Quantcast

News: Bath Rugby vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview


By WesternWanderer
February 9 2017

it's back to Premiership action this weekend as Northampton Saints travel to the West Country to take on Bath Rugby in ANOTHER Friday night fixture. regular COYSDC messageboard contributor, WesternWanderer, looks forward to the game...

 

 

 

 

BATH RUBGY vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Friday, 10th February 2017 - 7.45pm

THE RECREATION GROUND, BATH

MATCH PREVIEW

 

And so back to the regular business of Premiership rugby. The Wreck is, in my opinion the best away trip in the league shoehorned next to the River Avon, the floodlit Georgian spires overlooking the ground and ample bars and restaurants to sustain the enthusiastic fan. 
Saints have a good recent record against the West Countrymen bar the aberration in September, but this match will be significantly impacted by absentees: Hartley, Lawes, Wood, Harrison, Picamoles and North all on international duty for Saints with Bath missing Watson, Faletau and Charteris through injury and Ford and Joseph with England, although Priestland was not selected by Wales. The Saints physios’ couch is packed with the talent of Burrell, Pisi (G) and Clark. 

The clubs had different policies for the Anglo Welsh Cup – Bath used Saturday as a development match so their XV on Friday will be well rested whilst the Saints used it to test out combinations due recent returnees from injury needing gametime and players missing in key positions. The meeting with Scarlets allowed the backs to trial some moves with Mallinder, Pisi (K)and Foden all impressing but some weaknesses in defence a concern. David Ribbans looks a prospect at lock – the heavyweight enforcer we have been missing, but expect him to make the bench at best. Ethan Waller’s carrying and scrummaging were highly effective which makes his departure all the more galling whilst Paul Hill seems to have declined this season. Jim is a conservative selector so expect the Scarlets team to all return bar Ethan Waller with brother Alex back at loosehead. 

Bath have fewer players missing and will be particularly strong at half back with Fotuali and Priestland and only the two Welshmen missing in the pack. Blackadder has done a good job of restoring morale, but Bath have lost their last three Premiership matches, so expect this to be a tight error-strewn affair: Bath by a score in a low-scoring game.

 

 

 

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

News: Bath Rugby vs Northampton Saints - Match Preview
Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 09/02/2017 16:35
ComeOnYouSaints.com
09/02/2017 16:35
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Stockers
05/02/2017 13:01
Thanks WW,smiling smiley that's most helpful!

Malco
06/02/2017 09:34
We (Bath) won't just be missing Charteris and Faletau in the pack. Also missing will be Nick Auterac, Henry Thomas, Matt Garvey and probably Dave Attwood. Dave Denton played his first game back since being injured against you lot in the first match of the season, so probably won't start on Friday. These are significant losses for us. In addition to Ford, Watson and Joseph in the backs we also have Matt Banahan out long term which is also a major loss. I suspect we shall be in a similar state of depletion when the teams line up.

twsaint
06/02/2017 23:10
Plus no Robbie Fruean

Sarge
08/02/2017 23:56
At least the pitch was under cover to protect against frost when I passed by this morning.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net