By Ed Scott
January 3 2013

On Sunday Bath travel to Adams Park for a mid afternoon clash with a resurgent Wasps. After being close to relegation and financial ruin, the men in black have bounced back into some solid form this campaign and look to be a strong prospect going into 2013. Currently sitting one point off the play-off spots, Wasps are undefeated this season at home and will provide a real test for Bath who desperately need points to stay in touch of a spot in the top six. 

To say that the last couple of weeks for Bath have been disappointing would perhaps be an understatement. It feels to me that every time it looks as if we are about to find some form, they put in a poor performance to remind us that currently we are nothing better than a mid-table offering. After being comprehensively thrashed by Saracens at home (surely one of the worst performances since the ill fated 0-16 loss to Irish in 2009) many would argue that Bath were lucky to get a draw from their trip to Exeter. The fact that Bath were able to score when they only really had one chance to do so, does give some cause for optimism, but it feels once more that we have taken one step forward followed by two backwards.

Wasps away has been the source of real joy for Bath fans over the last couple of years as the St George’s Day match on the wide pitch and hard ground at Twickenham suited the Bath running game. This time around however we are back to High Wycombe in what are likely to be much colder and wetter conditions.

In recent times the turn of the year has spelled a change in fortunes for us, but Bath are not trying to play the kind of rugby right now that we were then. We have won only once in the Premiership away from home this season and it seems all too clear to me that both the game plan and the execution are not right at present. I agree in working the percentages and trying to play rugby in the correct parts of the field, but I also believe in the importance of possession. Yet again we seem intent on kicking the ball away far too much so never build phases or put the opposition under enough pressure.

In my opinion, the biggest issue stems back to the problems that England suffered from in their previous regime, and that is over-coaching. It was clear from the Saracens game, that the team had no interest in playing what was in front of them and were intent on only working to a predetermined system. That’s great if it works, but clearly it didn’t, and yet we persisted. How many times did we kick off long, only to get sent back into our own half and then lose the lineout?! Many blamed Stephen Donald for poor kicking, but the bottom line is, he was clearly delivering on ‘tactics’. My concern is that neither he, nor anyone else was keen to realise it wasn’t working and change it. Either that, or they are all simply too scared to do so.

Wasps have got a dynamic pack and will prove a real handful up front. They are particularly strong in the second and back rows with the likes of Launchbury and Haskell providing real speed and athleticism. There is pure power and go forward from the very promising Billy Vunipola, accompanied by the pilfering and work at the breakdown of the Australian, Poff. The Bath back row are going to really have their hands full this week and must sort out the problems in the lineout.

The debate to rage over the next few days on COML is going to surround fly half selection. I’ve spent a lot of time defending Stephen Donald, as I believe he could be great for us, but it might not be a surprise to see him on the bench on Sunday. Whoever starts will be up against a Welshman, either Nicky Robinson or Stephen Jones. Both great game mangers and likely to pin Bath back with an accurate kicking game, so our counter attack and kicking from hand are both going to need huge improvement.

I assume that Nick Abendanon was injured last week, so if fit I’m sure he’ll be back. Devoto didn’t have a great game on all accounts, so if not I would play Agulla at 15. I find it amazing that Josh Ovens continues to be ignored, and would love to see Koster get a run. With this the last Premiership game for a month, I think that unlikely however as he will get chances in the Amlin and LV games.

In a change to my normal theme, I am going to pick my team, rather than what I think will be selected:

1) James 2) Mears 3) Wilson 4) Attwood 5) Hooper 6) Ovens 7) Louw 8) Taylor 9) Claassens 10) Heathcote 11) Biggs 12) Banahan 13) Hipkiss 14) Eastmond 15) Abendanon 16) Sharman (if fit) 17) Beech 18) Palma-Newport 19) Day 20) Skirving 21) McMillan 22) Agulla 23) Donald

A bit harsh on Williams, but I think we’ve missed Hipkiss in defence in particular and Banahan was really getting into his stride before his ban. Only other possibility would maybe to rest Kyle or Biggsy, as both have played a lot so far this season, but with the speed of Wade and Varndell, we need guys who can catch them!

This week is a big ask for Bath but a win is definitely not out of the question. We have proved that we can score tries and that when we keep the ball in hand, can be difficult to live with. I just hope that Gary Gold puts away the numbers and encourages his players to think for themselves. A bit of trust, and they might just surprise him.

Match Preview - Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics

Discussion started by Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged), 03/01/2013 10:13

Comeonmylovers.co.uk
03/01/2013 10:13

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:01:25:02:28:20 by TCM2007.

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Sam Y
03/01/2013 11:31

Great review as always!! Very harsh on Williams if he is not even on the bench and also I expect Donald to start ahead of Heathcote!!! What message does that send out to the rest, keep playing rubbish and you will still get picked, that can't be right can it, or am I missing something?

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Susanne
03/01/2013 15:19

Nice one Ed. I too would like to see Heathcote get a start. Not sure how optimistic I feel about this. When did we last win at Adams Park?

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Sam Y
03/01/2013 15:46

We should of won last year Susanne having 2 tries disallowed!! Hope you have tuned that radio in ok?

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Bri
03/01/2013 16:15

Quote:

Susanne
Nice one Ed. I too would like to see Heathcote get a start. Not sure how optimistic I feel about this. When did we last win at Adams Park?

Your right to be not to optimistic.

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marshie10
03/01/2013 17:10

Donald will start again. Unbelievably.

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Old Bath Tub
03/01/2013 17:56

Quote:

Susanne
Nice one Ed. I too would like to see Heathcote get a start. Not sure how optimistic I feel about this. When did we last win at Adams Park?

October 2008, Wasps 23 Bath 27

Tries from Joe Maddock - Michael Claassens - Pieter Dixon and Matt Stevens.

Heres hoping we can do it again.

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CoochieCoo
03/01/2013 18:07

Well we still have Classy!

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Jwscud
03/01/2013 20:54

That was the last time I went to Adams Park. Going again this week. An omen?

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Jimbo
04/01/2013 09:58

Was that the game where Dixon scored an absloute pearler?

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Jwscud
06/01/2013 00:45

It was indeed. It was a cold weekday evening if I remember and we were a fair few up by half time, but were hanging on a bit by the end.

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