Bath and Sale serve up thriller
Bath resisted a stunning fightback by Sale to win 16-14 in a thriller at The Rec.
The home side went in front at half-time thanks to two penalties from fly-half Rhys Priestland and went into a 13-0 advantage when centre Jonathan Joseph scored a try that Priestland converted.
But tries from hooker Akker Van Der Merwe and wing Byron McGuigan, both converted by fly-half Robert Du Preez, sent Sale in front before a final Priestland penalty won it for the home team.
Two injury worries for both teams in the opening seconds – with Sale’s World Cup winner Faf De Klerk needing attention for a leg knock and Joseph going down at the same time – threatened to take the shine off a fascinating encounter.
Thankfully, both got back on their feet as Bath raced out of the blocks quickest.
Errors by the visitors saw Priestland boom over two medium-range penalties to give his side a 6-0 lead, while dashes by England backs duo Anthony Watson and Semesa Rokoduguni needed solid Sale defence.
But Bath could not kick-on and, with scrum-half De Klerk back to his dazzling best at the back of loose and tight situations, Sale had their best attacking period of the match five minutes from the interval.
Ackerman has a suggestion for Wales and their new wunderkind
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— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 28, 2019
Wing Denny Solomona lost his footing as he was tackled five metres from the home line, and swift ball movement pushed Bath back to their own posts before another Sale error saw the hosts clear the danger.
Yet Bath sent their home fans roaring after the break when they went over for a scorching touchdown which Priestland converted.
Full-back Tom Homer began the move with a chip and chase into the Sale half and, from the ruck, Joseph was put away, feeding Priestland on a run to the corner before returned the pass to his centre to cross on the left.
But Sale suddenly found their feet again and put their best pressure of the game on their opponents.
And, in a rip-roaring response, they went over twice to take the lead before the hour.
The 17-cap All Black fullback was evicted from the MCG on day three of the Black Caps’ test against Australia. https://t.co/EOFc22oCTd
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 28, 2019
Van Der Merwe was at the side of a ruck which attacked Bath’s line from a throw-in five metres out and slide around to score.
Just before the hour, Sale were back inside the Bath 22 with the ball going through the back division before Du Preez fed McGuigan to go over in the corner.
But, when Sale infringed with nine minutes to go, Priestland stepped up to land his third penalty of the afternoon which proved to be the decider.
Sale pushed hard to get a penalty or within drop goal territory but Bath held out for a thrilling victory.
RugbyPass had the pleasure of interviewing Ireland and Lions star David Wallace.
Comments on RugbyPass
*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
16 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
16 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to commentsIf Havili can play anywhere in the back line, why not first 5. #10.
11 Go to commentsThe dressing room had already left for their summer break before they ran out in Dublin that year, and that’s on the coach. Franco Smith has undoubtedly made progress, particularly their maul, developing squad players and increasing squad depth. And against a very tight budget too. That said they were too lightweight last year and got found out against both Toulon and Munster in consecutive games. Better this season so far but they’ve developed something of a slow start habit occasionally, most notably losing at home to Northampton who played them at their own game. Play offs will ultimately show whether there has been tangible progress on last year, or not…!
2 Go to commentsAustralian Rugby has been a disaster, by not incorporating learning from previous successful campaigns. QLD Reds 2011 - Waratahs 2014. Players, coaches and administrators appoint there representatives for scheduled meetings, organisation’s agreement’s assessments and correspondence. This why a unified Rugby Union under one entity works. Every Rugby nation has taken that path. Was most difficult in the Northern hemisphere with over 100 years of club rugby before the game become professional. Took a lot of humility for those unions to eventually work together.
7 Go to commentsThough Wilson’s sacking was pretty brutal, it wasn’t just down to that Leinster game; Glasgow had a lot of 2nd half collapses that season, in the URC and Europe, and only just scraped into the playoffs. Franco Smith has definitely been an improvement, some players are delivering far more than they did under Wilson.
2 Go to comments