Quins v Bath

[Epaminondas Pules]

Starting XV:

1. Fin Baxter (55)
2. Jack Walker (67)
3. Titi Lamositele (4)
4. Joe Launchbury (23)
5. Dino Lamb (97)
6. Jack Kenningham (53)
7. Will Evans (94)
8. Alex Dombrandt (140)
9. Will Porter (26)
10. Marcus Smith (164)
11. Cadan Murley (115)
12. Luke Northmore (70)
13. Oscar Beard (59)
14. Rodrigo Isgro (0)
15. Tyrone Green (76)

Impact Players:
16. Nathan Jibulu (17)
17. Joe Marler (284)
18. Dillon Lewis (21)
19. Irne Herbst (51)
20. Chandler Cunningham-South (20)
21. James Chisholm (152)
22. Danny Care (380)
23. Jarrod Evans (21)



Bath Rugby XV: 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Guy Pepper, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Alfie Barbeary, 9 Ben Spencer ©, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Austin Emens, 12 Cameron Redpath, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville

Replacements: 16 Niall Annett, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Ewan Richards, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Tom Carr-Smith, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Jaco Coetzee

[fivepointer]

Anyanwu a bit unlucky to be dropped. So too Ted Hill. Dombrandt and Northmore fit at just the right time. Nice to see Richards back for Bath.

Breakdown could be mighty interesting with the turnover threats from the 4 flankers.

[Which Tyler]

Hill is definitely rotated, rather than dropped.
Good to see the lesser spotted Richards on a te sheet again though.

Just FTR:I hate 6:2 benches, even if both teams are doing it

[Timbo]

When Quins roll out their best 23 they may just about be the strongest on paper team in the league. Midfield defence the one area you’d look at as a potential weakness. Should be a cracking game.

[Scrumhead]

That’s a very exciting Quins team on paper. Whether or not it actually works out that way might be another thing …

Either way, should be a very good game.

FTR, I also hate 6:2 benches.

[Oakboy]

Just FTR:I hate 6:2 benches, even if both teams are doing it

I had to look twice at Bath's bench when I read that - unusual numbering.

[Which Tyler]

Just FTR:I hate 6:2 benches, even if both teams are doing it

I had to look twice at Bath's bench when I read that - unusual numbering.

JvG's been doing it since he arrived; I don't think it's actually fooled any opponents yet

[Puja]

Anyanwu a bit unlucky to be dropped. So too Ted Hill. Dombrandt and Northmore fit at just the right time. Nice to see Richards back for Bath.

Breakdown could be mighty interesting with the turnover threats from the 4 flankers.

Wonder whether it's a request from Shakes Bigstick or from Northmore himself to get a start at 12? Certainly boosts his England chances, but from a Quins perspective I would absolutely have stuck with Anyanwu based on his form.

Those back rows will be ridiculous at the breakdown - not like Barbeary or Dombrandt are afraid of a jackal either.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Stream lasted approximately 4 seconds, whilst players were running out onto the pitch

[twitchy]

It's been an odd game. Bath haven't played badly.

[twitchy]

Quality from TdG.

[FKAS]

Another good result for Bath. They're showing a real knack for getting the job done in tight matches away from home. Their billing as favourites to be champions this season looks entirely justified so far.

[Scrumhead]

Very annoying from a Quins POV. We really needed to close that out. 2 wins out of 5 is a poor return and it really ought to have be 4 from 5. However, 4 points is our biggest losing margin and we’ve played 4 of the strongest teams in the league including two away from home.

Next week is going to be challenging for us. Exeter might be winless, but we don’t have a great record and we’ll be travelling without Smith, Dombrandt, Baxter, Marler, CCS and Northmore with Exeter only losing IFW and Slade (who hasn’t played yet this season anyway).

I’m taking solace from the fact that we’ve run good teams close and we’re not out of touch yet, but another loss and our play off prospects start disappearing with only a third of the season gone.