Fit to play?

By P G Tips
December 15 2014

Derby days are upon Bath as Christmas approaches. After successfully dealing with Montpellier home and away Bath must travel to Kingsholm for the first of 2 West Country derbies over the festive season.

On the face of it, this should be a case of Bath continuing where they left off in the Premiership- Bath stand proud at 2nd in the table, with Gloucester only 8th, 3 whole games worth of league points behind. This however, is a local derby and one which carries added spice to mull the wine of the occasion. In the past few seasons Gloucester have enjoyed limited success against Bath and last year’s Kingsholm fixture ended in controversial defeat after referee Tim Wigglesworth had awarded a total of 7 cards – 2 of them red for the hosts in the latter stages. Red was the colour of Shed faces that day – apoplectic with fury at Wigglesworth and Bath’s winning penalty try, their faces matched their shirts while the air was blue with their contempt and anger – very robustly expressed. The manner of defeat was an embarrassment they will be keen to erase.

Gloucester’s rebuilding is taking time, but in coach David Humphreys and the squad assembled by predecessor Nigel Davies there is plenty of quality. When this group gels they are due to do somebody some real damage. Hibbard, Afoa and Palmer have strengthened the pack to supply more consistent service to a pacey backline in which Twelvetrees, Sharples, Trinder and Cook can frequently dazzle if given the chance. Losing Freddie Burns to Leicester may have seemed a backward step behind the scrum and it has taken a while for the backs to gain the fluency of last year, but new half backs Laidlaw & Hook can certainly be relied on for creativity. Supporting them is Billy Burns, felt by many at alma mater Beechen Cliff to be the more talented of the Burns brothers.

The real danger men, however, are likely to be the two who starred for England in the Autumn internationals – Ben Morgan and Jonny May collecting 60% of the white rose autumn tries between them. Against these threats Bath have a settled squad, a host of internationals and a run of victories to bolster confidence and their chances. Saturday’s match is an early evening kick-off (17.30) and Bath have taken 3 victories under lights in the past 3 Friday evenings – scoring 11 tries in the process. All omens should therefore be good, but anything can happen in a derby.

Gloucester will have noted that after successive demolitions of Harlequins and Montpellier, Bath’s forwards did not have it all their own way last weekend. An uncharacteristic and uncomfortable number of penalties were conceded at the scrummage and Bath were too frequently beaten at the breakdown. The Cherry & Whites will relish the chance to create similar mayhem and gain the moral upper hand in an atmosphere that should resemble the Coliseum on gladiator’s day. To combat this Bath must find calm and control.

Selection speculation will centre on Dave Attwood and Sam Burgess. Will Attwood be fit after his Montpellier outing was cruelly curtailed by a shoulder injury? His departure seemed to galvanise a French pack which had looked distinctly second best until then. Sam Burgess’s key contributions to date have been in tackles and as decoy and it may be too early –in a fiery derby - to expect the “Saviour Sam” tag. If it is to come, where will he earn it? Many would argue that a trip to Kingsholm is not the time to continue the midfield experiment, disrupting a smoothly operating backline and would prefer to see him join the back row late in the game from the bench. There could also be a case, in a tight derby, for preferring the more dependable goal kicking of Henson as bench option over the gain line go forward of Devoto.

Bath will set out to dominate up front as they did in Montpellier. They should play the percentages with their kick-chase game and territory and take points whenever on offer –initially from penalty goals if necessary. This will not be a match for the faint hearted as Gloucester will be after revenge and pride. Cool heads and firm refereeing will be needed if the mulled wine is not to turn to sour grapes. Will it be a cracker? Derbies rarely are. It will be tense and combative, but Bath should have enough to edge it. A single score win will do.

Possible teams

Bath: Auterac, Webber, Wilson, Hooper, Attwood, Fa’osiliva, Louw, Houston. Cook, Ford, Rokoduguni, Eastmond, Joseph, Banahan, Watson Bench: James, Batty, Thomas, Day, Burgess. Stringer, Henson, Agulla

Gloucester: Wood, Hibbard, Afoa, Savage, Palmer , Kalamafoni, Kvesic, B. Morgan. Laidlaw,Hook, May, Twelvetrees, Trinder, Sharples, McColl Bench: Thomas, Edmonds, Puafisi, Savage, Evans, Robson, Burns, Atkinson.

Preview: Yuletide Derby Date - Gloucester v Bath

Discussion started by Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged), 15/12/2014 18:57

Comeonmylovers.co.uk
15/12/2014 18:57

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:12:24:16:21:45 by Stuart Anderton.

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abendanon-anon-anon
19/12/2014 10:42

Out of the UK for this one. Been to the last 3 games at Castle Grim last one particularly entertaining i.e. cards a plenty
I'm in New Zealand so 13 hours ahead. Not sure if it's possible to listen to the BBC commentary or if there will be any pubs open at 9.45 am! What I've seen so far in NZ it wouldn't surprise me.
Hope Atwood is fit and Webber is back on form for the line outs. Joseph and Eastmond must start along with Watson at FB. My preferred wingers are Ringo and Banners as Roko looks out of sorts at the moment. Another Bath win at Glaws and I'll go for clear water 24 - 18

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P G Tips
19/12/2014 11:08

Attwood not likely to make it according to Chron.

Not sure Roko was out of sorts last friday - did some useful stuff against Montpellier, not least his break & pass for try no2

PG

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Fordem
19/12/2014 20:08

I will be on the Tump with my Gloucester 'friend/s'! Looking forward to a 4/5 pointer with not too much eeooring from the so called knowledgable Shed.
We have the edge all over the field (apart from 9) so keep the penalty count down and look at the league table on Sunday evening with a glass of something in hand.

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Mike the Taxi
20/12/2014 15:09

abendanon-aa; Beeb online coverage here.
Doesn't say anything about being restricted to UK.

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abendanon-anon-anon
20/12/2014 21:09

Quote:

Mike the Taxi
abendanon-aa; Beeb online coverage here.
Doesn't say anything about being restricted to UK.

thanks Mike,
Was up at 6.00 am and managed to find a Linky stream thing
Not a game for the neutral, but a great win for Bath
Great defence kept them out.
Love it when Joseph and Watson get the ball, both capable of tearing defences to shreds.
Kingsholm seemed very subdued hope it hasn't put too much of a downer on their Christmas
Just remains for me to say Merry Christmas to all.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:12:20:21:10:48 by abendanon-anon-anon.

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