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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 26/04/2022 10:16 by P G Tips.

Great preview as always PG - insightful and interesting. (but I can't see Bailey replacing himself)

Thanks hemington.
I guess I'll have to give the job to Cipriani then!

PG

Saints thoughts [m.rugbynetwork.net] and injury update [m.rugbynetwork.net]
No Lawes (hand injury), Biggar has his hearing on Wednesday but probably inevitably banned for this game.

Was wondering what form James Grayson was in, I guess we will see now, my concern is the midfield pairing of Hutchinson and Dingwall but Dingwall might not be fit. Ollie Sleightholme might be in the frame. If Mojo is fit wouldn't it be fascinating if Ollie and Max are on the pitch when their fathers' played together all those years ago?

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Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Great title there PG, very clever and loved the reference to "cobblers" sneaked in. Take a bow

Quote:

shendy
Saints thoughts [m.rugbynetwork.net] and injury update [m.rugbynetwork.net]
No Lawes (hand injury), Biggar has his hearing on Wednesday but probably inevitably banned for this game.

Lawes injury sounds serious and as you say, Shendy, Biggar unlikely to escape a ban.

PG

Quote:

P G Tips

Quote:

shendy
Saints thoughts [m.rugbynetwork.net] and injury update [m.rugbynetwork.net]
No Lawes (hand injury), Biggar has his hearing on Wednesday but probably inevitably banned for this game.

Lawes injury sounds serious and as you say, Shendy, Biggar unlikely to escape a ban.

PG

Considering how often Biggar hits upright its amazing this is his first red card to be honest.

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Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Does he 'hit' upright? Or is it more of a 'stand in the way' kind of technique? Ford pretty much never tackles low in the classical way either - he just stands there and grabs something, but he rarely seems in danger of a head clash.

Isn't Ford much more of what is described as a 'passive' tackler? The attacker gets over the gainline but the aim of the tackle is simply to stop a line break for bigger, beefier team mates to arrive and contest or slowdown the ball at the breakdown?

That's the one - is Biggar much different to that? I don't really recall him sprinting into tackles like Farrell. Probably just appears less passive than Ford because he weighs a few stone more.

Biggar banned for the usual 3 weeks (2 if he takes the naughty boys' course).

It’s pretty much the standard technique for 10s, Wilkinson hit hardest but Farrell, Bailey, Priestland similar.
Cipriani has an alternative in that the attacker has to run into him first before he gets away!
Biggar doesn’t shirk the physical though so it’s to his credit he keeps his head out of the way.

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Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Quote:

shipwrecked
It’s pretty much the standard technique for 10s, Wilkinson hit hardest but Farrell, Bailey, Priestland similar.
Cipriani has an alternative in that the attacker has to run into him first before he gets away!
Biggar doesn’t shirk the physical though so it’s to his credit he keeps his head out of the way.

Yes Lewis Moody came to coach my sons team maybe a decade ago and said Wilkinson was the hardest tackler he ever faced which is not bad for a 10 on a flanker

Wilkinson's podcast as well as his interview with Ranjan Chatterjee are a remarkable insight into his psyche - the way that he immediately came off the pitch having won the RWC and felt so unhappy despite having reached the pinnacle of his career and every rugby player's dream

Both are a fantastic listen and incredible learning points for life

Didn't Biggar get away with a clear shoulder to the head a couple of matches back?
The surprise is this was his first red as in reality he probably should have been serving a ban from the previous one.

There was an almost similar incident in our previous game where he tackled Semi R - the difference being Semi is a little taller and got the best of the impact, perhaps shouldn't make a difference but does.

Biggar certainly isn't the only 10 or player in general to use the technique, the main difference with Farrell is the aggression or force. Regardless he does need to change technique as it always risks a high hit or head to head. Ford gets away with it purely because he's shorter so in most cases his head height is lower than the ball carrier!

In any case Biggar not available when we play you, nor is Courtney which is probably a bigger loss despite having a few other options in the back row. Debate as to whether we're likely to see Furbank move to 10 again or stay at 15 with Grayson coming into 10. Either way I suspect as usual it will come down to whether we can match you up front.

None of them have got a patch on the Butch Shoulder Technique(TM).

Quote:

Rawce
None of them have got a patch on the Butch Shoulder Technique(TM).

Its a harsh yellow

[www.youtube.com]

Thats almost as bad as his acting in Deadpool and the Green Lantern.

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[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

"White card"?

Quote:

Mike the Taxi
"White card"?

Like an on field citing!

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Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Rugby League would call it going 'on report'

Team's Up.Reid returns.

Head Coach Neal Hatley has made four changes to the starting XV for Bath Rugby’s Gallagher Premiership match against Northampton Saints on Saturday.

Miles Reid returns to the back row for the first time since captain the Blue, Black and White to victory against Newcastle Falcons at the end of February.

Joining him in the pack is Mike Williams who locks down next to captain Charlie Ewels. The front row remains consistent for the third game running while Josh Bayliss and Taulupe retain their spots at blindside flanker and Number 8 respectively.

In the backs, Danny Cipriani comes in for a start at fly-half with Will Muir the other addition to the backline.

Wing Muir lines up in the back three alongside Semesa Rokoduguni and Tom de Glanville. The trio have 15 tries between them this season.

Ben Spencer is named as vice-captain from scrum-half. Max Clark and Jonathan Joseph continue in the centre.

South African back row Jaco Coetzee is back in the 23 for the first time since the home win over Bristol Bears.

Bath Rugby team to play Northampton Saints

15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Max Clark, 11 Will Muir, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Valeriy Morozov, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Mike Williams, 5 Charlie Ewels ©, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Taulupe Faletau

Replacements

16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Arthur Cordwell, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Ewan Richards, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Joe Cokanasiga

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P G Tips


Jaco Coetzee: my adopted Player, 2023-24.

Great to see Reid back and Coetzee on the bench. Bit worried about absences of Boyce and Mojo.

Northampton Saints team news

15 Tommy Freeman
14 Ollie Sleightholme
13 Matt Proctor
12 Rory Hutchinson
11 Tom Collins
10 George Furbank
9 Alex Mitchell

1 Alex Waller
2 Sam Matavesi
3 Paul Hill
4 Alex Coles
5 Api Ratuniyarawa
6 Lewis Ludlam (c)
7 Teimana Harrison
8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements:
16 Mike Haywood
17 Emmanuel Iyogun
18 Conor Carey
19 Alex Moon
20 Brandon Nansen
21 Tom James
22 James Grayson
23 Piers Francis

11:59

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P G Tips


Jaco Coetzee: my adopted Player, 2023-24.