By T
February 23 2007

This season has hopefully seen us shake off the perennial underachievers tag… unfortunately for Bath it looks likely that the unwanted tag is theirs for the next season (s). Bath are the Britney Spears of rugby. There is talent there, the media still follow them, talk them up, are interested in every little thing about them, questions are raised about their management but like the slightly bonkers chanteuse it appears to everyone else that they have lost the plot! How else can you explain a team containing the likes of Borthwick, Grewcock, Barkley, Mears, Stevens & Bell flirting with the relegation threatened sides again this year having conceded the second most points in the division?

The reason that Bath are clear of Northampton and Worcester is their form at the Rec. Leicester, Sale, Quins (twice) and Wasps are among the noticeable clubs that have come away from the South West with another L in the column. Only local rivals Bristol and Irish have come away from the Rec with more than a point this season. This certainly won’t be one of Saracens easier trips this season.

For all of the Rec's charm, it is quite simply is a throw back to the amateur days as far as facilities and playing surface goes. How a club in the top division can have such inadequate drainage facilities on their pitch is beyond me… Granted, not many clubs can claim to have fishing rights from the back of their terracing either! The slightest hint of rain and the Rec pitch will resemble a cabbage patch, which plays right into the hands of Bath's huge pack. With rain forecast, the pitch alone could determine what kind of game we might see and an indication of the result.

Saracens are right up there with the form sides, but we have so far this season seen very few games where the weather has played a part. When Saracens have been able to mix their game up in favourable conditions they have at times been simply awesome. When the conditions have been less favourable and they have tried to force the issue the performances have dipped below average as results against Worcester and Glasgow testify…

Bath will, no doubt, have to make several reshuffles to accommodate various international call ups. Such is England management reluctance to watch Saracens in action, let alone select anyone for representative honours, it’s unsurprising to find that Saracens won’t!

Shane Byrne will come into the matchday squad for the Italian bench bound Fabio Ongaro, while the only difficulty in the dream team selections will probably come in the centres. With Farrell away with England, Powell away with the U20’s, and Ben Johnston still injured, Super Kev will move to inside centre with Penny playing outside centre.

In the pack, Cobus is back after his elbow injury and Nick Lloyd comes in for Yatesy who takes a rest and won't face his old club.

It looks set for a good contest, let’s hope the conditions don’t ruin our chances of an important win in the west country.