Out On The Full - Champions Cup Feature Match

So here we are again, ready for another all Premiership European clash between Bath Rugby and Wasps. My expectation is that this match will surpass the last and of course the result is intrinsic to the composition of Pool 5, the pool that prior to the competition many thought Toulon would dominate, in spite of it being packed with previous winners. 

Of course the context to this game is last weekend’s match, this week the analysis will have been a touch easier as the match review will have become a side's preview. Neither team has changed their composition greatly therefore this second outing will be a test of both's tactical nous as well as nerve and physicality. 

Bath Rugby will be entering this match feeling better than they have done in a while and I expect that this week's training has been eminently more enjoyable than some they've had in recent weeks. On Sunday night things finally started to click for Mike Ford's side and gaining the result in the manner in which they did should have boosted their confidence no end. 

Wasps, well they are arriving at the Recreation Ground with a point to prove to themselves. Dai Young's men started Europe in empathic fashion and showed us exactly what they are capable of however since haven't reached the same standards. Last weekend their Director of Rugby wasn't totally content with his squad's performance and I expect the team to notch their levels up gear today. 

So the question is how and where will this game be won? With the weather being seasonably mild and no rain scheduled for the time of kick-off I expect both sides to press for points. We all know that this is the Bath way and it is also the ambition of Wasps especially when they are fielding a backline that includes Frank Halai on one wing and Charles Piutau in the other. Neither wingers are afraid to come and look for work, Charles especially, and both will be lethal off turnover ball. George Ford and Niko Matawalu will have plenty to think about with their respective kicking games, I don’t expect it to be a problem for Ford, however Matawalu has to be considered with his exits and box kicking.

Diving back into both backlines, personally, I want to see the ‘flair’ players really open up and express themselves. Of course today's game is yet another shop window for Eddie Jones to take notice and I'm sure he'll be watching with interest. As you’d expect from someone of his calibre Jonathan Joseph has slotted in seamlessly after his injury time out and I believe that he has another gear to go into which we hopefully will see today. For Wasps Joe Simpson was relatively quite last weekend, he must step up for I believe the scrum-half is the type that Eddie Jones would want playing for England and likewise Elliot Daly. Both sides need to ensure that when they press forwards and enter the opposition's 22 they take points from it, ideally five or more, for both have been guilty of wasting opportunities in recent matches. 

The physical nature of the game at the Ricoh will be replicated, especially with the movement of Matt Garvey into the second row and Leroy Houston playing on the blindside. As a trio James Haskell, George Smith and Nathan Hughes worked superbly well together last weekend and should replicate, or perhaps surpass this, today. Of course the set piece will be fascinating as ever, Romain Poite is an experience referee and Bath especially know how important it is to read him correctly and get on his good side! Personnel wise Matt Mullan will want to get stuck into David Wilson from an England perspective and Nick Auterac will have Italian Lorenzo Cittadini to contend with. 

The long and the short of this match is that we are going to see two fired up sides ready to show the crowd at the Recreation Ground, and those watching at home, what they are made of. Bath must be smart with their possession and ensure they are clinical with their finishing and Wasps must play slightly less rugby than they did last weekend and instead gain better territory and work from there. As always it will be a fascinating clash between two Premiership sides that are getting to know each other very well, matches between them in any competition are some of the most enjoyable that I watch, and the result will go a long way towards determining the make-up of Pool 5. 

Opta Match Facts

• Bath Rugby have won 6 of their lsat 7 Champions Cup fixtures and have won their last 3 at home
• Wasps have won 3 of their last 4 matches away from home in the Champions Cup and by a margin of 15+ points on each occasion
• Matt Mullan has made more tackles, without missing one, than any other player in the competition so far - 36. 
• George Ford has already notched up 24 points in the competition however the fly-half on Wasps’ bench Ruaridh Jackson has 39. 

Bath Rugby: 15 Anthony Watson 14 Semesa Rokoduguni13 Jonathan Joseph 12 Kyle Eastmond 11 Matt Banahan 10 George Ford  9 Niko Matawalu 1 Nick Auterac 2 Ross Batty 3 David Wilson 4 Matt Garvey 5 Dave Attwood 6 Leroy Houston 7 Francois Louw (C) 8 David Denton Replacements: 16 Rob Webber 17 Max Lahiff 18 Henry Thomas 19 Charlie Ewels 20 Guy Mercer 21 Chris Cook 22 Rhys Priestland 23 Tom Homer

Wasps: 15 Rob Miller 14 Frank Halai 13 Elliot Daly 12 Ben Jacobs 11 Charles Piutau 10 Jimmy Gopperth 9 Joe Simpson 1 Matt Mullan 2 Ashley Johnson 3 Lorenzo Cittadini 4 Joe Launchbury 5 Bradley Davies 6 James Haskell (C) 7 George Smith 8 Nathan Hughes Replacements: 16 Edd Shervington 17 Simon McIntyre 18 Phil Swainston 19 James Gaskell 20 Sam Jones 21 Dan Robson 22 Ruaridh Jackson 23 Alapati Leiua