Will Bath be bristling with intent when they travel to Ashton Gate for Friday’s Premiership opener? They should be. Defeat by the Bears in the corresponding fixture last season set the tone for another inconsistent and disappointing campaign. Pat Lam has suggested he may play his battle hardened World Cup returners, while much of Bath’s strike power remains in Japan and their back row is depleted by the tournament and injury. Can Bath bait the Bears in their own pit and begin with a bang?
It will be no easy task. A record crowd is anticipated and, while Bristol’s recent results have been as mixed as Bath’s, they have scored some fine tries with the high tempo game that served them so well last season. Bath should not be seduced by the Bears’ heavy defeats at Harlequins and Exeter. Like Stuart Hooper, Pat Lam has rotated his teams and given debuts to academy talent, so the Premiership Rugby Cup games are only a hint of league form.
Bristol can be expected to attack persistently: from deep as well as in Bath’s 22. They shocked many opponents with their all action offloading game last season, winning 9 games to Bath’s 10 and scoring 3 more ties (55) than the Blue, Black and White. Pat Lam has said he aspires to have the Bears playing like Japan. If he can do that, his team should improve on their 2019 9th place. He has also described his World Cup cohort as “dead keen to get back” into club action. The likes of Lay, Vui and Piutau can add real class to a squad already blessed with the energy and verve of Thacker, the heft of Attwood and Hughes, plus the pace and trickery of Randall and Morahan.
Where Bristol could be vulnerable is in defence. They leaked 20 more tries than Bath last season, a failing seemingly still troubling them in their PRC ties. They also play a high- risk attack with strong emphasis on screen and dummy runners who tread a fine line between deception and obstruction. A high penalty count could undo all their good attacking intentions.
Bath will not want to rely on help from the officials. Stuart Hooper has spoken of building a dominant forward platform and we have seen signs of that in the past few fixtures. The best way to blunt the Bears’ claws will be to deny them the ball and keep them penned in their own territory. Here the form of Dunn and Batty and the new props Boyce, Stuart and Judge is encouraging, so too the recent resurgence of a powerful rolling maul. A hard pressing defence can also expose an opponent’s blocking blueprint by denying them space. Hopefully the leaky lessons of the Leicester and Gloucester matches have been taken to heart!
Hooper also hopes to get the ball to his wings in space more frequently. Levi Davis certainly made much of his chances against Exeter and Worcester and fans will hope to see his X factor given its head as often as possible. Whether these hopes can be put into action is another question. As well as the 6 World Cup absentees, Bath have been denied Thomas, Ellis, Faletau and Rokodoguni to injury for a while and have recently lost Reid, Green and De Glanville also. The challenge for new skipper Charlie Ewels will be to force scores of any kind in a hostile atmosphere to turn the screw on the Bears and frustrate them, while building bath’s own confidence and momentum.
It may be that a simple game plan of direct power play and pressure will serve Bath best this week. “Earning the right” is a cliché beloved of many coaches which is why I expect Priestland to start ahead of Burns. If Roberts and Clark are paired outside him, expect Bath to kick for territory, drive up the middle through forwards and centres and play the game tight at first. If Davis and Brew can be set free for a tilt at the line well and good, but the first goal is a win – by whatever means works.
So- at the end, will it be Bath bristling with pride and Bristol grizzling in grief? We shall see.
Notwithstanding the fact we are missing Ant, JJ, Ruaridh, Joe C, Roko, I'm seriously underwhelmed at the thought of that backline. Stodgy doesn't even begin to describe it.
What about Willison? Max Wright? Is Chris Cook not in the picture?
Our Academy backs appear to consist of four 18-year olds.
I'm starting to hope that England get beat on Saturday morning.
Am I right in thinking that the England lads get 4 weeks rest after the RWC or is that just spread over the year? Either way, with the RWC and 6N we will probably get 10 Bath games from them this season - lets hope the remaining backs up their attack and defence when compared with the recent games.
Bristol Bears are on the search for a top international fly-half according to the latest reports.
The Rugby Paper reports that Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam has enquired about the availability of Leicester Tigers’ incumbent England number 10 George Ford.
I would take him back, for sure (not sure he would take Bath back mind you)...
BathMatt53 The Rugby Paper reports that Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam has enquired about the availability of Leicester Tigers’ incumbent England number 10 George Ford
That would appear to be one of the duffest bits of rumouring ever.
There's more chance of Johnson saying "sorry" than Bruce opening arms for George to return
But why and how would Bristol be looking for someone of George's class giving they've got Madigan on big money and hasn't Sheedy just signed a new contract?
gaz59 There's more chance of Johnson saying "sorry" than Bruce opening arms for George to return
But why and how would Bristol be looking for someone of George's class giving they've got Madigan on big money and hasn't Sheedy just signed a new contract?
Madigan is out of contract at the end of the year, like George Ford is (and Freddie). Madigan is reportedly on an extremely generous wage and not really justifying it at Bristol.
Bathovalballer Must of missed the news but what is wrong with Roko, Ellis, Catt, and how bad is De Glanville's knee, and when can we expect them back?
Also, is Willison crocked again and is Cook fit? Surely, he must be on the bench over Fox?
Hope Homer remembers to touch the ball down this season!
No offy injury briefing this week but mention of Roko is that he is training but will wait to confirm no reaction to this. Willison went off for HIA last week and given previous history of concussion is unlikely to be risked. Cook is not injured and should be in the 23. Ellis played about half the game on Friday before being subbed, looked planned not an injury so should be in for consideration at least for the bench.
No update on TDG’s knee.
PG, I agree with memnoch regarding your summary but there’s so much I disagree with about your suggested selection list
However, I would volunteer Eden (no 10 v Bath Utd at the Rec last year) and Joyce ( Bristol boy via our Academy) might feature with a re-arrangement of the second and back rows and the bench
It’s going to be a fascinating contest
I can see us adopting a forwards dominated game plan together with two attritional centres given the personnel likely to be available & its success against Gloucester. Although not pretty it makes perfect sense though whether it is a winning formula remains to be seen.
ballsout I'd be very surprised if we win this game.
The cards are certainly stacked against Bath. First game of the season can always be a bit odd which adds to the mystery, but for certain Bath need to step up in quite a few areas of the game if they are to get a positive result.
Priestland being fielded for media today, so assume he is starting. At least if Freddie was starting there would be the chance of something interesting happening, albeit unlikely to change the result. It’s not the lack of hope I can’t stand, it’s the despair at how predictably dull we are going to be in defeat.
This time last year we were playing Bristol in the first match and confidently expecting not just a victory but a bonus point as well and managed somehow to gift Bristol the game, against all the odds. This year is very different, certainly we have lost players to the World Cup, but that happens to good teams, I wonder if Exeter or Saracens supporters are hoping for an LBC, somehow I doubt it.
Maybe we will confound our fears and come up with a win, but, like Optimist, what worries me most is being dull and predictable. Defeat I can cope with but I do prefer to stay awake for most of the match and do not want to rely on our opponents to keep my attention.
Bristol are a very impressive outfit under Lam, they're hardly missing any players, we're missing over a dozen big names. Shame it won't get any easier the week after, Exeter at home.
.......then a revitalised Wasps away and a vastly improved Saints at home. How many league wins are there for us to enjoy and what position will we be then?
Then we are into Europe- Ulster away!.
Oh dear. Mr Hooper will have to earn his stripes and fast. As I understand it, any returning player from the WC has to have at least 2 weeks off. We could be in very deep water by then if that is the case.
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It looks more enterprising in the 3Qs than some above feared. I hope that the weather does not demand a conservative approach, but would still not be surprised to see one.
I actually believe Hoops wants an expansive game but needs first to get the security of possession as foundation.
15. Charles Piutau; 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Piers O’Conor, 12. Will Hurrell, 11. Mat Protheroe; 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. John Afoa, 4. Dave Attwood, 5. Joe Joyce, 6. Steven Luatua (c), 7. Dan Thomas, 8. Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: 16. Shaun Malton, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Chris Vui, 20. Jake Heenan, 21. Harry Randall, 22. Ioan Lloyd, 23. Alapati Leiua.
That's a powerful Bristol team but their 9/10 selection seems to be their weakest link, we need to harry Uren/Sheedy and disrupt their game management. Very much looking forward to the game but not one I expect us to win after seeing the two selections. COUB!!
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Clarkey3k That's a powerful Bristol team but their 9/10 selection seems to be their weakest link, we need to harry Uren/Sheedy and disrupt their game management. Very much looking forward to the game but not one I expect us to win after seeing the two selections. COUB!!
My bookie agrees with you - just went up from Bristol 3 point win to Bristol by 5 after the team announcements.
That’s a monstrous Bath pack. Praying for a lot of rain now and for Priestland to reprise his Sarries (iirc) performance. In terms of entertainment I may just take the opportunity to rearrange my sock drawer though.
An away match, missing so many key players and facing pretty much a full strength Bristol squad. I can take putting entertainment on the back burner
Keep it tight in play and in score going into last 10 and hope for Brizzle errors trying to force the pace too much
A LBP would be no disgrace but if we are aiming at 100% home record with 3 or 4 away wins to get top 6/sniff of top 4 and this isn't one of those then where are the others likely to come from?
Clarkey3k That's a powerful Bristol team but their 9/10 selection seems to be their weakest link, we need to harry Uren/Sheedy and disrupt their game management. Very much looking forward to the game but not one I expect us to win after seeing the two selections. COUB!!
My bookie agrees with you - just went up from Bristol 3 point win to Bristol by 5 after the team announcements.
I think your bookie is being rather generous to Bath.
Ignoring the obvious quality difference in coaching, the Bristol team even looks stronger on paper. I believe that in all likelihood Bath will lose by 12+ because of Bath's absence of any meaningful defensive structure.
I think your bookie is being rather generous to Bath.
Ignoring the obvious quality difference in coaching, the Bristol team even looks stronger on paper. I believe that in all likelihood Bath will lose by 12+ because of Bath's absence of any meaningful defensive structure.
Just checked and Skybet, BET365 and William Hill all have them by 5 (not that I have a betting issue or anything). Bristol by 15 or more gets you 4/1.
Shocker, Premiership Rugby organising a match against a full strength Bristol side when we're missing tons of players. You'd think they'd put us against Sarries or Tigers or something, but no, let's even the game out and put it on tv.
Get over it BO, we will be missing players for various reasons throughout the year, the club are fully aware that they may lose players to international duty, it is one of the factors they put into the decision before deciding who to buy, it is not an excuse for losing
I actually agree a bit with BO on this one. Not using it as an excuse, however it is extremely frustrating that they have decided to play one of our biggest games when we have so many players away with England.
Not at all confident when look at the two teams, can’t see anyone in our backs that would concern them. Just hope that catch and drive is working and Rhys has his kicking boots on.
Awp24975 I actually agree a bit with BO on this one. Not using it as an excuse, however it is extremely frustrating that they have decided to play one of our biggest games when we have so many players away with England.
Not at all confident when look at the two teams, can’t see anyone in our backs that would concern them. Just hope that catch and drive is working and Rhys has his kicking boots on.
21-9 to them, just hope I’m wrong.
It's been happening for years now. Premiership Rugby love even-ing games out like this. And of course, we're also playing Bristol at home during the 6 Nations
The TV producers love this type of game too. I have a previous commitment tomorrow evening, but anyone watching on TV fancy counting how many times Hooper will appear on a long zoom camera shot during breaks in play?
He will probably be sipping from a bottle of water whilst a pundit mentions how new he is to the job and the pressure he will be under this season. His appearances on camera will be inversely proportional to any lead we might have in the game.
Since the consensus is that man for man they have the edge over us a lot will depend on how the various parts of our game have gelled during the pre-season under new coaches. So far there have been good & bad signs but it is difficult to tell properly with ever changing personnel. This is the first real test & should be marginally easier than the following two encounters so a win is important. It will also instil much needed confidence especially when there is so much negativity around. To achieve this we need to gain the upper hand up front, for Priestland to have one of his better games & for us to be alert & effective defensively. Bristol on the other hand will be thinking this is a match they can & should win. It calls for cool heads all round.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:18:10:19:00 by Bath Hammer.
On what we have seen pre this game, the bigger, stronger make up of the Bristol side plus greater experience in vital positions, Bristol should win this game with ease. Just hope Bath can make a fight of it but fear Bears have to much muscle, speed and power.
Bristol by at least 10- probably 15 to 20.
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Like the look of that Bears outfit could be a long day at the office for our boys especially if they allow Bristol to get off to a flier like they did against Gloucester. If we play like we did against Tigers we'll it could be a cricket score. Really shocked to read Austin Healey had Bristol as his favourites for relegation.
We need to turn up and switch on fro the start - am concerned with our centre partnership and from the games I have watched this season our game plan or lack of it... Surely Hoops doesn"t really believe we can just outmuscle sides - Does he? Or do we have lots of secret plays held back from prying eyes.. God I hope so... Come on boys..
I don’t agree that they have more muscle / power as a side - I think that they actually look pretty mobile and it would be their rapid (counter) attacking that Bath need to watch IMO. In terms of experience in key positions, I would have thought that RP and FB are a lot more experienced than their two 10s (one who appears to just be in long trousers).
Couldn’t agree more Jim.
We have our first choice tight five, an England No.8 in the back row, our first choice half-backs (who are loads better than theirs), decent wingers (inc a Welsh international) and a top class 15, the centres are ok and our bench is better than theirs.
Can’t see the problem, Bath by 12.
Can somebody point me to the All Blacks second XV that are obviously playing in Bristol colours this evening given the negative comments on ERE ? I assume it's a significant step up from the names listed under the Bristol team post earlier in this thread ?
In the BBW we have the likes of Homer, Brew, Priestland, Chudley, Obano, Dunn, McNally, Ewells, Ellis and Mercer plus Burns, Roberts and Stooke on the bench. This isn't a David versus Goliath battle and we absolutely should be able to give it a real go tonight ...
If we play like drains and get a hiding it certainly won't be because of a disparity in the two team sheets.
sid the seagull Couldn’t agree more Jim.
We have our first choice tight five, an England No.8 in the back row, our first choice half-backs (who are loads better than theirs), decent wingers (inc a Welsh international) and a top class 15, the centres are ok and our bench is better than theirs.
Can’t see the problem, Bath by 12.
SQUAWK
Yes because Bath always play to their ability on paper...
sid the seagull Couldn’t agree more Jim.
We have our first choice tight five, an England No.8 in the back row, our first choice half-backs (who are loads better than theirs), decent wingers (inc a Welsh international) and a top class 15, the centres are ok and our bench is better than theirs.
Can’t see the problem, Bath by 12.
OusideBath Lam v Hooper, Bath have no defensive structure.
Is Lam's Bristol really that much better defensively?
Last season Bristol leaked 76 tries in the league (second worst to Leicester), in fact, they had 4 or more tries scored against them in 10 of the 22 league matches. Further, their points against (580) was also the second worst in the league (again to Leicester). So, not quite sure where Lam's defensive track record is on display
They have a good attack, that vs a leaky defence (such as Bath vs Tigers with the same midfield) and we are in trouble. Luckily I’m sure it’s something that they will have worked on non-stop since then. Then that moves to the toothless attack in that same game which I also hope they worked on!!
There is no doubt that Bath can win it on paper - they have to play a lot better than we have seen in the last month though.
Optimist ... and if Attwood doesn’t make at least one eye-catching break which leads to nothing I’ll be fed up with that too
Attwood pounced , Chudley poor for first try !
Who has been working on defence ? Following on from leaking try’s in Premiership cup it’s happening again, huge gap for Hughes try!
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ballsout It's been happening for years now. Premiership Rugby love even-ing games out like this. And of course, we're also playing Bristol at home during the 6 Nations
Serious question, how should they arrange the fixtures? They're planned over a year in advance which means it's impossible to take injuries into account let alone possible form that results in International call-ups.
I'd have thought a local derby is a cracking way to start the season. Sometimes it will favour you sometimes it won't. Up until last season I think Sarries had played Chiefs in Internationals windows six times in a row. It's just one of those things unless you're just always looking for something to complain about
Crocked left knee very early doors. He’s getting better the more he stays on but us being targeted because of a known weakness. Smart exploitation from Bristol.
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Was listening to the egg chasers podcast earlier previewing the season-love our back row and back three options- lots of teeth sucking about our half backs. Think that’s not a bad take...
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Rawce 2 tries as a result of an injured Mercer. Why are we not changing him out?
Hah, that’s shut you up hasn’t it dickhead?
Dunno, reckon he still owes another 5 points!
Chudley owes at least 5 points often leaving the ball exposed !
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Defence is definitely the biggest concern-don’t know if we’ve changed our system but doesn’t seem to have the same line speed and aggression we saw in our better defensive sets last season. Pleased with quite a lot of other parts of the game though to be fair, especially given the callow nature of a lot of the side.
"No sprinkles. For every sprinkle I find, I shall kill you."
Not a good first half really. We are lucky to be so close. The box kicks are awful, the ball is too slow and when we do have it we have no idea what to do with it.
We are getting caught short handed out wide almost every time when Bris attack
Toast and Marmite Defence is definitely the biggest concern-don’t know if we’ve changed our system but doesn’t seem to have the same line speed and aggression we saw in our better defensive sets last season. Pleased with quite a lot of other parts of the game though to be fair, especially given the callow nature of a lot of the side.
Who is Callow? Most are pretty experienced aren’t they? Davis and Max Wright OK...
Forwards look big, strong and direct. The lineout looks tidy. The attackIng and defensive systems look remarkably average. Less infuriating than the last two seasons so far IMO.
How many knock ons from RP when we are in a good position ?
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supermarinematt So, we have gone backwards since last season .... lets hope Irish ain't any good this season
Love this bored, first game away with masses of first choice players unavailable and we are already worse than last season and due for relegation.
"masses of first choice players unavailable" doesn't help with the absolute lack of basics running though the squad - and that has been the case for years. Without basics we aint top 6 let alone top 10
Really looking forward to next weeks home game , this is more than embarrassing , if we continue with this imo we might win 1 game before Xmas , what the hell has gone wrong .
Stuart ‘s excuses ? Perhaps he’ll be honest and not give us the usual Bull Crap
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Was the last back try we scored when Levi intercepted against tigers? When was the last time we scored a planned, worked backs try? Is Dempsey in the building?
Embarrassing performance, sadly all too predictable based on the pre-season.
I’m not sure I have anything good to say about Bath in the second half? A few players worked really hard and showed good energy but as a side we were completely outplayed, out coached and out classed.
Well done Bristol, we were thumped by a much better side.
Utterly embarassing.
The much vaunted pack did naff all.
Chudley carries a kettle with him on the pitch and uses it at each breakdown.
Pathetic defence.
Without a mahoosive improvement we're fighting at the bottom.
Simplistic to suggest this represents ball in hand rugby will beat positional rugby. Nope, it shows that the team that executed their strategy the most effectively will win, and it’s always been thus.
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No excuses that was awful but Brizzle were by a mile the better team and fitter which worries me and Nathan Hughes was a big acquisition for them. I think they will be very difficult to beat at AG
Bristol were very, very good - let’s give them some credit. We picked a team to slow the game down but Bris just played at a pace that had our forwards blowing out of their backsides. Discipline went to pot out of exhaustion and chasing shadows. As ever, our handling was dreadful. Chudley and Priestland belong in the Championship.
Well that was complete tripe. Why on earth did we re-employ Priestland. We are going nowhere with any of these half backs. Not sure our England players will make much difference!
If this is a taster of what is to come this season I will book an appointment now with a counsellor.
Not impressed by Bath at all. Lacked urgency most of the time.
Even though Bristol ended up winning at a canter I don’t think they played that well for the 1st 50 mins. That is the scariest part of tonight.
Relegation fodder is a serious possibility based on that performance
Yep, credit to Bristol they had better tactics, players and execution. Well done to them.
Bath are in some trouble based on that performance unless they can sort their attack and defence very quickly. What exactly have they been doing this last 16-20 weeks if that’s what they have to show for it?
Not one clean break from Bath. And you stick Fred on with ten minutes. Rhys creates absolute @#$%& all for the backs. Two months of pre season for that shower of shite. And to think Hooper and co didn’t think we needed a defence coach to cover Hats. Bring in the international returnees and I still think we’l scrape 5th or at a push 4th, but we really really are just in a weird way where we’re just not improving. We’re the Everton of the football premiership
The driving maul off the line out pretty much won the game for Bath against Gloucester, today penalties were kicked at goal. There were plenty of opportunities to go to the corner in the first half in particular, did Bath bottle it?
The tight 5, scrum and line out were decent but apart from that it was pretty dire from Bath. The backline look really poor, no fluidity, really poor hands and distribution, very pours in defence. Freddie has to start at 10, at least he offers some flair and passion.
Fair play to Bristol, they completely outclassed Bath today, really good performance. Pat Lam is a class act!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:18:22:07:08 by Bepetas.
ken_jnr Hooper said absolutely nothing in the interview. Standard.
No surprise there then
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Fair play to Bristol, they completely outclassed Bath today, really good performance. Pat Lam is a class act!
Just remind me why we didn’t get/haven’t got one of those (class act) !
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Dave248 Not one clean break from Bath. And you stick Fred on with ten minutes. Rhys creates absolute @#$%& all for the backs. Two months of pre season for that shower of shite. And to think Hooper and co didn’t think we needed a defence coach to cover Hats. Bring in the international returnees and I still think we’l scrape 5th or at a push 4th, but we really really are just in a weird way where we’re just not improving. We’re the Everton of the football premiership
Do you really think we might scrape 4th Dave. I was thinking we are more likely to be fighting relegation but hopefully you are right & I am wrong. It seems that just about everyone at the Club has a high opinion of Hooper & that the pre-season went well but there was absolutely no evidence of that on show today. For some reason all our halfbacks have gone backwards & look totally inadequate. There are other problems but that seems to be the main one.
How have Sale managed to grab Faf DK and a couple of good FHs and yet Bath find it impossible to track down anyone of that quality? Or is the point that they have and all quality has been coached out of them?
Bristol were very good, positive and up for it in front in front of a very large crowd. They very much deserved their big win.
Bath showed great heart and tackled themselves into the ground but demonstrated once again that you can’t win games if you have no ball, no cutting edge, and continually drop the ball or knock on. I like the look of Judge, McNally, Williams etc and can only see us getting better as these players get to know each other and get fitter. I despair of those on this board who seem to have given up after one game and who have no intention of giving our new faces half a chance. I’d wager that despite this hiding tonight that Bath will finish above Brizzle but also that we’ll continue to struggle in the key games until we settle on a head coach and a style of play.
Now the nerves move onto England Aus. I fear it could end up being a very depressing weekend.
Loofers all round at Farleigh Spa. Well that went well so the cheerleaders and Hooperites will claim. No doubt we will learn from it as well! Wonder what claptrap/excuses were mentioned in the after match interview? Hooper should be shown the door and given his P45 now along with Dempsey. He and Dempsey and their fellow coaches have had long enough to put in place a suitable game plan and defence plan let alone improving the woeful skill/fitness levels of our squad.
No fight (thought this was a local Derby which means so much to our esteemed players), no direction, missed tackles, giving the ball away like Christmas presents, struggling scrum, and a continued useless rolling maul. As for giving up field position with pathetic penalties, we must have had 15 against us. Where was our trumpeted forward dominance? All Bristol had to do was stand there, tackle, pass draw a man and run straight, all at a speed of deed and thought we could never hope to match let alone excel.
The only back who showed any go forward was Clark and I hope his injury is not serious. What did Captain Ewells contribute? Why keep Priestland on when he was having a mare?
There is no improvement over the last 3/4 seasons and in fact worse than last season if that is possible.
Just think we have Exeter at home next week! Will we keep the score difference under 30? When did Bristol last put 43 points on us and given a better kicker, it would have been 50.
We are looking cannon fodder and will be in the relegation fight we somehow avoided last season. Let's hope Bruce can get the Prem to change the rules and ban relegation. Otherwise he will not have anyone to fill his stadium.
On that showing we don't have a prayer. Will we show some anger and reaction next week? I doubt it and we will loose by at least 25.
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Optimist Chudley and Priestland haven’t gone backwards. That is how they played quite often last season.
Maybe, but if I recall Priestland was a grand slam winning fly half, Burns had several England caps & had an excellent spell at Leicester and Chudley was an important part of an excellent Exeter side & on the brink of England selection. They are not so long in the tooth that they should have deteriorated so significantly as appears to be the case.
As for finishing above Bristol, I honestly wonder on some people's sanity let alone judgement. As for doing the team down, those errors and faults were there for the past 3/4 seasons and still are after the longest preseason on record.
Such a performance against an average Prem. side is inexscusable and cannot just be brushed of with a statement that things will improve with a head coach and settled game plans. Other sides have done it, why haven't we?
I wonder what Bruce has to say?
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Cannot say I am surprised given the abject display against Tigers 2 weeks ago, I was alarmed by the lack of passion, intensity and anything really and then to hear Hoppers reaction was alarming to say the least.
Interesting to hear his rhetoric after this debacle. Bristol favourites for relegation on this performance I think we take that mantle..
Even the most optimistic of us must see the dynamic is not right
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:18:23:05:49 by Ali1969.
So my pre match assessment was, first choice front five, first choice half-backs, an England No8.
Should have been parity at least.
Returning back three isn’t going to turn that into a winning formula.
We hear about growing a culture, a biologist might point out that growing a culture is about allowing a promising medium to decay until it is so rotten you have to throw it away.
Watched the game in Bristols fantastic full stadium, I hate and avoid being a one eyed doom monger but this was sadly embarrassing no idea, no game plan, we looked slow, and out gunned in all departments. I fear this is going to be a long season
A truly awful performance. Difficult to find any real positives - McNally? What on earth have we been working on during pre-season? Even simple things we struggle with - looking after the ball, accurate passing - all poor. And why do we persist in picking Rhys over Freddie - at least we would go down trying to do something if he was playing!
I think we are never going to get any attacking moves going if we persist with Chudley he wasn’t quick enough to be called slow, glaciers have got the ball away faster. Whoever we play at 10 will struggle with that sort of ball. The box kicking strategy depends on it being contestable or it’s just turnover ball.
Posters complaining about post match interviews should consider just what they might say in a similar situation.. saying nothing would appear to be a good option, then say what needs to be said off camera.
Another major point was the amount of crossing by dummy runners this is spoiling the game both sides guilty only pulled up once IIRC.
The club needs a fresh start. On and off the field.
We were left in the dust by Exeter and now we’re miles behind Bristol. Now they’re a proper club. Excellent coaching and man management, run well, great culture.
And what precisely would your “ fresh start” involve a new coaching team.? Forty plus new players? Anew owner? None of these are going to happen so unless you have a practical suggestion Perhaps you should find another club to that you could actually support.
Personally I think we have only just got a new set of coaches some of whom are not even here yet,
we have a lot of experienced senior players absent at the moment, and we have played one game away against an improving side with virtually a full squad to pick from. So I will reserve judgement damning or otherwise until I have seen enough evidence to make an informed decision.
Bob, glad to see you are revelling in Bath's ignominious defeat, don't suppose you want to identify who in this thread is making light of tonight's defeat. Please try not to rub our noses in it nobody enjoyed tonight.
P.S. you forgot to call for the sacking of Hately by the way.
Sam Harris
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
TG Kesmo And what precisely would your “ fresh start” involve a new coaching team.? Forty plus new players? Anew owner? None of these are going to happen so unless you have a practical suggestion Perhaps you should find another club to that you could actually support.
Personally I think we have only just got a new set of coaches some of whom are not even here yet,
we have a lot of experienced senior players absent at the moment, and we have played one game away against an improving side with virtually a full squad to pick from. So I will reserve judgement damning or otherwise until I have seen enough evidence to make an informed decision.
As deluded as the club are behind the scenes. ONE Top 4 finish in nine years. Zero senior trophies in a decade. If you want to put your fingers in your ears and pretend to not see the glaringly obvious signs the club is in complete disarray then feel free. Tonight was just tragic.
Nilled at HT against Exeter. Nilled at HT against Leicester. Conceded the fastest TBP in the Cup competition of any team against Gloucester and now tonight's record thrashing.
As for a fresh start, look to what Bristol did when rebranding, and bringing Lam in. He's top quality, as is his backroom stuff. Hooper's a good man but he's been thrown in at the deep end with zero support around him.
When you're being coached by a man who has no coaching qualifications and only experience is of failure at Bath, Mark Lilley, a bluffer in Rock and a debutant in Charteris, what do you expect is going to happen.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:19:00:42:21 by ballsout.
Toast and Marmite Genuine question-do we have a defence coach?
No. After originally saying we'd get one in, a month or two later Tarquin then U-turned and said we didn't need a head coach or temporary defence coach until Hatley arrives. He'll be in charge of our defence apparently? Cos lack of experience is clearly of no concern at Bath.
BathMatt53 How have Sale managed to grab Faf DK and a couple of good FHs and yet Bath find it impossible to track down anyone of that quality? Or is the point that they have and all quality has been coached out of them?
Recruitment - Terrible
Contract negotiation - Terrible and insulting (how is Dave Thomson still employed)
Coaching - Terrible - players playing miles below their ability
Medical - Constant injuries, a stark contrast to Bristol's near fully fit squad
+ a meddling owner
I would say I hope London Irish are poor this year but frankly relegation will do us more good in the long run. We can't keep stumbling on like this. Morale after that loss but be at rock bottom, no idea how they pick themselves up after that.
Pros
I like our new away shirt
The first 50 minutes was fine. Not great but fine.
Cons
The last 15 minutes albeit defending with either 13 or 14 men.
Zach's knee injury. I am not sure keeping him on the pitch was a wise move and it certainly cost us points at the crucial juncture.
Bristol are a good side who played well and got the bounces and the decisions. It happens. But it didn't look like a 25 point defeat and anyone who thinks Bristol are relegation fodder needs their head examinimg.
... IMHO, of course.
Now in Honolulu
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:19:02:38:25 by joethefanatic.
There is so much that is negative & hardly anything positive to say about that game that I feel conned by all the talk of 1000 hours, breaking down the areas to focus on, bringing the players in on Saturdays, getting good practices so entrenched that they become second nature etc. etc. What on earth was all that about??? Apart from the lineout & occasional glimpses of a good rolling maul we seem to have gone backwards - massively. Admittedly some outstanding players were missing but we had a respectable lineup yesterday. It was the whole structure that was at fault. That should have held up & we should have been able to be competitive at least. Player wise I come back to the main issue being the halfbacks. We had a major issue with Foto’alihi delivering insanely slow ball having been razor sharp when he first arrived. Now Chudley is doing the same. I’m sure he didn’t play like that at Exeter. Where’s that coming from as the first try was caused directly by this & it continued throughout giving us no momentum whatsoever. Maybe he is trying to replicate Wigglesworth but far less effectively & without the chasing game anything like adequate. Priestland is solid & mostly reliable but also provides no dynasym. Though more dynamic Freddie does two good things followed by one atrocious. What a choice! After what was going to be a splendid new beginning it seems that we have to already think of throwing that out & starting again which is clearly not an option. Somehow Hooper has to get things right & quickly otherwise we will be annihilated by Exeter.
I listened on t'internet BBC Bristol as I'm out of the country at the moment.
Actually fell asleep before half time and only caught the final whistle. Not sure that was because of what I was hearing or the time difference...
Maybe that was a blessing in disguise. So cant add my two pennies worth on why it turned into a tonking.
But with the record crowd, their players back from WC and at basically full strength , it was always going to be a massive ask to get a result at AG last night. So well done Bristol and good luck for the rest of the season (ouch that was hard )
So although I'm concerned I'm not going to get too depressed after one Prem game , I'll leave that till at least a couple of games after our WC players come back !
Just woken up with a sore head after a terrible dream that I went to Ashton Gate and we shipped seven tries. Horrible performance. The ease that Bristol found the edge out wide was only marginally more alarming than the ease with which Hughes went through the middle of us. Grim.
Bath Hammer wrote -
"Player wise I come back to the main issue being the halfbacks. We had a major issue with Foto’alihi delivering insanely slow ball having been razor sharp when he first arrived. Now Chudley is doing the same. I’m sure he didn’t play like that at Exeter."
Maybe its something as simple as when getting to the ruck he (pick any Scrumhalf) looks round and no one is in position or still getting there to take a quick pass ? Which leads to defence set and then very few line breaks.
So its down to a lack of fitness or a lack of defined attacking strategy or both..
Didn't see the game so just a suggestion, what do I know !
Very disappointing performance; still not sure what else to say.
Did anyone else take the AG2 bus from Brislington P&R to Ashton Gate? Over an hour wait at what was peak time, got to our seats 3 mins before kick off, never really settled. Great idea in principle - but really poor in practice. Maybe an analogy?
It’s that the coaches and players watched the Japan game v Ireland and thought...Ok let’s do the total opposite. Nice slow ball please, oh and cut out those silly line breaks!
Funny old night at the Gate. Great atmosphere, as you’d expect for the first night of the season v local rivals. We were caught in the headlights and the first 90 seconds were a joke and set a bad tone.
For 50 minutes I was quite happy. I thought our front five and Williams were good. But then they had their break out try (clear forward pass?) and we fell apart. I thought our subs were all wrong and our bench weak. Why Burns and Roberts for 10 minutes only?
Why do we always end up with shambolic endings to games? I’ve lost count of the number of times we’ve had 12/13/14 on the field. Mindset? Fitness? The damn breaking? But their final two tries that really rocked the scoreboard in their favour were v 13.
Also, Exeter and now BrIz go to the corner with great effect. On half time, if we’d got a penalty, we and other teams would have taken the 3. But they went to the corner and got the 5 and swung the game back in their favour. It looks like we might have a decent maul this season so I’d love to see us go for the corner more often. It could have turned our penalties in the first half into more points.
It was rubbish, yes. I’m not confident about the season. But I do actually think the scoreline was a little unfair on us. Although it would be nice to see one line break next week. Hey ho on we go!
Absolutely no leadership both on and off the field, and the club led by and dictated to by an accountant who knows nothing about rugby. Evidence last night.
We shipped 7 tries to an average and newly introduced and put together Bristol side. I hope our players and coaches hang their heads in shame and realise they have a responsibility to perform when they pull on a Bath shirt. That awful yellow thing is a good choice for our lilly livered bunch.
No passion, no pride, no leadership, no drive, no defence, no tackling, no ball control, no attack, no skill, no clue and no hope add up to no future.
I am with BO in that we need a total clear out, starting with the Managing Director Mr Mcdonald.
I walked into the ground behind Danny Grewcock last night and just wished he was on the field. He looks fitter than most of our so called team and I am damn sure he would not let Bristol players bully him. Come on Bath buck up.
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Whilst we must be guarded it is only the first game of the season and we don't have the best record to starting well and yes it may be a blip.
My concern is the performances leading up to this game just the sheer lack of passion and basic rugby skills coupled with a lack of strategy/game plan.
During the off season I have talked to several ex players from several different clubs across the country and all bar none were concerned about Bath this year, they all identified 3 major issues with the club.
1. Head Coach - they all felt as much as Hoops is a good man that he is not ready to lead a club as big as Bath without a Head Coach - someone like Gary Gold, Phil Davies et al should have been brought in, in other words a really experienced person basically running the show.
2. Fly Half/Playmaker - again unanimous all felt RP and FB were not performing and clearly the fiasco of the transfer team last year has seriously undermined the confidence of both players and this will come back to hurt us. They went on to say they felt Baths transfer team were a complete joke and not fit for purpose, they also commented that for a business man such as BC clearly is why he has allowed his CEO and transfer to team continue although it is broadly felt throughout the rugby world that Baths transfer policy has been wrong for many many years.
3. They all felt there were serious issues behind the scene at the club and there could still be hangovers in relation to the way TB and to an extent TM, Toby Booth, Darren Edwards and some high profile players were treated. I know some will say this is old news but unfortunately players don't forget how people were treated.
Given the performances including last night it would appear maybe they are spot on with their assessments - God I hope not.
Whilst there is no requirement to panic, Hooper's blasé post match comments just worries me, the team appear rudderless in relation to game plan and how we are going to play RP looks flakier than ever and Freddie just doesn't give you any confidence. I imagine Bruce will give Hoops and his team sufficient time to turn it around and one would expect the CEO is on the same unsteady ground.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:19:08:50:52 by Ali1969.
Because if any or all of those issues have any basis then presumably the problem lies at the very top. And the man at the top will most likely not accept that he is the problem. Maybe he should have a good chat with Nigel Wray. IF those issues are true.
Don’t you think missing so many quality players to the World Cup and injuries is a contributing factor. All teams losing key players are struggling this sfternoon
I don’t think premiership games should be played during World Cup or 6 nations. Not sure how this can be accommodated but it doesn’t make for a level playing field imho
Ian E Don’t you think missing so many quality players to the World Cup and injuries is a contributing factor. All teams losing key players are struggling this sfternoon
Don't you think that professional rugby players should be able to display the minimum basics required in their first Premiership game after 3 months of pre-season? Are Mat Protheroe and Piers O'Conor seem capable of it, why can't our lot? Why do we have the ball retention an U9s team would be embarrassed about?
World Cup players wouldn't make a difference, we've been equally useless with them in recent years. It's such a lazy excuse. The entire culture at the club is rotten.
"World Cup players wouldn't make a difference, we've been equally useless with them in recent years. It's such a lazy excuse. The entire culture at the club is rotten".
No matter how useless you feel the current Bath coaching/management they would not entertain players who had the handling skills of U9's , so by extension if they would make no difference are our WC players also lacking in skills, EJ and Erassmus would disagree I'm sure . I'm pretty sure having them all back from the WC would and will make a difference.
I'm also sure if the whole culture at the club was "rotten" there would be a lot more rumours and reports of players/coaches/back-up staff being "unhappy" etc. Cosy as has been suggested..perhaps, unless you work at Farleigh or are close to the team we don't know what the culture is.
I feel your frustration and agree with some of what you say regarding current performance, but I'm sorry your post is verging on hysteria , there's a long way to go, please save some of the hyperbole for later in the season, you may really need it then.
I would genuinely love to know the thoughts of Bruce Craig on all this - April 2020 will be 10 years since he bought the club and outlined his ambitions...here he is with nothing to show for it but a £20million hole in his pocket and a recent stuffing to dwell on.
Banachek I'm also sure if the whole culture at the club was "rotten" there would be a lot more rumours and reports of players/coaches/back-up staff being "unhappy" etc. Cosy as has been suggested..perhaps, unless you work at Farleigh or are close to the team we don't know what the culture is.
I feel your frustration and agree with some of what you say regarding current performance, but I'm sorry your post is verging on hysteria , there's a long way to go, please save some of the hyperbole for later in the season, you may really need it then.
+1 agree with many of Ballsout’s comments but he always overstates his case & instead of adding to the debate destroy’s his arguments with nonsensical & unsubstantiated remarks.
Banachek Ballsout wrote-
"World Cup players wouldn't make a difference, we've been equally useless with them in recent years. It's such a lazy excuse. The entire culture at the club is rotten".
No matter how useless you feel the current Bath coaching/management they would not entertain players who had the handling skills of U9's , so by extension if they would make no difference are our WC players also lacking in skills, EJ and Erassmus would disagree I'm sure . I'm pretty sure having them all back from the WC would and will make a difference.
I'm also sure if the whole culture at the club was "rotten" there would be a lot more rumours and reports of players/coaches/back-up staff being "unhappy" etc. Cosy as has been suggested..perhaps, unless you work at Farleigh or are close to the team we don't know what the culture is.
I feel your frustration and agree with some of what you say regarding current performance, but I'm sorry your post is verging on hysteria , there's a long way to go, please save some of the hyperbole for later in the season, you may really need it then.
Talk to any ex-player and they'll tell you their thoughts on the Bath set-up and BC. Speak with Attwood and Lahiff for one example of how much better run Bristol are.
Just last night Palma-Newport didn't have good things to suggest about the club on Twitter. "Foundation made of sand" I think it was. Local lad, grew up in Bath, he couldn't have been less sad about leaving.
I'm sure Bruce isn't happy with 1 top 4 finish in a decade, but then maybe he shouldn't have gotten Matson to leave. A coach the players adored and played for.
It's not hyperbole. On and off the field, it's amateur hour. Players treated badly by the management, year after year. Terrible recruitment, people in charge of contract negotiation, still here, somehow.
Bath boys are playing really well at the RWC in a well run side, they'll soon be assimilated back into the Bath machine and underperform like everyone else, every year.
Can anyone remember any big win in the last few years? I'm talking something like Saints winning at Allianz Park and running Sarries off their feet. The sort of win that builds a club culture. I can't.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:20:10:28:03 by ballsout.
You make some valid points BO but it's a given that players always have great things to say about the club's they join, discarded players are hardly likely to be complimentary about the team that's axed them and many players have re-signed. I don't know what the mood is at the club, but I do think there's a lack of leadership. Every side needs a couple of players who have that extra in terms of driving teams forward. Martin Johnson, Alan Wyn Jones and Dallaglio are your ultimate examples, but we don't appear to have anyone even remotely close.
Supposition =/= evidence as you well know balls. Every time you’re asked to provide any corroboration you thankfully go quiet. You repeatedly say Matson was forced out, please present the evidence. Please elaborate on these conversations you’ve just had with Attwood and Lahiff.
To be fair sometimes it is not possible to name players or sources for items for debate because a lot of what we are privileged to be told or hear is in confidence and on the understanding we will not name sources as it may conflict their employment.
That is not to say it is fact or fiction.
For what it is worth in relation to Matson from what I have been told by several
very reliable sources was he had a family issue but that was not the reason for leaving. He left because he could not tolerate or put up with a certain persons input or interference whichever you want to call it, and it was not BC or any of the playing management.
IMHO the beauty of a forum is you can read, digest and CHOOSE whether you wish to believe or take onboard the information before you. It is dangerous territory if we lambast, ridicule or attack anyone for their belief.
IMHO the beauty of a forum is you can read, digest and CHOOSE whether you wish to believe or take onboard the information before you. It is dangerous territory if we lambast, ridicule or attack anyone for their belief.
Useful input, thanks I have chosen my candidate, (not many left!). Are we talking about Bath personnel or posters, because if it's the latter it's going to ruin the fun for some on here!
Sam Harris
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
Ali1969
For what it is worth in relation to Matson from what I have been told by several
very reliable sources was he had a family issue but that was not the reason for leaving. He left because he could not tolerate or put up with a certain persons input or interference whichever you want to call it, and it was not BC or any of the playing management.
Good post. I was nodding my head to the above, until the last part.
If a grudge is the basis of a belief, its only fair to question it, particularly as it’s oft repeated, never backed up and used as quicksand foundations to bolster other grudges. Yours Ali is the only credible source I’ve seen on here supporting the claim, so it now sounds much more plausible than someone ranting from under their bridge.
I predicted a few weeks ago that under Hooper we will struggle this season and will be in a relegation battle towards the end... i watched that game in hope that I was wrong but I looks worse than I feared, I think we will quickly become favourites for the drop unless we bring in a good head coach
I think you’ll find that was the whole point of what he was saying. In fact all of us have been saying we were way below average.
If one team hammers another, both teams therefore cannot be average.
I'll try and make it idiot proof but as I thought Bath Hammer had already done that I'm not holding my breath!
Here goes; We're not saying both sides are average, we are saying that Bristol are an average side and on current evidence Bath are a distinctly below average side.
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miller8 I predicted a few weeks ago that under Hooper we will struggle this season and will be in a relegation battle towards the end... i watched that game in hope that I was wrong but I looks worse than I feared, I think we will quickly become favourites for the drop unless we bring in a good head coach
At what point does BC cut his losses and dump Hooper? Seems likely we will be bottom and possibly pointless going into the Champions cup, does he do it then? Or wait until Xmas when in all likelihood that will be too late?
Why would he need to cut Hooper? I thought that he was DOR and had nothing to do with coaching, tactics etc? Surely just get him to do the job that he was employed for...then ask Girvan Dempsey why (after a year) his backs are going sideways and haven’t scored a worked try in 3 games?
BathMatt53 Why would he need to cut Hooper? I thought that he was DOR and had nothing to do with coaching, tactics etc? Surely just get him to do the job that he was employed for...then ask Girvan Dempsey why (after a year) his backs are going sideways and haven’t scored a worked try in 3 games?
What top quality and experienced HC is going to work for a novice DOR? Hooper has already demonstrated he's not up to the task by deciding not to get an interim defence coach, which has resulted in us shipping tries left, right and centre.
BathMatt53 Hatley? Dempsey? I though Bath weren’t going down the HC route, initially at least.
For me the forwards are no worse than anyone else’s - it’s the backs who have really disappointed in these last few games (rotation accepted).
And it's this ridiculous decision by Hooper that will get us relegated.
The only positive thing going on with the coaching at present is the lineout work being done by Chateris, everything else is hopeless.
Still I don’t think the accountant would sanction that appointment, clearly Hooper and no interim defence coach is the budget option
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Old Bath Tub Michael Cheika is looking for a new job !
I was just thinking the same thing, but the only way a big name is going to come is if they have total control of what they need to produce a winning team and it just never feels like that is the case at Bath.
Old Bath Tub Michael Cheika is looking for a new job !
Still I don’t think the accountant would sanction that appointment, clearly Hooper and no interim defence coach is the budget option
Bit of a false economy as relegation will mean that BC's expensive signings will all exercise their relegation clauses and leave.
ballsout Enough with the ignorant hysterics, even I'm not that bad.
Thank you, all this talk about getting in Cheika is somewhat hysterical to say the least. As I said elsewhere you can't demand an immediate change of the current coaching team when they are not even in place yet!
It's one game, a pretty pathetic performance but one game. BO has a point, we conceded that last season. We just need to suck it up and look for progress however small I expect Hooper, Charteris and Hately to deliver a dominant pack but not overnight.
As for scoring tries I never expected Maxs1 and 2 to create much, give Dempsey some players to work with, we are missing, Roberts, Willison, Roko, Joe C, Rory Mc, JJ, Watson, plus Green and Saturdays injury.
Even if we had Faf de Klerk and Beauden Barrett they need some skill and experience outside to puncture a Prem defence.
Just enjoy England run at the RWC with our Bath lads, it going to be grim at the Rec for a while, demanding unrealistic change will do nothing but stress everyone out.
Sam Harris
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
SW which of those are creative centres? I would have said Willison but he has disappointed. JR couldn’t be further from creative. Besides which hasn’t Dempsey worked with those players all year? The Max’s should be fine as raw material but Bath don’t seem to have done anything with them (in fact they have regressed if anything).
BathMatt53 SW which of those are creative centres? I would have said Willison but he has disappointed. JR couldn’t be further from creative. Besides which hasn’t Dempsey worked with those players all year? The Max’s should be fine as raw material but Bath don’t seem to have done anything with them (in fact they have regressed if anything).
I think you have really put your finger on something there Matt. Virtually all the back field players seem to regress whilst they are with us. The two Max’s played in one of the Cup matches & didn't distinguish themselves & they didn’t do so again on Friday. I reminded myself of MW’s pedigree & saw that he was a pretty handy under 20 international & I recall that Wales were hoping they could select MC a couple of years ago through parental connections. Homer has also been looking somewhat lack lustre & Willison now seems to be disregarded for selection. This disappointing form & that of other backs at the Club may be due to something lacking in their training regime, who knows, but it is apparent & look how the likes of Woodburn & Devoto have performed for Exeter compared to when they were with us. I am not pointing the finger at individuals but querying what is happening to their development or maybe it is just the ups & downs of form.
BH -I wouldn't dispute your general point but I actually think both Woodburn & Devoto played quite well for us. I for one was very disappointed when we let them go. Neither was a first choice (although Devoto was a regular bencher) but they showed plenty of potential- all this under the Ford regime of course.
I was not surprised when they did well at Exeter (actually more surprised that Devoto has not since won a full cap).
Whatever M Ford's man management failings, he got the best out of our backs.
Good points Bath Hammer, maybe we should re-assess the situation after Friday night when we play against our ‘old boys’ if they’re selected, if playing I think they’ll both score , I also think Levi and Roko will if selected !
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gaz59 Full strength Bristol team thump Bath missing shed load of nailed on starters
What a shocker?
But yes some like RP and Chudley really need to watch the video and ask themselvres if they really think they are up to it
Massively disappointing and fair play brizzle, enjoy the glow but don't assume it sets the prem places in stone
Bristol at full strength would have started with Vui, Leilua and also Siali Piutau but, yes, compared to missing Bath players there was a big difference. I think that misses the point though. By the end of the game Bristol did not have many of their first choice backs on the field and yet they still played with creativity, pace and with great ball handling, particularly when considering how wet it was. Not only were they effective playing that way but also it was very entertaining to watch. Compare that with the Bath attack. As a bit of a comparison, it was like Bristol playing (in part) in the way Japan tried to do yesterday and Bath playing in the way South Africa did - but the big difference is that Bath do not have have the power game to succeed playing that way. South Africa were incredibly boring to watch but at least they can say they won. Now for sure with Joseph, Watson and all back the first choice backs should be able to create more but there will be many more times this season they will not be available and and they will still need others to provide the space and speed of ball for them to produce their magic.
It's early days though but the way they played Friday suggests the summer was mainly spent practicing box kicks and running into brick walls. Bath used to be ahead of the game and standard bearers in terms of creativity and entertainment. Just hoping that a few star backs can make the difference when put into a system with such a backward system is a big hope. That said eventually it got a top 6 place last season so maybe the same will be true this season. A fit Faletau for most of the season is a must though.
Out of interest, who is the 3rd choice 8 at the moment with TF and possibly ZM injured? Ewels played there a long time ago but I can’t think of anyone else who has significant top level experience there.
I know it's a point that goes nowhere other than arguments as to whether injuries can ever be blamed on the club, and will always come across as excuse-making - but it is un-f'ing-believable the extent to which we seem to be repeatedly undermined by injuries. Two of our biggest young hopes for the season - TdG and Reid are already out. Faletau remains a long-way off; Mercer may well have crocked himself; Willison rarely gets through 2 consecutive games. You can pretty much guarantee that Underhill will come back, trip over his World Cup winner's medal and remain on the treatment table until, oh, about 2 February.
I think our problems go much deeper than just losing players to the WC or the change of DOR to Hooper, we have not played well even with all our star players and a respected DOR like Blackadder.
There has to be a much more significant factor at play. In saying we are not playing well, I am not talking about winning trophies, only one or two clubs each year can do that, but we all know if the team is playing well or not and apart from a period under Ford we have not played good rugby for a long time. Sure we have the occasional good game, but nothing consistent and getting progressively worse.
I have no inside information, but one thing is clear, for a long time we seem to have had trouble recruiting and I can't help the feeling that this is just not a happy or settled club. After Blackadder decided to leave I thought we had the opportunity to completely revamp our coaching structure, the interesting question is did BC genuinely think Hooper was the answer or did nobody else want the job?
Obviously no one any good wanted the job. Also, especially as the Accountant thought anyone who was good would be expensive and might upset his spread sheet, Mr H was a shoe in. Then they make up a story about long service and club culture to justify the appointment. However, in these modern times, without any track record of success and how to achieve it, everyman and his dog could see was going to be a disaster. Mr H is reputed to be a nice man, but probably too nice, and has to deal with a situation of poor player culture, lack of squad depth, virtually thread bare coaching staff who knows how to win things, brittle players as well as being pressured to keep the costs down.
To be fair, if Mr H carries the can and goes so should most of the non playing management including our rugby ignorant MD who appointed him.
By the way, what qualifications for recruiting rugby players has our recruitment man got? No doubt he can read a balance sheet as well.
Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano
Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni
One of many concerns that always jumps out at me, and one I've heard fairly consistently post-loss for a number of years is along the lines of "we didn't train like that, we didn't replicate training on the pitch, didn't stick to the game plan" and similar. Are the instructions not clear, is the training not applicable to real match scenarios, is the training too rigid to limit heads up play what you see rugby, are players not listening, is it a breakdown in team communications, lack of a clear leader?
BathMatt53 Bob his background is that he was head of recruitment at Toulouse for 3 years.
[www.bathrugby.com]
Matt, I've noticed that reasoned, referenced responses to BoB's rants are ineffective. The issue of recruitment isn't even relevant. We could do wih half backs but looking at our full squad post RWC it is extremely good.
Coaching recruitment is another matter. I just hope BoB doesn't embark on one of his 'Trumpian' rants that led to his ' sin binning' a while ago.
Sam Harris
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
In all honesty I'm with you and at a loss as to why a combination of the Max's and Dempsey shouldn't be a great one - they are two very talented young men and have proven that...is it just slow ball from 9? I can't help wondering how good that team could be with a Faf DK or similar (can we take a 30 year old Peter Stringer?).
BathMatt53 In all honesty I'm with you and at a loss as to why a combination of the Max's and Dempsey shouldn't be a great one - they are two very talented young men and have proven that...is it just slow ball from 9? I can't help wondering how good that team could be with a Faf DK or similar (can we take a 30 year old Peter Stringer?).
Matt,I concede that I was harsh on the Maxs, my point was at least JR would have got us over the gain line.
Time and half backs are surely the answer, FdK was excellent for SA at the weekend we need similar calibre and a 10 who is an attacking threat in their own right, RP and JR did a job for Wales in the past but it's not what is needed in today's game.
Sam Harris
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
CoochieCoo No excuses that was awful but Brizzle were by a mile the better team and fitter which worries me and Nathan Hughes was a big acquisition for them. I think they will be very difficult to beat at AG
shipwrecked at least JR would have got us over the gain line
A combination of Burns + Roberts would have given Bristol a lot more to think about.
Got to agree with this.
I must confess that, as a Bristol fan (wholly in peace, I hasten to add), I’m always slightly relieved when I see you pick Priestland to start against us. Hoping that comment won’t come back to bite me on the proverbial!
It struck me, having watched the game back, that your boys didn’t seem to give much in the way of attacking variety. You had variations upon a theme, sure, but not a lot of variety in kind.
I’m not fishing, or any of that crap, genuinely interested: is that something that’s been ongoing?
I remember watching you in the Ford Sr days and there was attacking variety by degree and in kind aplenty.
Yes Robtheh we have been playing generally boring / poor quality rugby for a long while now - with the odd (increasingly rare) exceptions.
The problem with being a fan is that we generally have no choice than to live with it (and moan a lot) as do many fans of many teams playing many sports do all over the land!
BathMatt53 Yes Robtheh we have been playing generally boring / poor quality rugby for a long while now - with the odd (increasingly rare) exceptions.
The problem with being a fan is that we generally have no choice than to live with it (and moan a lot) as do many fans of many teams playing many sports do all over the land!
Being so long in the Chumpionship, I completely get that!
This may be popping a can of worms...but why? What is it, personnel or coaching? I generally think that playing gripes come down to one or the other.
It's 100% coaching, and not just at senior level. It's been a muddle ever since Ford left. The way Bristol's A side tore Bath United apart at the start of last season was very telling.
The can has been open so long, robtheh that the worms have all slithered off, been eaten or used as bait, been digested by various fish and fauna, sh@t out across the country and recycled into the eco-system as nutrients.
Robtheh, I think a lot of coaching staff get so dazzled by all the new technology that they forget that rugby relies on the core basic skills and more importantly needs imaginative thinking to work out a game plan and know how to implement it. Naturally just getting a great big pack and keeping the ball tight is the easiest to implement, especially for a novice DOR, but to unlock defences you need more original thinking and that comes with a willingness to take chances and experience. You can see other coaches working their way through this, some succeeding better than others.
Without this ability to come up with a successful game plan the natural fall back is on technology, fitness and body size (maybe an over-reliance on these contributes to more injuries) , but the most important factor must be the skill of the coach to come up with the plan and the backing of the owner to implement it. For reasons unknown this has not happened since Ford left.
We need to give the club several more weeks yet to see the problem and act on it.
Hoops deserves his chance whilst the RWC plays out, not just for our players to rest and return but also for any potential head coach targets to consider their future.
If we do recruit, Hoops could then take his seat in the stand, the players get new direction, Hats gets the forwards in step, Girvan gets good ball, bright future returns.
warrenball Robtheh, I think a lot of coaching staff get so dazzled by all the new technology that they forget that rugby relies on the core basic skills and more importantly needs imaginative thinking to work out a game plan and know how to implement it. Naturally just getting a great big pack and keeping the ball tight is the easiest to implement, especially for a novice DOR, but to unlock defences you need more original thinking and that comes with a willingness to take chances and experience. You can see other coaches working their way through this, some succeeding better than others.
Without this ability to come up with a successful game plan the natural fall back is on technology, fitness and body size (maybe an over-reliance on these contributes to more injuries) , but the most important factor must be the skill of the coach to come up with the plan and the backing of the owner to implement it. For reasons unknown this has not happened since Ford left.
Yeah, I think you make a good point there: analysis can only take one so far.
ballsout It's 100% coaching, and not just at senior level. It's been a muddle ever since Ford left. The way Bristol's A side tore Bath United apart at the start of last season was very telling.
I've seen this repeated as a certainty throughout after the loss from multiple posters, but have a look at the players head to head and make a team from it without changing positions;
Is that really unfair? Woolmore is a better scrummager than Obano who probably only has defence/carrying on his side in head to head but I had to include at least one. I actually thought Rhys did well for you guys, solid kicking and control which normally would ve the way to go in a derby in those conditions but when Bristol have such amazing handling and can compete/win collisions in the tight as well, it was probably only going to end one way. With the returning RWC players I'd say you would see a more balanced side between the two clubs. Clark was impressive for me on the night, hope his injury isn't too bad.
I don't understand why Stooke, Roberts and Cook were benched (starters for me) and Burns wasn't brought on around the 50 minute mark to up the tempo. That is coaching/selection, would it have been enough however?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:22:13:42:55 by Rinkadink.
Errr, bit one eyed that? You think that Joyce is better on paper than Ewels who is in the England elite squad? Even Dunn is supposedly closer to England than Thacker isn't he? I would have Ellis over Thomas for his all-round game. IMO on paper the teams were not that far apart (certainly not 30-dd points) except for a couple of positions (Morahan, Piutau) but the fact that Bristol played so much better was the difference on the night which has to come down to good vs bad coaching doesn't it?
You also haven't followed the rules, Ewels was 4 which was Attwood for Bris. I would pick the latter over the former. It was Joyce vs McNally at 5. Ellis over Thomas is a comedy gold suggestion on your reasoning. The only reason Dunn is involved with England over thacker is due to Jones' preference for bulk, most progressive nations would have Thacker coming off the bench as an impact sub any day. He's a similar size to Brits and he does fine, even at his age.
You genuinely don't think the likes of Luatua, Afoa, Hughes and arguably a couple more aren't light years ahead of their opposite number and that's not including Piutau and Morahan?
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:22:14:35:40 by Rinkadink.
Light years? Yes, I genuinely don't. Sure, Afoa was brilliant in his day, but he's about 84 now isn't he? Ellis has been brilliant for us as a lineout option in particular and offers a lot around the field but clearly isn't a jackler like Thomas.
But then I am a Bath fan and you are a Bristol fan so I can see how we wouldn't agree as we only see snapshots of each others teams...
Whether you're right or wrong in terms of your selections Rinkadink doesn't really change the argument. Our frustration is that our coaching set-up rarely seems to bring about improvement in players - whether they are home-grown, bought in for potential or bought in fully formed. That's why not enough of our players would make a combined XV - not because we have an inherently inept squad of players.
Mmmm... I think you need different glasses, Hughes was better than Mercer, but Mercer still scored when injured.
As for rules you might want to state some before complaining, if this is just a comparison from last week fine but if you compare best first fifteens when everyone is available then that would be so so different. don't forget you had 3 RWC returnees available.
The issue arises because we have a novel coaching structure, we have no idea if it will work many have serious doubts, who knows where we will be after Chrismas. If I were you I would make hay while the sun shines!
Sam Harris
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
shipwrecked The issue arises because we have a novelthe wrong coaching structure, we have no idea if it will work many have serious doubts, who knows where we will be after Chrismas. If I were you I would make hay while the sun shines!
shipwrecked Mmmm... I think you need different glasses, Hughes was better than Mercer
I think you need better glasses as I stated players head to head and linked to the two team announcements (so you didn't even have to check yourself, you're welcome BTW). I also stated, if you had said glasses on, "With the returning RWC players I'd say you would see a more balanced side between the two clubs" - that's about as clear as it gets and you could have saved all that time and effort typing if you just worse them.
BathMatt53 Christian Judge and Mike Williams = All Blacks in all but name!
Yeah, no. Afoa and Luatua are genuine world class/international standard. Judge and Williams with respect, are premiership squad/championship starters at present.
I find it telling how nobody has put forward their thoughts on a team aside from arguing that up is down right now.
shipwrecked You're right it was a brilliant idea to rub our noses in our defeat on our board, many thanks. Point remains we have coaching issues.
That's not what I'm doing at all, we are discussing the reasons why your team got thumped at Ashton Gate (another thing which likely contributed) on Friday.
Sorry if you've taken offense but if I really wanted to rub your noses in it, I would and it would be very apparent. I've tried to help you see why and have a conversation but if you want to keep pushing the coaching narrative (how many have you been through now with similar results?) and being hostile to outsiders then there's not much I can do.
It's also disheartening that you've changed subject to try and attack me instead of acknowledging you didn't even read my post nor engage in friendly discussion, it's a shame as I rate your posts usually.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:22:15:41:49 by Rinkadink.
BathMatt53 Christian Judge and Mike Williams = All Blacks in all but name!
Yeah, no. Afoa and Luatua are genuine world class/international standard. Judge and Williams with respect, are premiership squad/championship starters at present.
I find it telling how nobody has put forward their thoughts on a team aside from arguing that up is down right now.
Sigh.... Matt is being sarcastic, ( I hope), lets try again, team comparisons are useless and distinctly uninformative, the issue at Bath Rugby Club is either COACHING or the ground staff. most people think its the former. I may well be wrong as I clearly have the wrong glasses!
Sam Harris
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
Looking forward to see Jake Woolmore and Joe Joyce lining up for England in the 6 Nations.
Bristol are what Exeter used to be, greater than the sum of their parts. Championship/Premiership standard players with a handful of world class players, coached exceptionally to play at a high level. The polar opposite to Bath at the moment.
BathMatt53 Christian Judge and Mike Williams = All Blacks in all but name!
Yeah, no. Afoa and Luatua are genuine world class/international standard. Judge and Williams with respect, are premiership squad/championship starters at present.
I find it telling how nobody has put forward their thoughts on a team aside from arguing that up is down right now.
Sigh.... Matt is being sarcastic, ( I hope), lets try again, team comparisons are useless and distinctly uninformative, the issue at Bath Rugby Club is either COACHING or the ground staff. most people think its the former. I may well be wrong as I clearly have the wrong glasses!
Please read the posts good sir, he didn't say those exact words but that there isn't a huge gap between the named players/on a par besides Morahan and Piutau. I made the joke to show it's a little absurd to make that claim.
I'm not saying there aren't coaching issues at all but first you have to look at the quality of players at your disposal. At full strength you are a top 6 side, but below that? I'm not so sure.
ballsout Looking forward to see Jake Woolmore and Joe Joyce lining up for England in the 6 Nations.
LOL - I'm looking forward to McNally and Judge doing the same.
Let's see your team, BO.
Obano and Ewels are England squad players, and yet you have the mighty Jake Woolmore and Joe Joyce ahead of them? Judge was lining up and winning a Premiership final a few months ago.
I don't care about posting my XV on a message board. There's enough posts like that to last a lifetime. Once we get a few players back, Optimist's seems about right.
Your team won, well done them, and yet you go onto the opposition message board and tell us all how much better your players are. Do me a favour...
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:22:15:57:49 by ballsout.
ballsout Looking forward to see Jake Woolmore and Joe Joyce lining up for England in the 6 Nations.
LOL - I'm looking forward to McNally and Judge doing the same.
Let's see your team, BO.
Obano and Ewels are England squad players, and yet you have the mighty Jake Woolmore and Joe Joyce ahead of them?
Read BO, read.
I have Obano starting and Ewels behind Attwood as that was the #4 competition. It wasn't #4 vs #5 or bench or make a team from any position as it's messy and serves less purpose. If we were doing that I'd have Roberts starting at 12 for example.
BathMatt53 Christian Judge and Mike Williams = All Blacks in all but name!
Yeah, no. Afoa and Luatua are genuine world class/international standard. Judge and Williams with respect, are premiership squad/championship starters at present.
I find it telling how nobody has put forward their thoughts on a team aside from arguing that up is down right now.
Sigh.... Matt is being sarcastic, ( I hope), lets try again, team comparisons are useless and distinctly uninformative, the issue at Bath Rugby Club is either COACHING or the ground staff. most people think its the former. I may well be wrong as I clearly have the wrong glasses!
Please read the posts good sir, he didn't say those exact words but that there isn't a huge gap between the named players/on a par besides Morahan and Piutau. I made the joke to show it's a little absurd to make that claim.
I'm not saying there aren't coaching issues at all but first you have to look at the quality of players at your disposal. At full strength you are a top 6 side, but below that? I'm not so sure.
You are right I didn't read every post, sorry, but if you quote someone then alter the content what do you expect!
That is misrepresentation.
Quote:
Rinkadink
Quote:
BathMatt53 Christian Judge and Mike Williams = All Blacks in all but name!
Yeah, no. Afoa and Luatua are genuine world class/international standard. Judge and Williams with respect, are premiership squad/championship starters at present.
I find it telling how nobody has put forward their thoughts on a team aside from arguing that up is down right now.
I have not taken offence, but any meaningful discussion on this disappeared a long time ago. By all means post on our board, we welcome that but the team we played was about as good as we have left. We know we have an issue but it really is not the players.
Your side had better thrash our side at the Rec or I can see some serious ribbing coming your way.
Sam Harris
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
shipwrecked
Your side had better thrash our side at the Rec or I can see some serious ribbing coming your way.
Why would we thrash you? You'll have world class players back in the side by then, probably some other changes to your starting line up, playing at home, maybe against a Bristol side with a few injuries as they've played more premiership matches.
We're talking explicitly about Friday, I don't doubt that side was one of the best you could field (see earlier post regarding changes I would have made) but that was against a pretty much full strength Bears side, at home in front of 26k+ people.
A win at the wreck (tongue firmly in cheek)would be a brilliant achievement.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:22:16:22:21 by Rinkadink.
If we trumpet 94% availability in the build up and thrash Bristol at the Rec later in the season with all those players, scoring 7 tries to 1, I look forward to going onto the Bristol Board and showing you my combined team. I'll make an exception for that. Now kindly, be happy with the win, and stop trolling. Thanks.
Rinkadink
Why would we thrash you? You'll have world class players back in the side by then, probably some other changes to your starting line up, playing at home, maybe against a Bristol side with a few injuries as they've played more premiership matches.
This is the whole point of this thread.
The reason is that despite having young talent, good players and even great players we are failing to get the best out of them. Many on here believe to a greater or lesser extent that this is due to management/coaching. It's time to drop the players thing.
By the way it may be a "wreck" at the moment but we are developing the Rec to be a great place to watch rugby. We just want a team to grace it!
Sam Harris
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
Oh sorry I didn't realise all this has been a joke - now I understand!
No, it's not at all. That was your performance on Friday! [Can we only make po-faced, super serious contributions now? I think it's might better and more in tune with our clubs and rugby history to throw in a bit of light heartedness alongside]
Seriously though, with a weakened side, new coaches, and one premiership game, I don't see why the coaches are being hung out to dry already. You haven't played more expensive rugby since the Ford days and many complained even then crying out for conservative styles, it's not something that just happens overnight. You are far more suited to a power game with strong set piece right now, the try from the maul on Friday is a great example of it succeeding.
Rinkadink
Why would we thrash you? You'll have world class players back in the side by then, probably some other changes to your starting line up, playing at home, maybe against a Bristol side with a few injuries as they've played more premiership matches.
This is the whole point of this thread.
The reason is that despite having young talent, good players and even great players we are failing to get the best out of them. Many on here believe to a greater or lesser extent that this is due to management/coaching. It's time to drop the players thing.
By the way it may be a "wreck" at the moment but we are developing the Rec to be a great place to watch rugby. We just want a team to grace it!
I don't think many, if any would dispute the amount of top quality there, but under that is there the depth required? I'd say just about until the internationals are away and then it's open to debate. I also think there's a bit of knee jerking as it was a heavy loss... Bristol were absolutely humiliated (again) last season in Worcester and yet overall the year was a good one and we are still looking up plus building. The barf coaches may indeed not be the best out there but I don't think they're solely to blame, from the outside looking in.
As for the ground developments, it would be nice as an away day (If I can bring myself to visit *shudder*) and I hope and expect you to not get relegated. Where would be the fun in that as we'd lose one of my all-time favourite fixtures. I recall many on here basking in the joys of us suffering in the Championship year on year and almost going bust but I'd honestly hate that to happen to you. Love to beat you each and every time but take much more satisfaction from it when you're a great side/club. I'd happily settle for you being third best in the West country behind Bristol in first and Gloucester second.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:22:16:57:53 by Rinkadink.
Optimist Here you go:
1. Obano
2. Thacker
3. Afoa
4. Ewels
5. Stooke
6. Louw
7. Underhill
8. Faletau
9. a.n. other
10. Burns
11. Rokadoguni
12. Cokanasiga
13. Joseph
14. McConnoghie
15. Watson
Try again, literally only one of your players you listed could apply to Friday and this thread (#4, and Attwood is probably better but fair enough). It does nicely demonstrate the quality you have to return and the main reason why you got pumped; when you look at the difference in quality of players/depth rather than coaching. What I've been saying all along but carry on. If you fielded all those we could well have been looking at the opposite result.
The bookies had Bris as 4 point favourites - that doesn’t smack of one dominant team on paper (‘light years ahead’) and those guys have millions at stake. As it happens they didn’t allow for the fact that Bristol played much better than expected and Bath much worse. I know that you will never admit that you could possibly be wrong but the evidence really doesn’t stack up. I do admire the fact that you are so behind your players, that’s great. You are in the wrong place if you expect agreement with your opinion.
BathMatt53 The bookies had Bris as 4 point favourites - that doesn’t smack of one dominant team on paper (‘light years ahead’) and those guys have millions at stake. As it happens they didn’t allow for the fact that Bristol played much better than expected and Bath much worse. I know that you will never admit that you could possibly be wrong but the evidence really doesn’t stack up. I do admire the fact that you are so behind your players, that’s great. You are in the wrong place if you expect agreement with your opinion.
All the best for the rest of the season.
+1
Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
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"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS
Does Austin Healey advise the Bookies?
He’s got us down for relegation, perhaps he knows something I don’t.
You’ve got some brilliant players returning soon, I wish you luck for the rest of the season ( except for the Bristol fixture of course)
Bath have some problems for sure. The returning players will help, but there are definitely more fundamental issues within the club. I think both teams will end up in mid-table. My only concern if I was a Bath fan would be that when the Leicester were bad last year, their returning players made no real difference because there was so much wrong behind the scenes.
As for this talk of a combined 15, Rinkadink was one eyed and I'm assuming the Optimist was just being facetious.
For what it's worth, I'm going to have a go at it and give my reasoning. I'm also going to include unavailable players! Some will agree, some disagree, but I'll try to be objective and have based it on an open, fast, high skilled game plan.
1. Woolmore - this is solely on scrummaging. Obano is better around the park but I want a stable scrum - I'd understand why some chose Obano
2. Thacker - not much to chose between Dunn & Thacker scrummaging and not enough to miss out on Thacker's all round ability imo.
3. Afoa - think this is a no brainer
4. Ewels - again, a no brainer
5. Vui - solid set, piece and awesome around the park, I like Stooke as well
6. Louw/Luatua - genuinely can't separate them
7. Underhill (though he'd need to improve his handling)
8. Faletau - assuming fully fit and back to best
9. Uren - think he's the best 9 of the lot
10. Sheedy - his consistency is the key here
11. Cokanasiga - easy
12. Hurrell - improved his ball skills and offers more than an aged Roberts
13. Joseph - easy
14. Watson - though Morahan is special
15. Piutau
So 8/9 Bristol and 6/7 Bath - but could easily be the other way around. I think what it suggests is what many have said - at the moment, Bristol just have a clearer understanding of their game. Apart from 2 or 3 guys, this squad has had 2 full pre-seasons together now.
Get Stooke, Louw and (definitely) Obano in there and I'd agree, but that's the different between Bath and Bristol tinted specs. Fair post overall though.
The real difference between the sides isn't the names on the team sheet, it's how the clubs are run, how the squad are managed, coached and nurtured.
Sit_Down So funny this thread.
Bath have some problems for sure. The returning players will help, but there are definitely more fundamental issues within the club. I think both teams will end up in mid-table. My only concern if I was a Bath fan would be that when the Leicester were bad last year, their returning players made no real difference because there was so much wrong behind the scenes.
As for this talk of a combined 15, Rinkadink was one eyed and I'm assuming the Optimist was just being facetious.
For what it's worth, I'm going to have a go at it and give my reasoning. I'm also going to include unavailable players! Some will agree, some disagree, but I'll try to be objective and have based it on an open, fast, high skilled game plan.
1. Woolmore - this is solely on scrummaging. Obano is better around the park but I want a stable scrum - I'd understand why some chose Obano
2. Thacker - not much to chose between Dunn & Thacker scrummaging and not enough to miss out on Thacker's all round ability imo.
3. Afoa - think this is a no brainer
4. Ewels - again, a no brainer
5. Vui - solid set, piece and awesome around the park, I like Stooke as well
6. Louw/Luatua - genuinely can't separate them
7. Underhill (though he'd need to improve his handling)
8. Faletau - assuming fully fit and back to best
9. Uren - think he's the best 9 of the lot
10. Sheedy - his consistency is the key here
11. Cokanasiga - easy
12. Hurrell - improved his ball skills and offers more than an aged Roberts
13. Joseph - easy
14. Watson - though Morahan is special
15. Piutau
So 8/9 Bristol and 6/7 Bath - but could easily be the other way around. I think what it suggests is what many have said - at the moment, Bristol just have a clearer understanding of their game. Apart from 2 or 3 guys, this squad has had 2 full pre-seasons together now.
Think this is pretty much spot on.... I’d have Thacker in a heart beat, just glad he had an off game on Friday for a change. Usually destroys Bath, but wasn’t at his best. But yes better than Dunn in my eyes. Francois over Luatua, but Luatua is a superb player, just Francois is so good. All the rest I agree with.
ballsout Get Stooke, Louw and (definitely) Obano in there and I'd agree, but that's the different between Bath and Bristol tinted specs. Fair post overall though.
The real difference between the sides isn't the names on the team sheet, it's how the clubs are run, how the squad are managed, coached and nurtured.
100% agree with this post. The one person that isn't on that list is Lam and that's the one I would like most of all those in the Bristol set-up.
Wouldn't be miles away from that combined team either Sit_Down.
ballsout Get Stooke, Louw and (definitely) Obano in there and I'd agree, but that's the different between Bath and Bristol tinted specs. Fair post overall though.
The real difference between the sides isn't the names on the team sheet, it's how the clubs are run, how the squad are managed, coached and nurtured.
The real difference between the sides isn't the names on the team sheet, it's how the clubs are run, how the squad are managed, coached and nurtured.
Got to admire the tenacity and the ability of you BO to get this in at every opportunity.. However that said there is one thing I would say regarding the general take on SH as all round nice guy. Actually I've seen at first hand an occasion where he wasn't so er nice. That said still got to give him and the coaching set up some time.
Agree its irrelevant if he is or isn't "nicer" than PL , the point is even if he were the devil incarnate , he should still get a decent run to turn things round, before we resort to the torches and pitchforks
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:10:23:17:14:21 by Banachek.
Pat Lam as Bath coach. Now you are talking and he would certainly match any of the other best Prem coaches like McCall and Baxter. Even with present squad, he would get the best out of them.
Adopted player 2020/21 Beno 'the Transformer' Obano
Adopted player 2019/20 Jonathan 'JJ' Joseph.The Jink Joseph.
Adopted player 2018/19 Adopted player 2018/19 Semesa 'The Rock' Rokoduguni
Let's not forget that the yellow card changed the whole complexion of the game. At 65 minutes there were 8 points in it and Bath still in with a shout -of a losing bonus point more likely than a win.
The sin binning changed that - multiplying the momentum Bristol had built and the pressure on Bath - who conceded 3 more tries (2 of them when injury reduced them to 13 men).
For me, their breakout try - with the forward pass - changed the game.
I’m not saying we would’ve won if it had been called back and, yes, we were certainly outplayed come 80 minutes, but that was the moment the game swung in their favour.
In balance though it should have been red for the yellow you did get and yellow for the high shot Brew (?) put in on Morahan as the second tackler. Was in line with it and it was pretty cheap and nasty. But yeah, the 13 vs 15 told.
Rinkadink In balance though it should have been red for the yellow you did get and yellow for the high shot Brew (?) put in on Morahan as the second tackler. Was in line with it and it was pretty cheap and nasty. But yeah, the 13 vs 15 told.
"It should have been red" - No, he wasn't even cited, so not a red card offence.
You want to talk about what should have been? How about a yellow card for flying in and tripping two players?
TBH, I'm surprised it wasn't a red/citing as it was a swinging arm right to the head. Maybe mitigated by Hurrell flying in low, but still.
However, Sheedy was very lucky not to see yellow with his cheaper and nastier shot on Brew and Homer. If Brew had made a meal of it, I think he'd have gone, so lots of credit to him for that.
Conceding the try just before half-time was the game changer IMO. Haven't seen the replay but recall it was a knock on from receiving kick off that gave them attacking scrum on our 22 instead of sound exit
Going in at half time a point up would have been big morale boost. As it was Briz came out understandably feeling confident and lifted by a very positive home crowd. Result and score pretty unsurprising from there
Rinkadink In balance though it should have been red for the yellow you did get and yellow for the high shot Brew (?) put in on Morahan as the second tackler. Was in line with it and it was pretty cheap and nasty. But yeah, the 13 vs 15 told.
"It should have been red" - No, he wasn't even cited, so not a red card offence.
You want to talk about what should have been? How about a yellow card for flying in and tripping two players?
Lack of citing doesn't mean anything, last season Skelton took Hurrells head off and none of the officials picked it up and there was no citing after the match. As Hurrell was always lowish on Friday (no sudden dip) it should have been red, have you watched any of the world cup and/or read the updated high tackle framework? Swinging arm straight to the head is a red all day with no mitigating circumstances, Brew probably yellow for his shoulder to the face of Morahan... Just because he had been tackled by another player at the time otherwise (and arguably still) red.
As for Sheedy, in my mind it's either a yellow for foul play or not even a penalty. I think he was going for the ball (as he's entitled to do) and was cynically and deliberately blocked by Brew therefore not even a penalty or penalty against Barf. If you're saying he deliberately attacked Brew then it should have been yellow, agreed. Watching the incident on the reply Sheedy definitely played for the ball so reinforces the no penalty and officials got it wrong (Well, ref had it right initially but was informed incorrectly later). There's no way in hell this incident was worse than the two high tackles though.
Rinkadink In balance though it should have been red for the yellow you did get and yellow for the high shot Brew (?) put in on Morahan as the second tackler. Was in line with it and it was pretty cheap and nasty. But yeah, the 13 vs 15 told.
"It should have been red" - No, he wasn't even cited, so not a red card offence.
You want to talk about what should have been? How about a yellow card for flying in and tripping two players?
Lack of citing doesn't mean anything, last season Skelton took Hurrells head off and none of the officials picked it up and there was no citing after the match. As Hurrell was always lowish on Friday (no sudden dip) it should have been red, have you watched any of the world cup and/or read the updated high tackle framework? Swinging arm straight to the head is a red all day with no mitigating circumstances, Brew probably yellow for his shoulder to the face of Morahan... Just because he had been tackled by another player at the time otherwise (and arguably still) red.
As for Sheedy, in my mind it's either a yellow for foul play or not even a penalty. I think he was going for the ball (as he's entitled to do) and was cynically and deliberately blocked by Brew therefore not even a penalty or penalty against Barf. If you're saying he deliberately attacked Brew then it should have been yellow, agreed. Watching the incident on the reply Sheedy definitely played for the ball so reinforces the no penalty and officials got it wrong (Well, ref had it right initially but was informed incorrectly later). There's no way in hell this incident was worse than the two high tackles though.
How one eyed can you get?
1. Brew is entitled to stand his ground, which he did. He wasn't expecting Sheedy to come flying in, feet first taking out the legs of two players. Clear yellow. Tripping players in the past has gotten red. Doesn't matter if he was "playing the ball", you could try and karate kick the ball out of someone's hands, does that mean it's play on?
2. "last season Skelton took Hurrells head off and none of the officials picked it up" - Shocker, an act of foul play against Bristol sticks in your mind. Officials missed it. Boyce's yellow card was clear for all to say, and replayed on the big screen. It was the first thing the citing commissioner will have looked at and he deemed it not worthy of a red card.
3. The World Cup is being officiated differently to the rest of the game. What's a red card over in Japan isn't a red card elsewhere. That much is obvious in all of the games at the weekend, and the Prem Cup.
I don't understand what the high tackle framework has to do with Sheedy, methinks we have our wires crossed which explains a lot. I thought you were talking about that rather than the high tackles, my bad.
I completely agree intent has no bearing on high tackle framework although it does account for pulling out of a high tackle that's slipped up (from the top of my head it's under degree of danger but may be wrong?).
Quote:
ballsout
How one eyed can you get?
1. Brew is entitled to stand his ground, which he did. He wasn't expecting Sheedy to come flying in, feet first taking out the legs of two players. Clear yellow. Tripping players in the past has gotten red. Doesn't matter if he was "playing the ball", you could try and karate kick the ball out of someone's hands, does that mean it's play on?
2. "last season Skelton took Hurrells head off and none of the officials picked it up" - Shocker, an act of foul play against Bristol sticks in your mind. Officials missed it. Boyce's yellow card was clear for all to say, and replayed on the big screen. It was the first thing the citing commissioner will have looked at and he deemed it not worthy of a red card.
3. The World Cup is being officiated differently to the rest of the game. What's a red card over in Japan isn't a red card elsewhere. That much is obvious in all of the games at the weekend, and the Prem Cup.
Ironic!
1) Brew was not the one fielding the ball, he is a blocker who ran across just for that purpose. He should definitely be expecting a player coming for the ball otherwise why do it? Thacker was penalised for less of a block earlier in the match. Sheedy also came in sideways and reached for the ball, not feet first which he is entitled to do and could well have got it had Brew not obstructed him. No player was injured either. I would have said play on/restart (as ref called it) but I know some people were calling for penalty against Brew.
2) Officials get things wrong, on the field and including citing commissioners and at hearings. It is inconsistent and many people complain about it. Sometimes it happens. As you say "tripping players in the past has gotten red" so why hasn't Sheedy been cited?
3) The world cup is NOT being officiated differently, that is the whole point of the new framework and World Rugby have applied it to all games and levels, especially to be seen to be doing something regarding concussion. It would appear the premiership is lagging behind if that's the case, maybe in heat of moment reverting to the old methods?
I get to watch both Bath and Briz a fair bit (Bath as home club and Briz as out company have a 'corporate' there. I think the problem we at Bath have had for a number of years is an old-fashioned view of what a forward is. going back to last year's defeat at Ashton Gate we'd probably have won had Attwood and Louw had better ball passing and catching skills. IMO Thomas is way above Ellis and even above Louw because he has the skills of a very good back and great speed as well as being an excellent tackler, jackler and having the all round forward attributes. Chris Vui is way ahead of any of our 2nd rows for similar reasons. You need skillful forwards or at least enough of them to give options in attack and provide continuity with the backs and Bristol have many of those whereas we have very few. Faletau is arguably our only one whereas Briz have Thacker, Afoa, Vui and most of their backrowers. This is what we need to change to bring exciting and successful rugby back. Hopefully Hoops realises this and it is part of the long-term plan.
Rinkadink As you say "tripping players in the past has gotten red" so why hasn't Sheedy been cited?
Because it wasn't worth a red card. It was a definite yellow but the ref was in Bristol's pocket all night, so what do you expect.
So, you've beaten a team 7 tries to 1, and you come on and tell us that your players are much better than ours and that (contrary to what everyone else saw) we were lucky not to be penalised further. Great. We heard you. Even your own supporters are calling you one-eyed. Bye bye now, enjoy your weekend.
Says who, it's not contrary to anything and BT by and large agree with both high-tackling players very lucky not to be punished (and maybe even should have been) more harshly.
BO, the problem is that you're so myopic and gagging to internet fight someone you've missed about a million things and making a fool out of yourself. Look at the players you have to return and the players who started yet there's no difference?
All you can do is throw some ad hominem my way and not refute or disagree with anything in anything approaching a decent manner. Oh well, TTFN!
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