Matt Banahan has had a fantastic game on Saturday, scoring 3 of Baths 7 winning tries against Leicester. In this pivotal game two players were facing their last game for Bath at the Rec, Peter Stringer and Paul James are both leaving Bath at the end of this season, Stringer to start for Sale Sharks and James is heading back to Wales.
In my opinion Bath could be seeing themselves as the Aviva Premiership rugby champions next week when they play Saracens at Twickenham on Saturday. Proving their worth with 21 points to Leicester’s 10 by the half time point, Bath have proven that they are in it to win it. With a strong start it could only have been seen as downhill however Bath proved us wrong scoring a further 26 points in the second half.
There were many standout players in this game however the one that surprised me the most was George Ford, his conversion kicks were on point only missing one of the seven but every time he kicked the ball down field it ended up straight in the hands of one of the Leicester players, none of them touched the ground before being moved on. He also changed the way Bath played the game by kicking it every time it was in his possession whereas usually it would be passed on for running rugby.
I don’t think this change in game play was useful or suited Bath in any way, it hindered them mostly, every time they went back to their usual style of play they scored points. Meaning that we could have potentially seen a significant amount of more points scored and maybe even less for Leicester.
Two players that I don’t think have received enough recognition for their influence on the field; first of all Francois Louw, one of the most important players in the team at the moment controlling the back line with excellently consistent and technically correct rugby, allowing players like Sam Burgess to really play to their full potential. He provided defence when Leicester were in Bath’s 22 but can also provide attack when we are on the warpath to score and he has scored many tries himself.
Secondly, Nick Auterac has been an incredible asset this past season with a significant difference in play from Paul James, he never gives away any penalty points and ensures that the scrum is always working in our favour. He is one of the biggest men on the field proving incredible resistance to any player of the opposition trying to break through.
All in all we cannot know for sure the outcome of next week before the game has been played. Hopefully with a supporting crowd as enthusiastic as the one on Saturday, the boys will be pumped up and ready to go. Playing against Saracens after their defeat of top of the table Northampton Saints Bath will need to work on their accuracy and perfect their diamond formation in preparation for the game.
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