By P G Tips
April 12 2016
Bath travel to Sale on Saturday with only pride to play for. The Manchester club, now out of European competition, can aspire to sneak into the Top 6 places, but realistically that ambition is beyond the visitors for this year. Bath did the double over the Lancastrians last season, but form suggests a repeat in this month’s double -header to be unlikely. Steve Diamond’s men have lost at home only once this season-to Montpellier last Friday. Leicester, Wasps and Exeter have all succumbed at the AJ Bell, only Saracens of the Aviva league leaders escaping with the comfort of a draw. Even in last year’s matches Sale proved hard to break down: Bath’s away win came through two scores in the final five minutes and the home win was ground out by four penalties to one. Sale’s fans are likely to be banking on a home win to push them closer to Champions Cup qualification.
That view should suit Bath to a T. The West Countrymen have nothing to lose and with both England and Saxons tour places up for grabs, there is no shortage of motivation to perform. Plenty are the issues facing players and coaches in this most underwhelming season, but two weeks rest and preparation time should enable the squad to go into the final run of games refreshed and revitalized. Hopefully the downtime, as well as allowing individuals to tend to niggles, has been used to address the collective lack of discipline and clinical execution which has been so costly in many tight games.
Dave Attwood’s eighty minute shift against Saracens brings hope that the pack, now at near full strength, can gain the edge so vital in away fixtures. The set piece- both scrum and lineout- have improved recently, so it is loose possession which they should be working on. Over the past two seasons Bath have frequently been frustrated by Sale at the breakdown, but that phase cost the Salford outfit their European Challenge Cup Quarter Final: six penalties easing Montpellier through. It is the hosts who must go back to the drawing board and, as long as Bath contest swiftly, and in numbers, they can win turnover ball for the backs to use in broken field.
While the pack are improving, Bath’s backs are still struggling for consistency. Individuals like Banahan and Rokodoguni have shone in adversity, but collectively the backs have failed to reproduce the brio of last season. Injuries and international calls cannot bear all the blame and spring weather should suit the Bath game. Anthony Watson looks likely to miss the match after his unfortunate, but ultimately correct, red card two weekends ago. Even without him, Bath have the firepower to win if they can win quick ball, keep on the right side of the referee and George Ford can find his mojo to direct the kind of high tempo game needed.
Sale will be favourites, but pride demands Bath step up.
Possible Teams:
Bath:, Catt, Webber, Wilson. Attwood, Ewels, Garvey, Louw, Houston. Cook, Ford, Banahan, Devoto, Joseph, Rokodoguni. Homer.
Replacements: Auterac Dunn, Thomas, Day, Mafi. Evans, Priestland, Clark.
Sale:
Lewis-Roberts, Taylor, Cobilas, Evans, Mills, Nield, Seymour (capt), Easter. Stringer, Cipriani. Addison, James, Tuitupou, Edwards. Haley;
Replacements: Briggs, Harrison, Mujati, Ostrikov, Lund, Mitchell, Ford, Brady.
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