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Bath brush aside Saracens to claim final Heineken Champions Cup spot

By PA
Johan van Graan - PA

Bath ran in nine tries in a 61-29 win over a game Saracens second string to snatch the last Heineken Champions Cup spot next season from local rivals Bristol.

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Hooker Tom Dunn scored a hat-trick as Johann van Graan’s resurgent side notched a fourth successive Gallagher Premiership victory, a run that has propelled the club from the bottom of the table to that all-important eighth qualifying place.

The Rec broke into wild celebration as news came through from Ashton Gate that Bristol’s winning margin against Gloucester had not been enough.

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Bath had led within three minutes of kick-off after Miles Reid won a line-out and popped up again to finish off a series of pulverising drives by his team-mates, with Ben Spencer adding the conversion.

Saracens’ youngsters opted for a wider game and soon fashioned an overlap on the right for the speedy Rotimi Segun to touch down an unconverted try.

The home side’s strong mauling game claimed a useful scalp when Saracens loosehead Eroni Mawi was sin-binned for offside and it proved even more costly when Dunn immediately finished off a catch-and-drive from the line-out for his 10th try of the season.

Spencer’s conversion took his side into a 14-5 lead after 12 minutes, but the visitors were giving as good as they got in the early stages.

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While Bath’s approach was narrow and predictable, Saracens made intelligent use of meagre possession and centre Olly Hartley was put clear with a deft pass from fly-half Manu Vunipola, who added the conversion.

England tighthead Will Stuart was close to claiming another try for Bath’s pack but the quick-thinking Josh Hallett scored again at the other end for Saracens, leaving Vunipola with a simple conversion to make it 19-14 to the league leaders.

The lead see-sawed as Beno Obano forced his way over from close range, Spencer converting again, only for hooker Ethan Lewis to finish off a catch-and-drive which gave Saracens a try bonus point and a 24-21 half-time lead.

It was a far more purposeful Bath side that emerged from the break, suddenly favouring quick line-out ball as Saracens’ discipline began to fray and Ted Hill’s surge to the line presented Obano with a try under the posts.

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There were still reminders of Bath’s power in the maul as Dunn found the try-line twice in four minutes to complete his hat-trick and all-but end Saracens challenge.

Although Vunipola weaved 60 metres to score a remarkable virtuoso try for the visitors, Chris Cloete featured twice in a line-out move to restore Bath’s 20-point lead, thanks to Spencer’s conversion.

Orlando Bailey then rounded off a length-of-the-field move and converted his own try, Bath’s eighth, as they passed the 50-mark before Ollie Lawrence raced away to touch down in injury time to complete the scoring.

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

Bath Rugby v Saracens - Gallagher Premiership - Recreation Ground

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T
Trevor 40 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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