Bath Must Aim For Five Points

By Glen Leat
December 26 2003

Bath travel to struggling Saracens on Saturday in a game the team must target as a possible five pointer to ensure they retain the massive gap between themselves and Wasps. Skipper, Danny Grewcock, returns for this game to make his first start in the Zurich Premiership this season.

Rob Fidler has done nothing wrong this season and, at times, has performed brilliantly so it must have been a tough call for coach Connolly to relegate the ex-Glaws man to the bench. Danny Grewcock has enjoyed mixed form whilst at Bath and having Fidler breathing down his neck each week should make a big difference.

Martyn Wood also returns to start the match at scrum half whilst World Cup Winner Mike Tindall also makes his first start of the season. ‘It’s great to have these guys back from the World Cup and it certainly makes selection interesting,’said Head Coach John Connolly. ‘We’ve gone well in the Zurich Premiership in terms of results and it’s important now that we keep momentum going forward.’

Matt Perry and Matt Stevens will face late fitness tests on a groin and shoulder respectively. ‘Pezza has a slight niggle, nothing more, but if he’s not right then we’ll move Wylie Human to fullback and rejig the midfield a little,’ said Connolly. ‘Stevens has a sore shoulder after the England game last weekend but it’s not serious. It’s been getting better as the week goes on and he’s likely to be involved.’

Bath Team 

15.Matt Perry, 14. Wylie Human, 13. Andrew Higgins, 12.Mike Tindall, 11. Simon Danielli, 10. Olly Barkley, 9. Martyn Wood, 1. David Flatman, 2. Jonathan Humphreys, 3. Duncan Bell, 4. Steve Borthwick, 5. Danny Grewcock, 6. Andy Beattie, 7. Michael Lipman, 8. Zak Feaunati

Replacements

16. Ross Blake, 17. Lee Mears, 18. Matt Stevens/David Barnes, 19. Kevin Maggs, 20. Alex Crockett, 21. James Scaysbrook, 22. Rob Fidler