1
Bath set to beat Wasps to the signature of promising loosehead from Premiership rivals
By Alex Shaw
A year after Nick Auterac agreed to make the move from Bath to Harlequins, it seems as though one of his fellow loosehead props will be heading in the opposite direction.
Bath have found their depth at loosehead sorely tested following Auterac’s departure, with Beno Obano currently rehabbing from multiple ligament and hamstring tendon damage suffered whilst on England duty and is likely to miss most, if not all of the 2018/19 Gallagher Premiership season.
Nathan Catt has been consistently effective for Todd Blackadder’s side this season, whilst Jacques van Rooyen has been brought in on a short-term basis to cover for the injured Obano, but the club have been quick to identify the player they want to bolster their ranks in 2019/20.
Lewis Boyce has found his opportunities at Quins slightly more limited by the international retirement of Joe Marler and seems to be keen to continue his rugby education at the Rec, with both parties very close to coming to an agreement.
Continue reading below...
Watch: Rassie Erasmus reflects on defeat to Wales in the final match of South Africa's November series.
There is a growing Yorkshire Carnegie influence at Bath, with former player Stuart Hooper set to take the reins as director of rugby in either 2020 or 2021, and former Yorkshire academy manager Andy Rock, who currently fills the same role at Bath, set to be promoted to performance director.
Rock was the academy director at Yorkshire when Boyce came through the club’s U18s and should the loosehead’s move to Bath be confirmed, he will join the likes of Jack Walker, Max Wright and Max Green at the Rec, all of whom have recently emerged from Yorkshire’s academy. Joshua Bainbridge, another Yorkshire academy graduate, recently featured for Bath on a short-term loan, too.
A competition with Catt and Obano doesn’t seem any easier of a route to games than the one Boyce currently has with Marler and Auterac at Quins, but with the growing Yorkshire influence at Bath and the opportunity to play once again for Rock, it seems that has been enough to convince the prop to make the move down the M4.
Wasps look to be the ones left kicking themselves, as both Boyce and Jack Singleton seem set to move to Bath and Saracens respectively, despite significant interest from the Coventry-based side in both of the front rowers.
Find out: Lewis Boyce's RPI
Watch: RWC 2019 City Guide - Fukuoka
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Wallaby reacts to the return of All Blacks enforcer Ethan de Groot
3
URC title-winning boss Franco Smith predicts this season's dark horses
4
Why South Africans are so sought after around the world
5
Latest Comments
Robertson should have been a bit more experimental, preparing for the trip up North. Cane should been rested to allow for the Savea (7) and Sititi (8) pairing to be given a run because they appear to be the new way forward. Six is far from settled on with Blackadder only a temporary fix as like his other loosies he is either too short, too light or too slow, and so his best role is cover. ALB,Proctor or both should have been given a run as Australia's midfield is an ever changing experiment and then Reiko could have been put back on the left wing with Telea on the right. Will Jordan could then come on later to fullback or wing.
Go to commentsAgreed for the most part. And perhaps Dmac needed a period were he is the 'Hobson's choice' too.
Yes and no, they main concern I had from the situation is Razor didn't really explain why they had developed differing opinions, had he? I've seen too many things happen in life to jump the gun. Fall all we know it was a locked in choice before they found the difference last year and played out this year to see if they were recoverable. I can certainly see where it would be a valid criticism to suggest he spent too much time reviewing his players tripping overseas and not enough work with his team at that time. But things like Tony Brown not even being contacted in the lead up to the naming of the squad are endemic in the union, and for much just as much blame should be laid on someone like Wayne Smith. Some like Mitch would have been aval at the same time too I'd think.
Ultimately I see MacDs time at the Blues much as I saw Ian Fosters time at the Chiefs. Heavily overshadowed by their successors but you could find something good in there if you wanted. Same here. This will play out.
Go to comments