By Giles The Drunk
November 1 2005

I had a quick look at the table - only one point between us going into this game ! Then as I started to piece together the info I needed for this preview I started with these sobering facts...

• Bath are on a run of 6 straight victories in all competitions
• Bath have won the last six matches they have played against London Irish stretching back to a 31-15 win for us back in April 2002

I nearly 'put down my pen'. Then the name Malone started to haunt me as I'm sure it does the players at Irish.

• 2004-2005

  Madstad - 84th minute drop goal from Malone - Bath won by 2 points

• 2004-2003

  Recreation Ground - 83rd minute drop goal from Malone - Bath won by 2 points
  Madstad - 80th minute drop goal from Malone - Bath won by 1 point

I still didn't give up searching for the 'good news'.

Aha - they will have several first team players out. Some through international selection, some more unfortunately through injury but names such as Stevens, Mears, Grewcock, Borthwick and Barclay will not be gracing the pages of this weekend's programme. With Malone and a couple of others as possible injury worries it doesn't look too rosy as far as team selection is concerned. The big caveat to that is that Bath don't do that badly when under selection pressure during internationals.

Is this the one then? Is this when we end their winning streak as they did to us last season at the Rec?

We certainly have much more strength in depth across the squad than in previous, recent seasons, something Bath may well be struggling with.

One thing is for sure - we will need to keep going to the bitter end. The team, and especially the forwards I feel, will need to be as fresh in the 84th minute as in the first. My words of warning to them are if a blue and white wedge is approaching our 22 in the final throws of the match and there's a fella by the name of Malone loitering with intent behind it... push harder !!!

I'm actually quietly confident that with the try scoring practise the guys had on Sunday now well and truly under their belt that the last minute worries are a thing of the past. Hopefully Saturday will see us put it away early!!

It would be remiss of me not to mention Justin Bishop's potential achievement this weekend - if selected he is set to become only the 3rd player, and the first 'non Wasp', to make 150 appearances for One club in the premiership. Well Done to you Justin and we all have everything crossed that you get selected and the right result.