Bath v Exeter: Teams
Bath director of rugby Sir Ian McGeechan has called on his squad to keep hold of possession when they face Exeter at the Rec.
By Tony Curtis - Twitter: @SkySportsTC
Last Updated: 08/04/11 4:44pm
Bath director of rugby Sir Ian McGeechan has called on his squad to keep hold of possession when they face Exeter at the Rec.
The wheels have started to come off Bath's play-off bid in recent weeks, following defeats to Gloucester, Leicester and Saracens.
However McGeechan believes that his side have shown in those games what they are capable of when they look after the ball.
He said: "The last couple of games we have put our hands up and admitted we have been far too careless with possession.
"You can have all the tactics and plans in the world, but if you are not able to keep hold of the ball, then they are useless.
"We showed we can penetrate very well, as we did against Leicester, we just need to make sure we don't lose the ball in the contact and keep it safe.
"Exeter are a well-coached side, know what they are doing and are very efficient at it. If we want to really threaten them, we need to be just as efficient.
Possession
"We showed down in Exeter our ability to counter their physicality at the contact areas, and that is something we must do.
"Maintaining possession is key, because if you don't hold on to the ball, you don't penetrate, and if you are not good at breakdowns you won't keep possession.
"We have been working hard on these areas though, and are keen to right the wrongs of the last few weeks, and get ourselves back on course for reaching the play-offs."
Exeter boss Rob Baxter wants his side to rediscover their focus following a shock defeat to Leeds.
The Chiefs went down 27-22 to the Premiership's bottom club - and Baxter has called for a positive response against their local rivals.
"If there's one thing we did wrong as a group, it was that we got a bit carried away with what a win would have given us," Baxter said.
"All week people were saying: 'If Exeter win they're mathematically safe, the season then has been a success'.
"For the first time we got too forward-thinking in what the result would bring, rather than concentrating on the bits and pieces that would bring the result.
"One of our biggest strengths all season has been that all we have talked about is going to clubs to play well, and if we do that we're happy. That's led to us winning some games and getting losing bonus points from others, but we were focused on working on our performance. We've refocused on that this week.
"We know Bath is a big local derby and we're going to go up there and look to perform as best we can. If that gives us a piece of the game, fantastic. If not, so long as we've given it a good go, we'll be happy."
Baxter has recalled Matt Jess, Sireli Naqelevuki, Hoani Tui and Tom Johnson into his starting XV, with Ignacio Elosu and Garrick Cowley included on the bench.
Bath: 15 Sam Vesty, 14 Matt Banahan, 13 Matt Carraro, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Nick Abendanon, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Luke Watson, 7 Guy Mercer, 6 Stuart Hooper, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Peter Short, 3 David Wilson, 2 Lee Mears, 1 David Flatman.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Dixon, 17 Nathan Catt, 18 Duncan Bell, 19 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 20 Josh Ovens, 21 Mark McMillan, 22 Nick Scott, 23 Jacques Boussuge.
Exeter: 15 Luke Arscott, 14 Matt Jess, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Sireli Naqelevuki, 11 Nic Sestaret, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 Richard Baxter, 7 James Scaysbrook, 6 Tom Johnson, 5 Chad Slade, 4 Tom Hayes, 3 Hoani Tui, 2 Neil Clark, 1 Brett Sturgess.
Replacements: 16 Chris Whitehead, 17 Ben Moon, 18 Ignacio Elosu, 19 Dave Gannon, 20 James Phillips, 21 Garrick Cowley, 22 Phil Dollman, 23 Ignacio Mieres.
