Champions Cup - Pool 4, Round 5 (Bath, Glasgow, Montpellier, Toulouse)

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Ford is still a bit of labiality in defence imo in terms of one and one on the gain line.

It was a fine tackle but size didn't matter there.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Yeah but who cares if one player isn't going to stop players on the gainline when he can make try saving tackles like that? He has done that more than once now.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, you can't really fault Ford's commitment or technique on defence, just fact of the matter is that he gets palmed off by bigger guys sometimes - no shame in that, really, it's gonna happen. As such you can say he's not the strongest tackler, cause he aint, cause he's about 2st dripping wet.

 

[Wendigo7]

I called 4 try bonus for Bath... and Toulouse not to get the BP elsewhere.

I feel very smug right now.

Great for kids in general. Ford stepped up with the kicks in the big game. Joseph has done everything he can to be picked for England... they have no excuses not to pick him now.

 

[Josht36]

People don't moan about Crudens defence despite his size. I don't understand how Ford gets so much negative press for it.

It would be hard to argue if Lancaster chose a Bath 10,12,13 axis now. Obviously never going to happen though.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

People don't moan about Crudens defence despite his size. I don't understand how Ford gets so much negative press for it.

It would be hard to argue if Lancaster chose a Bath 10,12,13 axis now. Obviously never going to happen though.

Because he does get palmed off a lot.

I guess liability was a strong word.

But he isn't a strong tackler, but his positives certainly outweigh that.

 

[goodNumber10]

People don't moan about Crudens defence despite his size. I don't understand how Ford gets so much negative press for it.

It would be hard to argue if Lancaster chose a Bath 10,12,13 axis now. Obviously never going to happen though.

New Zealand play a drift defence. England and bath don't.

Smaller his suit the drift.

Regardless Cruden is a better tackler than Ford.

 

[munstermuffin]

Must say Stringer is 37 and still looks as comfortable now as ever. Wish he'd come home we could desperately do with him in last 20 mins of games.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Galsgow and Bath losses will suit me fine.

Just when I thought my weekend couldn't get any better, I realise we've also managed to **** off Tiggers...!

Bath, just wow. Aside from the lineout and a couple of little moments, a seemingly perfect performance, attack, defence, breakdown, scrum, even Ford's goalkicking in a big game! I didn't catch who got, MOM, who was it? Louw for me, but it could have been any of about 5 players.

Edit: one more thing - Yoann Huget is a snivelling little ****

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Just when I thought my weekend couldn't get any better, I realise we've also managed to **** off Tiggers...!

Actually Clermont beating Sarries by more than 7 (At home) and Leinster beating Wasps with Quins not getting a TBP at Castres are our best chance ATM Unless we completely destroy Ulster.

Anyway at least Leicester has more than 3 academy product in our 23. Bath are just a bunch of mercenaries

 

[Every Time Ref]

It's the architecture and the sense of history, mate, that's what attracts the big names. You got an abbey in Leicester? Thought not

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

It's the architecture and the sense of history, mate, that's what attracts the big names. You got an abbey in Leicester? Thought not

well actually we do have a abbey just not standing.

A serious question though how many players in the bath senior squad have been there for more than 5 season. (not including 5 season).

 

[Tony Manx]

Bath are just a bunch of mercenaries

I know one poster who would not be happy with that statement as it appears to him that it's ok at club level, but not international, to align yourself where you want for whatever reason!!!!

 

[Every Time Ref]

well actually we do have a abbey just not standing.

A serious question though how many players in the bath senior squad have been there for more than 5 season. (not including 5 season).

I honestly don't know, Banahan definitely and I think probably Hooper? Not many, it's true. I have no idea what the AP average would be anyway, although I'd guess Bath are below it as there have been a lot of players brought in in recent years.

We get a lot of stick for buying talent in rather than producing our own, which is fair, we do that. But we also develop those players, it's not like we just buy the finished product - please don't stick us in the Toulon / Man City bracket just yet! Ford, Eastmond, Joseph, Rokoduguni, Wilson, they all came to Bath through different paths, but all have been developed by the coaching staff and are much better players than on first arrival.

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I know one poster who would not be happy with that statement as it appears to him that it's ok at club level, but not international, to align yourself where you want for whatever reason!!!!

Are you saying you think every player should have the right to play for any country, with no national qualification rules at all?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Because it's international you absolute ****wit.

The clue is in the name.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I honestly don't know, Banahan definitely and I think probably Hooper? Not many, it's true. I have no idea what the AP average would be anyway, although I'd guess Bath are below it as there have been a lot of players brought in in recent years.

We get a lot of stick for buying talent in rather than producing our own, which is fair, we do that. But we also develop those players, it's not like we just buy the finished product - please don't stick us in the Toulon / Man City bracket just yet! Ford, Eastmond, Joseph, Rokoduguni, Wilson, they all came to Bath through different paths, but all have been developed by the coaching staff and are much better players than on first arrival.
?

JJ was a international before he came to Bath you know.

TBH you just brought the best young talent.

 

[Tony Manx]

I honestly don't know, Banahan definitely and I think probably Hooper? Not many, it's true. I have no idea what the AP average would be anyway, although I'd guess Bath are below it as there have been a lot of players brought in in recent years.

We get a lot of stick for buying talent in rather than producing our own, which is fair, we do that. But we also develop those players, it's not like we just buy the finished product - please don't stick us in the Toulon / Man City bracket just yet! Ford, Eastmond, Joseph, Rokoduguni, Wilson, they all came to Bath through different paths, but all have been developed by the coaching staff and are much better players than on first arrival.

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Are you saying you think every player should have the right to play for any country, with no national qualification rules at all?

If the rules at the time are followed, I see no problem! If the rules are wrong, get them changed!

 

[Every Time Ref]

JJ was a international before he came to Bath you know.

TBH you just brought the best young talent.

We also pay a groundsman to keep our pitch decent. It's amazing what money can buy you.

Tell me the Jonathan Joseph we bought was as good as the Jonathan Joseph you saw playing today, though. Go on ...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

England selectors thought so

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

He was about the same just didn't have the same tools.

England selectors thought so

This guy knows his stuff.

Bath had a grand total of 1 academy product in their XV Toulouse had more academy products than Bath.