A relieved Johann van Graan reacts to first win of the season
Bath’s head of rugby Johann van Graan had a simple message to his squad this week after six Gallagher Premiership defeats: “Show each other how much you care.”
The South African had his answer at the Recreation Ground in a 27-14 home win over Northampton – his first victory in charge after arriving from Munster.
Van Graan said: “I was very satisfied with the performance and very glad for the staff and the players and everybody in Bath.
“We showed real determination in defending our goal-line. We spoke in the week that we needed to start well. Scoring the first try gave us a lot of momentum and we were 14-0 up at half-time.
“What was impressive was how we kept control of the game and Cam Redpath’s try was a big turning point because it was the first time this season that we had a pressure release.
“All of a sudden we had a lead with 10 minutes to go and we could manage the game. I’m so glad for all involved that we got that right.”
Van Graan added: “Last week we came up one play short of beating Saracens away and it was important for the group to back up last week’s performance with this one.
“I thought it was another class performance from Ollie Lawrence. He and Cam (Redpath) combined well. Also George Worboys on his first Premiership start.
“Ted Hill coming off the bench gave us momentum. D’Arcy Rae fought his way through and Tom Dunn too. Our three loose forwards were great – Josh Bayliss was outstanding.
“Miles Reid has been very impressive the last few weeks too. I told him his performance at Saracens was the best I’ve seen from him. Matt Gallagher, ‘Mr Consistency’ over these first seven weeks, was excellent too. The performance reflected the effort we’ve put in.”
With next weekend’s scheduled fixture now cancelled following Worcester’s move into administration, Van Graan’s squad do not play again until November 11 at Leicester.
He said: “We’ll enjoy the win, make sure we review it properly and start again on Thursday.”
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson said: “It’s frustrating. It has been for the last couple of weeks because we’ve been creating opportunities and not converting.
“There were a number of times where we were five yards out and didn’t come away with points, and that’s costing us.
“Likewise, we give sides opportunities to get into our 22 with ill-discipline and they do convert.
“At the moment that balance is wrong and we know it’s an issue. It’s something we’re talking about a lot as a coaching group and the boys are working hard at it but it’s not quite evident yet.
“We’ve got to be better at maul defence and at the breakdown and also on our decision-making as to where we attack.”
Skipper Lewis Ludlam took a painful blow on the hip but Dowson was fairly confident it was nothing serious.
George Furbank was impressive under the high ball throughout, and Dowson added: “We knew Bath were going to exit-kick with box kicks and I thought he was very good in that space. He also got the ball away a few times, which gave us line-breaks.”
On Courtney Lawes, who withdrew from the England squad this week with continuing concussion issues, Dowson said: “He did a full day’s training on Tuesday and he had some symptoms.
“I saw him on the bike yesterday and he said he was fine. He’ll continue to do weights, cycle and other bits and we’ll slowly integrate him back into contact when he’s available and ready.
“It’s a day-by-day thing. He’ll probably see a specialist before then anyway.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
1 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
3 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
3 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
3 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to comments