Preview: Bath v Wasps
September 11 2009
After a disappointing Guinness Premiership defeat at Kingsholm last weekend, Bath are ready to welcome the new challenge of facing London Wasps.
Speaking earlier this week about the Guinness Premiership match against Gloucester, Head Coach Steve Meehan expressed his surprise at the score line last Sunday.
"We weren't a 24-5 team last week - no way in the world! We weren't where we expected to be, from a performance point of view, but two interceptions become 14 points!" said Meehan.
We weren't aware enough at times to recognise the opportunities.
"The performance came out of the blue - it completely surprised me and a number of the players. Sometimes, perhaps, mentally we weren't as well prepared as we needed to be because everything else had gone so well."
Having sustained damage to his elbow ligament, Nick Abendanon is replaced at full back by Joe Maddock and Davey Wilson, who has had surgery to his knee this week to repair cartilage damaged also against Gloucester is replaced by Duncan Bell.
Impressive newcomer Julian Salvi takes the starting berth again at seven, following a strong performance against the Cherry and Whites in round one.
"I think Jules was a step above everyone else and was playing in a different gear to the rest of the team.
"One of the challenges for the rest of the team was to be up at his level. I thought he was terrific in his first Guinness Premiership game!"
Meanwhile, Joe Worsley will make his 2009/10 debut for Wasps as the men in black and gold look to follow up a win over Harlequins in the opening round of the Guinness Premiership.
Worsley, who travelled to South Africa this summer as part if the 2009 Lions Tour, is one of two changes to the team, the second seen in the front row as new signing Ben Broster takes Gabriel Bocca's place.
Charlie Beech comes in for Broster amongst the replacements alongside John Hart, named on the bench as Worsley comes into the starting line up.
Looking ahead to the game, Director of Rugby Tony Hanks said, "We can take a lot of positives out of last weekend but we are aware there is still much to work on. It is great to see Joe Worsley back in the side and we expect a big clash against Bath tomorrow."
Form: Bath, following their 5-24 defeat at Gloucester, have now lost back to back Guinness Premiership encounters but have not lost three games in a row in the tournament since November 2006. Bath have been defeated just once at The Rec in the Premiership since this weekend last season: 19-3 by Harlequins on 4 April. London Wasps have now won their last four games in the Guinness Premiership since a 14-22 reversal at Bath on 1 April. Wasps are seeking successive away victories in the Premiership for the first time since May 2008, after visiting Bristol in round 21 last year and winning 36-18. Bath achieved the Premiership double over Wasps last season for the first time since 2000/01. Wasps have won just once at The Rec on their last four visits: 42-34 on 16 February 2008.
Bath: 15 Joe Maddock, 14 Matt Carraro, 13 Tom Cheeseman, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Ryan Davis, 9 Michael Claassens (c), 8 Ben Skirving, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Andy Beattie, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Stuart Hooper, 3 Duncan Bell, 2 Lee Mears, 1 David Flatman.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Dixon, 17 David Barnes, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Peter Short, 20 Jonny Faamatuainu, 21 Scott Bemand, 22 Nicky Little, 23 Jack Cuthbert.
Wasps: 15 Mark Van Gisbergen, 14 Tom Varndell, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Steve Kefu, 11 David Lemi, 10 Danny Cipriani, 9 Joe Simpson, 8 Dan Ward-Smith, 7 Serge Betsen (c), 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Richard Birkett, 4 George Skivington, 3 Ben Broster, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Tim Payne.
Replacements: 16 Joe Ward, 17 Charlie Beech, 18 Bob Baker, 19 Dan Leo, 20 John Hart, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Dave Walder, 23 Lachlan Mitchell.
Date: Saturday, September 12
Venue: The Rec
Kick-off: 14.15 BST
Referee: Chris White
