Bath player ratings vs Toulon | Investec Champions Cup

Bath player ratings: Bath left the Stade Mayol with a four-try bonus point in this 45-34 loss but little else after a breathless Champions Cup contest that swung decisively in Toulon’s favour after the break.

The visitors showed ambition and attacking spark in patches, but damp conditions, a ferocious RCT defence and growing set-piece issues proved costly. Greater Toulon muscle and accuracy eventually told, despite Bath remaining dangerous until the final minutes.

1. Beno Obano – 7
Held his own in a feisty early scrum battle with Kyle Sinckler, which was no small feat. Carried solidly in the loose and one of the steadier Bath forwards on a difficult night.

2. Tom Dunn – 7
Darts were solid throughout, even with Toulon forwards hollering at him for much of the match. Busy in contact and reliable at set piece before making way early in the second half reshuffle.

3. Vilikesa Sela – 7
The 20-year-old tighthead is not yet the heaviest-built prop of his time, but he did decently at scrumtime. Stuck to task and competed well before being emptied with the rest of the front row. The scrum got worse when the Bath bomb squad entered the fray.

Points Flow Chart

Toulon win +11

Time in lead

58

Mins in lead

8

71%

% Of Game In Lead

10%

74%

Possession Last 10 min

26%

10

Points Last 10 min

7

4. Quinn Roux – 4
A rough night. Penalised for offside, then failed to recognise the danger at a ruck in a costly double error. Also missed a tackle in the build-up to Gael Drean’s try and hurt himself in the process.

5. Ross Molony – 5
A bit anonymous, particularly in the first half. With Ted Hill doing so much of the lineout work, one wonders what it is Molony brings to the table in a contest of this calibre.

6. Ted Hill – 7.5
Excellent in many areas. A stable lineout option and smashed his way over from close range off a tap-and-go. Carried hard and worked tirelessly, though he did also turn over a few too many balls to score any higher.

7. Sam Underhill – 7
As uncompromising as ever in defence. Tackling was ferocious and his early carries set a tone, including a decent break after half-time that split Toulon open. Removed just as the game tilted away.

8. Alfie Barbeary – 8.5
Possibly Bath’s player of the match. Ducking, diving and bouldering through would-be tacklers, fighting for everything in tight traffic. A handful for Toulon defenders and Bath’s most consistent carrier.

9. Tom Carr-Smith – 7.5
A fine first start in the Champions Cup. Looked composed and controlled until a late knock-on blemished his evening. Had some nice moments but was left a little in the shade by Baptiste Serin, who played the conditions perfectly.

10. Finn Russell – 6
The classic Finn Russell spice-bag. Put under serious pressure by Toulon’s aggressive defence and twice got caught napping with ball in hand, one error directly leading to an RCT try. Tackling ranged from brilliant to laughable. Improved late, demanding the ball and delivering the pass for Carreras’ try.

11. Henry Arundell – 6.5
Electric in the opening stages and broke the line early doors, but Bath failed to get the ball to him enough. Well marshalled when he did see it and starved of opportunities.

12. Cameron Redpath – 6
A few scrappy moments where things did not quite stick, but put in a good defensive shift. Removed late as Bath chased the game.

13. Max Ojomoh – 6
Carried his decent England form into the contest but had precious few chances in a Bath side playing cagey rugby and refusing to play in the middle of the pitch. Played a key part in the late Hennessey try but also had one or two loose moments.

14. Joe Cokanasiga – 5.5
Excellent in the air, disproving a perceived weakness and taking plenty of pressure off Bath early. Missed a gettable tackle for Gael Drean’s try and a costly fumble in the 67th minute threw away valuable possession. Did little in offence.

15. Santiago Carreras – 8
Assured at the back and used opportunities to run it back to good effect. Deserved his try after a really good all-round game, combining composure with ambition when Bath needed it most. Seem to get away with a closed fist to the face of Charles Ollivon.

Replacements – 6.5
A decent overall impact from the bench. Ewan Richards brought real menace and punched holes, Arthur Green took his try very well and Thomas du Toit contributed positively – in the loose at least. The replacement front row did crumble under pressure when Toulon squeezed for Lewis Ludlam’s try. Neil Le Roux was not on long enough to count. Louie Hennessey produced a moment of individual brilliance off a strike play to haul Bath back into it late, briefly threatening an unlikely twist.