Aviva Premiership - Round 20

[TRF_Olyy]

Round 20 Fixtures

Live on BT Sport

Live on BT Sport

Live on BT Sport​

 

[Irishkid]

15 Fenby
14 Ojo
13 Griffin
12 Mulchrone
11 Lewington
10 Noakes
9 Allinson
8 Guest
7 Cowan
6 Narraway
5 Sinclair
4 Skivington
3 Palframan
2 Paice
1 Court

16 Ellis
17 Hagan
18 Aulika
19 Leo
20 Cox
21 O'Leary
22 Geraghty
23 Sheridan

Good side shame Steele and Gilsenan being injured but we can give London Irish West a shock hopefully. They've got 5 ex players in there 23.

 

[Every Time Ref]

You produce 'em, we develop 'em!

 

[Irishkid]

It's painful to watch them all play elsewhere.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Almost as painful as it was for them to stay at Irish.

Bath Rugby team to face London Irish
15 Anthony Watson
14 Semesa Rokoduguni
13 Jonathan Joseph
12 Kyle Eastmond
11 Matt Banahan
10 George Ford
9 Peter Stringer
1 Paul James
2 Rob Webber
3 Kane Palma-Newport
4 Stuart Hooper (c)
5 Dominic Day
6 Sam Burgess
7 Francois Louw
8 Leroy Houston

Replacements
16 Ross Batty
17 Nick Auterac
18 Max Lahiff
19 Dave Attwood
20 Matt Garvey
21 Carl Fearns
22 Chris Cook
23 Ollie Devoto

 

[Every Time Ref]

Strong side - almost certainly our best backline, although there's an argument for Ringo over Roko on current form, not an overwhelming one though. Going out of the ECC will probably prove to be a real blessing over the coming weeks I reckon

 

[Irishkid]

Almost as painful as it was for them to stay at Irish]

Think that's abit harsh I mean Joseph and Watson were both poached by hatley and booth also Sisi is coming back next season and homer is bearly playing.

 

[chippieolamus]

Strong side - almost certainly our best backline, although there's an argument for Ringo over Roko on current form, not an overwhelming one though. Going out of the ECC will probably prove to be a real blessing over the coming weeks I reckon

I thought Roko looked good vs Falcons last week, hopefully signs of a return to form? Glad to see Burgess starting at 6 again, hope he gets the rest of the season there.

 

[j'nuh]

Think that's abit harsh I mean Joseph and Watson were both poached by hatley and booth also Sisi is coming back next season and homer is bearly playing.

It's easier to let go if you remind yourself that they are in a better place now.

 

[ncurd]

I thought Roko looked good vs Falcons last week, hopefully signs of a return to form? Glad to see Burgess starting at 6 again, hope he gets the rest of the season there.

I see him there for the rest of the regular season but if we make the playoffs? That's more going down to if he shows improvements on the last game and doesn't make a complete horlicks of it over the next three games. Bath won't risk their first real shot at the ***le on a unproven player, the only reason he's playing these games if it's bottom 4 opposition we should beat. Sarries & Northampton and different kettles of fish.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

If wonder if Watson will keep the 15 shirt for bath now brown is out, so to boast his England chances?

 

[yaboyjj]

Sarries team up for the Northampton game:

15 Alex Goode; 14 David Strettle, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt ©, 11 Chris Wyles; 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil de Kock; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Schalk Brits, 3 James Johnston, 4 George Kruis, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Ernst Joubert, 7 Kelly Brown, 8 Billy Vunipola.
16 Jamie George, 17 Rhys Gill 18 Kieran Longbottom, 19 Jim Hamilton 20 Jackson Wray 21 Richard Wigglesworth 22 Owen Farrell 23 Chris Ashton.

Brits makes his first start since returning from injury (George is overdue a rest) and Longbottom is also back in the fray (big boost for them imo- especially when Johnston is starting ), it's a very strong looking bench though.
Maro Itoje starts at lock this time- would prefer him at 6, but at least he's starting to become a firm fixture in the first 15.
What has Ben Spencer got to do to force his way into the squad!? He was making waves in the LV cup, and is an ideal sub for Wigglesworth.

 

[ratsapprentice]

If wonder if Watson will keep the 15 shirt for bath now brown is out, so to boast his England chances?

...certainly wouldn't be because he's our first choice FB, would it now?

 

[91jmay]

Unsure about some of the high tackles so far, one on Burgess looked harsh. Ford kicking % over 80 for the season shows good improvement. Ford a magic step and vision.

 

[chippieolamus]

Burgess' tackle looked fine, he just slightly came over his shoulder... Nice little break from Ford, Roko should've taken that tbh.

Edit: Unbelievable take there from Roko

 

[91jmay]

Roko looks to be finding a bit of form again, would still like England to look at him think he gives us a power option out wide others don't.

 

[chippieolamus]

How quick is Anthony Watson! Wow!

 

[91jmay]

Amazing covering speed from Watson. Bath wasting a lot off good territory though, should be area Burgess can finish from.

 

[Irishkid]

Come on Courty were being reffed off the park should of had a penalty try Guest and Noakes both playing very well and Palframan looks good.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Bath been getting all the 50/50 calls IMO.