Last week Bath really put on a clinic against Gloucester dominating them and taking control in the second half in very convincing fashion. Maybe their loss to Bristol angered them and took it out on Gloucester. However, their next match is against a different type of team, especially one coming off a huge win and are riding high into this one. Harlequins are another great team whom should challenge Bath tremendously. This match will certainly feel like it's a playoff matchup and stakes are already high.
Key Players For Harlequins
Jack Walker-Hooker
Fin Baxter-Prop
Wyn Jones-Prop
Titi Lamositele-Prop
Dillon Lewis-Prop
Joe Marler-Prop
Dino Lamb-Lock
Joe Launchbury-Lock
Stephan Lewies-Lock
Irne Herbst-Lock
James Chisholm-Back Row
Chandler Cunningham-South-Back Row
Alex Dombrandt-Back Row
Will Evans-Back Row
Jack Kenningham-Back Row
Tom Lawday-Back Row
Danny Care-Scrumhalf
Will Porter-Scrumhalf
Marcus Smith-Flyhalf
Jarrod Evans-Flyhalf
Luke Northmore-Center
Cadan Murley-Wing
Tyrone Green-Fullback
Leigh Halfpenny-Fullback
Don't Make Any Mistakes Against Their Scrum
If people think Bath has a great forward pack, then they're overlooking Harlequins'. Harlequins can hit very hard. They can dig into the trenches tremendously. And the forwards will get as physical as much as possible, plus there is a lot of depth. Former Bath hooker Jack Walker has really come into his own with Harlequins and will look to give the Bath defense some headaches. Joe Marler is a tremendous prop and an international for England and his experience coming off the bench in this match will be crucial. Dino Lamb is a great lineout threat and will need to be contained as much as possible. And they have plenty of talent in the back row to pick from though that might be something Bath holds the clear edge over. Bath just needs to hold their ground, make essentially no mistakes, and get as physical they can in the scrum. They'll lose some scrums, but the margin for error is slim against Harlequins.
Contain Marcus Smith
Lets be real, Marcus Smith is one of the most exciting flyhalves in the Premiership. He's exciting and flashy, but wherever he goes, so does the attack. Bath needs to find a way to contain Smith's influence on the Harlequins attack as he kicks the ball well and is very fast. Bath's defense needs to be on their toes with him and try to get as physical as possible.
Stop Danny Care's Influence
Danny Care is one of the most experienced scrumhalves in the Premiership and an England rugby legend. So his influence in the attack is vital to winning matches. How to stop it will be hard to do, but they have to get to him as much as possible. Johann van Graan will have to identify a weak side for Care and force him to play that side. But that's easier said than done.
Kick The Ball!
It's been stated many times in these previews that Bath needs to kick the ball as much as possible to win games, but that's their strength. Vast majority of times they have enough time to kick it and then chase the ball, but they'll absolutely need to here. It keeps the ball out of Smith's hands and that's huge. They'll have to concede a bit with Luke Northmore or Cadan Murley playing back there as well as Tyrone Green, but just as long as Smith doesn't have the ball, the less damage done.
Starting XV For Bath
1 Beno Obano
2 Tom Dunn
3 Will Stuart
4 Quinn Roux
5 Charlie Ewels
6 Guy Pepper
7 Sam Underhill
8 Alfie Barbeary
9 Ben Spencer
10 Finn Russell
11 Austin Emens
12 Cameron Redpath
13 Ollie Lawrence
14 Joe Cokanasiga
15 Tom de Glanville
Replacements
16 Niall Annett
17 Francois van Wyk
18 Thomas du Toit
19 Ewan Richards
20 Ted Hill
21 Tom Carr-Smith
22 Orlando Bailey
23 Jaco Coetzee
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