Ryan Davis was thrilled to complete his time as Bath Rugby’s de facto head coach by masterminding a victory at The Rec.
Ryan Davis, centre, red top, addresses his Bath Rugby players before kick-off against Sale Sharks on Saturday 22nd November | Photo © Richard Briggs
With the Blue, Black & White’s head of rugby Johann van Graan preparing for the Investec Champions Cup campaign, Davis was put in charge of the side for the October/November block of matches in the PREM Rugby Cup.
And a 20-0 home win over Sale Sharks in Round 5 on Saturday 22nd November meant Davis finished his three-game stint at the top with two successes and one defeat, Bath having triumphed 49-19 at Bristol Bears on Friday 31st October and been pipped 19-17 at Gloucester Rugby on Friday 14th November.
The win over the Sharks means the Blue, Black & White remain in third place in Pool A but are only one point behind the men from the CorpAcq Stadium and four points adrift of leaders Gloucester at the halfway point of the mini-league stage.
At his post-match press conference after the victory over Sale, Davis said: “We were at times a little bit inaccurate but we had intent and we showed character to keep going. So pleased, pleased with the result.
“I think they probably had about 60-odd per cent territory but when we got momentum we just found a way of giving it back to them, and we’ve obviously got to look at that, how we keep hold of the ball.
“But when we did build pressure, I thought two of the tries were really, really good.
Ryan Davis coaches during the warm-up before the Bath Rugby versus Sale Sharks clash in the PREM Rugby Cup | Photo © Richard Briggs
“We didn’t want them to get close [on the scoreboard]. At the end of this campaign, it could come down to points difference. So for us to do that, I think it was a good finish to this block.”
When asked by the Echo what it felt like to have led Bath to victory at their home ground, Davis said: “I was chuffed. Very proud moment. I’ve got my family up there [in the West Stand] and I can see the girls and my missus looking over.
“I’ve been there as a player, as a junior coach, skills coach, academy coach, and now I get to a head coach.
“I was chuffed with the five points. I think we were one or two passes away or a couple of penalties away from being in their half on top a little more, and it could have swung a little bit even more. We came here to do a job, and we did it.”
The Blue, Black & White lost centre Will Butt to a head injury assessment in the 56th minute but he returned to the field 12 minutes later – in the scrum.
Davis said: “We put him to 6. We wanted to trial that because you’ve got to be innovative and you’ve got to find ways of bringing other players in and he’s good enough to play in the loose as a back rower, you can see that.
“So we’ve got to find ways because we want to be ahead of the next team and ahead of the curve.”
Summing up his time leading the group, Davis said: “In terms of learning, I’ve learned a load.
“There’s so much you narrow your focus [on] in and around an attack coach or whatever it would be, a skills coach.
“But for me, to think about everything and then be very simple, my messages, I’ve come out of that with a lot of learning.
“I’ve been a sponge in terms of listening to the senior coaches.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity and I’m glad we’ve got two [wins] from three and we’re right back in the mix.
“I think you’ve got to be very calm and collected [as a head coach].
“As an attack coach, you see your area and you only see what you think is influencing your attack.
“As a head, you’ve got to see anything from substitutions to momentum, to defence, kicking game – it’s everything.
“So I just think you’ve got to be calm and collected not to make too many harsh changes, and also in the week be very thorough to what you want to do. Don’t keep changing.”
Davis hailed Sam Winters and Charlie Griffin for their contributions under his leadership.
He said: “I think Sam Winters and Charlie Griffin have shown that [they were standout players in this block of cup matches] and obviously you can see the reward in [them] starting.
“I thought Neil le Roux gave a really good display against Bristol away and then learned some really good lessons at Gloucester.”
And he praised Arthur Green after another fine display from the young back row.
Davis said: “Everything he touches right now is going really well. His foot work, his carry.
“He runs those really good lines in between the seams of the line-out. But also he’s able to keep the ball alive.
“So he’s one for the future and he’s a threat, you can see that.”
