By Ed Scott
February 22 2013

Bath face probably their sternest test of 2013 with a trip to face Northampton this Saturday. Now within touching distance of a top six place, Bath need to prove their credentials on the road if they are to continue their move up the Premiership table.

The last two weeks have seen Bath take a maximum 10 league points from their games and moved them within three points of sixth place, currently occupied by the Saints. Their domination up front on Saturday saw a competitive London Irish team comprehensively beaten, although minor lapses in concentration threatened to make the game closer that it should have been considering the forward dominance.

It’s easy to get carried away by the last few weeks, as Bath really have begun to play the kind of winning rugby that we all want to see, but there is a long way to go and consistency is key. It all starts with our trip to Franklins Gardens on Saturday where (depressingly) Bath have not won in the league since April 2000. We couldn’t even muster a win there the year that Northampton got relegated!

Needless to say, this is the true test if we want to consider ourselves contenders, or simply be considered the best of the rest. We have proved that we are capable of putting away the teams below us, but must break the trend and win against one of the ‘big boys’ on the road. This game is likely to tell us how far we really have come.

Northampton are renowned for having a superb forward pack and the first dent to Bath is that they will have to take on the likes of Tonga’uiha without their own powerhouse props of James and Wilson, who really did give London Irish a free lesson in scrummaging at the weekend. That said, all I see it as is an opportunity for Beech and Perenise to prove once again how much they’ve developed.

In the pack Bath will be missing the considerable talents of Francois Louw, while Saints will themselves be without the abrasive carrying and defence of Lawes, Wood and Hartley, who all start for England this weekend. That said, for the first time since the Connolly/Foley years, I feel like this Bath pack can really compete, and although Louw is a real loss, the emergence of Mat Gilbert is a big plus and I hope he gets a contract for next season.

With Stephen Donald side-lined for a few weeks with a rib injury, Tom Heathcote has a chance to prove himself in the ten shirt after being released by Scotland. Sam Vesty on the bench suggests that Eastmond is yet  to be considered good enough to cover the fly-half position, but I think he will be moving forward. Personally I think that we have now really found his position at 12, but an ability to play 10 would be a wonderful addition; one perhaps to be left until next season though.

Northampton produced a gritty display to dispatch Worcester on the weekend, with Stephen Myler’s boot taking advantage of the Warriors’ ill discipline. Myler is a fine player on form, but I feel when put under pressure he can occasionally crumble. Fearns and Gilbert really need to get in his face and pressurise him. In fact, if Jim Malinder thought about it, he should probably have played Ryan Lamb, who’s dislike of the Blue, Black and White (well, he is from Gloucester after all!) seems to always result in a virtuoso performance from him against us. His move to Leicester is a perfect one really as they (for some strange reason...) are not great fans of ours either!

History and early form is against Bath this weekend. Northampton are a slick, well drilled team who are incredibly physical and  streetwise. Make no mistake, this is going to have to be one of the best performances this season from us if we are to come away with four points. That said, Saracens, Harlequins and Gloucester have all won at Franklins gardens this season in the Premiership, so nothing is impossible.

A loss wouldn’t be a disaster for Bath, more a significant set back. A win however I truly believe could signal the true potential that may lie ahead. Dare we dream about seven in a row?.......

Match Preview - Lucky Number Seven?

Discussion started by Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged), 22/02/2013 20:59

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22/02/2013 20:59

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:03:01:14:10:51 by TCM2007.

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OBinexile
22/02/2013 21:20

Nice one Ed.
NOrthamptons backs seem to have stuttered recently, so hoping that Bath can pressure them there. Hoping, too, that Heathcotes recent surge of confidence will continue through the game. Agree that the pack look like they're becoming competitive - something we've all wanted h for some time. This'll be a test of just how far they've progressed, and a testament to the coaching. Relieved to see BoB going for a Northampton win - all in all, omens are good!

OBinExile

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