Bath must find plenty in reserve
ALLIANZ PARK will stage a re-run of last season’s Aviva Premiership final when Saracens host Bath tomorrow, but it isn’t just the venue which will be markedly different from that showpiece occasion.
Eight months ago the two clubs locked horns to decide the title after dominating the league but this time therere is a glaring imbalance. While Saracens will be seeking to maintain n a charge on two fronts, Bath have lost nine games this season — five in the Premiership — leaving them ninth in the table, 21 points behind thee champions.
Their struggles have even raised concernscerns about a knock-on effect for the national team. There are four Bath backs in the provisional England squad to face Scotland on February 6 and Eddie Jones was asked this week if he was worried about a perceived lack of confidence and momentum among that key contingent.
He couldn’t resist a lighthearted reply, saying: ‘I’m not concerned about Bath’s lack of form, although I’m sure the owner is.’ Head coach Mike Ford has emphasised that Bruce Craig, the owner in question, remains supportive but another loss would leave his side further adrift of the play-offs.
The stark truth is that Bath’s season will be salvaged or left beyond repair during a period of unprecedented disruption for the Premiership elite.
Due to the calendar-crunching impact of the home World Cup there are no weekends off and there is no Anglo-Welsh Cup to allow squad rotation and rest. While the Six Nations commands mands ce centre stage, eight roundsround of the league (incincluding weekends whenwh Test players are notn playing but stay ini camp) will take place. A major distortion of results is on the cards.
Call-ups are a leveller. e Saracens have sixsi with England and Harlequins have five. While Northampton ton andan Leicester have lamented some of their men being overlooked, their title prospects should be enhanced. Five of the six teams in the lower half of the table have no players with England, so there is potential for a narrowing between top and bottom.
Squad depth will be tested as never before. By the time the internationals return, the domestic landscape may have changed beyond recognition. Those clocking back on at Bath will certainly hope so.