Bath
TRICK OR TREAT? BATH v SALE
Russell: maestro!
By Bath Supporter Roy
October 28 2026
Halloween at the Rec, and the scariest thing on show lately has been the phantom tries we’ve missed out on from our trips to the opposition 22 in recent games. Bath have had phase on phase in the red zone in recent matches, yet we come away with a fraction of the points that the territory and pressure should earn - and did earn until recently. The nightmare started with the held up try in the Exeter semi-final last year, and ever since an out of sorts attack has often been stumbling in the final few inches, sleepwalking into held-up turnovers.
Kingsholm typified it. For long stretches of the first half, Bath had Gloucester on the tackle rack, at times down to 13 men, but we lost that 20-minute phase 9-0. Our maul try on the stroke of half-time saved a few blushes. Ninety seconds after the restart we were held up over the line again. Once may be bad luck; this often presents a frightening pattern.
Pick-and-go and the close-range maul used to be our banker. We’d close out key moments in a ceaseless barrage of monstrous carries, and teams couldn’t live with the waves of power. But with TdT now bulldozing for the Durban Sharks and defences seemingly having deciphered the routine, the strike rate has collapsed. Goal-line pressure only counts when it becomes points on the board and bodies in the bin, but we got the bodies without the points.
Contrast that with what has been done to us. Northampton a fortnight earlier, and Gloucester on 53 minutes: a couple of phases only, speed and movement, and a searing line straight through a backtracking defence. Is it the deception of the opposition’s attack, or the price of our pressure and rush in D? Our defence can drive teams backwards when it lands but leaves a gap to find when it doesn’t.
There was a glimmer in the second half around 45 mins - our first set of attacks started looking wider and further from the ruck, forwards and backs in mixed interplay, passing the ball a couple times per phase, and Gloucester looked stretched for the first time all night. More of that, please, it should not take the first half to realise the need for variation and pace.
Santi’s ACL and Pepper’s ankle now join Underhill, Bhatti, and DDP on the treatment table. Scott Kirk’s new toe injury means we are down to “the kids of the kids” at loosehead. I would say we’ve got off lightly on injuries over the past two seasons, chance is balancing the books at the moment. This means an acceleration in blooding our youngsters and, without being too pessimistic, this season emerging as a transition season of sorts. Time invested in new talents now will bear fruit alongside a likely sprinkling of post world-cup stars swelling the ranks.
Very, very briefly - credit to Gloucester. Our first Prem defeat to them since November 2022 says as much about their recovery as about our fall, and they had earned it by half-time, ahead despite two yellow cards and untold pressure.
Now onto our opposition - another side whose teeth have gone blunt. Sale were held to just three points against Newcastle in a gale, the Red Bulls’ first win of the season. In a reflection of the modern game, Ford’s sole penalty was their first penalty goal of his team’s season.
Sanderson called last season (their worst league finish in seven years) ‘a year of transition’, he cleared out fifteen players, and signed Courtney Lawes, Joe Marchant, Christ Tshiunza, Nicky Smith, and Tomas Francis. In reality, Sale are still forming again as a side, and we are (should be) further along the process, with recent history on our side: before September’s PREM Cup reverse (50-28 in Salford), Bath had beaten Sale eight times running. Sale’s last league win at the Rec came in 2022.
The killer factor this week will be conversion. Can one of these teams start to use deception and depth to score tries from range in fewer, but more decisive phases? Or will we see a race to the bottom, two monstrous packs slogging pick-and-go’s, with Spencer and Russell’s out-of-form boots determining the rest.
Are we in for a trick - a Halloween home loss, or a treat – Bath’s attack firing from distance, Finn remembering he’s a maestro, and the young tyros showing their class AND composure in the red zone.
In JVG we trust, Prendergast must be given time as Blackett was, it can’t all be champagne and trophies… we must take the rough with the smooth, and better the rough in winter and the smooth in Summer… Come on you BATH.
Suggested Team – match the Sale pack first up, keep the youngster’s blend, not enough forwards remaining for the 6-2..?
1. Beno
2. Dunn
3. Griffin
4. Ewels
5. Jeanes
6. Hill
7. Bayliss
8. Green
9. Spencer
10. Russell
11. Hennessey
12. Redpath
13. Ojomoh (if fit enough)
14. Griffin
15. De Glanville (back in training)
16. Frost
17. ??? Ioan Emanuel / Claudius Wheeler ??? whoever is left
18. Verden
19. Opoku-Gyamfi
20. Reid
21. Carr-Smith
22. Donoghue
23. Lawrence
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
28/10/2026 08:33
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2026:10:30:12:02:29 by P G Tips.
Not going to let any of that stop me tho....
Tdg
Arundell
Hennessey
Mojo
Griffin
Finn
Spencer
Beno
Dunn
Stuart
EO-G
Ewels
Richards
Reid
Green
Bench: frost, emmanuel, griffin, jeanes, bayliss, tcs, redpath, jaco
I assume kepu out. Giving hill , lawrence and big joe a break as all look out of sorts
Toss up between griffin and offiah.
No idea if roux is fit or not.
Tempting to go 5:3 with question marks over tdg and arundell.
I've said it ad nauseam, but pick and drives that don't result in a try should be regarded no differently to butchering a 2 on 1.
Nice report presenting a more balanced view to my febrile attitude at the moment!
We have been unfortunate on injuries of late or perhaps for the past two years we were very fortunate.
If we don't win this, and that is a serious possibility, we need to look to ourselves very closely.
Earlier in the season we started to pick and drive for a few goes and then two or three passes to a man in space.
We should never pick and go more than 5 times......
The last home game was dire and reminiscent of Hooper’s era so I’d actually just settle for Bath entertaining us.
TdG
Cokanasiga
Hennessey
Ojomoh
Arundell
Russell
Van der Linde
Obano
Dunn
Griffin
Ewels
Roux
Hill
Bayliss
Green
Wheeler Frost Stuart EOG Reid Spencer Redpath Coetzee
Think Archie Griffin has done well, keeping Stuart benching to help Wheeler or EmmanueL at scrum time. Get Lewis Boyce on the phone.....
adopted player, 24/25 Hame Faiva. 23/24 Ted Hill. 22/23 Cam Redpath. 21/22 Max Clark. 20/21 Henry Thomas. 19/20 Max Wright. 18/19 Cooper Vuna.
Certainly with the options coming back there it would be frustrating not to give Hennessey a run at 13.
Does feel like a must win game even if in the bigger picture it's probably not. Might be up against the only team playing more below where they should be than us and should be a nervy international break for Sanderson if we can take the points on Saturday
Quote:Optimist
I very much hope that Finn and coaches will remember that it was he who initially converted us from pick-and-go headbangers into red-zone efficiency monsters, by actually wanting the ball.
I've said it ad nauseam, but pick and drives that don't result in a try should be regarded no differently to butchering a 2 on 1.
I'd go even further, even though I know it will never happen. Every failed pick n die from 1 metre out after 5 is one point to the defending team
Quote:theredseat
Certainly with the options coming back there it would be frustrating not to give Hennessey a run at 13.
Hennessy was with the Wales squad at the start of the week so quite probable Tandy told him to have a good one this weekend.
De Glanville has started training, but will he be ready?
It could be we will be stretched in the backline as well as front row. At least in Griffin & Offiah we have some good wing backups should reshuffles be necessary there.
Reid should be available for the pack. Not sure what has happened to Roux as he has yet to feature in injury updates, so hopefully he will be available.
PG
I think Hennessy will play 13 and I've a suspicion Lawrence will play 12. Pack kinda picks itself and I hope BVDL is fit as I think he's the only way Spencer gets a break and we shake it up a bit.
Obano Dunn Stuart EOG Ewels Hill Reid Green
Spencer Finn Arundell/Muir Lawrence Hennessy JCok TDG
Frost Emman Griffin Roux Bayliss BVDL Donoghue JC23
Good shout trs to maybe hold back stuart to help out emmanuel.
Almost every team in the league subs their 9 in and around the 50-60 minute mark, and Spencer isn't getting any younger, so think we need to be braver in trusting our alternate options at 9, both to preserve Spencer but also just to give our game more energy and some variation.
Quote:dr.bath1865
Sorry- as in, a break from playing the full 80 minutes... or 74 minutes if it's a lost cause.
Almost every team in the league subs their 9 in and around the 50-60 minute mark, and Spencer isn't getting any younger, so think we need to be braver in trusting our alternate options at 9, both to preserve Spencer but also just to give our game more energy and some variation.
Drawback of a 6:2 bench and need to keep a back on the bench until late in the game? Unless you want Bayliss on the wing!
Need to hold someone back and tends to be our bench 9 when we have a 6:2 bench.
I'm not sure the week before an international break and following a disrupted training week is the optimal time to change from this unless there's availability and match fitness issues to account for
Ojomoh has to start, we were toothless against Gloucester. My biased team:
Obeno Tupe Griffin
Roux Jeanes
Richards Reid
Green
Arundell Spencer Russell Ojomoh Hennessey Griffin
Donoghue
I want to rest Russell but we cant with two full backs out.
We are also getting too many injuries in the backs.
I would drop the bombsquad for a shake up and go with a 5:3 split to help the injuries.
Curiosity got the better of me on the Boyce shout. LinkedIn says he's a scaffolder back home in Boro aged just 30. If his body's still up to it, there's been worse shouts!
Need the biggest possible crop of forwards available on Sat for obvious reasons and really hope TdG is fit. Fear it could be the start of a crisis if we lost - at home - to a team currently in the midst of one but nothing to suggest Sale have such a result in them
Quote:Barfboy
Curiosity got the better of me on the Boyce shout. LinkedIn says he's a scaffolder back home in Boro aged just 30. If his body's still up to it, there's been worse shouts!
Presumably JvG still has Arthur Cordwell's number?!
I didnt think they did but i lose track of what the deal involves....
Quote:theredseatQuote:Barfboy
Curiosity got the better of me on the Boyce shout. LinkedIn says he's a scaffolder back home in Boro aged just 30. If his body's still up to it, there's been worse shouts!
Presumably JvG still has Arthur Cordwell's number?!
I think arthur retired pretty young due to a chronic injury?
If kirks injury will keep him out for a few of the prem games after the autumn ints i think jvg will look for injury cover.
Emmanuel i am sure will be ok for 20 mins tomorrow, tho sale have a big old set of forwards- excited to see how he goes, packed the muscle on over past few years and a good ball player.
Quote:Honestly if you are going after retired players who never made it past 3rd choice several years ago, all hope is lost.theredseatQuote:Barfboy
Curiosity got the better of me on the Boyce shout. LinkedIn says he's a scaffolder back home in Boro aged just 30. If his body's still up to it, there's been worse shouts!
Presumably JvG still has Arthur Cordwell's number?!
I think you’d be better looking in the Championship if the Uni doesn’t have anyone.
Quote:dcshQuote:Honestly if you are going after retired players who never made it past 3rd choice several years ago, all hope is lost.theredseatQuote:Barfboy
Curiosity got the better of me on the Boyce shout. LinkedIn says he's a scaffolder back home in Boro aged just 30. If his body's still up to it, there's been worse shouts!
Presumably JvG still has Arthur Cordwell's number?!
I think you’d be better looking in the Championship if the Uni doesn’t have anyone.
It wasn't a serious suggestion don't panic
21 yrs old , 22 in jan- in his second season playing mens rugby in wales i think.
6ft 2 and 19 st 5 lbs. Plenty of experience wirh wales u20s.
I would be excited to see him get a go.
Imagine the plan was always to give him and wheeler some games in the prem cup.
I think the pre- planned rotation has largely happened.
I can only think of possibly beno and finn who have started in every game.
Will he reward some promising displays by fringe players, will he leave out players who are in a disappointing run of form.
For me the key indicators as to whether he just reverts to tried and trusted will be whether jeanes or eog get a go at lock, does green get a start, does hennessey play at 13, do griffin or tyler get another go on the wing.
V interesting , not long to wait...
Quote:Charlieboa1
Do england have any say over who is available for their clubds this weekend?
I didnt think they did but i lose track of what the deal involves....
England have the final medical say on whether EEPS players are available for their clubs.
So most should be available, the issue is that those in England camp have missed Club training. Maybe why JVP is on the bench for Tigers this evening especially with a 6 day turnaround.
Quote:shipwrecked
JvG will go as strong as he can ......... it's a home game!
Totally agree, although I’m no longer convinced OL is part of our strongest team.
Bath Rugby: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer (c), 1 Beno Obano, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Ted Hill, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Josh Bayliss.
Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Claudius Wheeler (debut), 18 Will Stuart, 19 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 20 Ewan Richards, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Louie Hennessey, 23 Jaco Coetzee
PG
Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Claudius Wheeler (debut), 18 Will Stuart, 19 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 20 Ewan Richards, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Louie Hennessey, 23 Jaco Coetzee
Pretty strong but seems to be a bit of the best we've got and really hoping Arundell and de Glanville are fit. Only 2 backs on bench so concern if those returning have issues. Interesting that Bayliss is at 8 with Reid at 7. Another opportunity for Jeannes who seemed to be playing an enforcer role last home match. Wonder if Roux is injured as not been mentioned for a while?
Sale Sharks team news
15. Joe Carpenter14. Tom Roebuck13. Joe Marchant12. Alex Lozowski11. Tom O’Flaherty10. George Ford9. Gus Warr;1. Nicky Smith2. Nathan Jibulu3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour4. Ernst van Rhyn (c)5. Ben Bamber6. Christ Tshiunza7. Ben Curry8. Tom Curry
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie17. Si McIntyre18. Tomas Francis19. Tom Burrow20. Sam Dugdale21. Dom Hanson22. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White23. Elia Canakaivata
PG
Quote:Tlacey90
Interesting that Bayliss is at 8 with Reid at 7. Another opportunity for Jeannes who seemed to be playing an enforcer role last home match. Wonder if Roux is injured as not been mentioned for a while?
Have to assume an issue with Roux at this point. Annoying that JvG hasn't been asked about him.
Agree on Bayliss / Reid. Probably doesn't matter too much in game but according to Allrugby they haven't been picked together that way around since October 2022 and hard to believe but seems Bayliss hasn't started at 7 since April 2021
It's an incredibly meaty looking bench this week - some protection there for Wheeler maybe?
Over / under on Beno's minutes set at 72
Quote:theredseatQuote:Tlacey90
Interesting that Bayliss is at 8 with Reid at 7. Another opportunity for Jeannes who seemed to be playing an enforcer role last home match. Wonder if Roux is injured as not been mentioned for a while?
Have to assume an issue with Roux at this point. Annoying that JvG hasn't been asked about him.
Agree on Bayliss / Reid. Probably doesn't matter too much in game but according to Allrugby they haven't been picked together that way around since October 2022 and hard to believe but seems Bayliss hasn't started at 7 since April 2021
It's an incredibly meaty looking bench this week - some protection there for Wheeler maybe?
Over / under on Beno's minutes set at 72
Wheeler over Emmanuel is interesting. Makes sense in that he has presumably been training with the squad all season rather than out on loan.
As you say trs, wise move to have dunn and stuart with him on the bench.
Roux is interesting- could believe he was kept on largely as a mentor but 1 game in 6 (where he played v well) seems very light. I am pleased jeanes and EOG are being trusted though and shows how far malony has fallen. if ewels got inj he may be next in line though tbf.
Really disappointing that green doesnt get a go at 8 (or even in the squad) but hard to be upset by a backrow of hill/ reid/ bayliss.
Not sure how many chances ollie l will get to find his form- really think hennessy should have been given a go.
Glad to see tgd back along with henry for a bit of x factor
Quote:Charlieboa1
Not sure how many chances ollie l will get to find his form- really think hennessy should have been given a go.
Other than Finn he's played the most minutes of anyone in the squad this year. Hennessey was obviously unavailable for most of the games but feels now like a contract related thing: 'we'll give you every chance to show what you can do and try and get back into the England make up in the first block and then let's see where we are over the break' seems like a plausible stage in the negotiations to me
I think a good result is us getting him signed to a reduced contract for a year or 2 and put the difference to helping keep mojo and hennessey.
Hopefully he has a big game and rams my words down my throat- would be delighted as it his best he is almost unplayable
What I mean is, the last three years the only teams we’ve truly struggled against are the throw it around, run from anywhere, basketball style teams. Saints, Bristol, to a slightly less extent Glaws. However against teams who play more rigidly we’ve been largely successful, I’m thinking Sale, Saracens, Tigers.
I suspect it suits our defence style, and our offensive patterns.
Merely an observation, but I’m hoping for a decent win that lifts spirits and gets us right back in the mix for top four! A couple of wild card results would be helpful as well!
That is actually a really good backs selection for Sale. Stick Lozo at 10 and Masi White at 12 and that looks like a unit that won't be a defensive liability and will offer a lot in attack. You even have the security of Ford on the bench to close games out if that's the way you're going.
Quote:Charlieboa1
Wheeler over Emmanuel is interesting. Makes sense in that he has presumably been training with the squad all season rather than out on loan.
As far as I can see Emmanuel was recalled from his Cardiff loan in October due to the front row injuries so should be fully available.
I can only think Beno will go long into the second half.
But where is Roux, he had a stormer against Exeter, they kept him on the full game. After the match footage did show him looking pretty pis*ed off. It might be a fallout.
I went with Griffin over Big Joe. Personally many in the backline are not playing well enough, and I also chose Hennessey over Lawrence.
De'Glanville is back!! And Arundell!!
This match will be close, both sides are underperforming. I think it will be a draw, or Sale by 3.
Unless Prendergast convinces JVG to play wide, I do not see us winning by trying forward power against their pack.
Best of luck to Jeanes, Griffin, and can't wait to Opoku-Gyamfi coming on.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:10:31:04:31:17 by exbathballboy.
