Van Graan: Bath to continue rotating squad in next PREM block

Johann van Graan says he will continue to rotate his squad as Bath face a crucial block of Gallagher PREM matches over the next three weekends.

Louie Hennessey, left, and Johann van Graan talk to the press at Bath Rugby’s pre-Gallagher PREM Round 7 media session on Friday 19th December | Photo © Bath Rugby

The Blue, Black & White will play at Newcastle Red Bulls on Sunday 21st December and then host Northampton Saints on Saturday 27th December and Exeter Chiefs on Saturday 3rd January before returning to Investec Champions Cup action, at Castres Olympique, on Friday 9th January.

Head of rugby van Graan has made 10 changes to his starting XV for the PREM Round 7 match at Kingston Park Stadium, following the Champions Cup Round 2 defeat at RC Toulon on Sunday 14th December.

One of the changes will see 21-year-old Louie Hennessey – who came off the bench to score Bath’s fourth try in the 45-34 setback in France – start on the left wing.

And at Bath’s pre-Newcastle media session on Friday 19th December, van Graan said: “Finn [Russell], Henry [Arundell] and Max [Ojomoh] are three guys that had the week off.

“For all teams across Europe, this is such a big block of games.

“We’ve got two home games to follow after this and we’ve got Castres on the Friday night and then Edinburgh [in the Champions Cup] and then Gloucester [in the PREM].

“As I’ve done the last three seasons, we’ll keep rotating through this block.

“The only player that you won’t see in the 23 [for the Newcastle clash] that would’ve played is Charlie Ewels.

“He’s got an infection, an illness, and he’s not available to play. He might be unavailable for a few weeks, actually. His health is always first.

“I can’t say how it started but it’s a more physical thing [than respiratory].

“It involves one of his legs. It’s not like it’s flu.

“Once I can say more, we’ll report that through Ruaridh [McConnochie] or me next week.

“A few lads are on holiday and having a great time wherever they are in the world.”

The Red Bulls have lost all of their PREM games this season and are bottom of the table. But they have won two out of two in Europe’s Challenge Cup. And van Graan knows the North Easterners deserve a lot of respect.

He said: “We treat every team the exact same, we treat them with respect.

“They play a very specific way. Once they get into your 22, like any team they’re dangerous.

“They play on a synthetic pitch which is obviously different from what we train on and play on.

“But as we showed against Saracens [on their artificial pitch on Sunday 30th November], it takes a few minutes to get used to it and then you’re in it.

“The focus, as always, has been pretty much on ourselves, whilst respecting our opponents.”

Hennessey is a recognised centre but says he enjoys being out wide.

He said: “When you’re on the bench and when you get brought on, you want to add to the team, you want to make an impact. So when I had my opportunity [at Toulon], it was just doing that and doing what I normally do.

“It’s not sort of hyping up every game, it’s just doing what you normally do, trusting that you can do a job.

“The coaches don’t pick you unless you’re ready. So it’s just about doing what you normally do and enjoying it.

“[Playing on the wing] has definitely given me more of an appreciation for the aerial battle.

“It’s a bit of a war zone at the minute up there.

“That’s been good to learn. I’ve been enjoying it.

“I started a game in the PREM Cup there, a game against Newcastle in the PREM as well there, and all the training I’ve had, so I feel comfortable there.

“I believe I’m trusted to do a job and I’m looking forward to it on Sunday.

“We’ve got such great players at this club to learn off, but to also compete with.

“I’m really enjoying my time here.”

Of Newcastle’s artificial pitch, Hennessey said: “It’s obviously a much faster pitch so the collisions are a lot faster, a bit more intense. There’s not much give.

“But at the end of the day, it’s game of rugby so we don’t change too much. But we know the task ahead and the difference playing on a 3G pitch.

“A few burns from the Sarries game last year stayed with me for a little while.”

Miles Reed will captain the Blue, Black & White from the number 8 position.

Bath starting XV: 1 Francois van Wyk, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Ewan Richards, 5 Ross Molony, 6 Josh Bayliss, 7 Ethan Staddon, 8 Miles Reid, 9 Tom Carr-Smith, 10 Santi Carreras, 11 Louie Hennessey, 12 Will Butt, 13 Chris Harris, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 15 Tom de Glanville.

Bath replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Cameron Redpath, 23 Alfie Barbeary.

Prop Adam Brocklebank will play his 100th PREM game for the Red Bulls, who have named former Bath centre Max Clark on their bench.

Newcastle starting XV: 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Oscar Usher, 5 Seb de Chaves, 6 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 7 Tom Christie, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz, 10 Brett Connon, 11 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 12 Sammy Arnold, 13 Alex Hearle, 14 Oli Spencer, 15 Ethan Grayson.

Newcastle replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Connor Hancock, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Finn Baker, 20 Tom Gordon, 21 James Elliott, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Max Clark.

Kick-off will be at 3pm.

Bath’s players and coaching staff will be having some time off next week so they can enjoy the festivities.

Van Graan said: “From a personal point of view, Christmas is a very special time for us as a family. We enjoy our time together.

“We don’t have a lot of our extended family here – one or two people. My mother-in-law’s with us, and together with the Ferreiras [Bath defence coach JP Ferreira and his family], this will be our ninth Christmas together in the northern hemisphere. We enjoy that.

“But balance is very important across these next few weeks. Obviously we’ve got a big job to do on Sunday afternoon and then all the players and staff will take a bit of a break during next week to make sure we spend family time, and then we’ve got another block of games ahead.

“But before we get to the festive period, big task for us on Sunday afternoon.”

Reflecting on the loss at Toulon, van Graan said: “A very good weekend for the club, except the result.

“There was an amazing amount of Blue, Black & White around Toulon on Saturday, and Sunday was incredible.

“It just shows how lucky we are and how grateful we are for the support and to play in such an amazing competition.

“The game ebbed and flowed. We were in it until literally the last play of the game.

“We came up against a very good side that didn’t concede a single penalty in the second half.

“We only conceded eight penalties in the game but they only conceded five and it was a high-quality game. Ultimately we got the point, and that point puts us top of the group [Pool 2] – and we are in a very good place in Europe.”

Meanwhile, van Graan says that prop Will Stuart will soon undergo surgery on the Achilles tendon that he ruptured against Munster Rugby on Saturday 6th December.

“His surgery will be in the next few days and there’s a few bits around it,” said van Graan.

“Obviously, you need to get the right surgeon, the right timing because you’ve got to plan for this, but it’ll be in the next few days and then we’ll start his rehab process, which obviously is very long term.”