'I got on with the lads... but I never felt I played well enough to earn their respect'
Injuries have a habit of rearing their heads at the worst possible time for Cameron Redpath but after his latest setback – a neck injury that saw him miss the majority of the Guinness Six Nations – he is back fit and keen to find his best form.
After starring in Scotland’s first win at Twickenham for 38 years on the opening weekend of the Six Nations, a gutted Redpath was forced to watch from afar having been involved for the championship opener. He made a timely return to help Bath into the Challenge Cup semi-finals with victory over London Irish last weekend and will line up again for Stuart Hooper’s side when they face Leicester in Premiership action on Sunday.
Redpath believes he has come back from his most recent setback as a better player. “It’s part of the game and I feel like I have had a lot of opportunities where I have got injured at the worst possible time, but it’s one of those things,” he said.
“You have got to take it in your stride and every time you get injured, you have got to grow as a player off the field. Every time I have a setback I try to come back stronger. You have got to come back and try to be a better player.”
A change in club environment has helped Redpath, who admits he did not enjoy the latter part of his time at Sale as he was frustrated at being a bit-part player unable to find his best form or spending too much time on the treatment table.
Stuart Hooper's words apparently struck a chord in the build-up to Bath's revenge win over London Irish
https://t.co/VmMP6PZR3w— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 16, 2021
“When I first got approached (by Scotland) I wasn’t playing well at Sale. When I first spoke to Gregor (Townsend) he was telling me he thought I was someone who could play for Scotland but for me, I hadn’t played well at Sale.
“I don’t think I did play well at Sale at all. I got on with the lads and the coaches at Sale but I never felt I played well enough to earn their respect so coming to Bath, I wanted to earn the respect of the boys before thinking about any international honours.
“I have still got massive respect for Sale. They were the ones who made my professional career start so I can’t sit here and slag them off when I was the one not playing well and I couldn’t stay fit. I needed to get away and get a fresh start.
“I had too many injuries and too many average performances. I needed to get away from home and challenge myself – I was very immature as a player and I was relying on too many things that happened in the past to keep me going.”
The move to Bath, which Redpath admits took him wholly out of his comfort zone, rejuvenated a young man with huge potential, and he marked his return with an all-action display in the Challenge Cup quarter-final win over London Irish, even slotting in at fly-half when Orlando Bailey was concussed early on.
“There are a few things that I need to work on but I have not played for eight weeks, so I was expecting that. It was nice to get out there and get challenged playing at 10 a bit more than I normally would at 12.”
Redpath is now keen to put a run of games together for Bath and help the club get their hands on a trophy, with more international honours a target for the summer. “We want to get a trophy. It’s the aim every year. It’s tough but we have got a chance,” he said as Bath look to win silverware for the first time since the 2007/08 Challenge Cup triumph.
“I don’t know what is going on with summer tours at the moment, but I need to play well enough to get picked for Scotland. I want to play rugby at the top level so I can be fit to go on tour.”
Redpath has been mentioned in some quarters as a potential Lions bolter and passed on his congratulations to Townsend and Steve Tandy for their appointments in Warren Gatland’s coaching staff. “It is massive for Scottish rugby. They have done a great job and they deserve it,” he said before picking out a handful of his teammates with club and country that he feels are worthy of facing the world champion Springboks in July.
“Hoggy [Stuart Hogg] and Finn (Russell), they deserve to go massively. Same with Hamish Watson – you can’t get the Six Nations player of the championship and not go. Duhan (van der Merwe) on the wing was the top try-scorer in the Six Nations. There are loads of boys there who deserve a shot.
“Toby [Faletau] as well – he showed what he can do at the weekend with a chip and chase with his weaker foot. There’s a couple of boys who are in with a shot and that would be great for the club, and for them.
Redpath admitted he was gutted to miss Scotland’s first win in Paris for more than two decades, but revealed he joined in with the celebrations from his sofa. “I wanted to be there but I was jumping up and down when they scored at the end. I was going crazy in the house,” he said.
If the 21-year-old can return to the peak of his powers before the end of the season, there is likely to be a chance of a summer tour, whether that is with Scotland or as a wildcard selection to South Africa. “If I play well, everything opens up and I have done everything I can to control getting selected for a summer tour.”
"Joining Bath helped me move on from being a kid. I’m still 21, but I don’t get treated like a 21-year-old, I get treated as a senior player."@JLyall93 speaks to @BathRugby Cam Redpath who plays against Leicester tomorrow. https://t.co/oqnzQhrRpv
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) April 17, 2021
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.
9 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.
22 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.
9 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.
14 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