Sisi: heroic

By P G Tips
January 28 2015

  Having sent Glasgow home from the final European pool match to think again, Bath’s thoughts now turn to domestic competition. Following the tight tussle that tested the nerves till the final whistle, Bath celebrated qualification for the knock out stages, while Glasgow faced a muted Burns’ Night journey home. Next up is the LV= tie away at Harlequins, a chance for the international contingent to look ahead to 6 Nations duty and for many squad players to show their paces.   Quins have had a frustrating season by recent standards. Only 7th in domestic competition, they roused themselves last weekend to score 7 tries in roasting a disinterested Castres. The result was too little, too late though as Wasps superior points difference saw them through as pool runner-up instead. Coach Conor O’Shea talked of European failure “by inches” and “we'll also use the hurt to drive us on for the remainder of the season."  The question is whether they can force themselves past the other clubs in the traffic jam of 4th to 9th placed sides to earn an AP top four place. Another question is what that hurt will do for their motivation and chances in the LV=.  

Often billed as a “development” competition, the timing of the first matches ensures that 6N squad members will not be playing. Marler, Robshaw, Easter, Care and Brown, the core of Harlequins team will be missing. Quins pride themselves on their academy though, and on the strength in depth which any ambitious club requires these days. In Marfo, Lambert, Buchanan, Clifford they have young forwards who can offer both grunt and skill. Behind them, Karl Dickson, brother of the international Saint, Swiel and Botica can be relied on to provide the creativity and Lindsay-Hague and Hopper the pace. Bath have promising tyros of their own of course. Nathan Catt, Charlie Ewels and David Sisi have put in some heroic first team performances in recent months and Beno Obano, Kane Palma –Newport, Max Northcote-Green have all starred for the United. Olly Woodburn has scored in the AP against Leicester and starred 2 weeks ago in Toulouse, so the youngsters can claim plenty of hardened experience. Strength in depth will be a necessity as well as a virtue this weekend, as the impact of Stuart Lancaster’s selections on Bath is a whopping 12 players, with Paul James also called on by Wales. Forward cover looks good, but injury & Saxons needs could make for tough calls at Fly half and inside centre: hopefully Gavin Henson will be fit to make a return in the likely absence of Olly Devoto on Saxon duty..

Often LV pool games are lively ball-in-hand affairs, with plenty of ambition and opportunities for counter attack resulting from errors or over enthusiastic tactical kicking. The weather, which is due to get much colder, may have something to say about it, but I expect these two attack minded sides to do the competition proud with some attacking flair. As the home side and with more of a squad to choose from, Harlequins will start favourites, but Bath in recent mood have been indomitable and I expect that spirit to run throughout the squad. If Bath can muster enough fit squad players to form a viable backline, they have a decent chance. By teatime on Saturday we will know …and we will also know quite a bit more about some of our fringe players.

Possible BathTeam: Auterac, Batty, Palma-Newport, Hooper, Ewels, Sisi, Mercer, Houston, Young, Henson, Wakecokecoke, Banahan, Fa’osiliva, Woodburn, Bench: Obano, Dunn, Catt, Ellis, Northcote-Green, Stringer, Jennings, Clark

A Change of Scene:Harlequins v Bath

Discussion started by Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged), 28/01/2015 22:57

Comeonmylovers.co.uk
28/01/2015 22:57

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015:02:04:00:19:57 by Stuart Anderton.

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abendanon-anon-anon
29/01/2015 20:16

Great piece PGT. Not sure Henson will be fit though begging the question, who's our No. 10 going to be?

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P G Tips
29/01/2015 21:01

Would have to be Jennings.


PG

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