Bath Rugby facing hooker crisis ahead of Premiership play-off decider at ...

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Bath Rugby are facing a potential hooker crisis for their Aviva Premiership play-off decider at Harlequins on Saturday (3.15pm).

Mike Ford’s side head to The Stoop fourth in the table but a win for Quins will see them leapfrog Bath and secure a place in the end-of-season shootout.

And Bath’s preparations for the contest have suffered a big blow with the news that they could be without three hookers for the trip to London.

Rob Webber is definitely out after suffering a knee injury in Bath’s 19-19 draw at home to Northampton Saints last Friday. The five-cap England international now looks likely to miss the remainder of the campaign.

Ross Batty was also forced off with a shoulder problem against Saints and is a big doubt this weekend, while Bath are also sweating on the availability of Tom Dunn. The Academy hooker has been cited for an incident while on loan at London Scottish earlier this season.

Head coach Ford said: “Rob is definitely out and Ross has got a chance but I think it’s going to be hard for him.

“He’s gone for a scan today. He has improved massively already but I think he would have to improve a lot more to make it.

“And Tom Dunn has got a citing, so we’ll know whether we will be available tomorrow.

“But we will deal with it. We’ve got still got Eusebio Guinazu if Ross doesn’t make it and Tom Woolstencroft has come on wonderfully with the Academy this year.

“You always need a little bit of luck with injuries but the good thing about us is that we’ve trained the same all year. If someone has to step in there’s nothing new they’ll need to learn.”

Prop Nathan Catt stepped in as a makeshift hooker for Bath in the closing stages against Saints at The Rec but Ford says that is not an option this weekend.

“I thought Nathan did a really good job scrummaging-wise but when it comes to lineouts I think we need a specialist hooker so we’ve got our throwing sorted,” said Ford.

There is some good news for Bath, however, and South African flanker Francois Louw could be fit to return after missing the last six matches.

Springbok international suffered an ankle injury in Bath’s Premiership win at London Irish in March but will be back in training later this week.

Ford said: “Francois will train with us on Thursday. We’ve delayed selection until the end of this week. He will have a fitness test after that but I’d hope he’d be very close to making it.”

Article source: http://www.fanatix.com/news/harlequins-v-clermont-auvergne-heineken-cup-rugby-union-live-streaming-preview/175316/

Bath Rugby facing hooker crisis ahead of Premiership play-off decider at ...