By Glen Leat
November 8 2002

Many Bath players could be taking a long cold drink from the bar of the Last Chance Saloon this Sunday afternoon as they face the tough challenge of the Sale Sharks at The Rec. After a series of frustratingly poor performances this season the Bath coaches have told their stars to start performing.

With the enforced changes created by international duties this week-end Bath have made eight player and positional changes from the team that started against Harlequins last Saturday. Jonathan Humphreys has taken over from Danny Grewcock as skipper for the day and no doubt the management will be hoping the fiery Welshman can instil some passion in to his torpid colleagues. “Humph will captain the side,” explained Michael Foley. “We feel that he typifies the guts of the side and he played his best game for us against Quins last week and played with a tremendous amount of passion and feeling.”

Thankfully Olly Barkley has been brought in from the cold as he moves from wing to full-back and Matt Perry shuffles forward in the threequarters to centre alongside Alex Crockett. With the apparent loaning out of winger Rob Thirlby to Leeds Simon Danielli retains his place on the wing and will be taking a big slug from the "Lucky Beer" bottle prior to the match; if he fails to make an impression in this game Danielli could be on his way out of our club. Thankfully Tom Voyce returns as a starter on the other wing to add some much needed penetration.

Mike Catt should be fit to start despite missing the Quins match last weekend with a hamstring strain and an on going problem with a pelvic injury, but Michael Foley believes that the fly half will start on Sunday.“The unfortunate thing about Catty’s injury which is basically the joint of the pelvis is that it is an ongoing thing that needs day to day management.”

Old war horse John Mallet has been promoted to the front row in place of Alessio Galasso and another star who will be hoping for an improvement in form, Dan Lyle, will be seen in the second row in the boots of club captain Danny Grewcock.

Sale are confident they can beat Bath as they see a once proud and successful club struggle to gain any momentum this season and I have to be honest and say I think their confidence is fully justified. Unless the changes made by Bath have a positive impact within the first 30 minutes of this game it is likely we will slip closer to the relegation position currently occupied by our West Country neighbours as we lose to Sale.

Come on Bath I'm sick of all this, pull your bloody fingers out and get a win!

Bath Team
15 Olly Barkley, 14 Simon Danielli, 13 Matt Perry, 12 Alex Crockett, 11 Tom Voyce, 10 Mike Catt, 9 Gareth Cooper, 1 Simon Emms, 2 Jonathan Humphreys , 3 John Mallett, 4 Steve Borthwick, 5 Dan Lyle, 6 James Scaysbrook, 7 Andy Beattie, 8 Nathan Thomas.

Replacements: 16 Andy Williams, 17 Lee Mears, 18 Alessio Galasso, 19 Spencer Davey, 20 Joe Mbu, 21 Andy Lloyd, 22 Jonathan Pendlebury.

Sale Squad
Vaughan Going, Mark Cueto, Steve Hanley, Graeme Bond, Dan Harris, Mel Deane, Jos Baxendell, Nick Walshe, Richard Wigglesworth, Jim Thorp, Kevin Yates, Stuart Turner, Barry Stewart, Charl Marais, Andy Titterrell, Dean Schofield, Christian Day, Chris Jones, Phil Davies, Magnus Lund, Stuart Pinkerton, Pete Anglesea.

Click on to the Sale Sharks site for their perspective on things.

Click here to see the latest league table.

In preparation for this clash let's have a look at a few recent statistics:

Biggest Win

Player Greats

Last Meetings (Bath scores first)