Ellis: carrier

By P G Tips
January 2 2019

Bath can rise to 4th if they win at Worcester on Saturday and other results favour them. One of 6 clubs bracketed together separated by a single game’s worth of league points, they seek a third Premiership victory in a row to top the mid table dogfight. Buoyed by wins over Wasps and Leicester, they are bookies’ favourites to triumph. Blackadder has identified the match as “vital” – the result and to keep building performances. So will it be “Severn Heaven” or “oh hell!” on Saturday evening?

Frequently Premiership whipping boys, Worcester made a promising start to the season, based on some sound recruitment and the coaching of Alan Solomons. His mix of pragmatism and vision produced a more adventurous approach, aiming to get the best out of talented backs like Weir, Pennell and Humphreys. Recent matches have seen them slump to 11^th and, joint favourites with Newcastle for the drop, they will be desperate to reverse the trend. Last weekend they stunned champions Saracens with two early tries and deservedly led 17-11 at half time, before eventually succumbing without the consolation of a losing bonus. They will though take heart from the performance of Ben Te’o, whose appearances at Sixways have been almost as rare as sightings of Shergar at the nearby racecourse.  Against Saracens he combined well with Francois Venter – they will be a testing pair to shackle. Bath should beware taking Warriors lightly: the “Severn Bore” tag no longer fits and the power of desperation will be heady motivation to start the New Year with a bang.

Injury news for Bath is mixed, with the win over Tigers proving a pyrrhic victory. Captain Matt Garvey will be out with a broken ankle for 12 weeks, while Sam Underhill’s ligament damage could sideline him for four. These two have able replacements in Attwood, Mercer and Grant, all fit and available.  Nathan Catt will miss out this weekend with a sore shoulder, testing already stretched loosehead resources, while Ruaridh McConnochie is unlikely to be risked due to a hamstring tweak. With Cooper Vuna in good form and both Aled Brew and Tom Homer back in action there is enough cover for him and Jackson Willison may get a chance to return against his old club.

Bath’s two recent victories appear to have owed as much to self-belief and belligerent attitude as to any originality in attack. Both at the Ricoh and at home to Leicester the forwards dominated possession and territory, showed a determination to break tackles and to finish the job. There were still too many errors close to the opposition line and Bath should have beaten Tigers more convincingly had all the pick and drives worked. “Fine margins” seems the theme of this Premiership: Worcester in 11^th having scored one try fewer than Bath in 5^th and conceded only two more. To win at Sixways Bath will need to add accuracy, slick finishing and ruthlessness to the welcome determination of the last two games.

After Worcester, Bath’s next Premiership tie will be the other strugglers – Newcastle Falcons – at home. Two more wins could see them establish a firm bridgehead in the playoff places, so this could be a pivotal match in a season of “tipping points”. In Attwood, Dunn, Thomas, Louw and Ellis, Bath have the carriers to take the battle into the heart of the Warriors defence. Behind them, Roberts can provide the go forward and Willison (or the fast maturing Wright) the penetration and breaks. If Chudley and Burns can get these two operating on the front foot, I expect ample chances for Vuna and Rokodoguni to finish. Bath to win – by a score.

Possible Teams:
Bath:V Rooyen, Dunn, Thomas, Attwood, Ewels, Ellis, Louw, Mercer. Chudley (Capt.), Burns, Vuna, Roberts, Wright, Rokodoguni. James Wilson.

Replacements: Noguera, Batty, Lahiff, Stooke, Grant. Green, Priestland, Brew.

Worcester:

Black, Singleton, Kerrod, Bresler, Phillips, Hill, Lewis,Van Velze.

Hougaard, Weir. Heem, Venter, Te’o, Humphreys. Pennell.

Replacements: Bower, Taufete’e, Schonert, Barry, Cox. Arr, Lawrence, van Breda

Severn Heaven? Worcester v Bath: AND TEAM'S UP

Discussion started by Comeonmylovers.co.uk (IP Logged), 02/01/2019 16:31

Comeonmylovers.co.uk
02/01/2019 16:31

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 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:09:07:38:26 by P G Tips.

Reply Quote Report

BathMatt53
02/01/2019 16:32

[www.premiershiprugby.com]

Worcester Warriors v Bath Rugby (Sixways, 3pm)

Referee: Ian Tempest (54th Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: JP Doyle & Simon Harding.
TMO: Stuart Terheege.
Citing Officer: Paul Burke.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:02:17:48:45 by BathMatt53.

Reply Quote Report

Optimist
03/01/2019 09:47

Thought for a minute Butch was back in that 'Possible team'!

Wilson > Jack > Jackson > Wilison > James ... all very confusing.

Reply Quote Report

P G Tips
03/01/2019 12:29

Doh!

Thanks for pointing that out Opti!

PG

Reply Quote Report

gaz59
03/01/2019 15:26

Quote:

Optimist
Thought for a minute Butch was back in that 'Possible team'!
Wilson > Jack > Jackson > Wilison > James ... all very confusing.

I'll have a Jameson then, huzzah!

Reply Quote Report

Optimist
03/01/2019 15:51

We did have a (Brendon, not Jack) Daniel at one point - and what a player he was on his day. Last time I saw him was in a restaurant in San Sebastian after the Biarritz game. He put on a Bath shirt for one last time and gave a rousing rendition of Dinah Dinah or some such.

Reply Quote Report

CoochieCoo
04/01/2019 11:53

15. James Wilson

14. Semesa Rokoduguni

13. Max Wright

12. Jamie Roberts

11. Cooper Vuna

10. Freddie Burns

9. Will Chudley (C)

1. Jacques van Rooyen

2. Tom Dunn

3. Henry Thomas

4. Charlie Ewels (VC)

5. Dave Attwood

6. Tom Ellis

7. Francois Louw

8. Zach Mercer



Replacements



16. Ross Batty

17. Lucas Noguera

18. Max Lahiff

19. Elliott Stooke

20. Josh Bayliss

21. Max Green

22. Rhys Priestland

23. Aled Brew



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2019:01:04:18:32:35 by CoochieCoo.

Reply Quote Report

bathwickboy
04/01/2019 11:54

Bath Rugby team to face Worcester Warriors

15. James Wilson

14. Semesa Rokoduguni

13. Max Wright

12. Jamie Roberts

11. Cooper Vuna

10. Freddie Burns

9. Will Chudley

1. Jacques van Rooyen

2. Tom Dunn

3. Henry Thomas

4. Charlie Ewels

5. Dave Attwood

6. Tom Ellis

7. Francois Louw

8. Zach Mercer

Replacements

16. Ross Batty

17. Lucas Noguera

18. Max Lahiff

19. Elliott Stooke

20. Josh Bayliss

21. Max Green

22. Rhys Priestland

23. Aled Brew

Reply Quote Report

bathwickboy
04/01/2019 11:55

Still no Willison?

Reply Quote Report

P G Tips
04/01/2019 12:03

And the Warriors:


15 Chris Pennell
14 Bryce Heem
13 Francois Venter
12 Ben Te’o
11 Perry Humphreys
10 Duncan Weir
9 Francois Hougaard
1 Callum Black
2 Jack Singleton
3 Nick Schonert
4 Anton Bresler
5 Michael Fatialofa
6 Ted Hill
7 Sam Lewis
8 GJ van Velze (C)

Replacements
16 Joe Taufete’e
17 Ethan Waller
18 Gareth Milasinovich
19 Pierce Phillips
20 Darren Barry
21 Marco Mama
22 Jonny Arr
23 Ryan Mills

PG

Reply Quote Report

ballsout
04/01/2019 12:13

Can easily see us losing this one, sadly.

Reply Quote Report

fat lock
04/01/2019 12:30

I can also see us winning
It's the draw I'm finding difficult to envisage

Reply Quote Report

Beergoggles
04/01/2019 12:55

Quote:

fat lock
I can also see us winning
It's the draw I'm finding difficult to envisage

Reply Quote Report

ballsout
04/01/2019 13:03

Worcester blew Sarries away last week in the first half at Allianz Park, running in tries for fun. They could have easily won that game.

Now they have Schonert back and a settled team, unlike us, I'd say they start as favourites.

Reply Quote Report

TCM2007
04/01/2019 13:07

Put the teams up thread in the article comments - that'll increase the site revenue a lot. Smart.

Stuart

Former ed.

Reply Quote Report

dr.bath1865
04/01/2019 13:15

They lost to Sarries (a game has two halves) and the week before they got beat at home by Northampton 6-32.

I'd agree, they likely start as favourites given the plastic home pitch, but not by much given our recent form.

Reply Quote Report

BathMatt53
04/01/2019 13:25

Skybet has Bath by 3 but as is the case almost every week*, this is a toss of a coin. Good for us that Mills and Adams aren't starting for them. Lets hope that super Cooper can show them what they are missing.

COYB!

[and is the same as for the Tigers vs Glos and Newcastle vs Quins games this week]

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Reply Quote Report

Bath Hammer
04/01/2019 14:15

It’s a pity that Ruaridh is unavailable as he was warming up nicely but Vuna seems to be having a significant resurgence of form so hopeful there. I just hope the forwards can gain parity/ascendancy & keep up their good breakdown work in the absence of Underhill. I could see this going either way.

Reply Quote Report

BathBurger
04/01/2019 15:09

Hougaard, Weir, Te’o, Venter, Heem and Pennel seem to fit really well as a structure against Sarries. Pace and strength mixed well. Very explosive.

Controlling the break down will be so important as fast ball is where thy look most dangerous.

As for their front row, I have no idea how the dark arts work so I simply hope we get the better of them!

Reply Quote Report

w4rriorz1980
04/01/2019 15:36

Safe journey Bath fans.

Considering our respective form of late you start as favourites.

We certainly can't play like we did against Saints.We rarely play like that 2 home games in a row so i'm clinging onto that hope!

Eats,Shoots And Leaves

Reply Quote Report

Optimist
04/01/2019 16:06

'They could have easily won that game'

But they didn't. Funny how that is a forgivable sin for Wuss.

I'm going to go out on a limb here, and say Bath are going to win this comfortably. Run-on team is stronger than it was last week - and Mercer should be very rested, and very raring to go with 6Ns slots up for grabs. The Chudley/Burns/Wilson axis should thrive on a fast track, and now that we have some daylight between us and the relegation battle, it's time to open up a bit. McConnochie has been wondrous, but Vuna is also an absolute menace.

Reply Quote Report

Susanne
04/01/2019 16:10

Do we have a captain?

And Doyle running the line - thought that only happened to refs when they'd had a bad one... Or is it part of Tempest's development?

Reply Quote Report

gaz59
04/01/2019 16:20

Saints really took the game to Wuss right from the start. Fast defence line speed and aggressive double tackling - Wuss were forced into numerous handling errors and struggled to get any phases going

Pretty much what we've seen from Bath in most recent games

Freddie should be feeling more confident and will have the back up of a dominant back row. With a strong bench to come on the main risk will come from the dangerous counter attack running from the likes of Hougaard, Pennell, Heem and Humphreys if the game gets a bit loose

I will be watching the other Bath team tomorrow, the City away at Dulwich Hamlet. Now there is a story about how to get your pitch and stadium sorted!

Reply Quote Report

Optimist
04/01/2019 16:26

A Hamlet takes on an entire City - a proper David vs Goliath match.

What happened to the first 187 items on your 'to do on a Saturday afternoon in January' list gaz???

Reply Quote Report

Kidney Stone
04/01/2019 17:04

Quote:

Optimist
'They could have easily won that game'
But they didn't. Funny how that is a forgivable sin for Wuss.

I'm going to go out on a limb here, and say Bath are going to win this comfortably. Run-on team is stronger than it was last week - and Mercer should be very rested, and very raring to go with 6Ns slots up for grabs. The Chudley/Burns/Wilson axis should thrive on a fast track, and now that we have some daylight between us and the relegation battle, it's time to open up a bit. McConnochie has been wondrous, but Vuna is also an absolute menace.

This sums it up well for me. Also Atters returning is a positive thing.

COYB

Reply Quote Report

CoochieCoo
04/01/2019 18:35

Quote:

Susanne
Do we have a captain?
And Doyle running the line - thought that only happened to refs when they'd had a bad one... Or is it part of Tempest's development?

Chudley captain, Ewels his vice!

Reply Quote Report

shipwrecked
04/01/2019 19:23

Quote:

CoochieCoo
Chudley captain, Ewels his vice!

That sounds all wrong CC.


Tyler Offiah
Opinion is based on assumptions, whereas fact is based on observation or research.

Reply Quote Report

Old Bath Tub
04/01/2019 20:55

Quote:

bathwickboy
Still no Willison?

Or Chris Cook ?

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

Reply Quote Report

Bath Hammer
05/01/2019 04:53

Some players who are not mentioned as unfit have gone off the radar. Homer is another. Mind you, we don’t seem to have missed them too much recently.

Reply Quote Report

BathMatt53
05/01/2019 08:38

Cook and Homer were both fine for the united games so assume they are both just not in favour? I would expect to see them for the two euro games though.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Reply Quote Report

Bath Hammer
05/01/2019 10:19

Having read an assessment of our forthcoming games it would help us immensely if we can find a way of winning this one.

Reply Quote Report

Clarkey3k
05/01/2019 10:51

Most bookies have Bath to win by a whisker - see Oddschecker. I travel soon in hope of a win by a score against a useful looking Warriors team. I will be fascinated by the Roberts/Teo match up, it could be a thunderous afternoon for those two. COYB!

Adopted players: 24/25 J Bayliss; [24] O Lawrence; [23] J Cokanasiga; [22] M Green; [21] A Watson; [20] T Faletau; [19] M V Vuuren; [18] T Faletau; [17] D Denton; [16] H. Agulla; [15] L Houston; [14] W Spencer; [13] F. Louw

Family . Community . Nation - [sdp.org.uk]

My mind's been going places without me lately - Bushfire The B52's

Reply Quote Report

gaz59
05/01/2019 11:01

Quote:

Optimist
A Hamlet takes on an entire City - a proper David vs Goliath match.
What happened to the first 187 items on your 'to do on a Saturday afternoon in January' list gaz???

This is one of many bucket list 'projects' that involves paying homage to a happy past - last saw the city (never got the romans thing) about 45 years ago. Away at Yeovil,. Bert Head was manager and we won to get promoted to the plain Conference or whatever it was called then - no Screwfux or naff pizza company sponsors in those distant days. Proudly wearing black n white bobble hat but just wish I'd kept my footy rattle

Reply Quote Report

abendanon-anon-anon
05/01/2019 12:25

Quote:

gaz59

Quote:

Optimist
A Hamlet takes on an entire City - a proper David vs Goliath match.
What happened to the first 187 items on your 'to do on a Saturday afternoon in January' list gaz???

This is one of many bucket list 'projects' that involves paying homage to a happy past - last saw the city (never got the romans thing) about 45 years ago. Away at Yeovil,. Bert Head was manager and we won to get promoted to the plain Conference or whatever it was called then - no Screwfux or naff pizza company sponsors in those distant days. Proudly wearing black n white bobble hat but just wish I'd kept my footy rattle

Gaz, Would you get in the ground with one of those rattles these days - surely an offensive weapon?

Reply Quote Report

BathMatt53
05/01/2019 12:29

You can probably download a football rattle app these days instead.

[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]

Reply Quote Report

Goto Page: 12Next

Current Page: of 2

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net