Top four spot eludes Bath: the story of an inconsistent season
So that's a wrap, another Aviva Premiership campaign draws to a close for Bath Rugby. With the stands already being disassembled at The Rec, now is the time to reflect on the achievements and disappointments of the season.
The final 'scores on the doors' shows a 5th place finish in the league and a challenge cup semi final. The relative success or failure of these results all depends on the context with which you decide to place them.
The glaringly obvious positive is the massive improvement on last season's woeful 9th placed finish - a season that held much promise following the Premiership Final appearance at the end of the preceding campaign. As it turned out, the whole Sam Burgess saga caused unrest in the camp and in the end the team battled it out in a relegation scrap. So by recording a 5th place finish this time around and just missing out on the play offs, the players and staff can be very pleased considering Todd Blackadder didn't even have a full pre-season to work with his squad. Add to this the horrific run of injuries that have caused havoc in selection week to week, resulting in Bath starting pretty much a different 15 in every game. It's akin to playing 2nd team rugby at the lower levels, with a different backline to the one which ran out the week before, which inevitably leads to inconsistency of results and performance.
Inconsistency is the story of Bath's season. From a negative viewpoint, one could argue that with the international talent, coaching set up and fan base they are a club that underachieve. With the financial backing from Bruce Craig and Sir James Dyson and you have to ask 'what is the missing ingredient?'. Well I'll come back to that word again, consistency. It's something that will come over time, it doesn't happen overnight, especially with a new head coach. Craig needs to give Blackadder and his squad a chance to gel, the opportunity for the players to really understand the way he wants them to play, because let's face it Bath have the personnel to be a top 4 side.
There have certainly been some highs this year for the boys in blue, black and white. A home win against champions Saracens, and doing the double over both Northampton and Gloucester were particular highlights. Who could forget Rokoduguni's last minute winner away at Sandy Park to sink The Chiefs? Over 60,000 supporters travelled to Twickenham to witness a memorable victory against old rivals Leicester. In patches the team have shown what they can do, and on their day can compete with the best in the league.
But Saracens, Wasps and Exeter don't play well in patches, they are consistently good throughout the season, which is why they are still there at the business end. The Rec remains a difficult place for sides to go, but away from home Bath don't strike the fear into their rivals. To be a top four side you just can't be losing away to the likes of Worcester, Bristol and Newcastle. Yet Bath have managed to do this, and an away record of 8 from 11 is essentially what has cost them a play off spot.
Mental strength and game management is something Blackadder will surely be looking to address in the off season - the ability to close out games under pressure has been evidently lacking. Exeter at home and Newcastle away, were examples of where these attributes were desperately needed. Both these fixtures had the same ending, with Bath letting the win slip away in the last 10 minutes, despite being in control for much of the game. Who can forget the Challenge Cup semi final against Stade Francais, where they did all the hard work in clawing their way back from a 18-6 deficit, but still managed to end up on the losing side. This isn't a matter of skill, execution or physical condition, it's a matter of having the bottle when the heat is on and thinking clearly under pressure, or Clive Woodward's famous acronym 'TCUP.'
Let me finish on the positives though. This season Bath have seen some great young talent come through the ranks in the form of Zach Mercer, Tom Ellis, Charlie Ewels and Max Clark; they've all proved they can mix it in the Premiership (Ewels in particular winning his first England cap). With Sam Underhill joining the back row line up next year, the club has reason to be excited about what future seasons might hold.
In the forwards, Tom Dunn has shown he has the potential to hold down the number two shirt for many years to come. Elliot Stooke has fitted in really well, with the team having to cope without hard working power houses Matt Garvey and Dave Attwood, as they missed big chunks of the season through injury.
Behind the scrum, Kahn Fotuali'i has been a superb general and leader of the team from number 9. However, in light of his age you do feel a long term world class replacement is needed. Chris Cook is a good solid club player, but doesn't have the star quality that a title-contending team need. In my opinion, the whole uncertainty around George Ford's future didn't help the back division fire as well as it could have. George's form was up and down all season and when your key play maker isn't at the top of his game, then this has a ripple effect down your backline. In hindsight Rhys Priestland should have been given a better run of starts, considering the performances he's put in towards the end of the season. With Freddie Burns returning to the West Country next year, off the back of a great season for The Tigers, Bath now have two great outside halfs to battle it out for the number 10 shirt. There's also the added bonus that they won't be dragged away on international duty for big parts of the year.
The centre positions remain an area that needs recruitment. The Bath management missed a trick in not keeping hold of Ollie Devoto and Kyle Eastmond, and as a consequence there hasn't been a regular and effective and 12/13 partnership. Jonathan Joseph, Ben Tapuai and Max Clark could really do with a couple more centres to push them for their spots. The centre cupboard has often looked bare, especially when JJ has been away with England. Surely the Bath board have missed another opportunity in letting Robbie Fruean slip through their fingers after signing for Edinburgh?
Finally, much credit has to go to Tom Homer and Aled Brew. Two guys who don't always make the headlines but have been dependable players throughout.
So overall a season of ups and downs, but nonetheless there is still plenty to look forward to as a Bath follower next year. If the coaching team can find a way to instill some sheer bloody mindedness into the team and give them that mental edge, then this talented bunch can surely go one better in the 2017/18 season. Here's to hoping, come on you Bath!
The final 'scores on the doors' shows a 5th place finish in the league and a challenge cup semi final. The relative success or failure of these results all depends on the context with which you decide to place them.
The glaringly obvious positive is the massive improvement on last season's woeful 9th placed finish - a season that held much promise following the Premiership Final appearance at the end of the preceding campaign. As it turned out, the whole Sam Burgess saga caused unrest in the camp and in the end the team battled it out in a relegation scrap. So by recording a 5th place finish this time around and just missing out on the play offs, the players and staff can be very pleased considering Todd Blackadder didn't even have a full pre-season to work with his squad. Add to this the horrific run of injuries that have caused havoc in selection week to week, resulting in Bath starting pretty much a different 15 in every game. It's akin to playing 2nd team rugby at the lower levels, with a different backline to the one which ran out the week before, which inevitably leads to inconsistency of results and performance.
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| Blackadder & Matson have made their mark since arriving at the Rec |
There have certainly been some highs this year for the boys in blue, black and white. A home win against champions Saracens, and doing the double over both Northampton and Gloucester were particular highlights. Who could forget Rokoduguni's last minute winner away at Sandy Park to sink The Chiefs? Over 60,000 supporters travelled to Twickenham to witness a memorable victory against old rivals Leicester. In patches the team have shown what they can do, and on their day can compete with the best in the league.
But Saracens, Wasps and Exeter don't play well in patches, they are consistently good throughout the season, which is why they are still there at the business end. The Rec remains a difficult place for sides to go, but away from home Bath don't strike the fear into their rivals. To be a top four side you just can't be losing away to the likes of Worcester, Bristol and Newcastle. Yet Bath have managed to do this, and an away record of 8 from 11 is essentially what has cost them a play off spot.
Mental strength and game management is something Blackadder will surely be looking to address in the off season - the ability to close out games under pressure has been evidently lacking. Exeter at home and Newcastle away, were examples of where these attributes were desperately needed. Both these fixtures had the same ending, with Bath letting the win slip away in the last 10 minutes, despite being in control for much of the game. Who can forget the Challenge Cup semi final against Stade Francais, where they did all the hard work in clawing their way back from a 18-6 deficit, but still managed to end up on the losing side. This isn't a matter of skill, execution or physical condition, it's a matter of having the bottle when the heat is on and thinking clearly under pressure, or Clive Woodward's famous acronym 'TCUP.'
Let me finish on the positives though. This season Bath have seen some great young talent come through the ranks in the form of Zach Mercer, Tom Ellis, Charlie Ewels and Max Clark; they've all proved they can mix it in the Premiership (Ewels in particular winning his first England cap). With Sam Underhill joining the back row line up next year, the club has reason to be excited about what future seasons might hold.
 |
| Zach Mercer has had a breakthrough season for Bath |
Behind the scrum, Kahn Fotuali'i has been a superb general and leader of the team from number 9. However, in light of his age you do feel a long term world class replacement is needed. Chris Cook is a good solid club player, but doesn't have the star quality that a title-contending team need. In my opinion, the whole uncertainty around George Ford's future didn't help the back division fire as well as it could have. George's form was up and down all season and when your key play maker isn't at the top of his game, then this has a ripple effect down your backline. In hindsight Rhys Priestland should have been given a better run of starts, considering the performances he's put in towards the end of the season. With Freddie Burns returning to the West Country next year, off the back of a great season for The Tigers, Bath now have two great outside halfs to battle it out for the number 10 shirt. There's also the added bonus that they won't be dragged away on international duty for big parts of the year.
The centre positions remain an area that needs recruitment. The Bath management missed a trick in not keeping hold of Ollie Devoto and Kyle Eastmond, and as a consequence there hasn't been a regular and effective and 12/13 partnership. Jonathan Joseph, Ben Tapuai and Max Clark could really do with a couple more centres to push them for their spots. The centre cupboard has often looked bare, especially when JJ has been away with England. Surely the Bath board have missed another opportunity in letting Robbie Fruean slip through their fingers after signing for Edinburgh?
Finally, much credit has to go to Tom Homer and Aled Brew. Two guys who don't always make the headlines but have been dependable players throughout.
So overall a season of ups and downs, but nonetheless there is still plenty to look forward to as a Bath follower next year. If the coaching team can find a way to instill some sheer bloody mindedness into the team and give them that mental edge, then this talented bunch can surely go one better in the 2017/18 season. Here's to hoping, come on you Bath!
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