Teams up v Bath

[soggytiger]

Given the PRL guidelines on player safety for this period, every club is going to have to put a side out like this at some point during the three game spell. We are slightly more hampered by lack of player availability but great to see some trust put in youngsters.

[JP14]

I’m looking forward to see what Guy Porter offers today, no footage really available of him online, but Bondi reckons he’s a big fellow, so a Jamie Roberts type player maybe? Let’s see.

[TigerBoy1880]

The way I see it is we had to play the strongest side possible against Exeter meaning we then have to play a “weaker” team against Bath or London Irish.

We could have picked the “strong“ team for today and still lost and then picked the “weaker” team against Irish and then lost again. I think we’ve gone down the route of “weaker” against Bath and then the “stronger” team against Irish to get the win.

One of these games was already going to be a changed side as sending a “weaker” team to Exeter just wasn’t an option.

All I’m looking for between Exeter until the end of the season is a side that looks more physical, plays for 80 minutes and looks like we could actually do something. If we can get this cracked, then we are heading in the right direction!

[anz3001]

You don’t see that we have a decent opportunity to beat bath at home by putting a decent side out and we have put out a side with literally no hope of achieving anything as the players being blooded have no quality around them.... why would we not rest players for the following away trip and at least have some quality on the bench?

And yet we may win with the side selected. I'd rather give squad players a go and see what they can do. Nothing to lose at all and plenty of longer term benefits

If they do get pumped and have incredibly limited go forward ball, what exactly are the benefits? They’ll feel less confident about playing at that level than before. I’m sure any of those players could do an admirable job slipping into a first team, this is a totally different kettle of fish.

I see it like this, Borthwick has stated from the beginning, hard work, determination, effort, attitude, heart are what he’s looking for. Put this team out against a full strength Bath, sure they could buckle and lose confidence, or they could show the attributes Borthwick has stated from the off are his main focus at the moment. If they get pumped but fight to the end, hopefully as a team, but even as individuals, a lot is going to be learnt about the boys/men.

[Wayne Richardson Fan Club]

It's a bit of a strange team but good to see in other ways, there are options in the backline for swapping about if we get any quick ball.
Big game for Big Tomas, really needs to impose himself. Luke Wallace will have to do a lot of talking.
Performance as a team & individually the most important thing today.

[westwinds31]

Trying very hard to understand the reasoning behind the team selection. Yes, we want to see everyone and combinations need to be looked at. Also games are coming thick and fast so we need to utilise the whole squad. Just difficult to get my head around not playing the strongest possible line up against Bath. I get that we’re not going to be relegated but why should we accept being second bottom ? All very strange and tricky to get used to.

[POSTIGER]

Hmmm....interesting selection. I guess it suits SB to use the rest of this season to have a really good look at his entire squad, see who is up to it and how isn't and have a look at some untried combinations.

I'm excited to see what the new guys can do.

[Jimmy Skitz]

I wonder who is doing the goal kicking, Henry, McPhillips or Worth

[kpj tiger]

I wonder who is doing the goal kicking, Henry, McPhillips or Worth

From his highlights reel i'd say Henry but McPhillips isn't a bad kicker, on a side note anybody else see Freddie Steward kicking goals from 50m+ on the Gallagher live videos on Wednesday, wasn't aware he was a kicker too

[LE18]

Time to remember what that young team did to South Africa!

[CJ]

On a slightly different tack, I’d like to say thanks to the club for the digital programme. A good innovation.

[Tiglon]

Time to remember what that young team did to South Africa!

There were also quite a few experienced and high quality players that day - it was more of a blend of experience and youth than we have today. Castro, Tuqiri, Deacon, Hamilton, Mauger, Chuter, Parling and Stankovich were all on the field.

If we're lucky some of the kids getting their chance today will kick on like Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Manu did back in 2009.

[Scott1]

Super nervous now,I'll be happy if we can keep it less than a 20 point loss

[Crofty]

Trying very hard to understand the reasoning behind the team selection. Yes, we want to see everyone and combinations need to be looked at. Also games are coming thick and fast so we need to utilise the whole squad. Just difficult to get my head around not playing the strongest possible line up against Bath. I get that we’re not going to be relegated but why should we accept being second bottom ? All very strange and tricky to get used to.

I think the logic is to give us the best chance of getting to not second bottom it is less of a risk to put a near first 15 against London Irish on Wednesday as that same team might have lost narrowly today and then the team we're playing today would be what took on London Irish on Wednesday and they might lose too, two narrow losses being worse than a win and a pasting...

Plus, extend preseason for 20-21 chance to learn about the deeper squad for free all providing foundations for a better future...

[Scuttle]

Trying very hard to understand the reasoning behind the team selection. Yes, we want to see everyone and combinations need to be looked at. Also games are coming thick and fast so we need to utilise the whole squad. Just difficult to get my head around not playing the strongest possible line up against Bath. I get that we’re not going to be relegated but why should we accept being second bottom ? All very strange and tricky to get used to.

I think the logic is to give us the best chance of getting to not second bottom it is less of a risk to put a near first 15 against London Irish on Wednesday as that same team might have lost narrowly today and then the team we're playing today would be what took on London Irish on Wednesday and they might lose too, two narrow losses being worse than a win and a pasting...

Plus, extend preseason for 20-21 chance to learn about the deeper squad for free all providing foundations for a better future...

Also worth noting LI made 10 changes today from the team that played last week; maybe they are doing the same as us?