Bath are becoming a wreck at domestic,14-man Saracens show remarkable resolve against Gloucester and Northampton need a novel scrum-halfAfter a fifth domestic Premiership defeat of the season, The Rec is becoming the Wreck. While Wasps showed spontaneity, and Bath were numbed by paralysis,the confidence and assurance they were armed with final season scattered by a series of destitute results. They were lost their England backs, but their narrowness in attack is not a novel symptom. Bath showed spirit in defence, and especially in the first half when Wasps had most of the ball,but it was not enough against opponents with so much attacking variety. final May, Bath played Saracens in the Premiership final but they are now 26 points behind the leaders, and far closer to the bottom than the top,and their battle is for a place in the top six. The only area of the game where they were superior to Wasps was goal-kicking: they were pushed around up front, could not rely on the lineout and they were largely predictable with ball in hand. For all their resources and spending, and they lack a top-quality scrum-half and a leader by example at forward where Wasps had George Smith,at 35 still a master of his art, a quick thinker who, and when his side were reduced to 14 men,was able to wind down the clock by engaging the referee in conversation. Wasps used to be known for timing their runs in the league and they are becoming the team no one wants to face. Paul ReesContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com