Can Bath emulate Liverpool and end decades-long Premiership title drought?
If there is one Gallagher Premiership club that will have been inspired by Liverpool ending 30 years of frustration, near misses and agonising second-place finishes by winning the Premier League title this season, it is Bath.
Bath’s 25-year domestic dry patch might fall just short of Liverpool’s stint, but given the smaller world of professional rugby in England relative to football and Bath’s position as one of the few financial giants in a landscape of unnerving balance sheets, it arguably makes their barren spell an even more disappointing one.
Like Liverpool, domestic and European cup success has come in that period, though runners-up medals in 2004 and 2015 are the closest the club has come to lifting the coveted Premiership title, where they were thwarted by the behemoths of the time respectively in London Wasps and Saracens.
During that time, the likes of Newcastle Falcons, Harlequins, Northampton Saints, Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks have all won titles of their own, whilst domestic rugby has largely been dominated by the trio of Wasps, Leicester Tigers and Saracens, with those three clubs accounting for 18 of the 23 titles since Bath last won the league.
Again, mirroring Liverpool, Bath are a club with a great pedigree in the sport, having been the flagship side in English rugby during the 80’s and early 90’s, though they have since seceded that moniker. Despite the financial resources Bath currently have at their disposal, the professional era has not been a kind one to the club, as they swiftly fell behind the duopoly of Wasps and Tigers when the amateur era came to an end.
When the 2019/20 season gets back underway in August, Bath will sit 6th in the table, only five points behind Northampton Saints in 4th, who are currently in possession of a playoff spot. It’s not out of the question that Bath could push themselves up into that mix as the season draws closer to its conclusion, though it would take an optimistic Bath fan to suggest that the team could end it’s long wait this season, with Exeter, Sale and Bristol Bears all looking particularly dangerous before Covid-19 brought the campaign to a grinding halt.
Nevertheless, there have been flashes from Bath this season. Green shoots that fans will hope is a signalling of a change in fortune for a club that, whilst intermittently having challenged towards the top of the Premiership, has settled into a competitive mid-table position for much of the past two decades. Optimistically, this season has reinforced that the Bath squad is talent-rich and deep in certain key positions.
Last summer, the club clearly put an emphasis on being stronger up front, as demonstrated by the signings of Lewis Boyce, Christian Judge and Will Stuart. Injected in alongside Beno Obano, Nathan Catt and Henry Thomas, as well as the soon-to-be arriving Juan Schoeman, Bath have as enviable a group of props as you are likely to find in the Premiership. Tom Dunn and Jack Walker, if he can stay fit, is an impressive one-two punch at hooker, too.
The back row is, for want of a better word, loaded. Taulupe Faletau, Zach Mercer and Sam Underhill are a formidable trio and they are pushed hard by Tom Ellis, Mike Williams and Josh Bayliss, with Bayliss now presented with the opportunity to try and replace some of the clinical fetching of Francois Louw.
Ben Spencer arrives from Saracens and adds to the quality in a group that already boasted Will Chudley, one of the most under-appreciated scrum-halves in the Premiership over the past five years, as well as Max Green and youngster Oliver Fox. They will be joined by academy product Tom Carr-Smith next season, too, with the Sherborne pupil among the more physical nines to come through English schoolboy rugby in recent seasons.
Already boasting a bright prospect in the form of Max Ojomoh in the centres, Bath also went out and added Cameron Redpath from Sale in a mid-season move that now gives them two contrasting and equally talented options in the midfield. Club stalwart Jonathan Joseph is also available whenever not on England duty and both Max Wright and Max Clark will be at the Rec for at least another season. The signing of Fijian international Josh Matavesi also gives Bath some extra cover during the Guinness Six Nations.
Finally, the back three is littered with game-changers, as Joe Cokanasiga, Anthony Watson, Semesa Rokoduguni and Ruaridh McConnochie jostle for position. Gabriel Hamer-Webb, in just his first season out of school, impressed enough to warrant an immediate uplift from a senior academy contract to a full senior deal. At full-strength, you will struggle to find a Premiership club who can match Bath’s quality at the position.
The match has been all but confirmed ? There are going to be more than a few disappointed folks with the eligibility decision though… #AllBlacks #SuperRugbyAotearoa #NorthvSouthhttps://t.co/dw3Y9TEbNi
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 26, 2020
Of course, it’s not all roses in Bath’s garden, otherwise the club would likely have already ended their domestic title drought and there are still areas that need to be addressed if Bath are to emulate Liverpool and end that long wait.
At lock, Charlie Ewels and Will Spencer should form a productive partnership, though resources are relatively thin behind them. Josh McNally and Elliott Stooke are effective operators but should injury strike or England come calling for Ewels, Bath don’t quite have the depth at the position as some other clubs, especially with Matt Garvey leaving this summer. Ewan Richards and Ethan Staddon are two exciting talents coming on board this year from Millfield and Beechen Cliff respectively, though it is a big ask to have players as young as that contribute significantly at a position as physically-demanding as lock.
Another area where Bath look at least a little short is in the back three. As good as the quality is at the top of the group, the depth is lacking, with Cokanasiga and Watson regular England call-ups. The swift rise of Hamer-Webb helps, as does the evolution of Tom de Glanville as a full-back, rather than a fly-half, although Stuart Hooper will still be hoping that England don’t look too keenly at McConnochie and that Rokoduguni can stay fit next season.
Perhaps the most notable problem position currently for Bath is fly-half, where Rhys Priestland is the lone established option that the club can call upon. Freddie Burns has headed to Japan, Alex Davies has been released and, as mentioned previously, de Glanville is looking more and more like a full-back than a fly-half. Unless the club add someone else between now and the new season, that is a lot of potential responsibility going on to the shoulders of Orlando Bailey, who joins Bath’s senior academy from Beechen Cliff this summer.
The powers that be are not happy that information leaked out about the proposed clash. #AllBlacks #Kangarooshttps://t.co/D5j4rHZ2PH
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 25, 2020
Like Liverpool for much of the Premier League era, Bath have a XV that can go head-to-head with anyone. They have individual talents who could walk into teams all over the world. What they don’t necessarily have, though, is the depth across the board to survive injuries and international call-ups and topple Exeter at the top of the table, just as Liverpool didn’t have the quality throughout the squad to end the dynasty of Manchester United in the 90’s and 2000’s.
At 33, Priestland is probably not the orchestrator at fly-half that the club will aim to build around moving forward and finding the player that can provide that for them will be paramount. Hooper will at least have the next 12 months or so to take a closer look at Bailey and ascertain whether or not he can be that player in the future.
One more experienced lock, to help the club transition to the duo of Richards and Staddon in a few years’ time, would be helpful, as would a solid back three option or two, both of whom ideally wouldn’t be in the mix for international rugby.
Given that squad depth is going to be an issue for Premiership rugby clubs moving forward with the squeeze on the salary cap, the fact that Bath are reportedly one of the teams to have moved quickly to sign key players to new long-term deals – therefore circumnavigating the new lower cap – the club should have no excuses in terms of being able to field a squad capable of challenging for and lifting the Premiership title.
Of course, the likes of Exeter and Bristol will have plenty to say about that next season and beyond, though as foundations go for Bath ending this miserable spell, the club are far from in the worst position.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments