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'I was watching him closely and thinking, 'When do we bring him off?''
Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper believes having a “single focus” will prove a big boost for his team’s Gallagher Premiership aspirations.
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Hooper’s men, whose Heineken Cup hopes are over for the season following a poor run of pool results, edged Sale 16-14 in a thriller at the Recreation Ground on Saturday to register their second victory in as many weekends and move into serious play-off contention.
They will look to make it three wins on the bounce at arch rivals Gloucester next week.
“I thought we found ways to pressure them, kick points and ultimately come away with the four points,” Hooper said. “It sharpens our focus going into Gloucester.
“Europe was going to be a tough competition for us. It was a realisation of where we are. The Premiership is our single focus (now) and we believe that, on any single day, we can beat anyone in the Premiership but we have to play really well to do that.
“Having a single focus is big for us and we go to Gloucester with that single focus. It is not a turning point (beating Sale) but it is an opportunity for us to push hard in the Premiership.”
Saturday’s victory was secured thanks to three penalties from fly-half Rhys Priestland and the conversion of England centre Jonathan Joseph’s second-half try.
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No club domestically has been able to match @Saracens domination of the Premiership and Heineken European Champions Cup during the 2010’s, and that makes their 15 for 10 particularly competitive
– @alexshawsport takes up the task ???https://t.co/S96TtDAvzz
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 29, 2019
Sharks had to wait until well into the second half before they got their points when hooker Akker Van der Merwe and wing Byron McGuigan crossed for tries converted by fly-half Robert Du Preez.
That made it 14-13 to Sale before the last Priestland penalty nine minutes from time restored Bath’s lead and, with it, the triumph.
Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau emerged unscathed from his first 80 minutes of the season, just in time to mount a challenge for a Six Nations Championship place under new national coach Wayne Pivac.
“He is pleased he has got through it,” Hooper said. “Credit to him for the work he has put in and to our medical team.
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“PRO14 rugby is much more exciting than Premiership rugby, has been for years."
– Michael Bradley talks Prem v PRO14 with @heagneyl ???https://t.co/iTlvoOlb8y
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 29, 2019
“I was watching him closely and thinking, ‘When do we bring him off?’ But he was going really well and had some big moments at the end of the game which you would expect from a player of his quality.”
Sale’s director of rugby Steve Diamond was not as satisfied with the afternoon’s events, and was adamant that referee Craig Maxwell-Keys should have given his side a penalty six minutes from time when, he claimed, Bath’s Tom Dunn made an illegal tackle on England flanker Tom Curry.
Diamond said: “Tom Curry, who is a world-class player, has had a no-arms tackle but I need to have a look at that.
“For me, (I’m) gutted. I’m disappointed with the referee today and it feels more like a loss than getting two points."https://t.co/7X8cbdQ0r7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 28, 2019
“Those decisions are really crucial. The wins and losses are decided on that one decision.
“With those decisions, you have to be rock sure and I wonder why he did not consult his TMO.”
As for the game, Diamond said: “Fair play to Bath, they had their 16th man out there (the crowd) but well done to them.
“I don’t know where we are going in the league because we have a dominant scrum and South Africa proved in the World Cup final that, if you have a dominant scrum, you win games.
“But ours isn’t getting anything. There is no point in coaching players and getting them to this standard if they are never going to get any ascendancy. That is really disappointing.”
Diamond insisted, however: “We are in a good place, definitely.”
– Press Association
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments