GO WEST. EXETER v BATH

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:28:11:22:24 by P G Tips.

Don't we play better with Orlando at 10? Or is Francis on some sort of unspoken contractual deal where he was promised first dibs?

Personally Opti, I think we do, but trying to predict I see that Francis has been preferred by JvG recently.

PG

Bailey has... not been goalkicking well this season.

Spencer could do the goal-kicking if need be. But Bailey just needs to get on with it. If there were relegation i'd think differently, but he's perfectly capable of kicking goals. Maybe he's undergoing a bit of technique reconstruction or something. He has taken some of the worst shots i've seen since pre-kicking tees, kicking coaching, decent quality balls, and drained pitches.

Yeah it reminds me a little of the time Barkley tried to restructure his kicking technique and it absolutely did not work.

Be great to get Underhill back this game, Schoeman as well perhaps.

Oddschecker have Chiefs at 1/4, Bath at 9/2. Chiefs v impressive in Europe last week, a Bath BP would be a result for me. Wish I could be more optimistic...

Adopted players: 24/25 J Bayliss; [24] O Lawrence; [23] J Cokanasiga; [22] M Green; [21] A Watson; [20] T Faletau; [19] M V Vuuren; [18] T Faletau; [17] D Denton; [16] H. Agulla; [15] L Houston; [14] W Spencer; [13] F. Louw

Family . Community . Nation - [sdp.org.uk]

My mind's been going places without me lately - Bushfire The B52's

Thinking similar clarkey, losing BP would be a relatively positive result.

Hopefully if we get some players back over the next 5-6 weeks without losing too many in the interim we can raise our expectations.

Tough place to go and they seem to have got their "mojo" back after a bit of a wobble earlier.

If we want to judge any improvement it is going to places like this and the very least giving a good account of yourself (and winning)

This is the sort of game last season where we would have been overpowered and ended up shipping over 50pts.

The size of the loss will show how much we have improved (or not) from last season.

Quote:

OutsideBath
This is the sort of game last season where we would have been overpowered and ended up shipping over 50pts.
The size of the loss will show how much we have improved (or not) from last season.

I can't see it being very different tbh, they will get scrum pens, kick to the corner and rumble over. Rinse and repeat. Hope I'm wrong.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Team Up. Josh Bayliss' 100th appearance. Underhill returns.

Bath Rugby team to play Exeter Chiefs

15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Ruaridh McConnochie, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Louis Schreuder; 1 Lewis Boyce, 2 Tom Dunn ©, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 4 Will Spencer, 5 Fergus Lee-Warner, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Josh Bayliss

Impact players

16 Niall Annett, 17 Valeriy Morozov, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 Tom Ellis, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Max Ojomoh, 23 Miles Reid

P G Tips


Jaco Coetzee: my adopted Player, 2023-24.

Some subtle rotation going on throughout the team there. If we have to have a 6-2 bench, I'm much happier with Mojo as the utility back rather than Francis. Can't remember the last time Ben Spencer was fit and didn't start!

Maybe a hint to speed things up hasta..Schreuder has shown he can put pace on the game.

PG

Still such an underwhelming front 5 and still where the game is won and lost. If we can't do anything to reverse the scrum malaise it'll be a big loss. No sufficient carriers in the pack whatsoever.

A hugely talented backline but will they be given a platform to play? No.

Chiefs have named a strong squad (too pixel heavy to replicate here:

[www.exeterchiefs.co.uk]

Yeandle Captains, Ewers, Gray, Tshiunza among forwards, Woodburn, Slade, Nowell in backs. Hogg on bench.

PG

Besides Hogg, we definitely win the battle of the bench. Just hope that our starting XV can stay in the fight.



15 Josh Hodge, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Sam Maunder; 1 Scott Sio, 2 Jack Yeandle (c), 3 Harry Williams, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 David Ewers, 7 Chris Tshiunza, 8 Sam Simmonds

Replacements: 16 Dan Frost, 17 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 18 Patrick Schickerling, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Santiago Grondona, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Tom Hendrickson, 23 Stuart Hogg

I am with matt- could get ugly but hope not.

Sums up the need to get some big front 5 forwards and ball carriers in.

Barbeary will help with the latter.

Du toit will help with the former- imagine how much better that team would look with du toit at th prop.

Chuffed for archie griffin- hell of a tough first prem gig but a bit of game time this season will set him up nicely. Imagine he will struggle a lot tomorrow but looks v good prospect to me and a big big lad

Would rather we had saved the return of Underhill and McConnochie for the winnable home game next week.

As mentioned in the Bath announcement, this is also Boyce's 50th appearance for Bath.

I think this is also Will Spencer's 50th cap for Bath, but has apparently gone unnoticed by the Bath press office (or I'm wrong, which is highly probable!!!)

I'm hoping against hope that Will Spencer finally gets to show what he can do.

Quote:

OutsideBath
Would rather we had saved the return of Underhill and McConnochie for the winnable home game next week.

Really? Surely it's better to give them an opportunity to get back to match fitness before throwing them into a match we need to win.

Quote:

FiveSticks
I think this is also Will Spencer's 50th cap for Bath, but has apparently gone unnoticed by the Bath press office (or I'm wrong, which is highly probable!!!)

I make it 36 across all competitions.

13/14: 5
19/20: 3
20/21: 6
21/22: 15
22/23: 7

Across those 36 matches he has played for 1208 minutes (or 34 mins per match).

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Quote:

BM53
I make it 36 across all competitions.

You missed 11-12 season - played twice in the LV cup (Dragons and Wrocester)
Also season 12-13, played 13 times (2 starts, 11 as sub).
That said, I only had him down for 4 matches in 13-14 (Sale, Worc in league B-Begles and Dragons in Europe. Also had him down as an unused sub v Glouc).

Hard to disagree with the above. If we can convince the ref at scrum time we might keep it close - maybe another game down to the last minute. If we lose the scrum in the eyes of the ref were gonna be watching a lot of pick and drive 5m out.

Looking forward to Hill and Underhill and just hope nobody gets crocked tbh.

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

After my hopes were rising a few matches ago I am now back is pessimistic mode. I can’t see this being even close but at least we have a change at scrum half.

Quote:

FiveSticks

Quote:

OutsideBath
Would rather we had saved the return of Underhill and McConnochie for the winnable home game next week.

Really? Surely it's better to give them an opportunity to get back to match fitness before throwing them into a match we need to win.

Happy to see them getting a game.

Imagine Sam will come off after 50 mins or so and be good to go again next week fingers crossed.

Desperately hoping rmc has a injury free run- had terrible luck and worry he may be struggling for a new contract. I love watching him play- absolutely class.

Quote:

Malco
I'm hoping against hope that Will Spencer finally gets to show what he can do.

He is such a good player.

Maybe a few months injury free will be enough to persuade jvg etc he is worth a new contract

Quote:

charlieboa

Quote:

FiveSticks

Quote:

OutsideBath
Would rather we had saved the return of Underhill and McConnochie for the winnable home game next week.

Really? Surely it's better to give them an opportunity to get back to match fitness before throwing them into a match we need to win.

Happy to see them getting a game.

Imagine Sam will come off after 50 mins or so and be good to go again next week fingers crossed.

Desperately hoping rmc has a injury free run- had terrible luck and worry he may be struggling for a new contract. I love watching him play- absolutely class.

We are going to be on the back foot and defending for 80 mins, the risk of injury (particularly fora Underhill) is too big a risk for me.

Why risk them in a game that has only one possible outcome?

Quote:

charlieboa
Maybe a few months injury free will be enough to persuade jvg etc he is worth a new contract

With the greatest respect to the guy(s) I don't think that would make any more sense for the club or player than renewing Darren Atkins.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Quote:

BathMatt53

Quote:

charlieboa
Maybe a few months injury free will be enough to persuade jvg etc he is worth a new contract

With the greatest respect to the guy(s) I don't think that would make any more sense for the club or player than renewing Darren Atkins.

Tbh I agree matt- just get so annoyed that he is an excellent player and has churned out decent numbers of games for everyone but us.

Prob is cut your losses territory now but can imagine him being the type of player jvg likes I.e. massive, strong and good at set piece.

Good to see atkins going well at richmond- championship prob his level if he wants regular games? If club stuck with him due to his family issues then fair play but prob more that he is a competent, cheap, homegrown player.

Concede a penalty on kick off , don’t see that very often .

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

6 mins in and we are already leaking penalties. one in the first min which they kicked. 3-0
Unforced errors appearing. Tom Dunn off

Try Bath Jo C.
Started by Schreuder with quick ball!
Now 3-7

Try Joe C and converted. 3-7

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

From kick off we give away a pen, absolute brain fart stuff.

Too many penalties and that annoying whining/moaning from some supporters.
Dave Ewers scores 10-7.

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

Bath penalty 10 - 10 . Tom Dunn failed HIA

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

Very poor kicking from Louis at 9 , charge down gifts 7 points to Exeter ,

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

pretty poor stuff by us so far in defence, and attack to be honest. If Chiefs get some decent phase ball they will run away with it in the 2nd half. No composure from us at all

Lost our way……again 20 - 10.

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 sure we've lost our way, as I don't reckon we've found it yet. Our centres look impotent
long 2nd half ahead

Bath being bullied on the line and breakdown, going nowhere .

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

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

Our scrum crumbling, Ben Spencer on .

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

48 min in and redpath and Lawrence touch the ball! and then underhill makes a turnover

Always going to be tough but we really are being bullied of the park ! Redpath off injured . Max Ojomoh on
Stuart Hogg on . Morozov making a big difference at the scrum

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



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:24:16:19:05 by Old Bath Tub.

Try Niall Annett conversion missed , heavy rain . 20 - 15

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

somehow we score a try ?? 20/15 con missed

Quote:

Old Bath Tub
Our scrum crumbling, Ben Spencer on .

When did we last play a game where our scrum didn’t crumble?

Quote:

OutsideBath

Quote:

Old Bath Tub
Our scrum crumbling, Ben Spencer on .

When did we last play a game where our scrum didn’t crumble?

Much better with Morosov !

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

When was the last time Bath came away from Sandy Park with a losing bonus point?

Radio Comms saying it's one that got away, Cooch says we had enough territory and possession to win 3 games but for our errors. Closer than I expected tbh but we got a BP...

Adopted players: 24/25 J Bayliss; [24] O Lawrence; [23] J Cokanasiga; [22] M Green; [21] A Watson; [20] T Faletau; [19] M V Vuuren; [18] T Faletau; [17] D Denton; [16] H. Agulla; [15] L Houston; [14] W Spencer; [13] F. Louw

Family . Community . Nation - [sdp.org.uk]

My mind's been going places without me lately - Bushfire The B52's

Sounds like we were competitive at a place where we've been thumped regularly in recent years.

So frustrating. We blew that. Much much better than I expected but that should have been a win.

we should have won that. Our bench did make a difference and was better than theirs. End game was quins all over again, held up over the line time and time again. but another defeat next week is massive for us!

Definite improvements across the team the season, but that just makes the lack of composure and precision irritating.

Definitely should and could have won that , especially in the last minute.

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

Pleasantly surprised by score but the bits I listened to (end of both halves) seemed to be a sucession of botched lineouts/ lineout drives. V frustrating!

Sounds like morozov made huge difference at scrum time and cooch saying underhill was excellent for first game back

Disappointing, but a pleasant change to be rueing “one that got away” rather than a thumping.

PG

So close, gutted, looking light on hookers for next week

Dammit.
The one that got away.
A couple of major strokes of fortune went against us, and too many coach-killer errors.
4 points were absolutely there for the taking.

A man who cannot change his mind, cannot change anything

RAEBURN SHIELD

Quote:

Clarkey3k
Radio Comms saying it's one that got away, Cooch says we had enough territory and possession to win 3 games but for our errors. Closer than I expected tbh but we got a BP...

May have been a touch of hyperbole there, IIRC, we had about 50% possessing and 60% territory
A man who cannot change his mind, cannot change anything

RAEBURN SHIELD

At least Bath scored more than Glaws, and came away with a LBP

Quote:

Mike the Taxi
At least Bath scored more than Glaws, and came away with a LBP

Very true, but they are much higher up the table and we have only won 3 games this season so things are a bit more positive at Glos I would say.

Quote:

OutsideBath
This is the sort of game last season where we would have been overpowered and ended up shipping over 50pts.
The size of the loss will show how much we have improved (or not) from last season.

So, despite your forecast, even you would have to admit that Bath have improved.

Agree that this was a game that we could, and probably should, have won. Although Exe butchered a good few chances themselves and must have been very relieved at the end.

Disappointing though the result may be, I think we have to look at how far we have come. Last year we'd have taken a right tonking but not now. Our defence is so much better than before (odd brainfart aside) and our line out today was pretty good, and our scrum was better when Morosov came on. We're starting to get the basics right (although still too inconsistent for my liking) but I am confident that there is more to come. If we can maintain the progression through this season I think we'll be credible contenders next term even without FR and (here's hoping) du Toit.

So I think that there are clear signs that JvG's plan is working, and that the players have fully bought in. Expecting lots more.

(But I have followed Bath long enough to know that hope can be a cruel mistress...)

Quote:

Mike the Taxi

Quote:

OutsideBath
This is the sort of game last season where we would have been overpowered and ended up shipping over 50pts.
The size of the loss will show how much we have improved (or not) from last season.

So, despite your forecast, even you would have to admit that Bath have improved.

Well we didn’t ship 50pts so that has to be a positive, but then you look at the table and it’s a reality check on how good we really are.

3 and 14?

That's 4 matches we should have won, but lost (Bristol, Sarries, Quins and Exeter).
Small improvements, a bit more composure and the table would look very different.

Quote:

Mike the Taxi
So, despite your forecast, even you would have to admit that Bath have improved.

Yes rather than losing by loads we are only losing by a few now...hazaah.

Yes Danny I think its W3, L14.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Well relieved reading through the thread that we gave a good account of ourselves. I was hoping for a lovely Christmas present but even Father Christmas could not get to Sandy Park

Happy Christmas everybody and 2023 is going to be so much better.

Quote:

Bath Supporter Jack
Well relieved reading through the thread that we gave a good account of ourselves. I was hoping for a lovely Christmas present but even Father Christmas could not get to Sandy Park

I blame MIck Lynch!

PG

I'm encouraged that the performance is improving, but won't be satisfied until we win more than we lose. I hate being a losing club. It sucks.
Onwards and upwards I suppose.

Really should have won that, so many chances in the last 1/4. 60% territory and 51% possession should have been enough.

Baylis was simply outstanding, Annett not far behind. Morozov made a real difference.

Schreuder was disappointing, his kicking was awful. Personally I don’t get the excitement over Will Spencer, for a guy his size, his impact was negligible.

Merry Christmas everyone. I watched the game on Prem tv and we were very close to winning but vital errors cost us. The big difference is last season and before we weren’t competitive and now we are. I would hope Heineken Champion cup qualification is the aim this season. There are a few posters on here who run the club down which last season was justifiable. Now everyone can see the building progress is in place with the right recruiting direction.I think the moderators need to ask some members of this forum particularly when they display the club emblem if they support the club because they strangely go quiet when we win!

I'm getting to the point where I think Max Green deserves a start at SH. At least Spencer's box lixking was good.

It's frustrating because while we've improved, we've fallen behind again and we just don't take our chances in the redzone. If we'd had the invention of the first try for the multitude of other visits then we'd be sitting pretty. Oh to have had Finn Russell today.

I suppose on more reflection and several glasses of sparkling "Rome wasn't built in a day".

Getting a losing bonus point at Sandy Park would have been lauded last season and here we are grumbling as we could/should have won.

You remember a few seasons ago when Exeter seemed to always score 4 - 5 tries and win in the last minute.............that king of self belief takes time to create.........we clearly don't have it yet, but I think we are close.

Quote:

Bath Supporter Jack
I suppose on more reflection and several glasses of sparkling "Rome wasn't built in a day".
Getting a losing bonus point at Sandy Park would have been lauded last season and here we are grumbling as we could/should have won.

You remember a few seasons ago when Exeter seemed to always score 4 - 5 tries and win in the last minute.............that king of self belief takes time to create.........we clearly don't have it yet, but I think we are close.

Yes, but this is not the same Exeter side. Before this match they were only 3 points ahead of us & in about 7th position. It’s like comparing apples with pears.

I suppose I was thinking bigger picture Bath Hammer the Exeter of 2 - 3 years ago would have beaten Bristol, Quinns and Exeter and if my Saracen supporting brother in law is to be believed.......maybe Sarries.

Its like we don't yet believe we can win......because we haven't so a losing point is good. We need to get to the point where we expect to win at home and expect to win often away.

By report, however good or bad they were Exeter were there for the taking. A friend of mine an Exeter supporter said he was very relieved to win....

Just watched the match. A proper competitive game of rugby between 2 well matched sides.

But. But. But. OK, our fitness is great, but our execution of basic skills is poor and some of our decision making leaves a very, very great deal to be desired. Yes, we have come a long way when a LBP at Sandy Park is a disappointment but, honestly, we should have won that at a canter. We are a side that has learned how to play but not yet how to win. Small steps, I suppose.

My MotM - Sam Underhill - lovely to see him back.

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to all the BBW faithful and let's hope for better rugby days in 2023.

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:26:02:08:53 by joethefanatic.

Spot on comments Joe the F

As I know Bath lost I can’t see the point in watching it now so can’t comment on the performance. However losing is a habit and Bath have had it for years and just don’t know how to win games any more. I thought we had a sports psychologist working with the team? Time for them to earn their pay and sort out the mental issues and get the players in the right mindset.

Quote:

joethefanatic
Just watched the match. A proper competitive game of rugby between 2 well matched sides.
But. But. But. OK, our fitness is great, but our execution of basic skills is poor and some of our decision making leaves a very, very great deal to be desired. Yes, we have come a long way when a LBP at Sandy Park is a disappointment but, honestly, we should have won that at a canter. We are a side that has learned how to play but not yet how to win. Small steps, I suppose.

My MotM - Sam Underhill - lovely to see him back.

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to all the BBW faithful and let's hope for better rugby days in 2023.

Thanks Joe- definitely feels like progress but in my mind it's from a terrible team last season to a fairly bad team this. if jvg gets us to an average team by end of season ans a good team by end of next season I guess he is doing a good job.

Main frustration is that we went 3 on the bounce and spectacularly failed to build on it.

Sam's ability to come in and immediately look thr business is impressive but that's what you get with top class pros.

I only listened to bits of the game- not sure of below ratings are fair for those who watched it all?

[www.somersetlive.co.uk]

I watched live, and the ratings seem fair to me.

Exeter were out muscled for the most part in that game, it was a shame we couldn't get our backs into the game but the weather played a big part - wind against us in the first half and dire conditions in the second half nullified the wind advantage somewhat. We massively deserved to win, very unfortunate that we weren't able to finish off the many chances we had.

I’d always say I’m a bit more positive than most Bath fans I see but here’s what I think

Large parts of the game I think we looked very good in defence and muscled up well however off set peices Exeter looked dangerous.

Until Spencer came on our ruck speed was to slow again, when that changed we look so good.
Little tiny errors are is what we are losing to not other teams and considering what we saw last season that’s a massive improvement.

Scrum looked good and Schoeman back will only help that more. Would really like to see Etete given a shot this week on the bench as Spencer just isn’t what he was in years gone by.

Back row we are so blessed for me Reid has to find a way to start so I’d move Hill to 8 and Reid to 6. Somehow Cloete is going to want to find his way back aswell plus RDC who’s been top class this season!

Backs wise I think Bailey had a massive improvement and his kicking was ace from the touch line. Hopefully Redpath injury isn’t too bad but from that game Ojomoh deserves the start imo

Changes for next week I think
- Schoeman in for Boyce to give Boyce a rest
- Doughy (If fit) in for Dunn and Annett start
- Etete in for W Spencer
- Reid start at 6/7 with Underhill
- B Spencer start
- Ojomoh for Redpath (Butt 22)
- TDG for Gallagher

Quote:

joethefanatic
Yes, we have come a long way when a LBP at Sandy Park is a disappointments

I tend to think that we should be judging our performances based on the teamsheet, and not in relation to the absolute abomination of last season. In this case, a LBP was about right, but overall I’d say we should be winning 3/4 of games rather than current 3/10. We’re still under-delivering.

If, "my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle", we had won against Exeter, I've watched the game and it was on, against Quins, I was there and it could very, very easily happened, and against Bristol..........

We would be 4th or 5th in the league and not 10th........................just saying

I'd like to see the same side put out against Falcons.

Not seen anyone really mention Griffin but he came on for about 10-15minutes and didn't look out of place - good debut

Quote:

by
I'd like to see the same side put out against Falcons.
Not seen anyone really mention Griffin but he came on for about 10-15minutes and didn't look out of place - good debut

I wouldn't make many changes either tbh.

Maybe try to sneak anyone back fit onto bench for a little run to start getting them back involved and getting up to speed (expect cloete and schoeman fully fit?)

Chuffed to hear griffin did fine. Few interesting bits on him in here in relation to us choosing him for the academy over jack bertinet. He is a big guy, big scrummager, nice hands and loves to carry...not much to dislike....


[www.rugbypass.com]

Quote:

by
I'd like to see the same side put out against Falcons.
Not seen anyone really mention Griffin but he came on for about 10-15minutes and didn't look out of place - good debut

May have to do without Dunn, who failed HIA at Ex.

PG

Rock bottom of the table, Falcons have done us at home three out of the last four, 2023 will be as bad as 2022!

Quote:

nick holder
Rock bottom of the table, Falcons have done us at home three out of the last four, 2023 will be as bad as 2022!

But reverse the Exe game match points and we're 8th and Chiefs are joint bottom instead of 6th. Its all very tight.

... IMHO, of course.

Now in Honolulu



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:27:20:28:39 by joethefanatic.

Quote:

nick holder
Rock bottom of the table, Falcons have done us at home three out of the last four, 2023 will be as bad as 2022!

Keep taking the happy pills.

Quote:

HK890


Changes for next week I think
- Schoeman in for Boyce to give Boyce a rest
- Doughy (If fit) in for Dunn and Annett start
- Etete in for W Spencer
- Reid start at 6/7 with Underhill
- B Spencer start
- Ojomoh for Redpath (Butt 22)
- TDG for Gallagher

Schoeman agree
Doughty agree. Give Tom a week off.
Etete agree
Leave back row unchanged. Don’t shoehorn Hill in as an 8 when he is a natural 6.
Spencer start and Green OTB.
Rest of the backs unchanged.

Quote:

nick holder
Rock bottom of the table, Falcons have done us at home three out of the last four, 2023 will be as bad as 2022!

Position in the table yes but generally the performances have been a massive improvement. Bath totally dominated the second half and blew at least two clear chances amongst other great positions.

I haven’t seen a dominant Bath scrum like that for a good while. Really need to sign up Morozov

Widcombe Garçon

Interesting I went to the game with my good mate who is a die hard Chiefs fan. Following the game he was clear yes Chiefs won however he stated that Bath were unrecognisable from previous seasons and he felt a real seismic change in power and it may be the last Chiefs victory over Bath for some time. For what it is worth and he knows his onions when it comes to rugby - with our new signings/re-signings he added Bath are only going one way he said he was so impressed with what JVG and his team have done in a short space of time and given the playing quality coming in something to look forward to - Let’s hope he is right.

The team will be looking for a supportive crowd to help reshape the table again on Saturday. The game will be a chance to do a double- they will of course be aiming to take it.

PG