The stakes couldn’t be higher at the Recreation Ground this weekend, and according to one of the greatest finishers in English rugby history, the fate of the entire season hangs on the first ten minutes.
Jeremy Guscott – the legendary Prince of Centres who scored 143 tries for the Blue, Black and White – has dropped a bombshell assessment of his hometown club. Speaking exclusively, he admitted that while Bath have finally reignited his love for the sport, their recent form has been alarmingly off the pace.
“I take or leave rugby depending on how exciting and enjoyable it is,” Guscott told us. “Right now, I’m loving what I see – but that could change in a heartbeat if they don’t start fast.”
Bath’s Slow Starts Are Becoming a Crisis
The defending English champions have lost three of their last four league games, and their once-insurmountable lead over Leicester has evaporated to just two points. Insiders close to the camp say there’s real tension behind the scenes, with players reportedly frustrated by a pattern of falling behind early.
In recent losses to Northampton, Exeter, Bristol, and Bordeaux, Bath were trailing 21-7, 13-0, and 24-12 before they even got going. Only against Bristol did the damage come later. “It’s far from panic stations,” Guscott insisted, “but if there’s one tiny thing I’d like to see them do better, it’s start quick. Be in the game from the first whistle.”
Sources say the coaching staff have been drilling fast starts all week, aware that history is not on their side. Since 2010, no team finishing third in the regular season has reached the Gallagher Premiership final – a curse that apparently haunts the Bath dressing room.
Guscott Rips England’s Selection – ‘I’m At a Loss’
But it wasn’t just Bath’s form that got Guscott fired up. The 60-year-old icon took a pointed swipe at England’s selection policy, calling the omission of center Max Ojomoh from the Six Nations squad “baffling” and “difficult to understand.”
“I remember being dropped by England and thinking: ‘I can’t change that. The decision’s been made.’ But Max has done everything asked of him – and more,” Guscott said. “He was man of the match against Argentina in the autumn, and his body of work for Bath since then has been outstanding. Nobody in the game can explain why he wasn’t given another chance.”
According to one source close to the England camp, Ojomoh’s name was reportedly discussed but ultimately passed over for reasons that remain “unclear.” Guscott’s frustration echoes what many fans and pundits have been buzzing about for months: is the national setup ignoring form players?
The Springboks Monster Who Reminds Guscott of Martin Johnson
Guscott reserved special praise for Bath’s South African powerhouse Thomas du Toit, comparing him directly to England legend Martin Johnson. “Martin Johnson never had a poor game,” Guscott said. “I don’t think Thomas has either. He must be the most consistent performer I’ve ever seen.”
Du Toit, alongside Finn Russell (who remains sidelined for this crucial clash), has been the backbone of Bath’s resurgence under director of rugby Johann van Graan. But with Russell out and Santi Carreras stepping in at fly-half, Guscott warned that the bench can no longer be relied upon to save the day.
“Bath have to start winning games before the bench comes on,” he stressed. “They need to have two or three tries on the board by then. Put the opposition under the cosh from minute one. Make teams think, ‘Jesus, they’re coming right from the beginning.’”
What’s at Stake Saturday?
A win for Bath secures home advantage for the semi-final. A loss could send them on the road – and given the statistical curse of third place, that would be a devastating blow. Guscott expects nerves to be jangling. “If you’re playing, you can’t help but be nervous given what’s at stake,” he admitted.
Meanwhile, Leicester arrive with their own ambitions, and sources say the Tigers believe Bath are vulnerable. One insider told us: “Leicester smell blood. They know Bath have been wobbling, and they’re planning to strike early.”
For Guscott, it all comes down to one thing: “I love Bath. I was born here, I stay here, I was raised here. You can’t help but follow a club you started playing for at seven years old. But right now, they need to prove they’ve still got the fight.”
If Max Ojomoh delivers a performance too good to ignore, and if Bath start with the intensity Guscott demands, the Rec could be rocking. If not – well, the critics will have plenty more to say.
Leave a Comment