Johann van Graan: 'This is just year two of our journey'
Bath boss Johann van Graan hailed his side’s second-half display as they turned around a 10-point half-time deficit to beat Gloucester 45-27 in a West Country derby he described as “a fantastic advertisement for Premiership Rugby”.
Against a free-running Gloucester, Bath were comfortably second best in the first half at a sold-out Kingsholm and trailed 20-10 at the interval.
However, the visitors produced a superb performance after the break to score four tries in the space of 15 minutes as the hosts imploded.
Van Graan, whose side moved to the top of the table ahead of the weekend fixtures, said: “The second half was pretty cool as we showed that on a dry night, we can certainly cause sides a lot of problems when we enter their 22.
“We learnt a lot from playing here last year and picked a well-balanced side but we made a number of errors in the first half and couldn’t build up any momentum.
“Gloucester were fantastic by playing with width in that first half but we spoke at half-time at being more clinical and to back our fitness, so to win the second half 35-7 was particularly rewarding.
“However, I’m particularly pleased at how well we defended our line against multiple phases and overall it was a fantastic advertisement for Premiership Rugby and a great West Country derby.
“We want the squad to get better. This is just year two of our journey and who knows where we will be at the end of the season.”
Ollie Lawrence scored two tries for Bath, with Will Muir, Thomas du Toit and Beno Obano the other players to touch down for the visitors. There was also a penalty try with Finn Russell adding five conversions and a penalty.
Santiago Carreras, Chris Harris and Matias Alemanno scored Gloucester’s tries with George Barton kicking two penalties and three conversions, but the hosts fell away badly after an enterprising start and head coach George Skivington was at a loss to explain what went wrong.
He said: “I’m lost for words as at this stage, I can’t really offer any explanation for our second-half performance and we will have to study the video to try and assess what exactly went on.”
Gloucester have now suffered three successive league defeats after starting the season with back-to-back wins, leaving them eighth in the table.
Skivington added: “It’s definitely concerning as to why we are falling away so badly in recent games and I’d like to apologise to our supporters as there is definitely something missing, which we must consider in training in the week.
“We were very positive in the first half, attacked very well, and probably should have scored more points.
“After that, they targeted the breakdown and we couldn’t cope in that area so every time they got into our 22 they scored.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments