Slice of experience shows Bath won’t just make up numbers
THE end in Europe can hardly come quickly enough for Bath.
Last weekend’s home defeat to Harlequins — albeit narrow — not only meant that they had gone all five group games without winning but it also brought up a rather unwanted record for Stuart Hooper’s squad.
Six straight losses in the Champions Cup is the West Country club’s worst ever run in Europe, and they will have taken precious little comfort from four of these defeats being by fewer than seven points.
Nor indeed will ‘the hand of Jacob Stockdale’ have helped right at the death of the first group game when the Ulster winger prevented a certain score which may have changed the outlook for Bath had he not intercepted Zach Mercer’s pass to Semesa Rokoduguni.
Though there is plenty of motivation to try and finish what has been a deeply disappointing campaign on a high, and in doing so take a very rare win from travelling across the Irish Sea, Bath’s primary focus has been the Gallagher Premiership for a while now.
Since losing by just 17-16 to Ulster in round one of the Champions Cup, Bath have played four Premiership games and enjoyed a 50% success rate, with their 3810 victory at London Irish being the most notable of the victories.
Hooper’s squad are now to be found mid-table but six points ahead of 11th-placed Leicester Tigers, who they host next weekend. The midlands side, of course, would be bottom but for Saracens’ points deduction.
So, regardless of Hooper’s insistence that Bath are going to throw everything at this dead-rubber of a game, for them — with Ulster needing the win to qualify — the clash with the Tigers and their other list of Premiership fixtures overshadow whatever comes from this encounter.
Losing to Quins on a chilly night at The Rec was also costly in more than just another European defeat to add to the others — the hammering at Clermont being a particular low point — as Bath lost scrum-half Max Green to a broken leg.
Green’s undoubtedly lengthy absence — he is to undergo surgery — along with Jamie Roberts making his way to the Stormers with immediate effect, while Fiji international Josh Matavesi arrives from Newcastle, have been the main talking points for the club this week as they prepare for Belfast and, more importantly, then facing the Tigers.
Hooper has made eight alterations to the side which lost to Quins, though there is a core of experience to more than suggest that Bath don’t just want to make up the numbers.
Sam Underhill starts at openside and ought to make the breakdown competitive. He plays alongside Tom Ellis and Josh Bayliss.
Then there is a clash which cannot be avoided as Freddie Burns gets to go head-to-head with younger brother Billy after having been on full-back duty when the sides met at The Rec.
And with Gabe Hamer-Webb’s pace, as well as Ruaridh McConnochie’s on the other wing, Bath certainly have the artillery to throw it around.
Their bench doesn’t look too bad either as it contains Rhys Priestland and Aled Brew.
This is a chance for Bath to express themselves and for fringe players to impress Hooper.
Nothing more is on offer.