Aviva Premiership - Round 16

[TommiG88]

Round 16 - saints have been ****. Dickson is brain dead, Kahn is so much better. However, Wigglesworth is the worst premiership ref, his decisions always come across as a guess.

 

[Irishkid]

We've got Welsh hope we put 30+ points on them.

 

[ratsapprentice]

We need a second FH. <_<

 

[Irishkid]

Exeter beat Bath. Slade and Ewers impressing again. We put 50 over Welsh Alex Lewington hat trick he must be one of the leading try scorers he has been a great signing,

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

So if Wasps get a TBP win against Glous tomorrow:

It will be 1 point between 2nd and 6th!!

Damn

I mean Leicester have been crap (so so bad) yet Are joint on points with Bath and only saints have won more games. Hell we have a points diff of +5!

If Bath lose next Friday against sale alarm bells must start ringing.

Sale should have Cips back which makes them a very different team. Although with James and Thomas bath scrum should be better.

 

[ratsapprentice]

The scrum isn't the problem.

No alarm bells to be rung - we know we need a better FH.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

So your telling me if you got nothing against sale on Friday alarm bells wouldn't be ringing?

Although this period has made the Priestland signing completely justified.

 

[goodNumber10]

Bath are a one man team....

 

[Josht36]

It is slightly worrying but we have been worse hit by the 6 nations than almost any other team. At the same time as all our tough fixtures.

To put it in perspective Baths run in is:

Sale - H
Welsh - A
Falcons - A
Irish - H
Quins - A
Gloucester - H

With our England players back I would be very surprised if we didnt make top 4 after those.

 

[Irishkid]

No you need Cook fit your other scrum halves are useless. We are going to give Bath a game I am sure of it so many ex players to play against

 

[ratsapprentice]

So your telling me if you got nothing against sale on Friday alarm bells wouldn't be ringing?

Nope, I'm not one to panic tbh... if we don't get in the top 4 then so be it. It is what it is, clearly I'd love to win it but I'm more focused on style of play and performance that simply winning.
I watch rugby to be entertained - very rarely does the will to win override that for me.

Bath are a one man team....

Ford is a massive player for us... but any team that doesn't rely on brute force (most teams) would struggle with a half-back pairing that has poor (genuinely sub-standard) game management skills.
I'm really surprised that Stringer isn't starting for us at the minute, I can only assume he is injured.
I also hope that Jennings gets a start next week, because Devoto's game management hasn't returned/improved in the way I had thought/hoped it would.

 

[goodNumber10]

I think OD is a 12.

I think Priestland is going to be an astute signing in the long term.

But you do miss Cook, he's nearly as important as Ford.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I think OD is a 12.

I think Priestland is going to be an astute signing in the long term.

But you do miss Cook, he's nearly as important as Ford.

After the last few weeks I'd agree - he hasn't looked like he can return to being a FH.

Priestland is a good FH, so yes he's an upgrade on not having a bona-fide 2nd FH, but I think he's perhaps a little overkill for someone who is clearly going to be second choice.

We miss Cook, but he's nowhere near as important as Ford IMO.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Frustrating game for Falcons- three tries to one and they lose by five points. I wonder how many games they've lost despite scoring more tries.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Nope, I'm not one to panic tbh... if we don't get in the top 4 then so be it. It is what it is, clearly I'd love to win it but I'm more focused on style of play and performance that simply winning.
I watch rugby to be entertained - very rarely does the will to win override that .

Suppose as a Bath fan you only had the one option in the modern game I guess.

Outside of the challenge cup of course.

 

[j'nuh]

After the last few weeks I'd agree - he hasn't looked like he can return to being a FH.

Priestland is a good FH, so yes he's an upgrade on not having a bona-fide 2nd FH, but I think he's perhaps a little overkill for someone who is clearly going to be second choice.

We miss Cook, but he's nowhere near as important as Ford IMO.

There's also the slight risk that Gatland picks Priestland for the Wales bench, and you're back at square one when it comes to FH options in international periods.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Suppose as a Bath fan you only had the one option in the modern game I guess.

Outside of the challenge cup of course.

As a non parochial Londoner watching rugby for the sake of entertainment I had the choice of any club in the country.

 

[goodNumber10]

After the last few weeks I'd agree - he hasn't looked like he can return to being a FH.

Priestland is a good FH, so yes he's an upgrade on not having a bona-fide 2nd FH, but I think he's perhaps a little overkill for someone who is clearly going to be second choice.

We miss Cook, but he's nowhere near as important as Ford IMO.

I think Cook is really important, and a lot of Baths front foot ball came with him there, with pods collecting off him, leaving Ford to pick his moment and play the wider game... i did an analysis of it a while ago and they split it up very well.

So even with ford back, i think too much is left on his head and you need cook to take the short game off him.

- - - Updated - - -

Sinckler should get a ban for this:

<iframe src="https://vine.co/v/O2tgqvXF3HY/embed/simple" width="600" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe><script src="https://platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script>

 

[Peat]

As a non parochial Londoner watching rugby for the sake of entertainment I had the choice of any club in the country.

Sure there was no need to stop at the borders

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Bath will lose against Welsh I am willing to bet my lunch money on it.

FYI I don't have lunch money as my mom makes me packed lunches instead but the point still stands.