Worcester Warriors travel to the Recreation Ground to face Bath Rugby – and we have teamed up with Statbunker to give you all the stats you need for the big game!
Current Form
Bath have won 2 of their opening 3 games in the premiership this year and are currently in 4th, whilst Worcester have only won once, despite going close last week against Leicester.
Bath won at the Madejski last week thanks to 11 points from Butch James, and 9 points from the boot of Jack Cuthbert – these were Cuthbert’s first kicks at goal for Bath, as Bath look to find a kicker who can emulate Olly Barkley’s success from the boot last year.
Meanwhile at Sixways Worcester were in control against Leicester until a late converted try from Julian Dupuy just game Leicester the win, despite them being outscored 2 tries to 1 by Worcester.
History
Bath have played Worcester 8 times in the premiership, and have only ever lost once, in 2007.
Bath have never lost at home against Worcester and last year won 29 – 15.
In the fixture last year, Bath claimed a try scoring bonus point which included a brace from Jack Cuthbert and a try each from Michael Claassens and Daniel Browne.
Bath did the double over Worcester last year, and at the game at Sixways Bath edged it 23-20. Tom Cheeseman got a hat trick of tries that day and Olly Barkley scored 8 points to seal the victory for Bath. Also in that game Worcester youngster Miles Benjamin scored a brace.
Trends and Trivia
Bath have managed 7 tries so far this season which is above average, whilst Worcester have mustered 4 in their 3 games.
The majority of Bath’s tries have come in the first half, although interestingly out of Bath’s 3 second half tries, 2 have come in the last 10 minutes of play.
Three of Worcester’s 4 tries have come through the forwards this season, which is a very high proportion.
Bath are yet to score a penalty at home this season, but have kicked 9 away from home, perhaps indicating they like to play a more expansive game at the Rec.
Worcester edge Bath defensively so far this season, Bath have conceded 6 tries, whilst Worcester have conceded just 4. As well as Bath scoring most of their tries in the first half, they also concede most of their points in the first half too.
Worcester have fielded the joint least English players so far in the league this year, and have played the second most players 30 or over – 11.
Butch James so far this season hasn’t proved himself to be a top class goal kicker for Bath, and has a strike rate of just 56%, Jack Cuthbert took over last week and was successful on 3 of his 4 attempts. For Worcester Loki Crichton has been successful with all his attempts at goal, whilst Matthew Jones has a success rate of 57%
Bath averaged an attendance of over 10,000 last year at the Rec and only lost there once all last season – to Wasps.
Nine of Bath and Worcester’s players have started all 3 games this season for there clubs.