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What Worcester contingent told colleagues as they boost Bath
Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan paid tribute to the Worcester exiles who contributed so wholeheartedly to a last-minute 19-18 victory over Gallagher Premiership champions Leicester.
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Ex-Warriors skipper Ted Hill galloped in for a first-half try and there were top-class displays by former clubmates in centre Ollie Lawrence and full-back Jamie Shillcock, as well as hooker Niall Annett.
Van Graan said: “The Worcester lads have fitted in so well and they’ve made a lot of the players and staff realise what this game’s about and how lucky we are to have contracts and to keep playing.
“It was a team performance tonight, but within that team the lads who came here from Worcester made a big difference.
“We spoke about it as a group before they even came to Bath. They’ve shared a few private moments with the group and fair dos to them, there’s never a bad moment about what happened to them. They said, ‘We’re now at Bath, we’re going to fit in and make a difference’. And they sure have.”
Van Graan added: “One point is the biggest and also the smallest margin in sport. You lose by a point and it’s extremely hard to take. You win by a point and it’s amazing.
“We’re obviously very happy. We came up against the defending champions, a phenomenal side, and they put us under huge pressure in that first half.
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“We started this journey by saying that we’ve got to become tough to beat and we stuck to it right to the last minute. We picked a strong bench. We started to turn the screw, got a few penalties off the scrum and it was all very satisfying.”
Van Graan was careful to manage expectations after a third win on the bounce.
“Win or lose, we’ll be consistent,” he said. “We’ve got a long way to go, but I’m so glad for the players and the staff who have put in so much hard work in the 18 weeks since we started on July 18.
“It shows we are on the right path. We are getting fitter. We understand what we have to do to be competitive. And if you are within a few points at the end of the game you’ve got a chance to win it.”
Steve Borthwick, Leicester head coach, did not hide his frustration at what he called the imbalance caused by international calls on his squad, with 10 of his best players absent.
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He said: “The squad has really been tested – we haven’t played for a number of weeks. We have five players in the England squad tomorrow and others with Wales, Argentina, South Africa, Fiji, Samoa and on top of that we have a group of players who have taken bangs in the international camps.
“So, you look at the squad right now and we’re being tested. I’m delighted we produce international players. It’s one of the challenges you have when you have a season which clashes with international games.
“It was a hard-fought contest. I thought we had plenty of opportunities on the try-line. Unfortunately, we put the ball down, dropped it a few times and it clearly didn’t lead to tries. If you don’t take the opportunities you leave the opposition in the game and that’s what we did.
Comments on RugbyPass
Tighthead was always going to be our weakness this year with Ryan going home to Ireland and the Cashed Up Blues taking a third All Black prop from us - nobody else in SR does that. Numia is the exciting one. He used to be a lightweight but he's really improved. Do you have stats on the All Black hookers’ lineouts for the game? I seem to remember a few misses.
2 Go to commentsFergus Burke isn't tier 1 player quality…but guess what, he'll be playing amongst them for Saracens…. all going well and Steve Borthwick is still the head coach, England...Scott Robertson’s hint of amending NZRU’s offshore AB eligibility clause, would mean that players like Josh Moorby who show potential might get a call…
4 Go to commentsThe movement of quality players back to SA is remarkable.
2 Go to commentsInteresting article, Nic. Am enjoying seeing the Rebels doing well, partly just to spite those who are working to wipe them off the face of the Australian rugby planet. But it is also good to see a team with somany good players beginning fire. LSL has benefitted so much from his move up to Northampton for the one year. I wonder why he did not stay on for another year. Does he now looks north and see his teammates of last year now doing so well, and have some regrets.
44 Go to comments“Over 80% of the World Cup squad are over 30” No it isn’t lol
2 Go to commentsTyrel Lomax the best AB prop since Carl Hayman. Absolutely destroyed the Boks in RWC Final and is monstering allcomers in Super this season. Should be a monster battle vs touring Poms, always deliver a power pack.
2 Go to commentsEye gouging seems like such a strong term for what can only be described as a poke in the eye. When I think of eye gouging I think of someone trying to intentionally pop someone’s eyeball out. it’s like calling a high-tackle attempted decapitation.
3 Go to commentsGreat article. No insights to add, just wanted to say that. :)
1 Go to commentsLeinster are going to win the world cup.
13 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
44 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
44 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
4 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
44 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to comments