By P G Tips
March 8 2016
Bath restored some colour to their cheeks with a bonus point win last week. They next travel on Friday to Harlequins, the club of the famous multi-coloured shirts, who at their best have themselves been rainbow vibrant this season. Bath lost October’s Round 3 match to the Quins at home – a finely balanced game at half time turning on a burst of penalties slotted by Evans, helping Quins pile up 26 points in the first 30 minutes of the second half. Although Bath proved the greater try scorers that day- three to Quins two-the Londoners did not win by attrition. Their goal chances came because Bath could only blunt their sweeping attacks with infringements. Bath’s own try scoring riposte was too little, too late. At that stage in the season, Quins looked odds on favourites for a playoff place. Recent Quins performances though have been comparatively off-colour. In their last four games they have earned only 5 points to the 10 Bath have gained and now sit one place above their visitors in the table at eighth. The stage is set for tight match up.
Bath may be missing some key players to internationals, but the same applies to their hosts. Marler, Robshaw, Care and Brown are central to much of Quins’ play, plus they will be without the midfield thrust of Roberts and the silky finishing of Visser. Further damage has been done by last weekend’s injury to Marland Yarde so a “patched up” backline could await the men from the Rec. There will still be plenty of pedigree on offer –Jones, Horwill and Easter the experience in the pack, supported by the predatory Ward & Wallace. There is pace behind too in Walker, Chisholm and Hopper and the classy Botica to pull the strings.
Against this mixture of the gnarled and the lively, Bath’s best weapon may be their last match. “You are only as good as your last game” as the saying goes. While far from perfect there was much that was encouraging – especially the confidence and ambition of the opening half, providing three wingers tries and restoring Baths faith in midfield attack. Eastmond’s sharpness was particularly heartening. With the monkey off their backs will Bath be able to put on their own show and upstage the Harlequins entertainers? As there are likely to be few changes to the pack, recent improvements should continue, but these need to include keeping on the right side of the referee (how many times have we had to state that this term?)! Kicking strategy needs to be more cleverly executed too. Failure to go for touch from defence handed London Irish 9 points last week. Quins counter attack is likely to be more ruthless if anything.
It is behind the scrum where the questions arise for Bath. Rhys Priestland will be wanted by Wales so last week’s selection will face one disruption. If Eddie Jones opting for Manu Tuilagi, Devoto should be available to give a settled backline, while Adam Hastings slots in at fly half. If he and Cook can provide enough direction, a Bath threequarter line containing present or past England squad members, with the option of Agulla from the bench, looks the stronger lineup. It is up to the forwards to give them the chance to prove it.
In Terence Rattigan’s play “Harlequinade” the anti-hero, Arthur, is not what he seems – playing Romeo in repertory theatre he discovers that he is a grandfather -and his double life is exposed. Can Bath expose Quins’ confidence and exploit their recent slump in form? If they can raise questions about the credibility of their hosts’ defence, they can face the match with an optimism and confidence that has been rare recently. There will be mistakes, it will be close, but here is a chance for the taking.
Possible teams:
Bath:, Lahiff, Webber, Wilson. Hooper (Capt), Ewels, Garvey, Louw, Mafi. Cook, Hastings. Banahan, Eastmond, Devoto, , Rokodoguni. Homer.
Replacements: Auterac , Batty, Thomas, Day, Houston. Evans, Clark, Agulla.
Harlequins: Lambert, Ward, Jones, , Merrick, Horwill (capt), Luamanu, Wallace, Easter. Tebaldi, Botica. Walker, Hopper, Lowe, Sloan. Chisholm.
Replacements: Buchanan, Evans, Sinckler, Mathews, Talei, Egerton, Swiel, Lindsay-Hague
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