Bath produce some of their best rugby to beat Exeter – van Graan

Johann van Graan said that Bath Rugby produced some of their best rugby as they overcame Exeter Chiefs at The Rec on Saturday 3rd January.

A ruthless opening quarter from Bath Rugby saw them race into a 26-0 lead against Exeter Chiefs here at The Rec on Saturday 3rd January | Photo © Richard Briggs

The Blue, Black & White fended off a superb recovery from the visitors to record a 33-26 success in Gallagher PREM Round 9, thanks to a last-gasp try from Arthur Green.

The win got Bath back on track after their home defeat by Northampton Saints the previous weekend.

A brilliant first quarter from the hosts saw them open up a 26-0 lead, ruthlessly taking advantage of Exeter’s Campbell Ridl being given a 20-minute red card early on.

And when asked by the Echo at his post-match press conference whether Bath planned to blitz the Chiefs at the start, winners’ head of rugby van Graan said: “It wasn’t necessarily part of a plan. We want to start every game well.

“Against Munster [on Saturday 6th December in the Investec Champions Cup], we started very, very well as well, but I thought tonight, from a ball in hand bit, that was some of the best rugby that we’ve played.

“I think there’s two bits of last week [against Northampton] that were disappointing – we didn’t finish our chances and we fell off too many tackles.

“The first 28 minutes [against Exeter], we finished our chances, and I thought the application both sides of the ball was excellent, and you need your big ball carriers on nights like tonight to come through, and I thought Alf [Gallagher Player of the Match Alfie Barbeary] was fantastic.

“I thought the try that we scored straight after the other one when we ran it out from the kick-off was a massive moment in the game, and sometimes you’ve got to punch and you’ve got to punch again, and I thought we did that really well tonight.”

The big talking point from the game was how Bath kept possession for more than three minutes, across 38 phases, for replacement Green’s try.

Van Graan said: “It’s something that we train a lot. It’s a big part of the game, if you look at the global game.

“Once it comes down to the last play or two of the game, the very best referees don’t make a decision, they let the two teams fight it out, and we won that battle.

“The fact that we could keep it… I think it was three-and-a-half minutes, 38 phases. So all credit to the players, they kept the ball.

“That’ll be the headline, the 38 phases, but I think overall I’m pretty happy with our performance.

“I thought we defended a lot better and we came up against a team that once we gave them entries they finished them pretty well, so huge respect for Exeter and good game of rugby.

“I absolutely love coaching in this league, because it’s so competitive.

“We conceded two penalties and Sladey [Exeter’s Henry Slade] kicks us five yards away from our try line twice. So credit to him.

“Exeter are a quality team and they’re backing themselves five yards from the try line.

“We stopped the first maul, and then they got momentum on the second one and scored with that pick and go, and then I thought we had an opportunity on 31-14, try disallowed, and I think the right call made by [referee] Luke [Pearce] there.

“So we had an opportunity to go three tries up again, and they kept fighting back, but what I’m most pleased about is we got the ball back from the kick-off [leading to Green’s try] and then to keep the ball for 38 phases and score right next to the sticks, that’s how you want to finish a game.

“I think a high-quality game by two very good teams and very glad about the five points.

“I try to remain pretty consistent in my messaging to the group, because you work with people and this playing group has been fantastic, and they keep their heads down and they work so hard, and ultimately not every week the results will go your way.

“That’s what we’re very good at. We stick to facts, we look at the facts of last week, and if you look at the facts about this week, Exeter are currently the number-one team between minute 60 to 70. They scored two tries against us and ultimately we knew it was coming, so you stop it. And then credit to our guys for finishing it off.

“I don’t think there was any difference [preparation-wise] in the week.

“We reviewed our performance against Northampton, and there were some very good things against Northampton.

“The two things that we wanted to work on [finishing first-half chances and not falling off tackles], we did well tonight.

“We gave them too many entries.

“If you look at the game globally, it seems that teams go on these runs and score two or three tries, and then others score two or three tries, there’s so many examples of this.

“I take you back to a few weeks ago when Northampton played Exeter, Northampton were up and Exeter came back, similar to our game against Saracens [on Sunday 30th November], we were 14-0 down and we came back.

“It’s about which team can manage the momentum, and I guess ultimately when it comes down to winning the game, like we did in the last play of the game, we were good enough, and that’s all credit to the players because that was tough to keep the ball for 38 phases.

“The last one I can remember like this is when [in 2018] Ireland kept the ball against France for 45 phases, and Johnny Sexton kicked the [winning] drop goal. 38 phases, three-and-a-half minutes, is a long time, so credit to the group.”

In addition to praising Barbeary, van Graan hailed back-from-injury Will Muir and debutant Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi for superb displays against the Chiefs.

“So glad to have Horse [Muir] back,” said van Graan.

“He played in the warm-up game against Worcester [Warriors on Friday 19th September], and got tackled from behind off the ball and did his ankle, came back, he injured his ankle, came back, did his calf, and to finally get him on the pitch was great and a good lift for the team.

“He’s one of the characters in the group, and great to have him out there for 60 minutes.

“So glad for Enoch. Amazing story to tell, where Andy Robinson saw him on a video a number of years ago, and he knows the type of player that I enjoy, somebody similar to Alfie, somebody that can carry the ball, somebody that can take you forward.

“The journey that he’s been on, [today] was his senior debut for the club. I think that’s the amazing thing of sport, and specifically rugby, is there’s different avenues into the game.

“I’m so glad for him, but more for the team, whilst rotating the squad we’ve got Scott Kirk, Kepu Tuipulotu, Billy [Vilikesa] Sela, Enoch, Arthur Green, we keep looking towards the future as well, and nights like tonight will certainly be a good moment in time for us as a group.”

And van Graan said he was thrilled to see Bruce Craig, Bath’s owner, enjoying the win so much.

“I’ve got so much respect for Bruce and how he lets the team get on with the things that we need to get on with, and now he’s been in town for the last two weeks and he’s been supportive, and I’m so glad that he’s happy,” said van Graan.

“When you manage up, the CEO, the board, the owner, they put so much into the club, you want them to also enjoy it, and the players and the staff, you want to give them great moments in time.

“And tonight was a great moment in time, a battle between two top sides to win it in the 80th minute. Great to see your owner enjoy it.

“I think that’s been one of the secrets, alignment, top to bottom, all aligned into what we want to do. All teams will win or lose. Ultimately, it’s where we’re going to, and we’re loving our time together.”

Next up for Bath is a match at French side Castres Olympique in Champions Cup Round 3 on Friday 9th January.

“Castres is one of those great places to go to,” said van Graan.

“Population of just over 40,000 people, stadium of 12,400 people, a great place to go and play rugby on a Friday evening in the south of France.

“This will be a tough battle. So looking forward to it.

“The England lads will go to Pennyhill Park [the national side’s training base at Bagshot, Surrey] on Monday.

“We’ll be together as a group on Tuesday, one day of training, and we’ll travel via Heathrow, Toulouse and take the bus to Castres.

“So different week, but that’s the reality of November, December, January.

“We’re going to love the week, and it’ll all come down to the Edinburgh game [in Champions Cup Round 4] here in two weeks’ time on the Friday night [16th January].

“So a great two weeks to look forward to.”