Preview: Bath v Saracens
Bath will be looking to topple the table toppers on Saturday as they collide with Saracens at the Recreation Ground.
Bath will be looking to topple the table toppers on Saturday as they clash with Saracens at the Recreation Ground.
It may not have been the greatest of starts in the Guinness Premiership for Bath so far this term, but are full of self-belief ahead of the fixture.
On the back of a home defeat to Newcastle, Head Coach, Steve Meehan, who recalls Ryan Davies at ten, is sure that a much-needed win is very close in coming.
“We have just got to go out and give it everything we have physically got and make sure we play through to the 80 minutes,” he admitted.
“Once we do that we are good enough to beat anybody. Confidence comes as a result of winning and as a result of doing things well.
“We have physically just got to burst through this wall. We may change the way we do things slightly and try to work on a win and a good performance.
“We are desperate to get a result because the effort is terrific. The reality is we are sitting in 11th place in the Guinness Premiership but my perception of things is we are a much better side than that. We just need to keep working hard and I know it will come and hopefully it will be this weekend.”
Meanwhile, Saracens have shuffled their pack ahead of facing the West Country outfit.
In team news ahead of the game, Director of Rugby Brendan Venter has brought in Matias Aguero and Hugh Vyvyan to start in the forwards.
Vyvyan comes in for Steve Borthwick who is away on England duty while prop Aguero gets the nod ahead of Rhys Gill who moves to the bench.
South African flanker Wikus van Heerden captains the side while the only change wider out sees Neil de Kock return at scrum-half.
On the bench, Derick Hougaard misses out through injury with Rodd Penney returning to the matchday 23 alongside scrum-half Kevin Barrett who comes in for Justin Marshall.
“Any trip to Bath is always difficult and we are expecting a tough clash at The Rec on Saturday,” said Venter.
“We've made a good start to the campaign but we know that we need to improve on our performance levels to keep it going but everyone in the squad is fully focussed and determined to do just that.”
Form: The last four matches between the two clubs have been won by the home side on the day, whilst Saracens' only win at The Rec since 2001 was 13-6 in the Premiership on New Year's Day 2005. Bath have won just one game in their last nine: 25-12 at Sale in the Guinness Premiership on 18 September. Bath are winless in their last four encounters at The Rec since beating Saracens there, 33-18, on 25 April. Bath have not gone five home matches without a win in the professional era. Saracens remain with a 100 per cent winning record after six rounds, another win would represent the best start for any team since Newcastle won its first 12 matches in season 1997/98.
The teams:
Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Jack Cuthbert, 13 Matt Carraro, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Michael Stephenson, 10 Ryan Davis, 9 Michael Claassens (c), 8 Ben Skirving, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Stuart Hooper, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Peter Short, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Pieter Dixon, 1 David Flatman.
Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 David Barnes, 18 Mark Lilley, 19 Jonny Faamatuainu, 20 Chris Cracknell, 21 Scott Bemand, 22 Nicky Little, 23 Tom Cheeseman.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Andy Saull, 6 Wikus van Heerden (c), 5 Mouritz Botha, 4 Hugh Vyvyan, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Richard Skuse, 19 Tom Ryder, 20 Justin Melck, 21 Kevin Barrett, 22 Rodd Penney, 23 Michael Tagicakibau.
Date: Saturday, October 31
Kick-off: 14:15 GMT
Venue: Recreation Ground
Referee: Chris White
Assistant referees: Ken Stewart, Alan Biggs
Coach: Ashley Reay
Television match official: Laurie Bryant