Bath Rugby team huddle
Chas Williamson
© www.cwsports.co.uk
Bath Rugby Team News
5 March 2010, 9:37 am
Having beaten Saracens last Sunday at Vicarage Road, Bath Rugby are now travelling up north to face Newcastle Falcons on Sunday.
Confident that there will not be a repeat performance of Newcastle’s trip to The Rec, Forwards Coach Martin Haag believes that it is now in the past: “We have forgotten about it,” admitted Haag. “We know what Newcastle can do when given the opportunity, but that was a blip.
“They may have scored four tries here but that’s all in the past now and we are going to go to Newcastle and hopefully do the same to them. It’s irrelevant.”
After the forwards put in such a strong performance against the Watford side, Haag expects more of the same against Falcons.
“The forwards have done well in about 90 per cent of the games this season and the performance against Saracens was nothing short of what we expected,” said Haag. “The hard work and dedication is paying off.
“Newcastle’s a tough place to go. They have a very good pack and a strong front five, and a back-line that can break tackles and get in behind you.
“We’ve got that bit of confidence and 15 individuals who are starting to hit a bit of form. There is some excellent team work.
“If we get our game and the set-piece right and give the backs some ball then we can have a good afternoon.”
Bath Rugby Team:
15. Nick Abendanon
14. Joe Maddock
13. Shontayne Hape
12. Olly Barkley
11. Matt Banahan
10. Ryan Davis
9. Michael Claassens (c)
1. David Barnes
2. Pieter Dixon
3. Duncan Bell
4. Stuart Hooper
5. Peter Short
6. Andy Beattie
7. Julian Salvi
8. Luke Watson
“They may have scored four tries here but that’s all in the past now and we are going to go to Newcastle and hopefully do the same to them. It’s irrelevant.”
After the forwards put in such a strong performance against the Watford side, Haag expects more of the same against Falcons.
“The forwards have done well in about 90 per cent of the games this season and the performance against Saracens was nothing short of what we expected,” said Haag. “The hard work and dedication is paying off.
“Newcastle’s a tough place to go. They have a very good pack and a strong front five, and a back-line that can break tackles and get in behind you.
“We’ve got that bit of confidence and 15 individuals who are starting to hit a bit of form. There is some excellent team work.
“If we get our game and the set-piece right and give the backs some ball then we can have a good afternoon.”
Bath Rugby Team:
15. Nick Abendanon
14. Joe Maddock
13. Shontayne Hape
12. Olly Barkley
11. Matt Banahan
10. Ryan Davis
9. Michael Claassens (c)
1. David Barnes
2. Pieter Dixon
3. Duncan Bell
4. Stuart Hooper
5. Peter Short
6. Andy Beattie
7. Julian Salvi
8. Luke Watson
16. Lee Mears
17. David Flatman
18. David Wilson
19. Scott Hobson
20. Jonny Faamatuainu
21. Scott Bemand
22. Nicky Little
23. Jack Cuthbert
Referee: JP Doyle
