Match Preview - Backlash or Backwards?


By Ed Scott
March 31 2011

After two heavy Premiership losses, Bath make the trip to Watford this weekend to take on Saracens. Make no bones about it, this week is key if we have any ambitions for the title. Saracens are second in the Premiership for a reason and Bath need to be a different team to the one from Saturday to even stand a chance. A top four place is still up for grabs, but I'm pretty sure we will have to win all six of our remaining games to achieve that. Not totally out of the question, but certainly not easy.

It's not easy making the 230 mile round trip to watch us get annihilated, so I found being objective about our performance on Saturday rather tricky! Now the dust has settled, I have taken stock and, although I couldn't bring myself to watch the game again, I don't believe that the result means we need to him the panic button quite yet. The area of the game where we have consistently fallen short this season has been the set piece and on Saturday we were mostly strong in the scrum (dodgy decisions by Mr Pearson aside) and good in the lineout. It seemed to be the core skills where we let ourselves down. I have never seen so many simple missed tackles, spilled balls, knock ons, turnovers or poor decision making. Leicester (like Ireland v England) clearly targeted the tackle area and I think we tried so hard to be fancy we lost sight of the basics.
  
If we want to achieve on Sunday we need some big performances, none less than from our departing South Africans. I am a massive fan of both Butch and Luke, but on Saturday Butch looked disinterested and totally off the boil. Luke put in the effort, but tried so hard to win the game by himself he didn't do many of the things that we actually needed from our openside. He also seemed to lose his head and make some poor decisions. Ben Skirving was also a huge disappointment to me. He looked off the pace and twice left huge dog-legs in the defence that Leicester ran straight through.
 
I'll echo the sentiments of many on this board, if players don't want to put in 100%, don't play them. I know our options are limited, but maybe being dropped might give some of these guys the kick they need. I for one would not mind seeing a backline of Vesty, Hape and Williams on Saturday. I also think that we really missed Lewis Moody. I don't know how long it is until he is fit, but we needed inspiration and leadership on Saturday. He did his best as waterboy, but we need him on the pitch. If Skirving is off the pace, then give Guy Mercer a run at 7 and move Watson and Taylor to 8 and 6.
It would be easy to let our heads drop and write off this season, but this team is still a very capable one. Although a big loss, Olly Barkley is our only long term injury. Peter Short, Nathan Catt (who I thought was good when he came on, on Saturday), Davey Wilson and Lee Mears are all back. Moody is a potential and Carraro is also apparently now fit. We just need them all to click.
 
Hopefully Saturday was a harsh lesson and we will see a backlash this weekend. Bath never seem to perform well after a break so fingers crossed the (considerable) cobwebs are now brushed away. Personally I'd take them all to Lambridge this week and make them tackle each other for three days straight - extra drills for those who drop the ball or miss one. Simple things well please gents.
 
A word of course must be said of Saracens. They have a powerful front five and two ex-Bath players in Stevens and Borthwick who will always have a point to prove against us. Their backrow is one of the best in the league and they are highly physical in the centres. We need to target Owen Farrell at fly-half, who is a fine young player, but surely where they are most susceptible. Let's use Banahan properly, play the percentages, and take our chances.
 
We should remember that before the Leicester game, we had conceded the least number of points in the whole Premiership (we now lie second behind Saracens) so are more than capable of defending effectively. Right now I just feel we need a tight performance to get us going in the right direction again. I can't help but think that Europe is now our priority for this season, but then again, a good win on the weekend and we'll all be talking play offs again - such is the emotional life of a Bath Rugby supporter.

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Match Preview - Backlash or Backwards?
Discussion started by BathRugbyEre.co.uk , 31/03/2011 19:31
BathRugbyEre.co.uk
31/03/2011 19:31
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:04:03:21:29:44 by Susanne.

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Bod
31/03/2011 19:57
I'm expecting nothing more than another apathetic display and a sound spanking - anything else will cheer me up.
(Sm3)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOg4Ljp3kh8/Sf89bRrqecI/AAAAAAAAAJY/eJCF1kt4b0E/s200/DON%27T-SHOOT-THE-MESSENGER1.jpg

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Convex Hull
31/03/2011 20:03
Most Saracens supporters are expecting far more than that from a talented Bath team.

Your score last week against Leicester was not a fair reflection of the game, and the same comment applies to Saracens.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:03:31:20:04:41 by Convex Hull.

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paulglynn
31/03/2011 22:13
don`t foget the 4 ex saracens in the bath pack flatman,grewcock,hooper and skirving

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Hoggers
01/04/2011 15:23
This Saracens fan is expecting a hard tough battle with a home win certainly not a 'gimmee' Just hope Butch has calmed down somewhat after last week

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AlanE
01/04/2011 17:08
Quote:
paulglynn
don`t foget the 4 ex saracens in the bath pack flatman,grewcock,hooper and skirving

5 - including, albeit briefly, Simon Taylor.

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saracens4life
01/04/2011 20:57
Thanks for the preview, Ed - Bath on paper are very strong, it does seem to be a question of where there heads are...

I wouldn't be so sure about young Fazlet being susceptible...he's tougher than he looks.

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paul bath
02/04/2011 01:02
Bod seems to have a real downer on the team at present.

Reality check, we are not in the relegation zone!

Yes we have had our disappointments this season, but being a supporter is recognising that there will be good and bad times.

I am ever hopeful that Bath will put in an excellent performance on Sunday.

Great to see Shorty back from his injury, likewise Carraro.

We have a real opportunity to show Stevens and Borthwick they made the wrong choice!

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Bod
02/04/2011 08:04
"We have a real opportunity to show Stevens and Borthwick they made the wrong choice!"

Stuffing it right up those 2 would suit me just fine.
I just don't think we have the players with the mindset to do it.

(Sm3)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOg4Ljp3kh8/Sf89bRrqecI/AAAAAAAAAJY/eJCF1kt4b0E/s200/DON%27T-SHOOT-THE-MESSENGER1.jpg

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