GO WEST. EXETER v BATH. PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CUP.
Richards: start?
By PG Tips
November 22 2022
Bath go west this weekend to meet Exeter in their final Premiership Rugby Cup Group A match. The demise of Worcester has deprived Bath of their 4th Pool fixture, but with 2 defeats and a negative points difference of 43, Bath cannot qualify for the next round. Interest therefore will centre on whether Bath can build on recent improvements in performance, clues in selection to upcoming Premiership and Challenge Cup matches and which players put their hands up to be chosen for those fixtures.
This little loved tournament has been through several changes of format since its introduction in 2014, often confusing the fans. It is intended to give game time to younger players in Premiership squads. Many clubs therefore regard it as a development competition, although there are no rules governing player selection. To some clubs it may be the only chance of silverware, so is taken seriously. For others it is an opportunity for senior players returning from injury, or to blood promising Academy members. Bath’s approach to this match may well be governed by the 5 forthcoming December fixtures- 3 in the Premiership and 2 in the Challenge Cup. Given the club’s lengthy injury list, I expect a callow side, based largely on youth.
Johann van Graan has predicted “wholesale changes” stating that “There will be very little of the players involved against the Barbarians in the squad for Exeter….there is a 23 being prepared as a different group, there will be a different coaching group taking the side at the weekend.” With lock resources thinning fast Quinn Roux and Tom Ellis, both injured against the BaaBaas will probably sit this one out, but could there be a return for Will Spencer or Mike Williams who were targeting the end of November for comebacks? If not, Michael Etete, Ewan Richards and JJ Tonks are likely to be in the frame.
Another threadbare position is on the wing, so step forward Gabe Goss, Darren Atkins and maybe Sam Harris to cover the back three. The fly half slot should fall to Billy Searle (if he is still with us) or George Worboys, while a place may be found for the talented Jamie Shillcock.
Whatever the selection, the aim must be continuing to build momentum and confidence. Exeter is a tough place to play, in all senses, so the coaches will be looking for confirmation that their rebuild plan is on track. They will want to see 80 minutes of cohesion, guts and skill. And hoping for a respite from injuries.
Possible Bath Team:
Stanley, Doughty, Jonker, Etete, Richards, Staddon, Cowan, Tonks. Lock, Searle. Atkins, Wright, Hennessy, Goss. Harris.
Replacements: Kirk, Stewart, Verden, Williams. Merigan. Carr-Smith, Worboys. Shillcock.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:11:29:12:10:59 by P G Tips.
Quote:dcsh
....they have a Premiership match the night before!
Can we pleeeeease be the team in the mismatch that comes out with a 60-20 stuffing in our favour. I mean, we've seen plenty the other way round (albeit some of those scores have been when we've had a close-to-first-choice team out).
Quote:dcsh
Spare a thought for Exeter in the build up to this, they have a Premiership match the night before! While one wouldn’t expect any players to double up it will surely be a busy week for coaching and support staff.
That is insane. How can it be scheduled as such!?
Imagine we will see the majority of them in the 23 at the weekend
Quote:The BearQuote:dcsh
Spare a thought for Exeter in the build up to this, they have a Premiership match the night before! While one wouldn’t expect any players to double up it will surely be a busy week for coaching and support staff.
That is insane. How can it be scheduled as such!?
Agreed, absolute shambles.
Didn't Sarries also play on the Friday and Saturday (or Sunday) recently under the same circumstances?
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Bath Rugby: 15 Sam Harris, 14 Gabe Goss, 13 Max Wright, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Darren Atkins, 10 George Worboys, 9 Tom Carr-Smith; 1 Archie Stanley, 2 Tom Doughty, 3 Kieran Verden, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Ewan Richards, 6 JJ Tonks, 7 Ethan Staddon, 8 Wesley White.
Impact players: 16 John Stewart, 17 Arthur Cordwell, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Michael Etete, 20 Will Spencer, 21 Murdoch Lock, 22 Jordan Venter, 23 Nahum Merigan.
Exeter Chiefs
15 Facundo Cordero
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13 Zack Wimbush
12 Tom Wyatt
11 Arthur Relton
10 Iwan Jenkins
9 Tom Cairns
8 Greg Fisilau
7 Aidon Davis
6 Rus Tuima
5 Joe Bailey
4 Alfie Bell
3 Josh Iosefa-Scott
2 Jack Innard
1 James Kenny
16 Max Norey
17 Danny Southworth
18 Matt Johnson
19 Cory Teague
20 Santiago Grondona
21 Orson James
22 Shea Cornish
23 Frankie Nowell
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:11:25:12:13:12 by BathMatt53.
It’s nice to see the likes of Verden, Cordwell, Richards, Staddon, C-S, Worboys, Goss on a team sheet and think of them as more than just Academy prospects. Each have some decent first team experience, not 18 but 20-23yo, now just need to play and push on. Testament to the hard work the Academy have done over recent years to create that conveyer belt of talent .
Think for once in this competition Exeter look the greener, so it’d be lovely to get a confidence boosting win away at Sandy Park. Attwood the perfect captain for such a jaunt.
Quote:CoochieCoo
HT 20-10 we play with a gale force behind us!
According to the Chron, it’s a “gail”.
Wonder which lady that refers to?
PG
Quote:by
We should have won that with the team we put out...
Agree.
Sounded really poor game management and basics second half based on radio commentary.
No matter what the oppositons schedule and who we put out we just seem unable to win these games.
Hugely frustrating and disappointing- raises question marks over our depth and I think jvg may be quite brutal over the coming months as to who he retains
I don’t know enough about your squad to evaluate your performance but our side was largely Academy standard with a few experienced players returning from injury; at most 5 of them have seen any first squad action.
Kudos to the Bath supporters who defied the weather forecast to make the trip and could be heard a couple of times in the second half.