Premiership Rugby 19/20 - Rd 21

[Which Tyler]

 

[Which Tyler]

Bath v Glos is not only happening a week before the rest; but is now allowing 1,000 fans; as will Bristol vs Leicester:

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[Scotty]

Bath 5
Wasps 4
Sharks 5
Bristol 5
Chiefs - depending on if they put out their 2nd team or full 3rd team, then Lirish could win
Sarries - same as with chiefs. How ever good these 3rd teams are they arnt likly to be able to be a prem first team. Worcester could win.

Either way glad theres something riding on these games in the play off battle at the top.

 

[BPM]

After so many games in quick succession these feel miles away.

I think Scotty's right on rotation - I can definitely see Exeter and Saracens playing 2nd string teams given their European commitments. They're playing two of the weakest teams in the league, but if it's 2s vs. 1s, Worcester and Irish are capable of winning. Even more so for Worcester playing at Sixways.

For Bath, Wasps, Sale and Bristol it's the opposite. All four will presumably be going all out to ensure maximum points and a top 4 place so probably can't afford to rotate. Bonus point wins and high margins of victory could be critical.

 

[FLOBALOB]

Bath 5
Wasps 4
Sharks 5
Bristol 5
Chiefs - depending on if they put out their 2nd team or full 3rd team, then Lirish could win
Sarries - same as with chiefs. How ever good these 3rd teams are they arnt likly to be able to be a prem first team. Worcester could win.

Either way glad theres something riding on these games in the play off battle at the top.

Assuming Chiefs beat Saints on sun, it would put them in an interesting position regarding last 2 games of regular season. The LI game would obviously be the 2/3 team as it is only 3/4 days after Euro semi-final. With the final game being Wasps only 4 days later ,it begs the question whether they would put out the first XV for that game with a chance to take Wasps out of play-off place, if they saw them as biggest danger. It would also mean the first XV aren't having a 2 week break ,and are kept up to speed for remaining few weeks of season.
TBH I doubt if Chiefs would see Wasps as a bigger danger than any of the other possible SF opponents, all of whom ,on their day ,are equally capable of beating Chiefs. It also assumes they all win their next games.

 

[BPM]

I think that's pretty much the same logic Scotty and I are following.

I'd expect Exeter to comfortably beat Saints at the moment, so it wouldn't make sense to risk their players against Irish a few days ahead of a probable ECC semi-final.

Harder to call on the Wasps game. I guess it depends on how much of a threat they perceive Wasps to be and whether they see more benefit in resting players vs. having them 'battle hardened'. Exeter have already rotated loads in the league which suggests to me they back their 2s to get the job done and will save their top players for Europe and the Premiership play-offs.

 

[Which Tyler]

Tuesday, 5.30
Ref: Craig Maxwell-Keys
TJs: Adam Leal & Karl Dickson
TMO: Christophe Ridley


Bath:
15. Anthony Watson
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
3. Jonathan Joseph
12. Josh Matavesi
11. Ruaridh McConnochie
10. Rhys Priestland
9. Ben Spencer

1. Beno Obano
2. Tom Dunn
3. Will Stuart
4. Elliott Stooke
5. Charlie Ewels ©
6. Tom Ellis
7. Sam Underhill
8. Taulupe Faletau

16. Jack Walker, 17. Lewis Boyce, 18. Christian Judge, 19. Josh McNally, 20. Miles Reid
21. Will Chudley, 22. Cameron Redpath, 23. Joe Cokanasiga


Gloucester:
15. Matt Banahan
14. Ollie Thorley
13. Chris Harris
12. Billy Twelvetrees
11. Jonny May
10. Lloyd Evans
9. Willi Heinz

1. Val Rapava-Ruskin
2. Jack Singleton
3. Fraser Balmain
4. Matt Garvey
5. Matias Alemanno,
6. Jake Polledri
7. Lewis Ludlow ©
8. Ruan Ackermann

16. Henry Walker, 17. Corne Fourie, 18. Jack Stanley, 19. Ed Slater, 20. Jordy Reid
21. Joe Simpson, 22. Tom Seabrook, 23. Louis Rees-Zammit.

 

[EdBirch]

I think that's pretty much the same logic Scotty and I are following.

I'd expect Exeter to comfortably beat Saints at the moment, so it wouldn't make sense to risk their players against Irish a few days ahead of a probable ECC semi-final.

Harder to call on the Wasps game. I guess it depends on how much of a threat they perceive Wasps to be and whether they see more benefit in resting players vs. having them 'battle hardened'. Exeter have already rotated loads in the league which suggests to me they back their 2s to get the job done and will save their top players for Europe and the Premiership play-offs.

Hoping this rings true for Sarries too

 

[BPM]

I would think so, yes. The same logic applies. The only reason I focused on Exeter was that I was more confident that they'd beat Saints than I was of Saracens beating Leinster.

 

[EdBirch]

I would think so, yes. The same logic applies. The only reason I focused on Exeter was that I was more confident that they'd beat Saints than I was of Saracens beating Leinster.

That's fair, not questioning it

Exeter will still beat Irish with their 2XV, i'm more confident that Worcs can beat a Sarries 2XV.

I'm hoping for straight home wins except Saints

 

[Which Tyler]

 

[Which Tyler]

Or, if you prefer something a little more old-shool

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Very torn on tonight's game

On the one hand: I want us to make the playoffs, so want Wasps/Bath/Bristol to drop as many points as possible
On the other: I always want Gloucester to lose

 

[Scotty]

Why is Polledri not at 8? Much better pick and go off the base

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Or, if you prefer something a little more old-shool

Oh I do, I do! Great photo, you just know they'd have gone for it and 15 pints later all would have been forgotten and they'd have been best mates. Getting all misty eyed.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Once again Bath not turning up against Gloucester...

 

[FLOBALOB]

One of the most inept performances of the season (so far)

 

[Which Tyler]

One of the most inept performances of the season (so far)

Oh, I dunno, there were plenty of worse Bath performances before .

We're flat and disinterested, but it does look like we know each others' names

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

God could Healey be any more monotonous... He has exactly the wrong sort of commentator voice.

 

[Scotty]

Once again Bath not turning up against Gloucester...

Erm i think they've just turned up!...

Nah but Decent comback