mrnotherone
Well-known member
Wasn't a bad game. The Bristol 9 was outstanding as was Hughes. I don't think Exeter have much to worry about, a few too many penalties and a few chances didn't stick.I shall be exiting stage right shortly
Premiership Rugby
- Thread starter billy fish
- Start date
Yeah Randall was outstanding... he’s one tough ’little fella’.... I like Bristol, they have some great players and can play an exciting style of rugby..
easy to see a Randall & Simmonds halfback partnership for England in the future....
baxter was his usual honest and straight speaking after the game...
they aren’t quite at full bore at the moment, they need to get back some of the intensity that has dropped off but I am sure it will come...
easy to see a Randall & Simmonds halfback partnership for England in the future....
baxter was his usual honest and straight speaking after the game...
they aren’t quite at full bore at the moment, they need to get back some of the intensity that has dropped off but I am sure it will come...
mrnotherone
Well-known member
Imagine that...and England 9 with a Welsh accent 
Imagine that...and England 9 with a Welsh accent
imagine... you could all have a ‘connection’ to someone who goes on to win the World Cup
I enjoyed it
you can imagine the Bath attack coach having a word with the defence coach...” we scored 44 points at home and @@@@@@@ lost!”
both defences with a bit to work on
not sure I’d want to be Bristol tomorrow, Exeter away following Exeter’s first loss last week.... not good timing!
But if the defences of both sides were tightened up do you think 96 points would have been scored in the match?
We've seen what happens when defence dominates and it is a turgid, attritional affair with far too much use of the boot. Now we had two teams determined to play ball in hand and adopt the All Black attitude that if you score five tries we'll score one more. I missed the last 15 minutes or so, but the rest of the game was excellent.
Looks like some of the other teams are starting to out-Exeter Exeter.
Bob... if you think that having a sh!t defence is part of the NZ rugby psyche then you know nothing about rugby....
from a neutrals view point the game was excellent.... but as Jon already said, not ‘great’ from a Bath supporters point a view.... scoring 44 points at home an losing is and always will be unacceptable for players, coaching staff and the fans of the club....
That is not what I said at all. The NZ's don't get bothered if the opposition score a try because they know they can score two. Nothing to do with a sh*t defence which I didn't say at all. Two different things.
Losing at home irrespective of points scored should always be unacceptable to all concerned, but despite best endeavours this will always occur from time to time. Doesn't matter whether it is Bath or Exeter, everyone loses at home occasionally, and I suspect it is likely to be more often under present conditions of empty stadia.
To be honest when your opening response was... “But if the defences of both sides were tightened up do you think 96 points would have been scored in the match?”
I should have just ignored your pointless post....
no successful professional side plays with the attitude of ....“adopt the All Black attitude that if you score five tries we'll score one more“.... that’s boll@x...
I should have just ignored your pointless post....
no successful professional side plays with the attitude of ....“adopt the All Black attitude that if you score five tries we'll score one more“.... that’s boll@x...
delray
Well-known member
The Keegan Method. Fails.
The All Blacks approach isn't to open up and attack from anywhere for a whole match. They aim to apply pressure on every part of the oppositions 'game' for every second of the game. That pressure creates opportunity and when opportunity arises, they are the best at recognising it and have the players to act.
Occasionally, they get 'out pressured' (semi final, World Cup) and look ordinary, but not often.
The young Welsh lad that came on for Bristol to play on the left wing. Dropped a high ball I know, but he's delightful to watch; very natural.
The All Blacks approach isn't to open up and attack from anywhere for a whole match. They aim to apply pressure on every part of the oppositions 'game' for every second of the game. That pressure creates opportunity and when opportunity arises, they are the best at recognising it and have the players to act.
Occasionally, they get 'out pressured' (semi final, World Cup) and look ordinary, but not often.
The young Welsh lad that came on for Bristol to play on the left wing. Dropped a high ball I know, but he's delightful to watch; very natural.
mrnotherone
Well-known member
Yes Ioan Lloyd, he does look promising. He has a couple of caps but unfortunately he didn't look comfortable with Wales in the Autumn - a bit overwhelmed. The occasion looked like it got to him a bit, but there's plenty of time for him to come good.
mrnotherone
Well-known member
Dear god......it's not easy being a Bath fan
Dear god......it's not easy being a Bath fan
that first half was pretty brutal for a Bath fan...
mrnotherone
Well-known member
I've had twice my Friday's allocation of my best malt...and still feeing ****
that first half was pretty brutal for a Bath fan...
I watched most of the game, and while Bath were very unlucky to lose both 2nd rows in the first 7 or 8 minutes it doesn't alter the fact that they are totally lacking in confidence. Bristol were able to waltz through Bath almost at will.
It is a real shame because Bath used to be a real force in the game. Now, to use a cricket term, they look like ferrets - the ones that go in after the rabbits.
It is a real shame because Bath used to be a real force in the game. Now, to use a cricket term, they look like ferrets - the ones that go in after the rabbits.
mrnotherone
Well-known member
When I was a season ticket holder I'd have known more about what was going on, but it's obvious this is not a happy club. The reality is that it's a very long time since Bath were a real force. With a couple of exceptions the club has underperformed for the best part of twenty years, averaging 6th place since 2000. This was a club that won 6 championships in the 90's plus 6 cup finals.
Losing can be a hard habit to break, but yesterday it wasn't just a great Bristol performance. Bath were shocking, they've shipped 136 points in three games! It's an average of 33 points conceded in the last 7 matches. Last night they conceded over 800m with Bristol in possession.
Players seem disinterested and I have no idea who is coaching defence. Can't see that Hatley has had any impact since arriving in the summer. Any more of this and significant changes are inevitable - it's hard to argue they are not needed.
Losing can be a hard habit to break, but yesterday it wasn't just a great Bristol performance. Bath were shocking, they've shipped 136 points in three games! It's an average of 33 points conceded in the last 7 matches. Last night they conceded over 800m with Bristol in possession.
Players seem disinterested and I have no idea who is coaching defence. Can't see that Hatley has had any impact since arriving in the summer. Any more of this and significant changes are inevitable - it's hard to argue they are not needed.
delray
Well-known member
Watched the first half and skipped through the 2nd on the recorder; the game was over after 30 minutes.
Bristol are a delight to watch, Bath are lacking everywhere even without injuries. and yet, this is a b....dy expensive squad. 2 or 3 of the tries were virtual walk-ins which indicates as Jon mentioned; not a happy squad.
I fear for the coaching staff; the money suppliers will demand better than this.
Is Piers O'Connor good or does Randrandra attract so much attention, he's allowed space. Looks good though.
Bristol are a delight to watch, Bath are lacking everywhere even without injuries. and yet, this is a b....dy expensive squad. 2 or 3 of the tries were virtual walk-ins which indicates as Jon mentioned; not a happy squad.
I fear for the coaching staff; the money suppliers will demand better than this.
Is Piers O'Connor good or does Randrandra attract so much attention, he's allowed space. Looks good though.
mrnotherone
Well-known member
Is O'Connor English or Irish?
Irish I hope...I don't want to see yet another top player knocking on the England door
Irish I hope...I don't want to see yet another top player knocking on the England door
Is O'Connor English or Irish?
Irish I hope...I don't want to see yet another top player knocking on the England door
I fear you will be disappointed
He can play for Eng, Aus, Ireland, NZ, but he seems himself as English...
”..... Piers O'Conor has enjoyed a meteoric rise since arriving from Ealing Trailfinders ahead of the 2018/19 Gallagher Premiership campaign.
The versatile back, who can play centre, wing or full back, was called up to the England squad to face the Barbarians at Twickenham in the summer of 2019 following an impressive showing for the Bears.
The former England U20 international picked up where he left off in the 2019/20 season, scoring a contender for try of the season against Bath on the opening day.....”
“It’s a massive honour to be selected for England and I’m really excited about the prospect of representing my country for the first time on Sunday," said O'Conor, who'll be on the shoulder of Harlequins' centre Joe Marchant.”
delray
Well-known member
N'ton/Glos or vice versa was surprisingly enjoyable. Conditions couldn't have been easy, not always recognisable on camera, but there was some decent rugby played.
I like the look of this N'ton 9, Mitchell i think. He's got the lot, plus he's quick and his clearance kicking from the base in the second half against the breeze was excellent. He also took a couple of big thumps, no problem.
Are we having a 6N? If yes, Jones' selection is going to be interesting; the Saracens lads almost zero action since Autumn; their one run out being a loss against Ealing in a 'friendly'.
I like the look of this N'ton 9, Mitchell i think. He's got the lot, plus he's quick and his clearance kicking from the base in the second half against the breeze was excellent. He also took a couple of big thumps, no problem.
Are we having a 6N? If yes, Jones' selection is going to be interesting; the Saracens lads almost zero action since Autumn; their one run out being a loss against Ealing in a 'friendly'.
