Bath youngster looks set for his European debut
YOUNG fly-half Orlando Bailey looks set to be handed his European debut at fly-half tomorrow (3pm) as Bath take on Zebre in the last 16 of the European Challenge Cup, writes John Evely.
Bailey, 19, pictured, made his first start in the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday in the 36-33 defeat to London Irish which saw the Blue, Black and White finish with just 13 men on the pitch following red cards for club captain Charlie Ewels and Tom Dunn. The academy stand-off had previously made just two appearances off the bench in the league but performed well on his first start at senior level.
Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper said: “Orlando was very composed. It’s probably not typically something you say of a 19-year-old 10 but I thought he defended excellently. I thought he was brave in defence and in attack he got the ball through his hands which is not dissimilar to how we play anyway.
“A lot of people have heard about him and how he plays, and that ability to attack the line will come. He came into a team with Ben Spencer and Jonathan Joseph who took a lot of responsibility for him which I thought it was a good first step in the Premiership.”
On Tuesday, Hooper confirmed the club’s injury situation at fly-half has not improved this week with 50-cap Welsh international Rhys Priestland out for around a month with a hamstring injury suffered in the win over Worcester Warriors with South African Tian Schoeman out for the rest of the season having had surgery on his knee.
Hooper said: “The situation at flyhalf coming into this week is pretty similar to last week. Cam Redpath [neck injury] isn’t right yet, he’s going to be a bit longer and he’s someone who could’ve covered us at 10, Josh Matavesi is probably going to be another week as well.
“Josh has had a bit of an issue with his calf in training and we’re just managing it because there’s still a fair way to go in this season.”
Hooper was further medical results on Priestland and injured fullback Tom de Glanville when he spoke to the press last week but provided further updates on two of his key backs heading into Europe.
Discussing Priestland he said: “It looks likely to be another three to four games. Tom de Glanville is more positive, I don’t think he will make it this week with it being a short turn around but hopefully we can turn him around relatively quickly.”
The good news is in the forwards Josh Bayliss is available for selection following a couple of concussion injuries while number eight Taulupe
Faletau is also available having been rested last weekend after a huge workload during the Six Nations.
Bath are set to be without three England stars for the trip to Parma as a result of the indiscipline against the Exiles with club captain Charlie Ewels out with a one-week suspension after picking up two yellow cards, while hooker Tom Dunn and winger Will Muir have a disciplinary hearing tonight.
Dunn was red carded for striking with an elbow, which appeared to be an accidental collision, and Muir has been cited following a dangerous tackle in the air. Both are likely to get banned for three weeks.
Bath are well stocked with talent in the three-quarters, and Hooper confirmed South African hooker Jacques du Toit is positioned to make his debut. He said: “He had a couple of days off last week because he was sick, not Covid related. He’s fine and Jack Walker played well at the weekend so the two of them are ready and we’ve Tom Doughty as well as well so we are good to go there.”