Bath Chronicle

Redpath shines on return

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Cameron Redpath’s star continues to rise.

In his first game for 62 days following a neck injury, the one cap Scotland internatio­nal not only made his return for Bath Rugby in Friday night’s 26-13 victory over London Irish but understate­dly played a crucial role in steering his side through potentiall­y troubled waters and into the Challenge Cup semi-finals on the first weekend of May.

With Rhys Priestland sidelined with a hamstring issue, Tian Schoemann out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, Josh Matavesi recovering from a calf problem, and Danny Cipriani set to arrive in May, fourth choice fly-half Orlando Bailey started at number 10 for Bath for the third straight week but lasted just 26 minutes before going off for a HIA following a collision with giant Fijian number eight Albert Tuisue.

Just like at Sixways back in December, Redpath was asked to move in from centre to 10 to dictate play alongside on-field general Ben Spencer. And the former Sale Sharks man, still just 21, showed exactly why he is being tipped for the very top with an assured display opposite former Ireland internatio­nal fly-half Paddy Jackson, making half breaks, putting players into space and winning turnovers.

England full back Anthony Watson might have made more eye catching breaks, explosive number eight Zach Mercer the most metres in attack, Wales great Taulupe Faletau showed impeccable positionin­g and deft skills, while England prop Will Stuart displayed strongman-esque strength and power; but it was the ‘old head on young shoulders’ who brought the calmness needed in the heat of battle.

The very head which was missing when things unravelled for Bath away at London Irish in the league just two earlier following red cards for Charlie Ewels and Tom Dunn.

The quarter-final victory was built on a foundation of forward dominance, but Redpath played a crucial role in the success and will be vital to Bath’s hope of ending more than a decade of waiting for significan­t silverware.

Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper said: “We are chuffed to bits to be in the semi-finals and I am proud of the lads because there was a fair bit going on out there with our 10 going off and then Cam stepping up at 10 having not played for a number of weeks, and not being a 10.

“We had bits and pieces to deal with and I thought how we dealt with adversity tonight compared to how we did a couple of weeks ago was markedly better.”

Discussing Redpath in more detail with the young back having not played any competitiv­e rugby since starring in a historic Calcutta Cup win over England at Twickenham in the opening game of the 2021 Six Nations on February, 6, Hooper said: “I thought for someone who has been out for a number of weeks he showed what he is about.

“He was composed, confident when he needed to be and I thought it was a very accomplish­ed performanc­e from a guy who is still really young. I think he has grown from his Six Nations experience, going to a different environmen­t with different people and players like Finn Russell.”

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