Demolition Derby

Sunday’s Bristol- Bath Premiership clash threatens to be “Demolition Derby” day for Bristol – and perhaps even for Bath. Bristol, having won only two Premiership ties are six points adrift of fellow strugglers Worcester, with the tougher of two daunting run ins to come. While Worcester seem to be improving, one more heavy defeat could put Bristol’s hopes of league survival through the crusher. Conceding eight tries to Leicester is hardly ideal preparation for a derby meeting with old rivals eight places higher in the table.  For Bath, it is not so much aspiration as squad continuity which has been wrecked recently by yet more ill luck with injury. Just as the backrow resources were starting to look luxurious, the Rec outfit lost two hookers to fractures within forty eight hours and were forced to field a makeshift and callow backline by injuries to Tapuai, Fruean and Wilson. The game seems destined to be car crash viewing for somebody, but for whom?