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'It was tough. I've not played fly-half professionally, I've never started at 10'

By PA
Cameron Redpath /Getty

Cameron Redpath was delighted to be back on a rugby pitch after eight months injured but disappointed he could not prevent Bath from suffering a heavy 39-21 Heineken Champions Cup defeat away to La Rochelle.

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Despite a bright start from the visitors, the result was never in doubt from the moment Pierre Popelin registered a couple of early penalties, after Ben Spencer had failed to give Bath an early lead from the tee.

“It was tough – a bit of rustiness for me. Eight months, with two operations, is a long time and I was buzzing to be back,” said Redpath.

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“It’s nice to be back playing rugby again. It’s been a long eight months and it’s been tough.

“Obviously, it was a tough game and they’re a big, big side. A physical side who get their roles right and they’ve got some big backs as well.

“It’s a bit colder than I thought as well. I thought France was pretty warm and my knee doesn’t do well in the cold, but it’s just nice to be back to be honest.”

La Rochelle were in no mood to welcome Redpath back to action gently, with the home side following their early penalties with a try for Jonathan Danty.

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The hosts crossed for a second try through forward Remi Picquette and the second half began in the worst possible fashion for Bath, with Tom Ellis sent to the sin bin.

La Rochelle made the visitors pay almost instantly, with Picquette blasting his way over for his second try before Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule also crossed over to make it 39-0.

Bath rallied and quickly registered three converted tries around the hour mark. Johannes Jonker, Joe Simpson and Ruaridh McConnochie all crossed as they reduced the deficit to a more respectable 18 points.

Redpath admitted it was difficult starting at fly-half, adding: “It was tough. I’ve not played fly-half professionally, I’ve never started as fly-half.

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“I’ve come on when I’m needed to but it’s different. Calling players, just knowing all the players after eight months, I’m a bit rusty. But hopefully I’ve got that out now.”

He looked to the positives and praised Will Butt for his contribution, saying: “There were a couple of good moments there.

“Someone like Will Butt coming on, he made a big impact and played a big part in two of the tries at least.

“So it was really nice to see us score a couple of tries in the second half. The first half was just settling in. I made a few errors which isn’t great, but it’s nice to see us score a few tries.”

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Tom 1 hour ago
Has 'narrow-mindedness' cost Ribbans and others their Lions chance?

I didn't say anything regarding whether I feel the eligibility rule is right or wrong, you've jumped to conclusions there…


The fact is the eligibility rule does exist and any English qualified player is aware when they sign a foreign contract that they're making themselves ineligible and less likely to be picked for the Lions. If Jack Willis and Dave Ribbans priority was playing for England and the Lions they wouldn't be playing in France. Whether they should be allowed to play for England or not isn't my point. Under the current rules they have chosen to make themselves ineligible so they can't have their cake and eat it while other players have taken lesser salaries to commit themselves to their dream of playing for England and the Lions. They have made their choices.


Besides, while it works for South Africa doesn't prove it will work for any other country. South Africa have an extraordinary talent pool of incredible rugby athletes which no other country can compete with. They sadly don't have the resources to keep hold of them so they've been forced into this system. If they had the wealth to keep all their players at home and were still playing in Super Rugby they might be even better… they could be worse. We can't know for sure but cherry picking the best country in the world with a sample size of 1 and extrapolating it to other nations with very different circumstances doesn't hold water. Again, not saying the eligibility rule is correct just that you can't assume scrapping it would benefit us simply because South Africa are world champions.

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I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
How Leinster bullied the Bulls at Croke Park

Expert coaches exist across the land and the IRFU already funds plenty. Ulster own their academy and who owns Ulster?


If you go to school in the North and rugby/tag rugby isn’t even on the PE curriculum until 12/13 as opposed to 7 or 8 in Leinster, how is that the IRFU’s fault? Even then, it’s only certain schools in the North that will offer it. On what basis would they go up to the North (strictly speaking, another country in the eyes of some) and dictate their schools programme?


The ABs used to be light years ahead of the pack because their eventual test superstars had been playing structured, competitive rugby from an average age of 5/6! On top of kicking it around the yard from the age they could walk with their rugby mad parents and older siblings.


Have you somehow gotten the impression that the Leinster system is not working for Irish rugby? What is that based on? The SARU should just stop competing because despite their back to back RWC’s, all 4 of their URC teams aren’t contesting semi-finals every year?


A couple of mining towns basically provided a Welsh team in the 70’s that were unplayable. Queensland in the old Super 10 provided the spine of an Oz team that were the first to win multiple world cups and in the same decade. The ABs population density is well documented with 35% of the population living around one city.


Is England’s match day 23 equally represented by mid-counties players, tough as nails northerners, a couple from Cornwall, a pack of manc’s and a lone Geordie? Ever?

It’s cute they won’t relegate the Falcons but has a Geordie test player ever hit 50 caps?


It’s ok not to understand geography. It’s also ok not to understand sport. Not understanding the geography of sport is something different entirely.

266 Go to comments
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LONG READ Did Argentina 'con' the British and Irish Lions in 2005? Did Argentina 'con' the British and Irish Lions in 2005?
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