Match Preview - If You Build It They Will Come!


By Ed Scott
January 4 2012

Momentum is probably an over used word in sport, but Bath are aiming to build some this Sunday as they travel to Saracens for the second of their January Premiership games.

Bath need two things this weekend. The first is to remember the manner of their defeat to Sarries in the home fixture. That hurt, really badly, but it's the kind of pain that should be discussed and used. The second is to play like they did on Sunday against London Irish. By far their best performance of the season, it was smart, aggressive rugby and something to build on. For me, the two together, would give them the mental and physical strength that they will need in order to beat the champions on their own patch.
 
Writing previews has not been a happy task of late. Family Christmas commitments have forced me to miss the most recent two, but in truth they have been getting harder and harder to keep positive. This week there is no such problem as the Irish victory was not just a win, but a win with substance. Scraping past a team whilst playing badly is one thing, as sport is often all about a tick in the W column, but eventually, to beat the best, you need to play well. The key thing for Bath is to follow this up and produce a number of strong performances.
 
It is hard to see where the chinks in Saracens armour are. They have a powerful scrum, disruptive lineout, strong kicking game and good defence. That said, I believe that they lack creativity at times and can get too bogged down in pragmatic play. The key thing will be to pressure their half backs. With De Kock and Wigglesworth injured, Peter Stringer has been drafted in at scrum half. Personally I've never been a fan, but he's a proven winner even if possibly past his best. Hodgson is a master Premiership performer, but run hard down his channel enough, and he will crack. If we can break them, then we effect the whole flow of their game.
 
Like last week, the game will be won up front where our lineout must improve and back row need to step up yet another notch to challenge the class of Burger and Joubert. I have been impressed by Andy Beattie in recent weeks and would be surprised not to see his name on the starting sheet. I believe his physicality will be essential. Francois Louw simply needs to play like himself and with Simon Taylor getting back to form, we've got a unit capable of challenging at Vicarage Road.
 
In the front row, Bath must at least get parity in the scrums. I think that Wilson is really finding his feet and Flats showing his worth. They will need everything they've got on Sunday. Claassens and Donald are more than capable of running the show but need front foot ball in order to operate effectively. Donald is apparently now over the hip injury that he has been playing with for a few weeks, and perhaps that was displayed with a strong kicking display from both hand and tee.
 
It'll be interesting to see what backline Bath pick for this game. Personally, I'm not convinced that I would play Olly Barkley if he is fit. He has kicked well, but just seems physically not quite there yet for me. I would play Banners so that he can run at Hodgson, and definitely Carraro, who, pound for pound, must be one of the hardest tacklers in the Premiership. My guess however would be that Barkley will play 12 if fit with Banahan at 13 and Carraro on the wing.
 
Bath need to set a strong foundation in this game and play for the full 80 minutes. Too many times have we seen great halves or 20 minute spells only to watch them fall asleep and suddenly find themselves out of contention. Another good performance can help to cement the confidence and belief that we need. The more performances like last week, the more likely it is that we will get something from our season. Time to start looking up.....

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Match Preview - If You Build It They Will Come!
Discussion started by BathRugbyEre.co.uk , 04/01/2012 18:55
BathRugbyEre.co.uk
04/01/2012 18:55
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:01:09:20:36:24 by Susanne.

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johnnyf
04/01/2012 21:24
Good build-up Ed and thank you for taking the time to put this together.
For my two-pennyworth I would still play OB at 12 with Carraro outside him at 13 and Banahan on the wing.
Barkley has the creativity that Banahan lacks and he needs to build an understanding with Donald (as he did with Butch James)
And yes, there is a feeling in the gut that we can go to VR and really take it to Saracens.

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marshie10
04/01/2012 22:34
Good preview, but as johnny says, I seriously doubt that Banahan will play at 13. I think Bath see him as either a 12 or a wing.

http://i54.tinypic.com/b54os4.jpghttp://i56.tinypic.com/2z57ns0.jpghttp://i53.tinypic.com/s6umg9.jpghttp://i53.tinypic.com/mvrxjr.jpg

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gaz909
05/01/2012 08:47
good preview and my vote would be to get big runners hard at hodgson as much as possible so a banahan/carraro midfield for this game - we're not playing in the style of quins in their 2nd half by moving the ball quickly to avoid the breakdown so we will have to match physicality

the lineout will have to improve massively tho thats a real strength for sarries

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Bod
05/01/2012 08:51
" I believe that they lack creativity at times and can get too bogged down in pragmatic play."

Surely we have the Guru to combat this?

The lineout is a disaster.......where are they practising this week Lambridge or Chateau Bruce?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dOg4Ljp3kh8/Sf89bRrqecI/AAAAAAAAAJY/eJCF1kt4b0E/s200/DON%27T-SHOOT-THE-MESSENGER1.jpg

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Hoggers
05/01/2012 09:54
Lovely preview and thanks ever so much from a Sarries fan and STH. we look forward to welcoming your team and fans to VR on Sunday for what will hopefully be a great game. I watched your performance againt the Exiles and was impressed.

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OutsideBath
05/01/2012 10:36
I have to admit that prior to the Irish game I was struggling to see us winning any more games this season after the way we had been performing. I was also expecting a total hammering at Sarries by 40pts+

After the Irish game I am obviously delighted, but totally confused as what to expect. I wasn't at the game, but it sounds like we really put in a performance and got a thoroughly deserved win.

I guess the big question for the Sarries game is which Bath will turn up? I certainly hope it's the team from last weekend.

It's probably beyond our capabilities to win, but a LBP would now seem possible.

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Banahanfan
06/01/2012 15:58
Excellent report, but a bit of me is wondering if Sarries will be a thinking more of travelling to South Africa which they are doing straight after the game on Sunday?! Still looking forward to making the trip on Sunday - well it is my Birthday after all!!

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