Rumours are rife

By PG Tips
January 22 2014

Time was when a Bath v Cardiff encounter would be the rugby talk of the week –a mouthwatering prospect in it’s own right. This weekend the match itself is almost camouflaged by ample speculative context and sub plot. Will Wales’ regions join the English Premiership? How will their dispute with their own Union pan out? Will Sam Warburton test his fitness ahead of the Six Nations by turning out for the Blues at the Rec? Or, from the Bath standpoint-are the rumours of Bendy’s impending departure true?

All these questions will be answered in time, but turning to the match itself, it is easy to see why the fixture has lost some of its’ former lustre in recent years. Bath have not made the Premiership Top 4 since 2010 and this year Cardiff are not enjoying a happy season. Ninth in the Rabobank Pro 12, they are the lowest ranked of the Welsh teams and in the LV a home loss to Worcester Warriors contributes to a lowly third place in their Pool table. Bath, riding high in both domestic competitions and the Amlin Cup, will have high hopes of a win to continue the momentum of an increasingly confident season.

Relative national standings are not Bath’s only reason for optimism as Cardiff’s pack have been dominated in their most recent encounters, by Toulon & Exeter. Indeed, Toulon gained 3 penalty tries from this phase, infuriating many fans on the Cardiff message board. Of course both Cardiff and Bath teams are likely to show many changes from their strongest European line ups, but whatever combination Bath choose, it is a fair bet that destructive scrummaging will be a prime weapon of choice. Add to that the fluent and pacey back play of recent matches and home fans have much to look forward to. T

here are rumours in Wales that Captain Sam Warburton will play this Saturday to prove his fitness for Six Nations action. If he does that will be a departure from Cardiff’s LV policy to date. None of their current 4 Wales squad members has featured in the competition so far, nor indeed any of their last Heineken selection at Sandy Park. Bath have employed strong sides so far, to secure wins over Sale and Exeter, but have had the luxury of some easier European matches in which to blood their promising youngsters.

This weekend of course is an EPS squad weekend and there are injuries to contend with too, so who will be in the starting lineup is anybody’s guess. The coaches will probably field a balanced side, mixing experience with youth while taking the chance to rest some key players ahead of a crucial final pool match at Welford Road next week. The aim must be to progress as far as possible in a competition Bath must have hopes of winning. I hope that we will see JP Orlandi, Guinazou, Caldwell, Gilbert & Fearns among those up front, with Roberts, Heathcote, Biggs, Devoto & Abendanon given a start in the backs. Light rain is expected on Saturday afternoon, following a full day’s rain on Friday so the early parts of the game should be characterised by heavy scrummaging, driving mauls and kicking for territory. There will be open play though and opportunities for some of our younger backs to show their paces.

Bath’s star is rising, while the Blues, living up to their name, have been in the dumps recently. It would be unwise to underestimate a visiting Welsh team, but for me a home win is on the cards and a bonus point likely.

Match Preview: Bath vs Cardiff Blues

Discussion started by PG Tips (IP Logged), 22/01/2014 19:34

PG Tips
22/01/2014 19:34

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014:01:26:13:13:38 by TCM2007.

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Bri
22/01/2014 20:05

Good preview,I hope we put out the strongest team possible and keep winning.

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jonniejon
22/01/2014 21:24

Nice preview PGT

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Bathovalballer
23/01/2014 11:36

We must IMO keep the momentum going and put out a strong team to (hopefully) ensure we get the win we need.

If I recall rightly the next LV game is away to Tigers so we do need a good result here.

C'mon Bath you know you can do it.

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Widcombe boy
23/01/2014 14:02

Good preview PG Tips!

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TCM2007
23/01/2014 14:13

Quote:

Bathovalballer
We must IMO keep the momentum going and put out a strong team to (hopefully) ensure we get the win we need.
If I recall rightly the next LV game is away to Tigers so we do need a good result here.

C'mon Bath you know you can do it.

I look forward to seeing a good game - I hope the weather will allow that.

But odds are we'd win the group no matter what - the team chasing us is Worcester!

Stuart

Former ed.

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