Bath
UNLUCKY THIRTEEN? BATH v EXETER CHIEFS
Bayliss: return?
By PG Tips
December 27 2021
It could be “unlucky thirteen” for Bath when Exeter Chiefs visit the Recreation Ground on Thursday evening. Chiefs, spared a festive fixture and comparatively rested, can chose from strength in depth for the Premiership Cup tie. Bath, winless in 12 consecutive games, struggling with an injury crisis and seemingly luckless at present must do their best not only to cobble together a team to fulfil the fixture, but to find the form to avoid another embarrassment. The dread prospect looms of a thirteenth consecutive defeat.
Bath’s problems are well known, so there is little to gain by repeating them. Of pressing interest to the coaching team and supporters is who will be fit to take the field, without relying on those who played a full match only 3 days earlier? In Vaughan, Doughty & Verden there should be a front row available, similarly a loose forward trio of De Carpentier, Cowan and Bayliss, but who will fill the lock positions if McNally has not recovered, Richards having been forced into action for the full 80 in an emergency backrow against Gloucester?
Behind the scrum, Academy stars Bailey, Ojomoh and Butt all played on Sunday so should not feature again so soon. Do the terms of Max Wright’s loan to Newcastle allow for a return when needed? Scrum halves Green and Carr-Smith, flyhalf Worboys, wing Goss, utility back Prydie and Full Back Atkins should all be available, but at this moment it looks as if AN Other, A Student and Hugh Zee will be busy plugging the gaps. A recent request on these pages for temporary accommodation for a new player suggest a loan signing is imminent? If so, how soon will he be available, and will he have the galvanising impact of past short-term signings like Luke Watson, Peter Stringer or Leroy Houston?
Fans at the Boxing Day game had hoped to see a positive response to the recent appointments of a temporary defence coach and a new Head Coach for 2022. It is early days for Brent Janse van Rensburgs’ work to show yet, but a few crunching tackles apart, it is clear he has much work to do. So too Johann van Graan, who faces the biggest challenge in European domestic rugby.
Usually these fixtures give supporters a chance to see the next generation of potential stars. Bath have been forced into early reliance on them already this season and they fully deserve a break before the Premiership resumes, so any seniors still fit and available will need to step in to shore up the team. Whoever is chosen gets a chance, not only to put their hand up and impress their Head Coach, but also to show their faith in the new direction and regime.
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
StumbleuponUNLUCKY THIRTEEN? BATH v EXETER CHIEFS
Discussion started by Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged), 27/12/2021 14:46
27/12/2021 14:46
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:12:31:14:12:25 by P G Tips.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:12:31:14:12:25 by P G Tips.
Quote:hantssabre
Have we got to wait another 180 years for a new Head Coach!
After last night it feels like it HS!
Thanks for the proof read!
PG
Just wonder if Brent Janse van Rensburg started with Roko, his defence was much improved and a couple of tackles were crunch ones and real savers!
Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
Quote:OutsideBath
Aside from the players does anyone really care that much?
True, almost past caring about the result and just sold my seats for this game…..sad state
Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
Adopted Player 2020/21 Cam Redpath
Adopted Player 2021/22 Darren Atkins
Adopted Player 2022/23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb
Adopted Player 2023/24 Tom Carr-Smith
Adopted Player 2024/25 Max Ojomoh
"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS
I'd like us to show some organisation. The final score will be whatever the Chiefs want it to be.
... IMHO, of course.
Now in Honolulu
... IMHO, of course.
Now in Honolulu
Ah right. I only got as far as looking at the fixture list on the Offy, not the actual 'latest news'!
It looks like we forfeited so presumably a 0-28 defeat. A total result!
... IMHO, of course.
Now in Honolulu
... IMHO, of course.
Now in Honolulu
Exeter welched then !! 
Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
Adopted Player 2020/21 Cam Redpath
Adopted Player 2021/22 Darren Atkins
Adopted Player 2022/23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb
Adopted Player 2023/24 Tom Carr-Smith
Adopted Player 2024/25 Max Ojomoh
"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS
Adopted Player 2018/19 Ross Batty
Adopted Player 2019/20 Jack Davies
Adopted Player 2020/21 Cam Redpath
Adopted Player 2021/22 Darren Atkins
Adopted Player 2022/23 Gabriel Hamer-Webb
Adopted Player 2023/24 Tom Carr-Smith
Adopted Player 2024/25 Max Ojomoh
"AN OUNCE OF ACTION IS WORTH A TON OF THEORY"
FRIEDRICH ENGELS
Hope all the players recover soon. Can’t say I was looking forward to another evening watching an under strength Bath side against a well rested Exeter team, possibly the time can now be used to focus on the new defensive system…
Quote:charlieboa
Is it on TV? Please say no...
No!
Well, not yet. Thanks for the preview PG, no offence but I hope you can't just roll the same news out in a few weeks time as we will all hope for better squad fitness.
Cancelling the Exeter match but being absolutely certain thar the match against LI still going ahead, thus dodging the tight match schedule to your advantage? Some tactical positive results being passed around at Farleigh? Hooper truly is desperate!
They're certain it is at the moment. 5 players missed the last match due to COVID, including the reserve loosehead, Schoeman. If one other loosehead is down, we have no more and we're not allowed to register any more (and pass COVID protocols in time). Schoeman would be back in time for Irish.
In terms of having extra time off... It didn't exactly help us this weekend. Also this is the joke cup, so I assume everyone's resting someone.
In terms of having extra time off... It didn't exactly help us this weekend. Also this is the joke cup, so I assume everyone's resting someone.
Have some sympathy with the conspiracy theorists but have to trust the club I think. Can easily imagine hoops attitude being ' let's not lose by 50 again' rather than ' great chance for game time for fringe players'.
Wonder who is out, hadn't realised schoeman was covid as think on sun it was described just as 'ill'.
Must be more covid and injuries than I realised as thought most of the below would be available. Assume lh is the problem.
Lh- boyce, cordwell, vaughan (stanley)
Hooker- dunn, doughty, du toit, stewart, (spandler)
Th- stuart, rae, jonker, verden, griffin (maggs)
Given everything that Is going this feels like it is for the best but I have huge sympathy for the rugby players in our squad who v v rarely actually get to play games of rugby.
Let's hope the ill guys are OK and the Irish game isn't too impacted.
Wonder who is out, hadn't realised schoeman was covid as think on sun it was described just as 'ill'.
Must be more covid and injuries than I realised as thought most of the below would be available. Assume lh is the problem.
Lh- boyce, cordwell, vaughan (stanley)
Hooker- dunn, doughty, du toit, stewart, (spandler)
Th- stuart, rae, jonker, verden, griffin (maggs)
Given everything that Is going this feels like it is for the best but I have huge sympathy for the rugby players in our squad who v v rarely actually get to play games of rugby.
Let's hope the ill guys are OK and the Irish game isn't too impacted.
Quote:Blarney
Cancelling the Exeter match but being absolutely certain thar the match against LI still going ahead, thus dodging the tight match schedule to your advantage? Some tactical positive results being passed around at Farleigh? Hooper truly is desperate!
Feel free to post your evidence of anything untoward being carried out by Bath.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:12:28:09:42:01 by OutsideBath.
Quote:OutsideBathQuote:Blarney
Cancelling the Exeter match but being absolutely certain thar the match against LI still going ahead, thus dodging the tight match schedule to your advantage? Some tactical positive results being passed around at Farleigh? Hooper truly is desperate!
Feel free to post your evidence of anything untoward being carried out by Bath.
Given that Bath are offering full refunds, the thought that they would tactically dump a nothing game and £300k-£500k (at a guess when you add all the extras) so they could have a couple more back fresh for a game vs Irish is nuts.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Precedent is to award a draw 0-0 it seems.
"The first league game to be postponed this season was Newcastle's home game with Sale on Boxing Day, which was treated as per last season, with the game officially recorded as a 0-0 draw, with four points to the Falcons and two to Sale."
Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.
"The first league game to be postponed this season was Newcastle's home game with Sale on Boxing Day, which was treated as per last season, with the game officially recorded as a 0-0 draw, with four points to the Falcons and two to Sale."
This is a cup game so not sure what happens for that?
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
I had assumed a spare weekend would be found in my earlier comment, but with the state of our defence at the moment rock, paper, scissors sounds acceptable.
We are not going anywhere in the cup anyway so let's rest the players and hope we can pick up a premiership win somewhere along the line.
Once this covid wave hopefully passes and we get some players back I really hope the club is proactive in arranging a few friendlies and/or getting players out on loan.
The couple of games back in March for fringe players were a great idea and need to do similar this year if at all possible.
The likes of cordwell, vaughan, Stewart , verden, griffin, read, cowan, staddon, goss, atkins etc desperately need games.
The couple of games back in March for fringe players were a great idea and need to do similar this year if at all possible.
The likes of cordwell, vaughan, Stewart , verden, griffin, read, cowan, staddon, goss, atkins etc desperately need games.
Quote:charlieboa
The likes of cordwell, vaughan, Stewart , verden, griffin, read, cowan, staddon, goss, atkins etc desperately need games.
Most of those are better either loaned to a lower league or playing in the BUCS league, not keen on seeing some 18/19 year old prop getting his spine crushed by a prem standard porp. For example Stewart was born in March 2002. Darren Atkins has desperately needed games for the last 5 years tbf, I think that his needing games ship has probably sailed.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Loans would be ideal but for some reason not loaned many our this season. Merigan and ghw to Hartpury are about the only ones I can think of. May be others. If we don't loan more out we need some friendlies I think.
Quite agree re young porps and hookers, wouldn't suggest the likes of Stanley, spandler, or maggs play any senior men's rugby this season.
Stewart played in the friendlies in March I think and did fine. Cordwell, vaughan and verden are all 23/24. Griffin never seems to playfor anyone ever for some reason.
Agree re atkins, his career along with some others would be better served where he gets a game and a chance to prove himself.
Quite agree re young porps and hookers, wouldn't suggest the likes of Stanley, spandler, or maggs play any senior men's rugby this season.
Stewart played in the friendlies in March I think and did fine. Cordwell, vaughan and verden are all 23/24. Griffin never seems to playfor anyone ever for some reason.
Agree re atkins, his career along with some others would be better served where he gets a game and a chance to prove himself.
Loans sounds like a good idea untill you're confronted with Bath's injury list. With less than 50% of the playing squad available for selection in the 23 the coaches need bodies to train against. It was buried in the academy update from the Glaws matchday program that Gave Goss is joining the Great Britain Sevens team from January.
Quote:Grumpy_Uncle _Iroh
Loans sounds like a good idea untill you're confronted with Bath's injury list. With less than 50% of the playing squad available for selection in the 23 the coaches need bodies to train against. It was buried in the academy update from the Glaws matchday program that Gave Goss is joining the Great Britain Sevens team from January.
I guess you just make sure the loan arrangement allows recall like we have with merigan and ghw.
It's a good point about training numbers- maybe adds weight to the argument that 2-3 friendlies in the spring has its benefits over loans (unofficial United games in effect).
Although we have an injury/illness crisis still lots of players not getting any game time and desperately need it.
Interesting re gabe goss- totally missed that. Is it a temporary arrangement or permanent? Shame if permanent to lose our quickest player in the whole squad who I thought looked v good in the spring friendlies in both attack and defence.
Quote:charlieboaQuote:Grumpy_Uncle _Iroh
Loans sounds like a good idea untill you're confronted with Bath's injury list. With less than 50% of the playing squad available for selection in the 23 the coaches need bodies to train against. It was buried in the academy update from the Glaws matchday program that Gave Goss is joining the Great Britain Sevens team from January.
I guess you just make sure the loan arrangement allows recall like we have with merigan and ghw.
It's a good point about training numbers- maybe adds weight to the argument that 2-3 friendlies in the spring has its benefits over loans (unofficial United games in effect).
Although we have an injury/illness crisis still lots of players not getting any game time and desperately need it.
Interesting re gabe goss- totally missed that. Is it a temporary arrangement or permanent? Shame if permanent to lose our quickest player in the whole squad who I thought looked v good in the spring friendlies in both attack and defence.
It's very position specific. At the time we had sufficient backrower options to play and train against for Merigan to go on loan. The same with GHW before Muir's ban and McC fluctuating injuries. I don't see why another team would allow us to keep players to train all week, which we definitely need, for them to feature in their matchday 23s. If it's a loan they need to go, like Wright and we can do that because we have more options. Who can we despence with now who fits that criteria who isn't in school? Only Atkins now that the club has signed Prydie. When XV against XV there is someone who has played there.
In my opinion players have to earn their spots and do more than simply be in the academy and as yet we don't have any secret gems demanding selection. Those that are close have been given some opportunities even if it is injury inspired. Some players are a mile off. Cordwell and Verden being humiliated against Glaws in the Prem Cup is the sort of evidence that they aren't ready that fans will ever get without being on the training field. Admittedly that wasn't anyone's fault but Skivingtons', putting out the side he did in the cup is against the purpose of the tournament but I digress. So loan them? Well we need them and it's arrogant to assume that anyone wants them!
Who should he getting more minutes but isn't?
Agree about Goss, got a feeling he'll be better than GMW in the long run. The program didn't say if the move was permanent or not.
In days of yore, there used to be mid week United games, which were used for Academy/returning injured senior players etc. Is this now regarded as an old fashioned amateurish way of managing things.
We used to be able to just turn up and walk in - happy days of yore before it all got organised and corporate - e.g. lots of extra admin mgt staff to administer the ground, etc. etc. Heyho.
We used to be able to just turn up and walk in - happy days of yore before it all got organised and corporate - e.g. lots of extra admin mgt staff to administer the ground, etc. etc. Heyho.
At the time of this game Bath had stated that:
A credit will be automatically applied to Season Ticket Holder and Annual Hospitality Member accounts.
[www.bathrugby.com]
Did any STH on here get any credit? My account is showing none.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
A credit will be automatically applied to Season Ticket Holder and Annual Hospitality Member accounts.
[www.bathrugby.com]
Did any STH on here get any credit? My account is showing none.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Quote:In previous seasons when a match was cancelled/moved from the original date the credit was applied at the end of the season in time for season ticket renewals. I know last season they open renewals before the end of the season, so hopefully they will sort it by that point… Although I’d expect there will be plenty of player announcements before or at renewal time to enthuse us too!!BathMatt53
At the time of this game Bath had stated that:
A credit will be automatically applied to Season Ticket Holder and Annual Hospitality Member accounts.
[www.bathrugby.com]
Did any STH on here get any credit? My account is showing none.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
Bath News 24/7
More Bath headlines
- LEARNINGS FOR NEXT SEASON. SEASON REVIEW CONTINUED.
- World Rugby Junior World Championship 2026 Preview
- FAILURE, FRUSTRATION OR FLATLINE? 2026 SEASON REVIEW
- "IT'S IN OUR HANDS”...BATH V EXETER.
- NOW OR NEVER: BATH V LEICESTER
- BOUNCEBACKABILITY: EXETER CHIEFS V BATH RUGBY
- LE HANDICAP? BORDEAUX v BATH ECC SEMI FINAL
- “MAY YOUR CHOICES REFLECT YOUR HOPES NOT YOUR FEARS”.
- EYES BACK ON THE OTHER PRIZE! BATH v HARLEQUINS
Bath latest threads
- O/T Postcards from the Past No 4 – Naples 2010
- Injury latest on forgotten Bath Rugby wrecking ball Jaco Coetzee
- OT / Prostate
- OT - Fox wins the Open at Birkdale
- O/T Postcards from the Past No 3 Théoule-sur-Mer – May 2017
- OT/ Site advertising
- Will Roue Signed ahead of the 2026/27 season
- Bath Rugby's confirmed 2026/27 incoming signings and outgoings
- 2026/27 PREM Rugby Cup fixtures confirmed
- O/T Postcards from the Past No2 Cordoba 2015