Thomas: "Titan"

By P G tips
December 8 2014

Bath got their European show back on the road last Friday, but questions remain about qualification for the knock-out stage. After two disappointments in the opening rounds, Bath produced a performance of power and precision to pound Montpellier into submission on a wintry night in southern France.

For the first 50 minutes Bath were almost totally dominant, running up 30 unanswered points, including 3 tries, from a bravura display by the pack. Auterac, Batty & Thomas were once again “Titans in the Tight”. The total demolition of Montpellier in the first half offered hope for a bonus point, but despite the injection of an all international front row, Bath were unable to stretch their lead in the last 30 minutes. So, there lies the rub. Were the substitutions at fault, or was it Montpellier’s own reinforcement of their scrum that stemmed the tide? Was Bath’s frustration due to the weather and Montpellier’s stout defence –or to poor game management? So-what can we expect next Friday?

We should expect that Montpellier will not play as poorly. Coach Fabien Galthie is rumoured to be leaving due to the recent run of poor results, but he has the experience to identify the improvements needed and to reduce the errors and poor discipline which put Montpellier on the back foot for so much of last week’s match. However, Montpellier now have no chance of progressing from Pool 4 but a home Top 14 date with Toulouse looms before Christmas. Will Galthie prepare for that by resting his key players, as so many French clubs do when on a forlorn hope in the European Cup? Will he field a team of aspiring youngsters to see what they can do? Or will he send out his best selection to battle harden them?

Bath Head Coach Mike Ford will not wish to dwell on Galthie’s dilemmas –or his selection. He has his own choices to make, especially in the front row and in the much flagged experiment of Sam Burgess as a loose forward. Interest will therefore centre on the front five selection and the timing of Burgess’s introduction from the bench. Two of last Friday’s starters took heavy blows: Chris Cook, whose form has been a pleasant surprise for many this season and Carl Fearns may have to sit this one out. If they do, there are able deputies in Stringer and Fa’osiliva to call upon. Francois Louw is also rumoured to be fit for Friday. If so, will he start or do the coaches plan to field two loose forwards on the bench? So-what will the game plan be? Friday’s weather is due to be heavy rain, so a repeat of the forward based basics looks likely. December rain does not look encouraging for bonus point victory, or does it? Houston’s try in last Friday’s downpour was worthy of a sunny day in April and had the BT Sport commentators purring about “try of the season”.

Bath will want as solid a victory as possible, second place in the poll may need as many as 19 or 20 points. Quick ball and distribution could set the midfield up for some tries and bath will hope to take the bonus points on offer if last week’s dominance is repeated. Bonus points will be secondary though to victory itself. With Glasgow losing in Toulouse and seeking their revenge at home this weekend, the pool could just open up if Bath gain a win. It is the result at the Rec that matters and it will be Bath’s pack & George Ford who will be called on to lay the foundation. Bath to win. The margin depends on which Montpellier team turns up.

Possible Bath team:, Auterac, Webber, Thomas , Attwood, Hooper, Fa’osiliva, Sisi, Houston, Stringer, Ford, Banahan, Eastmond, Joseph, Agulla, Watson
Bench:, James, Batty, Wilson, Day, Burgess, Young, Devoto, Henson

Hope for Bath, Forlorn Montpellier? Bath V Montpellier 12 De

Discussion started by Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged), 08/12/2014 19:43

Comeonmylovers.co.uk
08/12/2014 19:43

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:12:15:18:59:16 by Stuart Anderton.

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