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Bath head coach Neal Hatley spoke of his “immense pride” after the west country club claimed a shock 21-17 Premiership victory over champions Harlequins.
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Although Bath remain bottom of the Premiership, they followed up victory over Worcester three weeks ago by posting first back-to-back league wins since March last year.
Hatley said: “I am a little relieved, but more than anything I feel immense pride at the effort. I am pleased for the players, more than anything.
“I don’t want to get carried away. It is a good win at home and we’ve got Saracens away next week, so it doesn’t get any easier.”
Quins, minus the likes of England Six Nations squad members Marcus Smith and Alex Dombrandt, led at half-time after tries from flanker Dino Lamb and wing Cadan Murley, with Tommy Allan adding a conversion.
But Bath stayed in the contest through two Ben Spencer penalties before wing Will Muir struck twice in 14 minutes, then Spencer’s late penalty sealed it after Quins substitute George Hammond claimed his team’s third touchdown.
Spencer added the conversion to Muir’s opener, and it was an outstanding effort by the injury-hit hosts.
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There was an impressive Bath debut for England international No 8 Nathan Hughes, who only joined them earlier this week on loan from Bristol.
“Nathan is a 25-cap international, and you can see why,” Hatley added. “He is one of ours for a while now, and he has brought great energy to the group.
“After last weekend (losing to Leinster 64-7), which was tough, and all the changes, I am just so proud of everybody. Defensively we are getting better, and our scrum improved massively.”
And Muir said: “We were just fighting to the last minute because we were desperate. That win is exactly what we needed. We can use that as a stepping stone.
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“The crowd gave that energy and excitement, and it spurs people on. We scored tries, and there was a buzz. There were big tackles, and there was a buzz.”
Quins, without Smith’s direction and the physical presence of Dombrandt, saw hopes of a fourth successive away win in all competitions disappear, although a losing bonus point saw them move level on points with second-placed Saracens.
“If we boil it all down, we only had 27 percent of the ball,” Quins’ senior coach Tabai Matson said.
“For us, for anyone, that is not going to be enough, let alone in an away fixture.
“We didn’t have the ball enough, and what underpinned that was losing the aerial battle really poorly tonight. I don’t know how many times we dropped it or had a turnover in that first ruck.
“Give them (Bath) credit. I think before the game I said they were going to ruin some people’s weekends, and they have, because they took their opportunities.
“It was a 16-8 penalty count against us, and away from home, no ball, you are asking for trouble.
“Players tend to be more eager when we get a loss, so for us, deconstructing that and getting to the bottom of it is really important if we are going to roll into Sale next week and get a win.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments