Hooper furious for not taking chances
Bath rugby, winter sports and baseball
Stuart Hooper said he and the Bath Rugby squad are furious they have let an opportunity to get off to a winning start in Europe pass them by.
The Blue, Black and White were beaten 23-19 at The Rec by Scarlets on Saturday to give themselves an uphill climb of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the new format Heineken Champions Cup, with just four from a pool of 12 advancing in 2020/21.
It looks likely the sides to progress will need to win at least three of their four pool stage fixtures, perhaps more.
Ruaridh Mcconnochie and Will Stuart scored tries for the hosts while scrum-half Ben Spencer kicked nine points but Bath failed to sustain pressure and left plenty of points out on the field during the contest, none more so than in the closing stages when Josh Matavesi was held up over the line and Ben Spencer came inches short of dotting down to win the game in the 85th minute.
Scarlets in contrast were largely clinical in their play, with scrumhalves Gareth Davies and Kieran Hardy crossing the whitewash for the Welsh region while Leigh Halfpenny landed five kicks for 13 points.
Speaking after the game, Bath director of rugby Hooper said: “We are furious with the performance really.
“Getting one point at home is scant consolation.
“I thought the supporters and the crowd were outstanding today and we should have done better.
“I think we probably got what we deserved if I am honest.
“We controlled large parts of the game but we were inaccurate when we needed to be and it was probably typified by that last two and half minutes when we were camped on their line but couldn’t get the ball over the line.
“Looking at the moments of inaccuracy you can just say crack on and get on with the next thing but they just relieve pressure.
“Against a quality team like that, when you have got them under pressure you have got to keep them under pressure and we didn’t do that today.”
Today’s defeat extends a torrid run in Europe for Bath who have extended their worst ever run in the Champions Cup, losing eight straight games dating back to the conclusion of the 2018/19 season.
The result against Scarlets also continued a curious trend between the two sides in the Heineken Champions Cup, with the away side winning on all four occasions they have met.
In fact in the first eight ties of the 2020/21 Champions Cup, seven of the games have been won by the away side.
Hooper will be hoping his side can continue the trend of winning on the road, having tasted success at Worcester Warriors last Saturday in the league, when they fly to La Rochelle next weekend with the French side beating Edinburgh 13-8 on Saturday night.
Hooper reflected: “It is interesting because nobody has been in this competition before [in this format] so no one really knows what you need.
“Yes this result makes it harder. “It makes going to La Rochelle that much bigger but if we go there and deliver a more accurate performance we have got a chance of going there and winning.”
Bath full-back Anthony Watson already had one eye on atoning for the defeat when he spoke after the game.
The England star said: “It is frustrating but everything happens for a reason.
“We have got to go next week and get five points. All we can do is make everything which has happened tonight the best thing that has happened to us, learn from what we have done and put it into place next week.
“If we sit around and dwell and think Europe is gone then it will be gone, whereas if we think we go away to La Rochelle next week and get five points and deal with the rest when it comes; at least put ourselves in a good position. We have just got to crack on.”