Cuthbert in as Bath face the Falcons
With Joe Maddock missing the match against Newcastle Falcons this week having sustained an ankle injury against Stade Francais, 22-year-old Jack Cuthbert is set to start for Bath this weekend.
Expecting a tough match, Cuthbert said: “I will bring everything I can to the team,
“I will try to be everywhere and do whatever it takes and execute the moves to the best of my ability. This is an opportunity for me to get the jersey and try and keep hold of it for as long as I can.”
Head Coach Steve Meehan thinks that Cuthbert has earned the place, having put in strong performances all season at training.
“The form that he is in, the training that he has done this season and the way he has applied himself has brought confidence to the way that he plays and to the squad and coaches as a whole.
“It is therefore not necessary to rush Joe back prematurely. It is better to get him well and truly over his injury so that he can come back next week fresh, strong and ready to go.”
Having lost by a mere two points last Sunday in the Heineken Cup, Meehan is confident that the display in the first half for Bath Rugby will stand them in good stead now that attention is turned back to the Guinness Premiership this weekend.
“We played some of the best rugby we have played since last season in the first 40 against Stade,” admitted Meehan.
“We made some changes last week and in the first half the guys coped with them very well.
“If we concentrate on developing that 40 minutes of great rugby into 80 minutes then we can put pressure on the opposition. We are happy with where the players are at this week and we just have to tighten up one or two areas for tomorrow.”
Newcastle Falcons meanwhile have made four changes to their side.
Two of the four come in the front row, as fit-again prop Jon Golding replaces Laurence Ovens on the loose head side and Rob Vickers takes over from Matt Thompson at hooker.
In the back row Brent Wilson replaces Tongan international Josh Afu, while the only change to the backline sees Rob Vickerman return from a dislocated finger at outside centre in place of Gcobani Bobo.
Director of Rugby Steve Bates hands a Guinness Premiership debut to Will Welch, after the England Under-20 flanker’s starring role in last Sunday’s 45-3 demolition of French side Albi.
Welch scored one of Newcastle’s seven tries on the day, with Bates saying: “Both of our European games over the past fortnight have been useful for different reasons.
“Although I might not have admitted it at the time, on reflection getting away from Padova with a 29-27 win in the middle of a rainstorm was actually really important for us. The Albi game was in completely different circumstances, and there were a number of really positive signs to emerge from it.
“The guys looked very comfortable, we moved the ball around well, were much more precise and kept possession for longer. All seven tries were really good team scores involving a number of different players in each move, and it’s something that we can certainly build from.
“A number of players have really taken their chances, and it’s given us a lot of selection posers right throughout the team. Guys like Will Welch and Charlie Amesbury have seized the opportunity and laid a real marker down, and it’s nice to have that sort of competition in those and a number of other positions.
“The European break has allowed us to look at the players in some slightly different combinations, and it has really reinvigorated the squad. The task now is to transfer that over to the Guinness Premiership stage, which we know will not be easy, but we’re playing with a lot of confidence now and a real belief in where this team can aspire to.”
The teams:
Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Jack Cuthbert, 13 Matt Carraro, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Nicky Little, 9 Michael Claassens (c), 8 Ben Skirving, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Jonny Faamatuainu, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Stuart Hooper, 3 Duncan Bell, 2 Pieter Dixon, 1 David Flatman. Replacements: 16 Rob Hawkins, 17 David Barnes, 18 David Wilson, 19 Peter Short, 20 Chris Cracknell, 21 Scott Bemand, 22 Ryan Davis, 23 Michael Stephenson.
Newcastle: 15 Charlie Amesbury 14 Danny Williams 13 Rob Vickerman 12 Tane Tu’ipulotu 11 Tom Biggs 10 Jimmy Gopperth 9 Micky Young 8 Filipo Levi, 7 Will Welch, 6 Brent Wilson, 5 Mark Sorenson, 4 James Hudson, 3 Carl Hayman (captain), 2 Rob Vickers, 1 Jon Golding.
Replacements: 16 Alex Walker, 17 Laurence Ovens, 18 Micky Ward, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Josh Afu, 21 Hall Charlton, 22 Rob Miller, 23 Gcobani Bobo.
Date: Saturday, October 24
Venue: Recreation Ground
Time: 14.15 (13.15 GMT)
Referee: Dean Richards
