By Andy Dowthwaite
December 19 2011

What a great place Dublin is to watch rugby. Easy to get to, sunny though a bit chilly, source of the real blackness on sale at a host of lively hostelries, friendly welcoming and engaging locals who love the rugby and talking about it, a great stadium playing home to the reigning European Champions and some dazzling fast paced rugby on display. Plenty of fellow supporters all around the city, what more could a Bath fan want for a great weekend?

Three tries, from Dave Attwood (looking better every game), Stephen Donald (using his bulk and power to drive through Leinster’s defence) and Ben Williams (looking powerful and sharp before finishing after some sharp fast handling). Chris Cook had his best game for Bath as a substitute (must be pushing for a starting slot now) Francois Louw looks like our best signing for years and  we racked up an impressive 27 points against one of the best teams in the world. Quick research shows this is the highest score that Leinster have ever conceded at the Aviva and the most points conceded since a narrow win over Clermont in April 2010 at the RDS. On most nights we would herald a great performance and a heavy round of celebration.

Leinster, however, treated us to an awesome display of high tempo and highly skilled rugby that saw them utterly destroy Bath with a seven try rout. At 60 minutes Bath had been completely overrun, with a score of 45 – 6 by no means flattering to the home team. Credit first where it’s due. Leinster, are a class above any of the good teams we have played this season (Harlequins and Saracens). Jonathan Sexton orchestrated a back line of pace and vision, whose skills allowed then to run a range of moves that tore apart the generally solid Bath defensive line. Luke Fitzgerald has pace to really excite, and, without last weeks’ childish histrionics, was able to make the Bath players look like statues as he ran in a try from his own 22. Nacewa uses the ball intelligently – rush defence then I’ll chip it over you, lay back and I’ll cut back inside you. A team of talented individuals able to give free reign to their skills in a manner that delights their fans. Their ability to punish sloppy mistakes, demanding higher standards from the opposition, was heartening. If we were under the illusion after last weeks’ home game that we were close to Leinster we should remember O’Brien butchered an easy chance and Nick Abendanon had to make a brilliant cover tackle to prevent Nacewa scoring when Bath were asleep. There was no such luck this week.

The problems began almost immediately when Michael Claassens punted an aimless box kick from our 22. Leinster were waiting and without hesitation launched a counter attack across the pitch. Four pairs of hands and Kearney had beaten the outside of our defence to score. Unless this kick was a mistake and it should have gone into touch, if, you are going to kick the ball away in field there must be a plan to deal with it. We had none and it was easy to stretch and beat the defence.

We responded positively and driving up field drew a penalty that OB1 converted. The re-start was again dropped in the cold windy conditions and in the scramble Sam Vesty cleared but again this was an aimless infield kick that Sexton caught cleanly then hit the cleanest drop goal you will ever see. Two kicking mistakes 10 points given away – there’s a lesson in there somewhere.

Unfortunately I cannot make “Meet the Coaches” on Monday but I do have a couple of questions following the game;

Question 1 - do we have a kicking plan or is aimless kicking an issue of poor execution?

Anyway, from the re-start we again enjoyed a period of pressure which generated a second penalty from OB1. That was about it for some 40 minutes. Despite Leo Cullen being sin binned on 22 minutes for a punch, Leinster looked like a team possessed and demolished Bath. First Kearney and then Sexton score in quick succession – fourteen points scored when down to fourteen men. 24 – 6 at half time and it’s not looking good.

The Sexton score saw the fly half playing a pass and run around before delivering an inside pass to Kearney running at pace on an angle against the flow of play, before Sexton followed up to score behind the posts. This just ripped the Bath defence to shreds, we are so unfamiliar now with attacking backs moves that we can’t defend against them – but coaches please note how effective they were.

Question 2 – Why do we therefore play such simple attacking moves? 

Is it that we lack the skill among our players or is it that the coaches have no confidence in them to run such attacking back moves (but only last season Banners cut Saints to pieces just cutting back against the flow).

The second half re-starts, not really our forte at the best of times, and, again after some sharp passing in their own 22, Leinster release Fitzgerald in space who runs the length of the pitch to score a great try. The Bath defence look like statues as the Lion flies up the pitch. We are so use to premiership teams trundling the ball back up the centre that a team running the ball back. 32 – 6 and a bonus point try. Time to send the Tour Bi**h, young Drunkan Talkalot, to the bar for more Guinness – I’ll take mine intravenously please - even Sober One Kenobi is on the vodka.

Question 3 - What do the coaches say to the team at half-time to motivate second half performances?

Sam Vesty receives a yellow card on 50 minutes as the last in a long line of offenders. Big gaps at the back see some intelligent kicking into space. From pressure near the five yard line Reddan dives over for their fifth try 38 – 6. Within 5 minutes Biller receives a yellow card (does any-one know why – I can’t bear to watch the replay) and we are down to 13 men. Giving away penalties at an even faster rate than we have all season and now yellow cards as well, that’s three in two games against Leinster.

Question 4 - What have/are the coaches doing to improve on field disciple?

Making use of the extra space Leinster score their sixth try, too busy crying to see what happened but Sexton converted again to make it 45 – 6 on sixty minutes, which is where our story started.

A series of substitutions proceeded to give Bath a new found desire that picked the tempo up and gave a little cheer on a cold and miserable night. Cook for Claassens and Williams for Cuthbert saw a phase of sustained pressure that allowed the Donald try, then the more mobile props Catt and Perenise joined the front row and Heathcote replaced Donald, injected more pace that allowed Attwood (by far our best player on the night) to score under the posts 45 – 20 and looking a little more respectable. Leinster had energy for one more try but Ben Williams had the last word as Bath lost 52 – 27, flattering to Bath. The introduction of youth at this stage allowed bath to look a lot sharper and bring some respectability.

Question 5 – Is our selection policy based upon form or experience?

We have a team with a fair number of very good individuals, some experienced players who have delivered for Bath and we have some talented youngsters coming through so what is going wrong?

Lights out tonight, trouble in the heartland.
Got a head-on collision, smashin in my guts man.
I’m caught in a crossfire that I don't understand.
But there's one thing I know for sure Bruce:
I don't give a damn for the same old played out scenes
I don't give a damn for just the in-betweens.

Personally I never criticise the players, even the very best players make mistakes and I never doubt their commitment and effort, but do we have an environment that allows the players to maximise their abilities, do we have a coaching philosophy that allows the team to exceed the abilities of the individual players.

Brucie, I want the heart, I want the soul, I want control right now.
You better listen to me Brucie:
Talk about a dream; try to make it real.
You wake up in the night with a fear so real.
You spend your life waiting for a moment that just don't come.
Well don't waste your time waiting

Question 6 – What do the coaches believe is wrong with the team at the moment?

On Saturday night we were outplayed by a much better side. Bath contributed with some sloppy play and indiscipline but Leinster are a very, very good side. We did see individual Bath players giving everything to the cause we just weren’t collectively good enough.

Badlands you gotta live it every day
Let the broken hearts stand
As the price you’ve gotta pay
We’ll keep pushin till it's understood
And these badlands start treating us good*

If Bruce has ambitions to be one of Europe’s elite teams, like Leinster, we need to know,

Question 7 – What are you going to do about it? 

One last point, despite handing us a severe drubbing, we were approached by dozens of Leinster fans after the game to talk about the match without any trace of arrogance, gloating or condescending sympathy - supporters who can win and support with dignity. We had a great weekend, were happy to cheer the team off and hope we have the opportunity to go again.

*Lyrics courtesy of Bruce Springsteen

Badlands (Leinster 52 – 27 Bath)

Discussion started by BathRugbyEre.co.uk , 19/12/2011 09:19

BathRugbyEre.co.uk
19/12/2011 09:19

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:12:24:17:55:13 by Glen The Ed.

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zacdog
19/12/2011 11:09

Great and honest report and having worked in Dublin many years ago agree totally about the supporters....a truly great lot epitomising the way to support your team!
I have one more question...why do we hardly ever counter-ruck??
Watching queens yesterday they seem to have a ''call'' and if there is half a chance of getting a turnover they all pile in and mostly won the ball, which of course is then the best attacking ball.
As for the kicking I just dont know what to say. I hope they give Cook a start at Saints.

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Bod
19/12/2011 18:43

Who's the happy little chappie that introduces the HTV sports round-up? Snidey little twerp with his festive references to the Bath turkeys getting stuffed in Dublin. Bollox!

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Big Five
20/12/2011 11:32

Spencer only on for five mins.Hit 4 rucks
securing 50 50 ball one hit leading to a try,a powerfull 19 year old,but he needs game time.

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Bath Fan Jack
20/12/2011 11:52

Good report for a dreadful match!

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marshie10
20/12/2011 15:40

Very good report. Thank you Andy.

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