Ben Spencer says that the best is yet to come from Bath Rugby, despite their destruction of Edinburgh Rugby at The Rec on Friday 16th January.
Skipper Ben Spencer believes that Bath Rugby did well when they destroyed Edinburgh Rugby here at The Rec on Friday 16th January – but he says they can be better | Photo © Richard Briggs
The Blue, Black & White romped to a 63-10 victory to finish top of Investec Champions Cup Pool 2 and earn a home tie with Saracens in the Round of 16 – and the result delighted skipper Spencer, although he admits there is still more in his side.
At Bath’s post-match press conference, Spencer said: “Up to now, it’s probably been a little bit sticky at times.
“If we don’t concede penalties, then the game is a lot easier. I think we gave away three tonight and it’s probably the best of what we’ve done this year.
“In terms of attacking stuff, I think we still left a little bit out there. Especially end of the first half, start of the second half, I think there was a little bit to improve on.
“I think there was a bit of frustration there, but I’m glad we sort of took the game away from them in the end because the last few weeks have been a little bit sticky and at times a little bit too close for what we’d like.
“Everyone wants to play nice rugby, and I think at times this year we’ve had some pretty shocking weather, especially here.
“Tonight was similar, to be fair. The ball was really greasy and what I was mostly impressed with was when the ball went in behind them how hungry we were to get the ball back and not over-chase breakdowns and not concede penalties to give them an easy out.
“So if we can keep getting better and keep having that hunger and the desire to improve, we’ll be all right.”
With regard to Bath’s forwards having a monopoly on their first-half tries, Spencer said: “Conditions played a little bit of a part in that and Edinburgh really fought hard in that first half and made it real difficult for us.
“Full credit to the forwards. I think there’s been times this season where they’ve been unplayable. When they get into that pick-and-go game, they’re hard to stop.
“So that gave us a load of momentum but it was nice to see the backs running in a few tries in the second half.”
Of his dilemma in a pick-and-go game when he has the ball and the backs want it but the forwards are in front of him, Spencer said: “It’s tough, especially with the forward pack that we have and everyone wants to score.
“So it’s about sort of trying to please everyone, I guess.
“Oj [Max Ojomoh] isn’t often too happy with me when the forwards keep scoring but it’s something that we’re working on at the minute.
“There’s a lot of trust between the backs and forwards. As long as the forwards keep scoring, then there we are.”
And Spencer praised backs and attack coach Martin Gleeson, who joined the Blue, Black & White in October after Lee Blackett left the club to join the England set-up.
Spencer said: “[The transition has] been pretty seamless, to be fair.
“Glees obviously knows Lee’s system pretty well. It wasn’t a case of we needed to change too much.
“Obviously, Glees has added and brought things in, but in terms of the transition, it was pretty smooth.”
