Old Bath Tub

Quote:

P G Tips
Nothing wrong with second try though.
We need a defensive coach!

Are you sure we haven’t got one ?

Well, I would like to know who.

PG

Just looking for the shampoo......


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

Dreadful! None of them want to be there looking at the body language and I can understand that. Brizzle are light years ahead of us.

Such a poor half of rugby from Bath. Can't take it away from Bris, they are very good.

No idea what we do to even get this to respectable.

Embarrassing is an understatement, Hoops needs more time to sort this mess.........NOT !

“ We didn’t have time to train well, nobody’s listening to my instructions, it’s Boris Johnson’s fault “



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

Hooper?

Given this performance change one letter to better match what he really produces.

Bristol look frighteningly good but bath show no heart, and no desire to be in this fight. I hope bath at least show some fight in the second half.

Should have contested the 19 false positive results and taken the 2 points for a cancelled match! Would have denied Bristol the bonus point too!

Bristol looking impressive.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:29:20:43:08 by dcsh.

I feel the tv cameras should not be taking pictures of Hooper, it's a bit like bystanders looking at the remains of a car crash.

Probably no worse than we expected and I don't think it would have been much different if we had our full strength team, Bristol just play a different type of game and are so much quicker than us in every department.

I’d hoped for 20 mins before the all too familiar depression set in. Didn’t think it would be 4!
Hoops needs to go now. I wonder if Diamond is available?!

Quote:

SJS

Quote:

OutsideBath
With Bristol nailed on to score >40pts the only way to get a league point out of this fixture is for Bath to score 4 tries, anyone think that likely?

Sudden positive covid test at Farleigh anyone for two points?

Sad that this would have been demonstrably better tactics than those shown on the pitch tonight. 😭

Quote:

P G Tips

Quote:

Old Bath Tub

Quote:

P G Tips
Nothing wrong with second try though.
We need a defensive coach!

Are you sure we haven’t got one ?

Well, I would like to know who.

PG

It was Hatley when he rejoined, not sure if it changed when he moved to head coach [www.bathrugby.com]

I think kicking every single kick off to radrada, arguably one of the v top world players, is so symptomatic of our complete lack of any rugby intelligence.

Hoops said it was stupid and not the plan. No idea if that reflects worse on the coaches or players. Both I guess....

V v hard to turn this around without changes at the top. Pains me to say it as up till the last month was very prepared to give hoops/hats another 18 months.

Half time team talk went well then...

Semi R - Bath no even on the same planet, let alone the same pitch.

Clearly not going to improve this half.

21 points whilst Rhyts off.

Radrada an easy run in from over 65 meters....wow

This could be triple figures

What a team talk! Just let him run from his own half under our posts

The Baxter model of DoR development relies on the club getting better bit by bit. There is a point where things go so badly wrong that only a change of leader will do. We are in very strange times so it would be harsh but I just wonder if this isn't that time.


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

I wonder if Dave Attwood regrets leaving...

Embarrassing.

40 years of watching Bath, this so far has to be top of the worst performances. We are completely bereft of ideas and energy. Body language shows we don’t want to be anywhere near a rugby pitch.

Bruce are you watching ?
Will we score any more points ?
Does anybody care anymore ?



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

This has to rank as the worst performance I have ever seen by not only Bath but by a Premiership rugby team.

Sorry Hoops.you have my respect and if you have e any dignity left your immediate resignation is required at full time whistle. It 8s the manner of the performance not just the actual performance, players appear to have no desire to play for him or the club. Disgraceful.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:29:21:16:38 by Ali1969.

Ah, I see. Henry Thomas has been away so long he forgot what a penalty was.

Henry Thomas has been on for 3 minutes and given away two penalties and a free kick. Honestly.

Quote:

Ali1969
This has to rank as the worst performance I have ever seen by not only Bath but by a Premiership rugby team.

It’s sad when this is from normally balanced posters rather than BO etc but I agree.

Can we just call time now please? Concede now and we can all carry on with our lives?

Wayne can do one

Wayne doing us lots of favours..........Not !

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

Quote:

Rokobilly
Wayne can do one

Agreed. Missing some clear stuff now. Still, wouldn’t change the result.

Finally a sensible decision re H- Webbs tackle!

P G Tips


Jaco Coetzee: my adopted Player, 2023-24.

7 tries. Horror show.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:29:21:04:50 by SJS.

Craig and Dyson OUT....!!!

Quote:

Rokobilly
Wayne can do one

It really isn’t his fault that we are about to lose by well over 50 points.

In fairness, I remember being at Loftus Rd when Wasps put 50+ on us and in one miss move the miss pass hit the outside centre in the head.

Then an away trip to Watford where Sarries put 50+ on us in the days before they were any good.

So this is perhaps top 3 for my personal nadir but hard to say it is number 1.

Enough is enough, these are professional rugby players. Hooper has to go tonight.

Wayne finds a way to make it a penalty try and a yellow.

Really?

Ridiculous.

Quote:

SJS

Quote:

Rokobilly
Wayne can do one

Agreed. Missing some clear stuff now. Still, wouldn’t change the result.

Agree completely. We've lost to a much, much better team and have looked utterly hopeless but he's not helping.

And now, Bristol dropping the ball over the lines saves themselves the conversion and we are now down to 14.

Wonderful.

Penalty try! 48-3

I don't think I have ever called for a manager to go before but I think Hooper should resign as I think the players have decided enough is enough. The Redpath interview from a couple of weeks ago was telling - the players no longer trust each other and that lies fully with the coaching.

Has there been a throw in from Bristol that's gone down the middle?

We have been utterly dreadful.
Wayne has been really poor.
Bristol have been excellent.

Do you remember at school,when one team was getting so hammered that they used to ask the other team to swap a few players, level it up a bit?...

Hooper has to leave. This cannot go on. We are so, so poor. This has been men Vs boys tonight and they way we have been shredded on numerous occasions is embarrassing. No leadership on or off the field, it seems

Quote:

CoochieCoo
40 years of watching Bath, this so far has to be top of the worst performances. We are completely bereft of ideas and energy. Body language shows we don’t want to be anywhere near a rugby pitch.

I am a bit of lurker (18 years true and proud 😉) I’ve always found Coochie a measure of sense and experience.. so if he is riled it’s well founded

I have said before Hoops has ‘Lost the dressing room ‘.

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

Quote:

dannyf2
Do you remember at school,when one team was getting so hammered that they used to ask the other team to swap a few players, level it up a bit?...

Or the mercy rule of just ending the game when the score got to a certain point

Quote:

ken_jnr

Quote:

Rokobilly
Wayne can do one

It really isn’t his fault that we are about to lose by well over 50 points.

No it iis not but more of his errors have hurt Bath than Bris.

Bris though are sharper in every area - & especially in covering their few mistakes.

PG

Bruce Craig has resigned.

Andrew Brownsword takes over. Jon Callard Head Coach.

Quote:

Shawshank
Craig and Dyson OUT....!!!

Owner and main sponsor? Interesting that it's them you want to get rid of, not anyone involved with playing or coaching?

I'm quietly astonished we've managed to slow the scoring down!!!

Adopted Players: All of the little blighters!!!

It is like an under 14's match against a school that you knew broke the rules playing half the first team. Except here we are just a spiritless bunch with no such excuses who can't wait for it all to end. I doubt any of them have been so humiliated on the pitch.
Major question marks over training, tactics, game management recruitment, morale etc. Time for sweeping change.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:29:21:23:48 by BathIron.

Quote:

supermarinematt
Hooper has to leave. This cannot go on. We are so, so poor. This has been men Vs boys tonight and they way we have been shredded on numerous occasions is embarrassing. No leadership on or off the field, it seems

I would hate rugby to go down the football route but certainly a major change is needed .

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

And Thomas now muffs the try opportunity. Sigh.

One of the key arts of being a good leader is knowing when you are part of the problem, rather than the solution.

It goes higher than just Hoops.

Quote:

Old Bath Tub

Quote:

supermarinematt
Hooper has to leave. This cannot go on. We are so, so poor. This has been men Vs boys tonight and they way we have been shredded on numerous occasions is embarrassing. No leadership on or off the field, it seems

I would hate rugby to go down the football route but certainly a major change is needed .

I don't either, but of you are failing, notice it quickly and make the change.

Redpath best Bath player on the pitch by far!


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

What’s our record losing margin?

Crikey. This is bad.

Nothing excuses this level of performance, players or coaches...

Quote:

A different view
One of the key arts of being a good leader is knowing when you are part of the problem, rather than the solution.
It goes higher than just Hoops.

Bruce Craig does inject millions per season into the club which would make a loss otherwise. Dyson is Britain's richest individual. It does puzzle me why we don't have the opportunity to get one of the best coaches/DOR on the planet????

Oct 2019 43-16 to Bristol was described as a record margin
[www.somersetlive.co.uk]

Quote:

A different view
It goes higher than just Hoops.

What are you talking about??? He is the Director of Rugby & entirely responsible for the playing & coaching side of things. No one else is. The owner owns, the CEO manages. Apart from selecting the DOR the team’s performance, or lack of it, is not down to them. Besides, who is queuing up to buy a rugby club & develop the ground. Nonsense!

Bristol are a very good team. We are a shambles and there should be consequences.

Quote:

shipwrecked
Redpath best Bath player on the pitch by far!

A nod to the back row though SW. Battled hard, never gave up. Will be sore for days.

PG



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:29:21:45:42 by P G Tips.

So glad that we didn't throw it away in the last few minutes

100% points haul from the tee.

You've got to draw the positives.

_____________________________________________________

I like turtles.

Wow, we somehow didn't concede 50.

Still the worst Bath performance Ihave ever seen, even eclipsing that defeat to Irish in the rain.

We attempted over 212 tackles, missing at least 45.
You will never come close to winning if you miss 45 tackles.

Well when you come away from a 48-3 beating thinking “that could have been worse”, then expectations can’t get much lower.

Conceding 17 tries in 3 matches is terrible.

Amazingly under 50 points!


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

I normally try to stay calm and level headed, but people had better start resigning or being sacked soon.
That was beyond abysmal, and clearly related to coaching, as just 5 months ago we were playing well enough to get in the play offs.

Quote:

Armchair Fan
100% points haul from the tee.
You've got to draw the positives.

The only positive I can muster is I don't have a 2 mile walk through Bristol amongst joyous home fans and then the X39 bus home.

Quote:

P G Tips

Quote:

shipwrecked
Redpath best Bath player on the pitch by far!

A nod to thw back row though SW. Battled hard, never gave up. Will be sore for days.

PG

Yes PG Reid was good TF and ZM never gave up but the third heavy defeat in a row. Disheartening to watch.


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

Bayfield says 'I wonder what us going through Hoopers head', any suggestions?

Quote:

ken_jnr

Quote:

Rokobilly
Wayne can do one

It really isn’t his fault that we are about to lose by well over 50 points.

On the upside, at least I was wrong about the final score?

My only consolation of the night is my wife the Briz supporter in normal times won't go to Ashton Gate because she also supports Bristol Rovers 🤣

Quote:

NotColin
Bayfield says 'I wonder what us going through Hoopers head', any suggestions?

“Can we get the coach into the McDonalds drive thru on the way home?”

17 tries and 136 pts conceded in 3 matches. Says all you need to know

Quote:

Shawshank
Craig and Dyson OUT....!!!

Which, given our current low status, could leave us without an owner.
Do you want us to drop to the Championship by default?

PG

Generally a glass half full person and to be honest I was more disappointed with the loss away at Leicester as Bristol are a very good side and I could see this coming.

I think this has to spell the end for hooper and Dempsey as a minimum. This just isn't working, and when a commentator says no disrespect to bath but Bristol are looking to beating better teams than them then something is seriously wrong.

One thing that is obvious with Bristol is that their marquee players offer something completely different and can really change a game. As good a player as falatau might be he has never done that for bath.

We were always the underdogs but the disappointing factor was no energy or heart. I have to say there needs to be a change of thinking and getting the squad to start enjoying their rugby again. Their body language spoke volumes that their heart wasn’t anywhere near that pitch.

Quote:

dcsh

Quote:

NotColin
Bayfield says 'I wonder what us going through Hoopers head', any suggestions?

“Can we get the coach into the McDonalds drive thru on the way home?”

"We trained well in the week, so don't understand"

Bristol ran for nearly 800 metres, I can't ever remember seeing a stat like it and if Bristol were fitter and had played in the last 20 minutes it would have been even more. One good thing is the lack of spectators at the match, imagine the first half and having to listen to the Bristol crowd. Think I will turn my phone off this weekend.

Quote:

NotColin
Bayfield says 'I wonder what us going through Hoopers head', any suggestions?

Reminds me of the fly hitting the windscreen joke "what was the last thing that went through his mind: his 'rear end'"

Quote:

supermarinematt

Quote:

dcsh

Quote:

NotColin
Bayfield says 'I wonder what us going through Hoopers head', any suggestions?

“Can we get the coach into the McDonalds drive thru on the way home?”

"We trained well in the week, so don't understand"

“So ring fencing hu?”

Quote:

Bath Hammer

Quote:

A different view
It goes higher than just Hoops.

What are you talking about??? He is the Director of Rugby & entirely responsible for the playing & coaching side of things. No one else is. The owner owns, the CEO manages. Apart from selecting the DOR the team’s performance, or lack of it, is not down to them. Besides, who is queuing up to buy a rugby club & develop the ground. Nonsense!

It is not about one performance, it is about a culture that is created over time that leads to many below standard performances. But that is just my opinion.

Hooper: "...players who haven't played their best rugby..." Well, go to the foot of our stairs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adopted Players: All of the little blighters!!!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:29:22:05:51 by plong.

Finally a bright side to lockdown... not going to watch that live. Bristol were really good. We were dreadful. The scoreline could have been much worse.

Adopted player
2023/24 Tom de Glanville
2021/22 Danny Cipriani
2020/21: Jonathan Joseph
2019/20: Tom Ellis

This result isn’t globally significant. Bath will take the learnings from this third embarrassing defeat forward into how they prepare to become something objectively better than they have been in performance terms for some time. As Director of Rugby, Hooper is best placed to take a helicopter view of top to bottom performance and put in place a series of tactics that will really impact in the area where the rubber hits the road.

I don’t know why the team aren’t able to understand his vision quite frankly.

All Girvan Dempsys fault? Don't worry we will replace him and everything will be rosey.

Sorry like I said I have and will always have utmost respect for Hoops, but the players performance tonight suggests he has lost the dressing room. If you cannot get a team up for a local derby then you need to go.

If Girvs is expected to fall on his sword then Hoops sorry you must do the same.

That was beyond embarrassing it was shambolic. No o e wants a DoR to be sacked or leave their post but surely enough is enough, his post match comments are nothing short of deluded.

O well, glad I didn't have to watch that.
One does wonder if Mr Craig has lost interest in his toy? How Hooper can go on taking his very generous salary and 'expenses' with a straight face, goodness knows. Hope he or Hatleydoesn't meet any of you in a local petrol station or Sainsburys anytime soon!

Perhaps Wayne Barnes just didn't know what to make of one of the team's he was supposedly refereeing? Difficult is they are being inept, clueless and without spirit - there is only so much a Ref can do.

P.S. My initial post was purely addressed at the players coz I knew from years of watching the game how they must be feeling. Back to Brexit and Vaccines. LOL!

Quote:

CoochieCoo
We were always the underdogs but the disappointing factor was no energy or heart. I have to say there needs to be a change of thinking and getting the squad to start enjoying their rugby again. Their body language spoke volumes that their heart wasn’t anywhere near that pitch.

Or how about players playing what is in front of them, instead of all this stuff about "systems"?

Bristol thought on the hoof, played, at times, off the cuff and found space. Whenever that happened, the ball player had supporters runni g hard either side in support. result? Overlap & score!

Simple really.

PG

Gustard, anyone?

Quote:

ken_jnr
This result isn’t globally significant. Bath will take the learnings from this third embarrassing defeat forward into how they prepare to become something objectively better than they have been in performance terms for some time. As Director of Rugby, Hooper is best placed to take a helicopter view of top to bottom performance and put in place a series of tactics that will really impact in the area where the rubber hits the road.
I don’t know why the team aren’t able to understand his vision quite frankly.

Hooper "We will be going back to the traing ground on Monday to focus on those things that are the DNA of Bath Rugby and everything the club stands for"

Priestland "Kicking to Radranda boss?"

Adopted player
2023/24 Tom de Glanville
2021/22 Danny Cipriani
2020/21: Jonathan Joseph
2019/20: Tom Ellis

The most damning thing about tonight is that I am no longer bothered.

Quote:

P G Tips

Quote:

CoochieCoo
We were always the underdogs but the disappointing factor was no energy or heart. I have to say there needs to be a change of thinking and getting the squad to start enjoying their rugby again. Their body language spoke volumes that their heart wasn’t anywhere near that pitch.

Or how about players playing what is in front of them, instead of all this stuff about "systems"?

Bristol thought on the hoof, played, at times, off the cuff and found space. Whenever that happened, the ball player had supporters runni g hard either side in support. result? Overlap & score!

Simple really.

PG

You’re right PG but there lies the difference between the two coaching set ups one that requires players to express themselves and be motivated to do just that. However I did think I heard Pat Lam say during the match that he was disappointed with the lack of structure in the SH. So yes play heads up rugby but don’t just throw it around hoping for the best.

I have never ever seen anything better than mediocre in Stuart Hooper in any aspect of his rugby career. The only positive is I haven’t actually given any money to Bath Rugby for 3 years.

Quote:

CoochieCoo
We were always the underdogs but the disappointing factor was no energy or heart. I have to say there needs to be a change of thinking and getting the squad to start enjoying their rugby again. Their body language spoke volumes that their heart wasn’t anywhere near that pitch.

It looked as though we had already played 80 minutes right from the start! You do wonder if the false tests were actually not false tests at all and were right all along! Total lethargy.


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

Has Ballsout spontaneously combusted. Aah he’s banned.

Quote:

ken_jnr
This result isn’t globally significant. Bath will take the learnings from this third embarrassing defeat forward into how they prepare to become something objectively better than they have been in performance terms for some time. As Director of Rugby, Hooper is best placed to take a helicopter view of top to bottom performance and put in place a series of tactics that will really impact in the area where the rubber hits the road.
I don’t know why the team aren’t able to understand his vision quite frankly.

Ken , Hooper won't turn this around. As a player he won a power Gen cup for Leeds against us! As a DOR / coach what is the game plan? In the post interview tonight he was bereft of ideas. There is a complete dis connect between players and the coaching staff. BT commentators were asking who was the defence coach shipping 28 Trys this season already 17 in the last 3 games. Time for a change at DOR.

Quote:

bathstigg

Quote:

ken_jnr
This result isn’t globally significant. Bath will take the learnings from this third embarrassing defeat forward into how they prepare to become something objectively better than they have been in performance terms for some time. As Director of Rugby, Hooper is best placed to take a helicopter view of top to bottom performance and put in place a series of tactics that will really impact in the area where the rubber hits the road.
I don’t know why the team aren’t able to understand his vision quite frankly.

Ken , Hooper won't turn this around. As a player he won a power Gen cup for Leeds against us! As a DOR / coach what is the game plan? In the post interview tonight he was bereft of ideas. There is a complete dis connect between players and the coaching staff. BT commentators were asking who was the defence coach shipping 28 Trys this season already 17 in the last 3 games. Time for a change at DOR.

I think Ken’s post had a touch of irony about it, Bathstigg!

Anyone out there still believe Hooper shouldn’t be sacked?

We need to see what this looks like in 48 hours time but when you get three huge ones in a row thats a big hole to climb out of.

What worries me is that BC won't sack and SH won't go on his own. We have an influx of new signings are they just going to get washed in the same muddy water as their initial enthusiasm gets greyer and greyer!


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

Quote:

Woodpecker
Has Ballsout spontaneously combusted. Aah he’s banned.

And yet, there are people on here, who used take great pleasure in digging him out, now essentially repeating what he's been saying for the last year or so. And they probably don't even realise it.

Firstly, full credit to Bristol who, Wasps aside, are playing a form of rugby no other Premiership side (Exeter included) seem able to aspire to.

Bath did look like a team lacking energy and urgency in the warmup and were clearly stunned by the pace, verve and ruthlessness of Bristols’s early attacks.

Injuries to two locks clearly unbalanced the pack but the key difference was the style, ambition and creativity that was obviously second nature to every Bristol player.

Bath used to play like that. Not just in “the glory days” but under Ashton (too briefly), Meehan and Ford.

That is what I hoped to see come from the evolution approach that brought us the current coaching team. Whatever the late upsurge last season, the results so far this season are a backward step.

Time for a reset. With the number of internationals and national squad members we have, recent performances are not acceptable.

PG

Tomorrow I will watch Glos. I think I’ve lost interest in watching them lose, strangely.

Quote:

Jimmer1

Quote:

Woodpecker
Has Ballsout spontaneously combusted. Aah he’s banned.

And yet, there are people on here, who used take great pleasure in digging him out, now essentially repeating what he's been saying for the last year or so. And they probably don't even realise it.

Just to be clear Jimmer, his ban was not for negativity or criticism but rule breaking ( offensve reaponse to visiting fan).

PG

Just picture the trip from AG back into Temple Meads on a a damp cold January night with 20,000 Brizzlers guffawing and gloating at our ineptitude. Then picture squeezing into a 3 carriage GWR special with an atmosphere like a morgue, or even worse the dreaded rail replacement bus service. See it could be worse ! Chin up Bath.

Like many on here, I started watching Bath stood on the old flowerpots. Through decades of support they have brought me immense joy, anxiety, anger, despair and delight. I was invested and I loved (and sometimes hated) the team. My team.

I don’t feel any of that anymore.

A slight wistful sadness for what has been lost, but no anger or despair.

This iteration of the team has led me to a place where I will watch Netflix, check the results later and no longer really care that much.

It’s the loss of something important from my life and that’s sad. Whether the club is capable of ever rekindling that passion...? I no longer know.

’’Paint the whole world with a rainbow”

PG is right. In amongst the wailing and gnashing of teeth I think it is getting overlooked just how good Bristol are, and how well they have been building over the last couple of seasons. Hat duly tipped.

_____________________________________________________

I like turtles.

Quote:

P G Tips

Quote:

Jimmer1

Quote:

Woodpecker
Has Ballsout spontaneously combusted. Aah he’s banned.

And yet, there are people on here, who used take great pleasure in digging him out, now essentially repeating what he's been saying for the last year or so. And they probably don't even realise it.

Just to be clear Jimmer, his ban was not for negativity or criticism but rule breaking ( offensve reaponse to visiting fan).


PG

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:29:22:59:34 by Jimmer1.

Sorry, fat fingers....what I was trying to say...

Ballsouts attitude to visiting fans was poor, agreed, but my point still stands, he was basically right and reading most of the posts tonight, people now seem to be agreeing with him - not that they’ll admit it!

Don't know whether to be outraged by that performance or glad we didn't ship 70. That's probably not a good place to be in...

I cannot believe I am typing this I had to replay this stat 3 times for this to sink in:

17 tries conceded in 3 matches and 28 tries conceded so far this season.

To hear Hoops on TV state there is no.panic button. Not sure Bruce Craig will see it that way. Interesting he isn't so vocal about being responsible for the playing side, very quick to share the blame with the players.

Interesting that Dallaglio stated that there is a clear disconnect between Hooper and the players. That says it all really.

Nothing more telling than the total impotence of the pack, and their continued failure at grunting over the line.

The backs clearly pressing the panic button at 41-3 down, throwing it behind the line, quick throw-ins everywhere... The comment from Redpath a few weeks ago that the backs and forwards don't trust each other is clear.

Henry Thomas, great servant to the club but total liability.

Bruce must be pulling his hair out. At least his costs must be lower.

Quote:

hasta
Nothing more telling than the total impotence of the pack, and their continued failure at grunting over the line.
The backs clearly pressing the panic button at 41-3 down, throwing it behind the line, quick throw-ins everywhere... The comment from Redpath a few weeks ago that the backs and forwards don't trust each other is clear.

Henry Thomas, great servant to the club but total liability.

What was the pulling of Atter's scrum cap off his head when on the ground all about. Didn't they get on or something?


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

It was very stupid and could easily have reversed the penalty.

Quote:

Jimmer1
Sorry, fat fingers....what I was trying to say...
Ballsouts attitude to visiting fans was poor, agreed, but my point still stands, he was basically right and reading most of the posts tonight, people now seem to be agreeing with him - not that they’ll admit it!

Nonsense. Most agreed, but most didn’t want the board made a wasteland by the relentless trolling. Someone check the IP address here.

Just watched the game.

My word, that was bad. Briz were excellent but really didn't do anything they haven't been doing all season. It still seemed to take us by surprise. Kicking to Semi every time was not entirely successful, I thought. On the upside, there were very, very few positives so we won't have to sit through that BS. Ah well, back to the drawing board.

MotM Josh Bayliss. For never giving up but mostly for self restraint after he'd obeyed Wayne's instructions and then found himself PT'd and yellow carded. I'd have had a meltdown. Maybe he was just glad to get off the pitch for a bit.

One thought. That is what a lot of games will look like without relegation.

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:30:05:31:58 by joethefanatic.

As a neutral observer to the game I must admit that Bristol looked formidable for 45 minutes, but are by no means an 80 minute team. Indeed Pat Lamb stated as such in the second forty. The last 30 minutes they played as individuals trying to go for rugby’s version of the Hail Mary pass, this inevitably led to players making basic errors, being isolated or turned over. I know it is hard when you have battered a team into complete submission to keep that accuracy and unity, however against stronger teams pushing for the title they may find that a similar first 40 will only have them in a tight contest, and a team needs a 80 minute performance to get through that. Bristol do not look like they have that in their locker....yet.

For Bath, well from the off they were just not their mentally. Yes the false covid tests were disruptive, but given where we are in the season the time they had this week and the rest it should of provided Hoopers charges with energy and focus. This was a West Country derby with your nearest from just over the hill With a history going back over 130 years!!! If any game Should stir the collective blood For the players and coaches as it does the Bath and Bristol faithful this is it! As a amateur I have been in games where you can tell when you get off the coach that the energy, the mentality, the positivity is not there, and it can stem from multiple sources. But ours is a game where you can be beaten before getting to the ground. Bristol sniffed this and their energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to play anywhere showed they neither feared Bath nor were concerned by their opponents. I do think the absence of fans plays a part in this, and the pandemic has clearly demonstrated that the heart of the game can only survive us all returning soon. It would of generated an atmosphere and an edge, but Bristol showed no nervousness that all teams do when they believe the other side can best them. They performed and played like a team that knew they would win, it was a case of by how much. This is not a common mind set when facing Bath rugby.

Given the above, questions must be asked not only of Hooper and his coaching team, but also of the players. You have a squad capable of more, but at present the style of play and direction is absent, the forwards and back units are completely disconnected, defensively it is all at sea as is the attacking. The physicality simply is not there. Bath need to start enjoying their rugby again, they need to enjoy playing with and for each other, and they have to trust the coaches and their plans, and the coaches must trust them. Without that unity and buy in no other sport has the ability to brutally expose it as does our wonderful game. I see very little value in them going through the game Monday morning, instead the meetings focus should be much more introspective and honest. At present the question must be can this group overcome this challenge together?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:30:06:56:48 by wombles222.

I think that was the first bath game in 37 yrs I have given up early on (only lasted till half time).

Sport and rugby is about passion and enjoyment. It is a joyless experience watching players who look beaten before the kick off and as if they don't really want to be there.

Hoops was honest about the disruption but it's just excuses, that was a well rested squad with a full week's prep.....and we haven't needed false positives to be woeful previous weeks.

I think everyone involved in the club is too accepting of mediocrity and this is where it leads. This is about culture of the club and that breeds high standards, passion and enjoyment which are all missing and can be seen in spades at ex and bris even by an outside observer.

The most obvious sign for me that Bath should get shot of Hooper was his pathetic, cowardly response to the BT question about kicking to Radrada. "Oh...mm...thats not actually the plan so we need to be kicking better." I'm sorry but that is b011sh1t. Priestland is an experienced international, are you really saying he would have kept kicking it to radrada unless he'd been instructed to do so? Shameful lack of courage from hooper in attempting to shift blame on to his players when his plan didn't work.

Morning Barfers.

Not here to rub salt into open wounds or gloat, but hopefully give a bit of a 3rd eye view on your position at present.

As you can probably imagine, from a Bris fans point of view, our results over the past couple of seasons have been great for us, but have also highlighted (last night in particular) the totally different directions we have gone as clubs over the last few years under new ownership (aware Bruce Wayne has been in charge at your place for longer).

When Pat Lam came into Bris he did so with a clear vision for where he wanted the club to get to, and a clear plan as to how we were going to get there. While the Lansdown family have stumped up the cash, they know nothing about rugby so have left the running of the club to Chris Booy who is an astute businessman and an ardent Bris fan.

Unfortunately Barf - as a club - seem totally rudderless under Bruce Craig, and I would suggest are being run along the same lines as Bristol City. While the Lansdowns have got it right with BRFC, at BCFC they appear to only appoint managers who operate the way the Lansdowns want them to operate, and not challenge them - effectively “yes” men. (some of you may have heard stories over the years of the Lansdowns signing players for BCFC without managers knowing it) Which I would suggest is where your man Hooper comes in. Looking at Rob Baxter (Exe stalwart) I can understand how Chair-people would look at that and think “we can do that” and I believe that is what Craig wanted from Hooper (would question if he is a Barf stalwart?) but it is clear it is not working for you guys.

Hooper needs to go, but at the same time BC needs to appoint someone with a bit of backbone and leave them to do what they want to do with the club as a whole. If I was a Barf fan I would be absolutely livid and embarrassed with last night - you can accept teams losing but the way we do asked through your “defence” at times was unacceptable at professional level and your players did not look up for it at all in the first half at least, which unfortunately points to Hooper.

I do hope something changes for you guys as I would prefer us to be competing at a much closer level than last night - but your club needs an overhaul, and probably to take some steps back to go forward.

In fairness, sometimes players do stupid things. Or continue to carry out a pre-match plan even when it isn't working.

As a Bristol supporter I was expecting a very different game. Yes Bath had disruption and injuries but it was a Derby game, with a full week of preparation following two games in which defence was an issue. Surely that wouldn't happen again? But it did and that indicates to me that there is some structural issue in the club. I didn't find Hooper 'cowardly', I found him honest and bewildered. He was nearly in tears when interviewed after the game. I suspect he has reached the point where sacking would be a relief. But the players need to take some responsibility too.

Quote:

Rawce

Quote:

Jimmer1
Sorry, fat fingers....what I was trying to say...
Ballsouts attitude to visiting fans was poor, agreed, but my point still stands, he was basically right and reading most of the posts tonight, people now seem to be agreeing with him - not that they’ll admit it!

Nonsense. Most agreed, but most didn’t want the board made a wasteland by the relentless trolling. Someone check the IP address here.

"Someone check the IP address here"

Who do you think you are, Rawce?

But thanks for proving my point.

Bris fan here... but not to gloat. I hope.

I've loved our derbies since (well) before the game went pro and we were good last night. Yes... we have now got a squad and culture that is fun to watch and we long-suffering Bris fans after what? decades of under achievement seem to be finally going places. And it's a long overdue and lovely feeling.

That said, I always worry when I watch my beloved Bris play (so many disappointments over the years perhaps) and I especially always worry about playing you lot .
Just derby history I suppose.
I took my eldest boy to Twickenham the other season to watch our derby in London and we just saw JJ run the show... my poor boy was very upset!
I looked at your team line up yesterday lunch time and thought... that's a good side. A very good side. And I started worrying again, about the potential banana skin with DYSON printed on it, that lay in wait for Bris in the evening.

Then I watched the build up.

And I stopped worrying before the match had even kicked off.
I've never before felt that feeling watching Bris play. Before a ball had been kicked.
Never.

Your players, after the warm up, walked into the tunnel with their heads down. All of them. With hang dog faces. Before a ball had even been played.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and told my Mrs. that I dont think I've ever seen that in a professional rugby team before. Or even an amateur side.

It was stark.

Like I say... I stopped worrying right there and then. It reminded me of watching Tyson fights in his prime. For whatever reason you boys were beaten before Barnes had blown his kick off whistle.

Look... I love Bris... and I adore beating you lot... but I am worried about you lot at present. Dont get me wrong... we were very good last night... but you made us look ridiculously good. Semi had no right to do what he did for his try, did he?

Ok. That's all I guess.
I hope you find your feet soon.
And heres to many more derbies in the future which are closer than that (although I hope we get the same winner of course!) and in front of 25000+ fans, eh?

Tbr.

I’ve always had the impression that Hooper is a honest, decent guy with integrity who works hard. Unfortunately that’s just not enough and he is undoubtedly clueless on how to make Bath successful. He simply has to resign and allow Bath to start building towards success.

If he doesn’t Craig has to show leadership and sack Hooper before it’s too late and Bath are in the championship.

OK so a couple of points / questions I have in the cold light of day. Sorry its a bit of a wall of text but need to get it off my chest.

These are points that fans, commentators, journalists have been highlighting but it seems that those at the Club are either oblivious or too stubborn to accept:

- Long term planning (1): Getting in as many home internationals as possible isn't a good idea. They are expensive and away for lots of the year. It means that there isn't budget to get strength in depth needed to compete when those same internationals are away.

- Long term planning (2): not getting the whole squad significant match exposure has been a disaster. There was a brilliant opportunity to do this after the restart, just about everyone else did it. Bath stuck with the same players, sneaked into the top 4 and now have a binary division within the squad (see point 1 above). It means that when the internationals go away we are playing some championship standard players or those with zero experience.

- Long term planning (3): not getting the whole squad significant match exposure means that you will lose developing players. These are the players that come through and are relatively good value but good enough to call on when needed. Sarries, Exeter and now Bristol all have these players in abundance.

- Long term planning (4): the squad has glaring holes in a number of positions in terms of backups. Some of the players, including some of those last night are living on past reputation and apparently aren't good enough at this level any more for reasons including injury and just age.

- Match day prep (team selection): Hands up if anyone on this forum thought that having Matevesi vs the strong and dynamic Bris midfield was going to end well. Who thought that he would be able to compete, let alone dominate his opposition? He seems like a lovely guy and has some skills but as he himself admits he just isn't mobile enough to be a top level 12 in the prem. Being half a yard slow means that he can't be in the right defensive position half the time - he missed 4 tackles from 6. Rhys also missed 7 tackles. The Bath team selectors must have seen something that nobody else has because we all knew that was going to be a car crash. Why are Clark and Wright even in the squad (see LTP points 2 and 3 above)

- Match day tactics. Hoops was even asked about it, 'why do you keep restarting to Radradra'? This match intelligence is something that we try to instill at U12 and before. In that case, we get them to look at the other team through the match, where are they strong (avoid those) and weak (target those). It really is basic school age match thinking. Example 2: against Wasps when they lost their hookers last year. Example 3: vs Leicester 3 matches ago, totally outhought by clever George Ford bombs.

- Post match: There is a huge amount of denial here. The tactics need 'tweaking' when you have conceded 28 tries this season at an average of about 32 points a game? Get real!

[twitter.com]

Possible Solutions:

- Be brave, identify those players that aren't performing and get in those squad players chomping to get a game (where fit). Wright, Clark, Ellis, Gray, Green, Will Spencer)

- get different individuals to choose the match day team to stop ridiculous mismatches as the ones who are currently doing it appear to be blinkered.

- get a long term squad exposure strategy in place. If there are squad player you don't trust then get them out. Get some in who you do trust.

- balance the squad, let some of the expensive absentees go and get 2 hard as nails, eager and available replacements.

- Get in players who can cover multiple positions, particularly in the backs. A backs utility player is worth his weight in gold, looks at how James Wilson filled those holes created though injury and call ups.

I can't really face watching any more games until these are sorted. Most of the long term Bath supporters that I know feel much the same. Its a sinking ship.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Bristol were awesome. It's great to se a local club playing a skilled, exciting and entertaining game of rugby. Bristol turnstiles will continue spinning wild post Covid and the club will grow.
Bath were quite simply woeful. Again. I am not sure how the coaches, owners and players can continue to present such a lamentable, inept and chaotic product before its fans and expect us to continue to pay for the privilege or to continue to waste our time on further viewing and feeble excuse torture.
I suspect that Bath fans are turning away and off in droves and they will prove difficult to win back. The whole rugby set up is under threat and is very fragile. Those clubs that come through the other end will be the ones who offer an attractive, exciting game and a strong connect with its fans and community.
Bath fails to meet these criteria, not by a whisker but by a mile. Unless change comes in how the club plays and connects with its fans the club will be playing Greene King Pirates and Bedfords before it knows it .

Completely agree matt, some really valid and constructive points.

Why have the likes of vaughan, doughty, verden, spencer, green ,fox, wright, clark, gray, muir, atkins if you never rotate and have no faith in them. May as well have a smaller, better squad.

Then place more trust in a great batch of young players like stewart griffin, richards, staddon, merigan, carr-smith, bailey, ojomoh, goss, worboys who never play a game of rugby.

Why have so many big earning internationals when some treat bath games as fine tuning for England games. I have defended JJ alot but he has been poor for a few years in a bath shirt. The defensive master doesn't cut it when you are conceding 6 or 7 tries every game. Bris support runners were flooding past him for their first try and he ambled back.

We need some players were winning trophies for bath is everything, like afoa, luatua, piatau, morahan at bris. All fantastic bits of recruitment.

Henry Thomas, good bloke but deserving of a new contract based on performance and injury record over the last 3 years!?

We laud signing matavesi and he plays most games. Again great bloke, fine as a third choice 10/12 but come on.

What I really dislike is that the coaching and the environment make players worse. Too many to name who have gone backwards over the last few years. I think recruitment has generally been good, we just make them worse.

I personally like the idea of sticking with hoops /hatley as think they recognise some of these issues and are making changes to rectify. I just fear it has gone too far now. Feels like the final days of Murphy at Leicester and dai at wasps. Maybe something needs to change at the top (but we have tried that many times!).



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:30:10:03:48 by charlieboa.

Quote:

T J
Morning Barfers.
Unfortunately Barf - as a club - seem totally rudderless under Bruce Craig, and I would suggest are being run along the same lines as Bristol City. While the Lansdowns have got it right with BRFC, at BCFC they appear to only appoint managers who operate the way the Lansdowns want them to operate, and not challenge them - effectively “yes” men. (some of you may have heard stories over the years of the Lansdowns signing players for BCFC without managers knowing it) Which I would suggest is where your man Hooper comes in. Looking at Rob Baxter (Exe stalwart) I can understand how Chair-people would look at that and think “we can do that” and I believe that is what Craig wanted from Hooper (would question if he is a Barf stalwart?) but it is clear it is not working for you guys.

I don’t follow football or BCFC, so don’t know about the comparison to the alleged meddling by the owners. But it’s an interesting point, maybe having a big fan as the owner is too much for them to resist playing with their toys. If Lansdown is less of a rugby fan and just wanted a collection of sports team cause he’s just that rich, maybe that has worked out for Bristol.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:30:10:30:33 by dcsh.

Quote:

FourSticks
The most damning thing about tonight is that I am no longer bothered.

My sentiments also.

Thank heavens for the ST suspension this year. Performances like that are unlikely to drive uptake next season.

As has been said Hoops is undoubtedly a fine upstanding hard working chap. That is not enough, he lacks sparkle, or edge or that certain something that differentiates great leaders. Pah !

I don't really buy into the 'this is at the door of Bruce ' theories.

I think when he first took over maybe but what suggests over the last 2-3 yrs any real meddling in an adverse way?

In terms of recruitment was he passionate about getting in the likes of will stuart, lewis boyce, josh mcnally, christian judge, juan schoeman, tian schoeman etc. Hardly glamour, statement signings-hoops and hatley all over them surely?

Was appointing hooper and hats willy waving?

Is he always popping into Farleigh saying 'stuart/ neal, I really want to see some conservative, forward dominated, kick-chase rugby please'?

Does he pop into selection meetings and say 'i really don't want to see these young age group internationals get much game time and make sure x y and z never get a look in...and by the way a, b, c are undroppable'?

Not convinced its a fair criticism these days, he has paid millions to give the coaches and players all they need to succeed....personally think its much more on them that we are consitently mediocre.

Quote:

dcsh

Quote:

T J
Morning Barfers.
Unfortunately Barf - as a club - seem totally rudderless under Bruce Craig, and I would suggest are being run along the same lines as Bristol City. While the Lansdowns have got it right with BRFC, at BCFC they appear to only appoint managers who operate the way the Lansdowns want them to operate, and not challenge them - effectively “yes” men. (some of you may have heard stories over the years of the Lansdowns signing players for BCFC without managers knowing it) Which I would suggest is where your man Hooper comes in. Looking at Rob Baxter (Exe stalwart) I can understand how Chair-people would look at that and think “we can do that” and I believe that is what Craig wanted from Hooper (would question if he is a Barf stalwart?) but it is clear it is not working for you guys.

I don’t follow football or BRFC, so don’t know about the comparison to the alleged meddling by the owners. But it’s an interesting point, maybe having a big fan as the owner is too much for them to resist playing with their toys. If Lansdown is less of a rugby fan and just wanted a collection of sports team cause he’s just that rich, maybe that has worked out for Bristol.

I’m not convinced about the comparison between Bath rugby and Bristol football either. In the football world Lansdown just isn’t rich enough to buy success. BCFC have no history and will always be looked down upon by the big teams no matter what Lansdown does.

We do hear about Mr Craig meddling, but nobody leaving even hints at this being true. His biggest failing seems to be poor appointments to head the rugby department.

People who know me know that I tend to always be optimistic and positive when it comes to Bath Rugby.

I've been supporting The club since 1980. Last night I saw some things I have never seen before.

I saw a team that was beaten before the game had started. A team that clearly didn't believe it could win. And I saw some players who were clearly going through the motions.

There are a number of explanations for this but those explanations are not justifications.

Yes, team weakened in key positions by injuries and call ups.

Yes, terrible setbacks in the pitch losing our two lock forwards in the first 10 minutes and our most effective back after 20.

But Stuart Hooper then put it all in perfect context when he said that it is at times of adversity that you see the real measure of an individual and a team.

What we saw then was capitulation.

That is a damning indictment of the club at every level.

The only thing more pathetic than the team performance was Hooper's post match interview.

He started by saying that he took responsibility and then proceeded not to, reverting to meaningless waffle and going on about small adjustments and going again next week.

This is an insult to loyal supporters. We are a knowledgeable bunch. We can see clearly what Hooper either cannot or will not. Fobbing us off demonstrates that he either cannot grasp the situation or, worse, that he is unable to face it.

If it was an isolated performance you could rationalise it as a bad day at the office.

After three such performances in a row with different personnel it reveals something much deeper.

It can't go on unaddressed a moment longer.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:30:10:27:27 by malco.

How would you tackle it malco?

You have your ear to the ground, hearing anything about how it may play out in terms of management and also player retention/ recruitment?

Very worrying times as you say. There have only been a few spells during my time supporting since c1983 that I have felt so concerned about our inability to compete and the lack of any joy , pride or passion amongst the coaching and playing staff.

If players were really just going through the motions then a few tweaks in training isn’t going to stop the decline. That demonstrates Hooper has lost the dressing room and there is only one possible way to fix that.

Quote:

malco

After three such performances in a row with different personnel it reveals something much deeper.

It can't go on unaddressed a moment longer.

Yes, this is the key point for me Exeter, Tigers Wasps and Bristol have all handed us a trouncing who next? Quins?


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

For me, it would be perhaps an interesting and enlightening conversation to be had with a recent ex bath player who could honestly inform us to what actually is or is not the reason behind such poor performances.

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

Not the best of effort here from Jonathan Joseph. *sigh*

[twitter.com]

Quote:

jras6

Quote:

CoochieCoo
40 years of watching Bath, this so far has to be top of the worst performances. We are completely bereft of ideas and energy. Body language shows we don’t want to be anywhere near a rugby pitch.

I am a bit of lurker (18 years true and proud 😉) I’ve always found Coochie a measure of sense and experience.. so if he is riled it’s well founded

Thank you jras6 I try to be balanced but last night there were no real positives to pick out. Yes I am probably at fault as the players were that defeat seemed inevitable before the game, however that is what a Head Coach and DOR have to ensure that the players mindsets are turned to optimism and belief.

what happened to the two locks to make them both need hia's so soon together, have watched the game twice so far (third viewing in a more analytical frame of mind rather than the euphoric one was in last night, come on, i'm bristol!) & saw an innocuous looking tackle made by one that he seemed slow to get up from, but nothing for the other one.

two at once would imply they clashed heads, but we weren't shown any replays as we often are

hope they're both okay & back playing soon
good luck for the rest of the season

Reported as a clash of heads between the two of them.

PG

ah "friendly fire". thanks.

Quote:

charlieboa
How would you tackle it malco?
You have your ear to the ground, hearing anything about how it may play out in terms of management and also player retention/ recruitment?

Very worrying times as you say. There have only been a few spells during my time supporting since c1983 that I have felt so concerned about our inability to compete and the lack of any joy , pride or passion amongst the coaching and playing staff.

I don't have my ear close to the ground any more. My old contacts have long since moved on.

I do know a couple of people who are quite close and they talk of discontentment at the coaching and the playing ethos, especially among the backs. If things don't change I think we could see a lot of players looking to take their careers elsewhere.

CR will be off up to Edinburgh/Glasgow soon - fairly sprinting, I would imagine, and who could blame him!

Adopted Players: All of the little blighters!!!

Our ‘best’ players were Bayliss and Reid. Perhaps not as naturally talented as others but I believe you could see them trying and that it meant something to them. Tom Dunn was disappointing but I think he has credit in the bank. Redpath looked ok when he came on. I don’t really understand the hype around Mercer. He likes to get his hands on the ball but doesn’t seem to have the impact you need from a major ball carrier in the same way that Vunipola, Hughes, or the Leicester No8 has. Spencer is a shadow of the player he was when he joined, brought down by the general malaise surrounding him and perhaps his England situation. Judge and Schoeman are major disappointments and last night showed how reliant we are on Beno and Will Stuart for the work they do around the pitch. Matavesi is just not premiership standard and I hope that JJ takes a long hard look at his performance last night and realises just how far away from international standards he is. Surely now is the time to bring in one of Clark, Wright, Ojomoh (assuming no injuries) - you would get more effort from any of them. I think the DoR and coaching team need to take most responsibility but the players need to stand up as well; I can take losing to a better team but not the lack of effort or fight

Hi guys, another bad night following whatever you want to call it last night.

Interesting reading John Evely's report on Bath this morning - All the points John makes are directly at Hoopers door - poor selection, poureous defence, tactical naivety and poor recruitment.

All nailed firmly to the DoR's flagpole. Having read Malco's post (good to see you back Malco) he is spot on, this has gone on too long - it is all well supporter's bickering amongst themselves over whether tactics, team selection or management is right or not - but is has gone beyond that it is clear on the faces of the players and performances on the pitch that something has to change and change NOW.

As I said last night Hooper's post match interview was nothing short of deluded and he openly was attempting to divert blame from himself- if he honestly believes that the team needs a few tweaks and that is it he needs a long break from rugby for his own health.

I note our CEO and chief recruiter is very quiet through what I personally consider the darkest playing period of our club since I can remember.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:30:11:38:50 by Ali1969.

Quote:

Shawshank
Craig and Dyson OUT....!!!

So who is going to invest £millions to take it off their hands?

Stuart Hooper. “We have work to do “. Really!!

Here

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

Quote:

BathSalmon
Not the best of effort here from Jonathan Joseph. *sigh*
[twitter.com]

Maybe he should take up bullfighting?

Quote:

woodpecker

Quote:

BathSalmon
Not the best of effort here from Jonathan Joseph. *sigh*
[twitter.com]

Maybe he should take up bullfighting?

He won't be the last to be humiliated by Semi, midfield, at speed, no support he's got little chance, in fact I've never seen him get tackled midfield one on one.


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

The thing that has affected me most is that we offered nothing in terms of threatening a try. Other than running into Bristol players a few times 5m out. Can't really call them pick and drives!


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

[quote bathwickboy]Looking forward very much to seeing some rugby again after a two week break, but I fear that the result could be quite humiliating for our boys. ....


Sometimes it hurts to be correct, but you did not have to be Nostradamus to see that result coming. I can live with the team losing, but what I find hard to take was the total lack of any sort of will and skill to win the game last night. They looked like a group of individuals cobbled together for a one off game where the result didn't really matter as long as they just got through it. I cannot put all the players into the same pot because I thought Bayliss and Reid worked tirelessly and a little mention of the cameo by big Joe who did nothing wrong and who showed plenty of willingness by covering across the field to make a last ditch try saving tackle. Apart from that, I am struggling. I look at the team sheet every week and say to myself 'that's a good team on paper' and almost without fail, the performance is woeful on the field.
Months ago when people were calling for Hooper's head, I advocated that we give him time in the job, time to mould a team into doing things his way and time to put his mark on recruitment. It is clear that something is fundamentally wrong within the club, good players do not become bad overnight, so one can only assume that the coaching or undercurrent within the club is toxic. I wish I could supply the answer and wave a magic wand but alas I cannot. Maybe it is time to change the management as it is clearly not working at the present time?
I should also add that I thought Bristol played some really good stuff but we were a total embarrassment!

Exe fan in peace. I noticed when Bath played Exe at SP and lost 57-20, that there seemed to be a lot of what I would call old fashioned public school approach with the Bath boys. Ewels addressing ZM as “Mercer” as an example. That may have been form 60 years ago when I was a schoolboy but it’s a bit old world and I do wonder if it’s symptomatic of a mindset that is not conducive to a true team ethic in current times. [ Apropos of nothing I am not a fan of the familiar diminutive “Hoggy” or “Nowelly”]

As a Bath fan for over 30 years and new to this forum I have read the posts here with great interest. I tuned in to the game last night anticipating and fearing the worst and hoping for the best. Unfortunately my fears were realised. Bath have been on a downwards spiral for many many years now. For some reason they are still a fashionable club and well supported. I love Bath rugby and I am still angry now, some 16 hours after the game has ended. Bath have a really strong group of individual players. Many internationals or ex internationals. They have had a strong group of players for the past 15 years but have won very little and lost a lot of games.
For me the bottom line is they should play to win. The old Bath played to win. As far as I am concerned winning is everything and having that mentality, for me, should be core. I do not see that in the current Bath team and I have not seen it for many years now. Flair and style of play is, of course, a bonus but a W is what matters most.
Until the current regime, at Bath, wise up to that I fear that the only fight the club will have is for survival in the premiership. Teams have to adapt and evolve with the times, I get that. But, I wonder how much of the old heritage is celebrated at Bath and how much, if any , of the old guard of winners are brought in to instill the sense of pride that playing for Bath should bring?

As good as Redpath might be, in late 2md half when Bath were getting a bit of good quick ball over a few phases and looked like they should really be going for it he kicked long into touch!

well everyone on here saying hooper must go. yes he must, but it was mcdonald that appointed him, out of left field. a dreadful decision. why did he do it? if hooper goes mcdonald must also go. he has done nothing but sow discord at the club.

Quote:

Rich.
As good as Redpath might be, in late 2md half when Bath were getting a bit of good quick ball over a few phases and looked like they should really be going for it he kicked long into touch!

Yep, even Cameron Redpath can't run round 15 Bristol Bears. How in anyway did that affect the game? Respectfully thats a bit irrelevant. Redpath did well.


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

Perhaps Annie is right, maybe Hooper was all they could get. That's a scary thought he was the best and only candidate.

Quote:

OutsideBath
We do hear about Mr Craig meddling, but nobody leaving even hints at this being true. His biggest failing seems to be poor appointments to head the rugby department.

Agree OB.
You could make a counter argument - that he has been unduly tolerant and patient. First of Blackadder in years 2 & 3 (muddled style and game plans) and now of our current underperformance.

He seems to have given this team plenty of time, but how long will that now last?

PG



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:30:15:35:22 by P G Tips.

Quote:

NotColin
Perhaps Annie is right, maybe Hooper was all they could get. That's a scary thought he was the best and only candidate.

More than likely he was the cheapest option !

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

Don't agree that Hoops was the only one or the cheapest one, I think that they looked at the Exeter model and thought...let's copy that. The only small flaw being that Hooper isn't Baxter and I would guess that he will never be in that league. (not literally, I am aware that they are in the same actual league!).

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Matt
You are correct. It was intended to create Bath’s own version of that model.

We may speculate that too coaches would not want the Bath gig but the evidence suggests otherwise.

PG

Quote:

P G Tips
Matt
You are correct. It was intended to create Bath’s own version of that model.

We may speculate that too coaches would not want the Bath gig but the evidence suggests otherwise.

PG

Hard to believe coaches would stay away from Bath, how many clubs have the money to grow at players and develop the ground.


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

Quote:

P G Tips

Quote:

OutsideBath
We do hear about Mr Craig meddling, but nobody leaving even hints at this being true. His biggest failing seems to be poor appointments to head the rugby department.

Agree OB.
You could make a counter argument - that he has been unduly tolerant and patient. First of Blackadder in years 2 & 3 (muddled style and game plans) and now of our current underperformance.

He seems to have given this team plenty of time, but how long will that now last?

PG

Weren't things going quite well in the Blackadder era up until Tabai Matson leaving abruptly? Anyone know the reason for his speedy departure? I know there was talk of personal issues (family health, I believe), but not sure that that was really why...

Adopted Players: All of the little blighters!!!