Ben Spencer says that his 59th-minute try against his former club Saracens was a major turning point in the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 tie at The Rec on Saturday 4th April.
Bath Rugby skipper Ben Spencer scored a crucial try against his former club Saracens here at The Rec in the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday 4th April | Photo © Richard Briggs
Spencer finished off a move that saw the hosts turn defence into attack, the Londoners having been pressing for a try.
His touchdown put the Blue, Black & White 19-10 up – after they had trailed 10-0 at half-time – as they moved towards a 31-22 victory.
At Bath’s post-match press conference, Spencer – who won the Champions Cup three times during almost a decade with Sarries – said: “It [his try] was definitely a big turning point.
“They probably could’ve scored 15 seconds earlier.
“Fortunate to get a turnover. I thought our scrambled defence in that situation really got us out of jail.
“I think Santi [Carreras] made a tackle and then Oj [Max Ojomoh] got back and made another tackle, so that’s the kind of hunger that goes a long way in the group and we want to show for each other.
“I think that point in the game was a big turning point, but then they get a penalty after kick-off and then we’re back under our sticks five minutes later.
“There’s quite a few learnings from that game that we can take into next week [at home to Northampton Saints in the quarter-finals on Friday 10th April].
“Sometimes [in] knockout rugby you just need to get the job done – and that’s what it feels like today.
“We know there are no illusions that we’re going to have to be a lot better on Friday night to get through to the semi-finals.
“So we’ll enjoy the win tonight but from Monday it’ll be straight back onto what’s to come.”
Spencer praised Mark McCall, Saracens’ director of rugby who will be standing down at the end of the campaign after 15 years in charge.
McCall – who steered Sarries to six Premiership titles, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Championship crown as well as those three Champions Cups – will continue with the Hendon-based club as technical adviser and will join their board.
“His record speaks for itself,” said Spencer.
“Fortunate enough to spend nine, 10 years there under Mark – very, very, very good coach, very good person, treats people unbelievably well.
“He’ll be missed at the club. There’s a big hole to fill there. What he’s done for the club is unbelievable.”
