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A Fresh Start


Blackadder: Fresh Start

By P G Tips
August 30 2016

For Bath’s new coaches and players a season opener at Franklin’s Gardens is about as testing as they come.  Victories over Northampton have been rare for years and the last Bath away win in the series was sixteen years ago.  Saturday’s clash will be a Premiership eye opener for Blackadder and Matson while offering a fresh start for a squad smarting from last year’s failures.

A full strength Saints 23 can be expected to boast quality and experience throughout.  From one to fifteen Jim Mallinder can call on internationals in almost all positions.  He has bolstered his pack this year in both front and back rows with Louis Picamoles the standout signing. The French No 8 is expected to provide the go forward and front foot ball that Saints have missed since Samu Manoa’s move to Toulon. If he and his pack mates can provide the necessary momentum, the Gardens faithful will hope for a return to the all court game that brought 5 consecutive playoff places before last season’s comparative slump to fifth.

 All is not completely rosy in Franklin’s Garden though. Last season the backs did not work the devastating George North into attack as often as they would have wished, while Luther Burrell endured a topsy- turvy time at international selection under two contrasting England coaches. Fans mutterings are emerging too following last week’s defeat in the friendly away to Ulster. The men in green, black and gold will be looking to rebuild some confidence early on.

 If Saints have issues, what of Bath? 2016 was as deflating as 2015 was invigorating. A ninth place finish, rumours of off-field issues, high profile departures and the sacking of Mike Ford have left several holes to repair. The pre-season build up seems to have begun that work soundly. Squad morale appears to be restored, three wins in contrasting style promise a growing momentum. Players and fans will hope the winning habit proves as enduring as last term’s losing streak was catching.

 Questions though, remain. What will the game plan, the new Blackadder “cunning plan” be? Who will fill the void left by the departing Eastmond and Devoto, and how well? Can a squad with threadbare midfield resources thrive in the brutal grind of Premiership rugby.? The answer to the first is unlikely to be seen this weekend: time is needed and future signings may yet have a bearing. In the short term at least, it seems that versatility will be valued in answer to other issues– especially at 12, where Clark, Bowden and Jennings have all featured and Priestland is expected to.

 New signings have given Blackadder a monstrous pack to take the game to opponents. Behind the scrum, Bath’s England men all had their moments over the summer, yet have more to give and to prove. This is shaping to be a close and fascinating contest between two leading exponents of the fifteen man approach. Bath will certainly travel in hope, if not expectation. The result is too close to call, but I expect an encouraging Bath performance to get our season started.

 

Possible Bath Team:
Auterac, Batty, Thomas, Attwood, Charteris, Denton, Mercer (Capt), Faletau. Fotuali’i, Ford. Banahan, Bowden, Joseph, Rokodoguni. Watson.

Replacements: Catt, Dunn, Lahiff, Ewels, Garvey. Cook, Priestland, Williams.

 

 

 

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A Fresh Start
Discussion started by Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged), 30/08/2016 15:05
Comeonmylovers.co.uk
Comeonmylovers.co.uk
30/08/2016 15:05
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:09:14:09:13:22 by Stuart Anderton.

Rolfs_Cartoon_Club
@Hydor18
30/08/2016 15:29
Is MVV injured? Have a hunch that if he's fit, he'll paly ahead of Batty.

MESSAGES->author
Rawce
30/08/2016 17:11
Injuries - Mercer (sounds like weeks that could turn to months), Wilson (3 months), Matawalu (1 month) and Walker (unknown) according to the Chron.

gaz59
gaz59
30/08/2016 18:00
Well without Chris Cook's yellow card when we were 14 - 0 we might have won last year and of the two teams I think we have improved the most, have a more encouraging pre-season and players will be playing socks off to impress new coaches

Very winnable

Bath Hammer
Bath Hammer
30/08/2016 19:04
Quote:
Rawce
Injuries - Mercer (sounds like weeks that could turn to months), Wilson (3 months), Matawalu (1 month) and Walker (unknown) according to the Chron.


This is terrible news & just what I was afraid of. We are not capable of coping with more than a minimal number of injuries.

MESSAGES->author
Which Tyler
30/08/2016 21:04
I disagree, we can't cope with injuries in the centres, but can cope with all of the above, though Guy being out whilst Louw's away is far from ideal.

A man who cannot change his mind, cannot change anything

RAEBURN SHIELD

MESSAGES->author
Miles Offside
08/09/2016 22:14
I'm hoping that our No 8 crisis might be less of a crisis and more of an opportunity for David Sisi to step up and show how good he really can be.

My glass is half full - or is it half empty - oh sod it just drink the beggar anyway!

(Sm109)

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