All eyes on Butch as Bath go fishing for form
By Malco
February 5 2010
The match this weekend represents something of a sideshow. Not to the goings on at Twickenham, which will almost certainly be disappointing and tedious, but to the return of one third of our South African holy trinity, Butch James.
February 5 2010
The match this weekend represents something of a sideshow. Not to the goings on at Twickenham, which will almost certainly be disappointing and tedious, but to the return of one third of our South African holy trinity, Butch James.
All eyes will be on Butch as he attempts to pick his way gingerly through the wreckage of our season, pull together the salvageable fragments and craft something that somehow resembles what stood before the bomb dropped.
11000 pairs of eyes will examine his every movement, his every kick, pass and offload for the merest suggestion that his undoubted talent may be immediately unleashed. The same eyes will wince every time he goes into contact and will look away whenever he hits the ground, unable to bear the possibility that it could all be over before it has begun.
Bath needs Butch and Butch is back.
Of course there are sub plots to this match. Enigmatic Nick Abendanon, widely feared to be heading for pastures new, returns from injury. Ryan Davis, desperate for form and confidence, gets the opportunity to stand on Butch's shoulder, sharing the burdens of pressure and expectation. Scott Bemand gets another opportunity to show his undoubted skill at scrum half, in search of a new contract. Duncan Bell looks again to show Martin Johnson that he really doesn't have a clue and impressive young openside Guy Mercer is given another golden opportunity to show what latent talent is ready to be unleashed.
Sale have sent a team that is far shorter of experience and there is no doubt that Bath will expect to win, and win handsomely. With an absolutely vital GP game against London Irish next week though the most vital component is that Butch shows some glimpses of what he is capable of and emerges unscathed.
Bath Rugby
15. Nick Abendanon
14. Jack Cuthbert
13. Matt Carraro
12. Ryan Davis
11. Michael Stephenson
10. Butch James
9. Scott Bemand
1. David Barnes
2. Pieter Dixon
3. Duncan Bell
4. Stuart Hooper (c)
5. Peter Short
6. Daniel Browne
7. Guy Mercer
8. Ben Skirving
16. Lee Mears
17. Nathan Catt
18. Aaron Jarvis
19. Jonny Faamatuainu
20. Josh Ovens
21. Mike Baxter
22. Tom Cheeseman
23 Joe Maddock
Sale Sharks
15 Marika Vakacegu, 14 Oriol Ripol, 13 Jordan Davies, 12 David Bishop, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Mark Atkinson, 9 Chris Leck, 8 Kristian Ormsby, 7 David Seymour, 6 Carl Fearns, 5 Sean Cox, 4 Dean Schofield (capt), 3 Martin Halsall, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Gavin Kerr.
Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Rob O'Donnell, 18 Dan Birchall, 19 Chris Jones, 20 Ian Kench, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Alex Cheeseman, 23 David Doherty.
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StumbleuponAll eyes on Butch as Bath go fishing for form
Posted by: BathRugbyEre.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 05/02/2010 14:17
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Re: All eyes on Butch as Bath go fishing for form
Posted by: Mike from Dorch (IP Logged)
Date: 05/02/2010 15:39
Malco
A nicely written piece. As a Welshman I hope you do find the goings on at Twickenham disappointing.
A nicely written piece. As a Welshman I hope you do find the goings on at Twickenham disappointing.
Re: All eyes on Butch as Bath go fishing for form
Posted by: Stir Crazy (IP Logged)
Date: 05/02/2010 16:45
COuld be one of the loudest cheers of the season on the Rec tomorrow methinks when Mr James steps out!
Michael (Sheer) Claassens - Adopted Player 2009/10:
Michael (Sheer) Claassens - Adopted Player 2009/10:
Re: All eyes on Butch as Bath go fishing for form
Posted by: NattyCap (IP Logged)
Date: 05/02/2010 18:33
I wish it was being televised, I would love to see Butch's return
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