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'I've made no secret of how desperate I am to win something here'

By PA
(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Anthony Watson knows from bitter experience the importance of seizing the rare opportunity presented by reaching Gallagher Premiership play-offs. Watson will start at full-back when resurgent Bath attempt to defy expectations by toppling competition favourites Exeter at Sandy Park in the second of Saturday’s semi-finals.

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It is the first time for five years that the Recreation Ground club participated in the knockout phase and Watson recalls the unexpectedly long wait that followed the last visit.

I remember that 2015 semi-final we got to and (former Bath centre) Kyle Eastmond said to me in the car,  ‘We’re not going to get a better opportunity to win it for a while’,” Watson said.

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“I remember thinking naively, at 21, ‘What’s he on about? Our team is on fire. We’ve come second in the Premiership and we’re flying. We’ll be back next year and the year after’.

“You see how quickly things change and that makes you appreciate when you get to these positions that you’ve got to make the most of them.

“I’m massively excited to get out there, win on Saturday and have another crack at a final. These must-win games are why we play rugby. One of my biggest regrets is having lost some of these must-win games. I’ve made no secret of how desperate I am to win something here. Now we’ve got the best opportunity we’ve had in five years.”

Watson and Eastmond were try-scorers when Leicester were swept aside 47-10 in the 2015 semi-final but a week later Bath were routed by Saracens in a one-sided final at Twickenham.

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“Everything worked for us in the semi-final against Leicester. That was a great day, but it wasn’t hyped up to be what it’s not,” Watson said.

“We didn’t make it bigger than it was – it’s still 80 minutes of rugby. It’s not anything we aren’t ready for, or not prepared for.”

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A
AM 11 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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