Bath player ratings vs Exeter Chiefs | 2025/26 Gallagher PREM

Player ratings: Bath Rugby let slip a golden opportunity to reclaim top spot in the Gallagher PREM with a 35 – 12 loss to the Exeter Chiefs at a blustery Sandy Park.

Facing into a near gale force wind in the first half, the reigning champions hung in despite their hosts making the bulk of the play, trailing by eight points at the break.

Starting the second half brightly, Johann van Graan’s side pinned the Chiefs back with the breeze at their backs. Instead of capitalising and keeping the pressure on their hosts, Bath played fast and loose letting their usual vice like game plan take a back seat.

Defensively, Bath were cut open on a handful of occasions by the Chiefs’ strike plays in what was a concerning display as the other top sides plot their downfall.

Here is how the Bath players rated.

1. Francois van Wyk – 5
On the occasion of his 50th appearance, the burly South African put himself about from the off. Dragging down Len Ikitau with the line at his mercy was a moment that encapsulated his work rate. Haring across from the far touchline to nap the Wallaby. At scrum time, however things weren’t quite as rosy with Josh Iosefa Scott edging the head-to-head in that department.

2. Dan Frost – 7
Making the most of his starting role, Frost was a constant threat at the breakdown winning an exceptional penalty in the 15th minute. Ten minutes later, the hooker marshalled a maul over the Chiefs line for Bath’s first score in their first real opportunity. Closing his account as his side’s top tackler with 19 to go with his 8 carries in 50 minutes was a top return.

3. Archie Griffin – 3
Crabbing sideways under the pressure of Scott Sio and the Chiefs’ front row, Griffin had a challenging afternoon in the starting hot seat. Exacerbating his struggles was just how dominant Bath became when Thomas du Toit took over at tighthead. Away from the scrum, Griffin was busy defensively with 13 tackles but only made 2 carries for what on the whole was a disappointing performance.

4. Quinn Roux – 2
Mistimed a kick-off chase in the 13th minute which led to an awkward collision with Henry Slade. Ultimately this moment would lead to a heavily debated 20 minute red card. In the commentary box, former England international Austin Healy was clear that he felt the decision was harsh. Irrespective, the facts laid out by referee Karl Dickson met the threshold and thus brought an end to the Irish international’s afternoon.

5. Ross Molony – 3
Exceptionally quiet from the former Leinster line-out guru, Molony’s most noticeable impact in the first half was finding himself offside to offset a superb Sam Underhill turnover. Defensively, the lock got through 14 tackles but didn’t carry the ball despite his side needing their physical players to front up.

6. Ted Hill – 7
Hoovered up loose ball and turned into go-forward momentum all contest. Trailing only Alfie Barbeary as Bath’s go-to carrier, the powerhouse blindside was front and centre as his side struggled to keep pace with their hosts. At line-out time, he was the go to option for an operation that was hit and miss across the board. Whilst his side underperformed he certainly did not.

7. Sam Underhill – 7
‘Sam Underhill, does what he says on the tin’. Grafting at the coal face as he does every time he pulls on the shirt, the backrow went to work with chopping Chiefs’ ball carriers. Capitalising on the home side’s willingness to run from deep despite playing with a gale at their backs in the first half. Underhill not only hit double digit tackle numbers but won a well timed turnover and nearly had another only to be undone by Ross Molony being caught offside. Getting his second turnover early in the second half at a major inflexion point in the contest allowed his side to get back into the contest with a close range line-out. Three minutes later and he found his away over the try line for the score that sparked the comeback.

8. Alfie Barbeary – 7
Well marshalled by the Exeter defence, Bath’s danger man was once again at the heart of everything his side achieved. Carrying hard from the base of a scrum that was just losing the battle, running wreck shop at the breakdown and putting in several big shots in defence, it was a typical all-action afternoon from Barbeary who was his side’s top carrier and a top three tackler during his time on the park.

9. Ben Spencer – 8
Took on the responsibility of leading his side’s kicking game with a masterful display into a stiff breeze in the first half. Keeping a low trajectory when looking for touch and getting a nice backspin that hung in the air when setting his wingers up to compete. Defensively, Spencer controlled his side’s structure and put hiimself about with a few big hits most notably one late in the first half that stunted a promising long range Chiefs’ strike play.

10. Finn Russell – 5
Unusually the Scottish maestro was not the focal point of his side’s game plan, taking a backseat to Ben Spencer in that department. In general there the flashes of the Russell brilliance that fans are accustomed to mixed in with to moments where he was caught out. In particular his wild kick pass early in the second half which led to an Ollie Woodburn intercept. This pressure would yield a yellow card for a desperate Tom de Glanville on the edge moments later.

11. Henry Arundell – 4
Living life on the fringes, the England winger was caught defending high on several occasions allowing the Chiefs to match up well with their kick chase. Outside of a couple of solid carries, the winger really could not leave his mark and at times looked out on his feet when chasing kicks.

12. Will Butt – 6
Understated, the ultra physical inside centre was routinely the first player to clear the breakdown on Bath’s strike plays. When he wasn’t backing up Alfie Barbeary off first phase, he was using his significant frame to crash over the gainline. Unfortunately for him, the rest of his backline couldn’t quite capitalise on his momentum.

13. Ollie Lawrence – 4
Impactful in flashes, the dynamic Bath centre showed his class with a few big carries but most of his work was done on the defensive side of the ball. Getting to grips with the Chiefs’ danger pairing of Len Ikitau and Henry Slade was always going to be a big ask and on balance he got edged. Missing Ikitau on two occassions, both of which led to tries will frustrate him to no end.

14. Joe Cokanasiga – 3
One big carry early in the second half aside, the winger struggled to impose himself on the contest. Watching the bulk of the kicking game target his wing partner, Cokanasiga held firm on his wing when there were potentially opportunities to seek out work.

15. Tom de Glanville – 3
Brave as ever in the air, the Bath fullback couldn’t quite get to grips with Paul Brown Bampoe in terms of securing the ball but generally did enough to at least to clean up loose balls. Unfortunately his early yellow card offset the good start that his side had enjoyed to the second half and instantly put the Chiefs back in control. Two minutes into his sin bin period, the Chiefs scored to go into a significant lead.

Substitutes
16. Kepu Tuipulotu – 6
Once again proved to be the ultimate impact carrier off the bench, the young hooker got on the ball for a big rumble straight away before playing his part in a dominant scrum moments later. At line-out time, his darts went array which cost his side a few key attacking opportunities.

17. Beno Obano – 7
Mirroring the impact of his fellow ‘bomb squad’ replacements, Obano instantly upped the ante with a pair of big carries and a dominant showing at scrum time.

18. Thomas du Toit – 7.5
Instantly flipped the narrative at scrum time with his first effort in the 52nd minute. In conjunction with his fellow replacement front rowers, du Toit obliterated the Chiefs’ front row who had held the ascendancy against the Bath starters.

19. Charlie Ewels – 5
Played significantly more minutes than he would’ve budgeted for due to Quinn Roux’s early red card. As ever, his work rate was top notch with 12 tackles and 4 carries but didn’t quite have his usual big moment impact.

20. Guy Pepper – 6
Certainly matched the intensity set by Ted Hill with a few barnstorming carries and big hits. Still for all of his efforts, his side were slipping at that stage and he couldn’t turn the tide.

21. Tom Carr Smith – 4
Came on with 9 minutes to play and didn’t have much impact with his side back pedalling heavily at that stage.

22. Santiago Carreras – 6
Certainly added some much needed width to the Bath attack which instantly set Henry Arundell free only to see the winger bundled into touch.

23. Cameron Redpath – 4
Came close to being showing a yellow card for his role in a high tackle but otherwise had a quiet showing on the occasion of his 100th appearance.