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Barbeary red card doesn't stop Bath fightback against Top 14 leaders
Bath passed the biggest test of their revival yet by toppling Top 14 leaders Racing 92 29-25 in a win that keeps them in the hunt for home advantage in the Investec Champions Cup round of 16.
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It took falling 22-8 behind at the Recreation Ground with just over a quarter left to spark them into action, but they showed their class by hitting back with tries from Alfie Barbeary, Joe Cokanasiga and Will Muir.
Muir pounced in the 72nd minute to secure the bonus point and they had to close out the last six minutes with only 14 players after Barbeary was sent off for receiving his second yellow card.
Barbeary was magnificent against the Parisians until he used his elbow when carrying into scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, but he had already done enough to catch England’s attention ahead of the Six Nations.
Bath Rugby’s Alfie Barbeary was shown a yellow card 🟨 for this challenge on Racing 92’s Max Spring.
Was this the correct decision? #InvestecChampionsCup #BATvRAC92 pic.twitter.com/ekqs9HYqP6
— FloRugby (@FloRugby) January 14, 2024
Cokanasiga, Ollie Lawrence, Ben Spencer and Finn Russell were also influential against Stuart Lancaster’s Racing, who are hoping to prise Owen Farrell away from Saracens for next season yet have lost all three of their European games this season.
Barbeary’s first yellow card came early on for a dangerous tackle on Max Spring and as a result Racing were the first over through Le Garrec.
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Russell’s scorching break ultimately took him down a blind ally and the Scot then made an important tackle on Kitione Kamikamica as the try-line beckoned for the number eight.
Bath ignited in flashes, Barbeary showing his gas as he rampaged forward and Russell’s hands causing hesitation in the visiting defence, but they were initially unable to capitalise on the half-chances being created.
But then a brilliant move launched by Spencer was rewarded when Thomas du Toit powered over in the corner, with Will Rowlands’ yellow card for killing the ball also evidence of the pressure faced by Racing.
Bath trailed 10-8 at the interval, but a subdued start to second half saw them breached for the second time and it was all too easy as Antoine Gibert’s pinpoint kick gave Kamikamica the time to gather and touch down.
The Bath rugby players didn’t believe Jim when he told them they were Live 🔴
ADVERTISEMENTCatch full post match reaction with Jim on RugbyPass TV #rugby #InvestecChampionsCup #BigJimShow pic.twitter.com/kNrOUU6uOM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 14, 2024
The third quarter was all Racing, but to continue a theme of the match Bath’s scrum was causing problems, with one set-piece penalty enabling them to escape their half.
But the French giants continued to tighten the screw and Henry Arundell was the next to score, although there was a hint of a forward pass during some otherwise classy build-up.
It was a simple run in for Arundell, with Maxime Baudonne doing the key work, and the replacement back row then made a try-saving tackle on Cameron Redpath.
Bath stayed in the hunt with a close-range try by Barbeary and suddenly the home side were back firing on all cylinders, a combination of dynamic running and crisp passing sending Cokanasiga over.
Spencer added the conversion via the left upright to level the score, but Racing crept back in front when Le Garrec landed a penalty.
Bath showed their magic to conjure a try for Muir, with Barbeary, Lawrence and Redpath involved in the build-up, but Barbeary’s second yellow for use of the elbow resulted in a nervy finish for the hosts that they survived.
Two yellows so it’s a red for Alfie Barbeary 🟥#InvestecChampionsCup #BATvR92 pic.twitter.com/rRuQw8jzpB
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 14, 2024
Match Summary 
1
Penalty Goals
2
4
Tries
3
3
Conversions
2
0
Drop Goals
0
87
Carries
124
6
Line Breaks
7
10
Turnovers Lost
14
6
Turnovers Won
3
Comments on RugbyPass
Why 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 commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments