HEC: Bath - Montpellier (20-11-2011, 18:00)

[m0rris]

Bath will have no chance against Leinster playing like that

I don't think we ever did have a chance against Leinster. However what we now need to do is try and push on and upset Montpellier at home (unlikely) in order to get to the next round.... just to say we got out of our group!!

Gorgodze certainly had an extra wheetabix at half time. He was decisive in pushing MP on and letting FTD build up some momentum.

 

[racingmetrofan]

Bath have the potential to be seriously good this season. If they can make it to the quarters all their injured players will have come back and they'll have a very solid first team!

Can't see many teams being able to beat a back line of: Classens Donald Cararro Barkley Hipkiss Banahan/Eastmond and Abendenon as long as they gel!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

As Olyy said, on paper Bath are a great side. And actually for the first fifteen minutes of todays game glimpses of that were shown. But I can't really see Bath doing it this time around, because away to Glasgow was the game that had to be won, and wasn't. A huge performance could see them turnover Montpellier away, but its unlikely.

 

[m0rris]

Bath will struggle to get out of the group and after that they aren't as good as Leinster, Saracens, Quins, Munster... the list goes on. So for this year the Heineken campaign isn't up to much apart from putting our players against some of the best teams out there. We are developing a good core of class and our academy lads, in particular Woodburn are starting to cut the mustard... so watch this space.

For the first fifteen minutes of most games Bath appear to be the best team in the world... then on the 16th they tend to buckle and struggle to put sides away from the 16th minute after.

 

[nickdnz]

How did Donald do? All reports say he did very well.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Did very well in the first half, controlled the game and bossed Bath around well - put in a great pass for the first try, after calling the move as well
Quiet in the 2nd half when Montpellier woke up - could have been partly due to an injury he seemed to pick up (was getting treatment for a while but played on afterwards), but I think Montpellier just shut him out when they realised he was the one leading Bath onwards

 

[nickdnz]

Did very well in the first half, controlled the game and bossed Bath around well - put in a great pass for the first try, after calling the move as well
Quiet in the 2nd half when Montpellier woke up - could have been partly due to an injury he seemed to pick up (was getting treatment for a while but played on afterwards), but I think Montpellier just shut him out when they realised he was the one leading Bath onwards

Still, seems pretty encouraging. From what I've read he hurt his wrist, and still a bit unfit but otherwise did well.

I was going to watch this match, but I got tired after watching the Leinster-Glasgow, so went to bed.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Bath will have no chance against Leinster playing like that, and they were lucky not to have a man in the bin as there was a tip tackle on Bustos Moyano which shows the inconsistency of refs again

out of interest how long are teams allowed to have the ball at the base of the ruck whilst not playing it? Bath had the ball ready to be played for about 20 seconds before kicking it out

Technically there's no rule. I've seen refs penalise the team that does that for 'negative play' before, but more often than not they let it go.

It's one of my biggest gripes, I hate it when teams do that.

 

[Teh Mite]

How did Donald do? All reports say he did very well.

Depends if you read a report written before or after the match.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Depends if you read a report written before or after the match.

Elaborate?

 

[Getofmeland]

Teh Mite simply doesn't like Donald, actually he doesn't like anything to do with Bath.

Also tbh every other word on Sky Sports was Donald, it did get very irritating

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Yeah, he's not the messiah, he's just a decent player - it'll die down in a month

 

[Getofmeland]

The thing with the Win yesterday, is they did something that they failed to do last weekend and that's hold on and defend against a lead, there was a couple of decisions which went against them, including one for a forward pass, when Montpellier scored their first try. However they kept their heads up, could of put more points of the board but didn't take full advantage of the positions they ended up in. Also its very rare to see the Bath scrum bossed around like it was in the Second Half, injuries are starting to take their toll, but if we can get through the next couple of rounds of games, we should have some quality players back.

As for Donald, I am looking forward to seeing how he develops at Bath Rugby, its not going to be easy for him, as you have Barkley coming back from injury, Vesty who's knocking around and Heathcote from the academy who is a very good looking prospect, so defiantly interesting times.

 

[Larksea]

not bad being man of the match in what his 2nd game?

been a beaver supporter for a long time, sucks he's left NZ. Still think if NZ public were better supporters he would still be in NZ.

 

[Teh Mite]

Teh Mite simply doesn't like Donald, actually he doesn't like anything to do with Bath.

Wrong. He had a bright first 10 minutes then did bugger all else. However Sky Sports were sucking him off so much before the game started there was never in a million years going to be anyone else for MOTM, despite Trin-Duc completely playing him off the park.

 

[Larksea]

two penalties and setup two trys one with a ~70m run as part of a winning effort. Not bad for being "played off the park"

 

[TRF_Olyy]

To be fair, that was in the first half.
He had a very good (I thought) first half, but Montpellier came out firing in the second half and he had a very very quiet second half

 

[Teh Mite]

Bath weren't even at the races in the 2nd half. Donald (and all of his team mates) did everything they could to throw it away. By the end of the season, Barkley will have the 10 shirt nailed and the rest will have numb arses.

 

[kovana]

Go Beaver!

Big crowd of 11,785 at the 12,300 capacity Rec stadium...at 96% capacity!