J J to score again?

By P G tips
September 16 2014

Despite a bright start to the season, there will be apprehension around the Rec this week. After 9 tries in two matches, Bath lie second in the table but face a daunting 3 games on the belt against last season’s top 3. Last season Bath enjoyed their best year against Leicester’ Tigers (Home win, Away draw) for some years, but Saturday’s visit will test the home side’s mettle more than it usually does. This is as much because of Bath’s own lapses in concentration last Saturday as it is due to Tigers’ very evident threat. While seven tries evidenced ambition, skill and verve there were just too many errors. Ball retention was poor at times in attack and holes were to easily found in an often passive drift defence. Add in mistakes under pressure in the home 22 and London Welsh took advantage with 4 tries and their first league points. If league strugglers can do that at the Rec, what will Tigers, with their enduring national and European pedigree be capable of?

Tigers themselves have enjoyed two workmanlike victories against teams from last year’s bottom four. They seem some way from their best, but they should be fired up for their trip to Bath. Against Exeter last Saturday they got the edge in possession – particularly in the lineout, stealing home ball on several occasions. Bath’s lineout misfired a couple of times against Welsh, so Tigers’ strength is an ominous sign. Hard, direct running and the usual intensity also featured in a hard fought win. Their physical approach did not entirely subdue Exeter though and it cost them too many penalties, but in the battle of the penalties they came out on top – forcing them from Exeter by their continuous pressure. In Freddie Burns they have a match winner should Bath give them a soft ride in penalties. The rest of Burn’s s game was described by his coach as “inconsistent”, so Bath will need to pressure him from the off. If, as against Chiefs he kicks long and loosely, it is to be hoped that Luke Arscott, who showed glimpses of pace and power against Welsh, will back himself in counter attack, in concert with his wings.

Another Leicester threat as always is a mighty pack, of which Julian Salvi, formerly of this parish, may be the key man if Bath fail to nullify him at the breakdown. Behind the pack, Ben Youngs, Tuilagi & Goneva are all capable of wreaking havoc and bath will have a lot of work to do on defensive systems, line speed and intensity in training this week.

Bath will be looking to George Ford to have another commanding game pulling the strings. He has ample motivation: it seems all pundits agree that his move to bath & resulting regular game time have been behind his rise in the England rankings; only a certain R Cockerill opts to disagree. Carl Fearns, both at breakdown and on the charge is in fine form and Rokodoguni is proving a constant threat in attack and defence. Bath’s scrum has been more than solid with both sets of props and is a potent attacking weapon – the tussle with the men from Welford Road will be a fascinating sub plot which Bath would seem to have the edge in.

This is a match for the first choice lineup, so coaches and fans will hope for good news on Davey Wilson, Anthony Watson and Paul James who all took knocks last Saturday. It is also one for 80 minutes plus of concentration, which may see experience chosen over promise. Peter Stringer’s experience may get the nod, despite Chris Cook’s bright start against the Exiles.

So – what should Bath do?

Firstly, tackle! Defensive organisation needs to be much better than last Saturday. Bath must also take their chances: that means opting to kick for goal to build a lead early on. The tactical kicking game will need to be accurate, with aggressive chasers closing down the opposition and preferably causing turnovers –or wild kick returns. Concentration – as always against Tigers, will be needed for the whole 80 as will plenty of aggression and self belief. There was plenty of the latter in the 2 AP encounters last year, bath scoring some delightful tries.

On a side note – we saw London Welsh last Saturday kitted out like Liquorice All Sorts, while Tigers went to Sandy Park in Tango orange. I am all for brightness and originality in away strips, but is it too much to ask that teams advertise themselves in their own colours?

This one will be close and both teams have more to give than they have shown so far. I am making no prediction but if Bath want to win this they will need to go up a gear.

Possible teams:

Bath: James, Webber , Wilson, Hooper, Mercer, Attwood, Fearns, Houston, Stringer, Ford, Banahan , Eastmond, Joseph, Rokoduguni, Arscott
Bench:, Auterac, Dunn, Thomas, Day, Fa’osiliva , Cook, Henson ,Devoto ,

Leicester Tigers: Mulipola, T Youngs, Balmain; Kitchener, Parling; Gibson, Salvi, Crane. B Youngs, Burns. Morris, M Tuilagi, Allen, Goneva; Tait;

Replacements: Ghiraldini, Brugnara, Pasquali, De Chaves, Croft , Mele O. Williams,Smith.

Tigers themselves have enjoyed two workmanlike victories against teams from last year’s bottom four. They seem some way from their best, but they should be fired up for their trip to Bath. Against Exeter last Saturday they got the edge in possession – particularly in the lineout, stealing home ball on several occasions. Bath’s lineout misfired a couple of times against Welsh, so Tigers’ strength is an ominous sign. Hard, direct running and the usual intensity also featured in a hard fought win. Their physical approach did not entirely subdue Exeter though and it cost them too many penalties, but in the battle of the penalties they came out on top – forcing them from Exeter by their continuous pressure. In Freddie Burns they have a match winner should Bath give them a soft ride in penalties. The rest of Burn’s s game was described by his coach as “inconsistent”, so Bath will need to pressure him from the off. If, as against Chiefs he kicks long and loosely, it is to be hoped that Luke Arscott, who showed glimpses of pace and power against Welsh, will back himself in counter attack, in concert with his wings.

Another Leicester threat as always is a mighty pack, of which Julian Salvi, formerly of this parish, may be the key man if Bath fail to nullify him at the breakdown. Behind the pack, Ben Youngs, Tuilagi & Goneva are all capable of wreaking havoc and bath will have a lot of work to do on defensive systems, line speed and intensity in training this week.

Bath will be looking to George Ford to have another commanding game pulling the strings. He has ample motivation: it seems all pundits agree that his move to bath & resulting regular game time have been behind his rise in the England rankings; only a certain R Cockerill opts to disagree. Carl Fearns, both at breakdown and on the charge is in fine form and Rokodoguni is proving a constant threat in attack and defence. Bath’s scrum has been more than solid with both sets of props and is a potent attacking weapon – the tussle with the men from Welford Road will be a fascinating sub plot which Bath would seem to have the edge in.

This is a match for the first choice lineup, so coaches and fans will hope for good news on Davey Wilson, Anthony Watson and Paul James who all took knocks last Saturday. It is also one for 80 minutes plus of concentration, which may see experience chosen over promise. Peter Stringer’s experience may get the nod, despite Chris Cook’s bright start against the Exiles.

So – what should Bath do?

Firstly, tackle! Defensive organisation needs to be much better than last Saturday. Bath must also take their chances: that means opting to kick for goal to build a lead early on. The tactical kicking game will need to be accurate, with aggressive chasers closing down the opposition and preferably causing turnovers –or wild kick returns. Concentration – as always against Tigers, will be needed for the whole 80 as will plenty of aggression and self belief. There was plenty of the latter in the 2 AP encounters last year, bath scoring some delightful tries.

On a side note – we saw London Welsh last Saturday kitted out like Liquorice All Sorts, while Tigers went to Sandy Park in Tango orange. I am all for brightness and originality in away strips, but is it too much to ask that teams advertise themselves in their own colours?

This one will be close and both teams have more to give than they have shown so far. I am making no prediction but if Bath want to win this they will need to go up a gear.

Possible teams:

Bath: James, Webber , Wilson, Hooper, Mercer, Attwood, Fearns, Houston, Stringer, Ford, Banahan , Eastmond, Joseph, Rokoduguni, Arscott
Bench:, Auterac, Dunn, Thomas, Day, Fa’osiliva , Cook, Henson ,Devoto ,

Leicester Tigers: Mulipola, T Youngs, Balmain; Kitchener, Parling; Gibson, Salvi, Crane. B Youngs, Burns. Morris, M Tuilagi, Allen, Goneva; Tait;

Replacements: Ghiraldini, Brugnara, Pasquali, De Chaves, Croft , Mele O. Williams,Smith.

 v

Now the Hard Work Starts: Tame the Tiger!

Discussion started by Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged), 17/09/2014 13:26

Comeonmylovers.co.uk
17/09/2014 13:26

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:09:23:20:47:23 by Stuart Anderton.

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Stopsy
17/09/2014 21:05

Many thanks for a good preview.

I suspect your start to the season, home advantage and our start, in particular our front row, you hold the advantages.

A lot will depend on the Ref's interpretation in the tight and breakdown and if it is as I suspect, Paul James will have a fun day in the scrum.

Here's to a good game and that the ref will not be the story aftewards (yes I am delusional!)

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