By PG Tips
February 19 2014

As the Premiership enters the decisive phase of the season - the last third of matches - Bath’s home game to Wasps looks a potential mismatch.  

Bath, consistently in the top 4 for almost the whole season, seem to be hitting their stride at the right time. They found another gear to win away at Exeter with three sparkling tries. Wasps' season on the other hand, has largely been a tale of woe. The promise of their exciting back three has not materialised, with injury taking out wings Wade & Varndell. Points machine Andy Goode has had his off days too and has missed the last two matches due to a knee injury

Those games have brought frustrating defeats by close scores: last week’s a humbling home loss to a London Irish side reduced to 14 men when Tomas O’Leary was sent off. If Wasps are to keep their Top 6 ambitions alive, or even just rescue what appears to be a season slipping into decline, they will need to start winning the tricky games. They will be desperate to put in a good performance and, like Newcastle, coached by another wily former Lions forward, will come to the Rec determined to contest everything.

Bath’s pack, shorn of James, Wilson & Attwood by international call up, should expect Dai Young to put the Wasps front five through intensive set piece training during the week. They should also beware the Wasps back row – Peter Stringer knows all about the disruptive play of Ashley Johnson – and be prepared to subdue them. If that is done, the greater threat behind the scrum is in blue, black & white, although George Ford is due to “get his chance” on the bench for England this weekend. Bath’s selection at 10 and how the team adjust, will be not just a talking point among fans, but crucial to success.

Even with international call ups, Bath should be too strong for Wasps, their strength in depth in contrast to the visitors stretched resources. It will be interesting to see if the coaches opt to rest some key players ahead of sterner tests or play safe to be certain of thwarting the Wasps challenge. Another grinding scrum performance will be needed to blunt the tackle & carry threats of Haskell & Johnson, while in Simpson and Daly Wasps boast two sharp runners who can punish lax defences. Bath of course have runners and creators themselves. The authority of Devoto & flair of Eastmond were a delight to see last Saturday and supporters will be hoping for a try bonus point.

The team and coaches know that the first priority is the win. They will aim to play clever rugby, take the scores on offer and look to the try count as the icing on the cake. Judicious use of the bench is likely to be telling again, with international quality available to reinforce and refresh. Bath will win this, but Wasps will make them sweat for it.

Possible Teams:

Bath: Perenise, Batty, Orlandi, Hooper, Day, Garvey, Louw, Houston, Young, Heathcote, Abendanon, Devoto, Eastmond, Agulla, Watson. Bench: Catt, Guinazou, Palma –Newport, Caldwell, Fa’osiliva , Stringer , Henson, Banahan

London Wasps: Mullan, Festuccia, Cooper-Woolley, Palmer, Myall, Johnson, Haskell, Hughes. Simpson, Goode, Helu, Masi, C. Bell, Short, Daly Bench: Swainston, Lindsay, McIntyre, Cannon, Jones, Davies, Carlisle. Thompson

Match preview: Winners in West to add to Wasps Woes

Discussion started by PG Tips (IP Logged), 19/02/2014 18:37

PG Tips
19/02/2014 18:37

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014:02:25:21:07:58 by TCM2007.

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BathSting
19/02/2014 21:55

Good preview made for good viewing!
I think we could struggle in the front row with my starting 3 being Catt Batty and Orlandi. However I think we will completely dominate them with our backline if we play like we did against Exeter and Leicester! After seeing Wasps' game I think we should target Carlisle if he plays as his kicking was poor against Irish, same can be said for Daly!
Bath by 18!

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