Harris reputation building during cup
Despite defeat at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, for the sec- ond week in a row, young England U20s full-back Sam Harris marked himself as one to watch this season for Bath, scoring a try and helping create another in the 34-10 defeat to Jersey Reds in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
Another extremely young Bath side, featuring just a few of senior players in Will Muir, Jaco Coetzee and Will Butt, went toe-to-toe with the 2022/23 Championship winners until half time, going in 10-5 up with young props Arthur Cordwell and Kieran Verden doing a sterling effort at the scrum, but the Blue, Black and White then collectively faded in the face of superior sustained power in the second half.
However, Harris, 20, looks close to being Premiership-ready and in contention to push more established stars like Tom de Glanville and Matt Gallagher for the 15 jersey this season. With an ability to cover fly-half and centre as well as full-back, the place kicker offers the prospect of being an outstanding bench option for head of rugby Johann van Graan in the nottoo-distant future which could perhaps open the door to senior involvement before long.
Harris opened the scoring at the Recreation Ground on Saturday after Muir, playing just his second game in 11 months after recovering from knee surgery, was set free down the left wing, chipping over the final defender for the full-back to take the ball on the bounce and dive over. Jersey replied with muscle, mauling over from a 5m lineout to touch down through lock James Scott.
With an extra man after Jersey flanker Max Argyle was yellow-carded for a dangerous clear out at a ruck, Bath struck with Harris’ quick pass creating an overlap for Gabe Goss to feed Muir who put his jets on from 25m out and raced down the touchline to score in the corner.
Reflecting on Harris’ recent performances, Bath academy coach Mark Lilley said: “I have worked with Sam for quite a few years and he is developing really well. He had a good U20s campaign [for England this summer at the World Rugby U20s Championship in South Africa], he has come back and is doing some good things.
“There are still some areas he is pushing to develop but he has been impressive so far, he has done some great things. Sam is pretty diligent and always keen to get better.
“He is someone who is outstanding at putting people in space, he can take the line on and has got a good passing game and kick variations so we definitely want the ball in his hands as much as we can because it is pretty exciting when he does have it.”
After the break Jersey’s Alex Mchenry broke the defence with a smart line down the blind-side to score before Jordan Holgate charged down George Worboys, winning the race to the bouncing ball to touch it down for a try. The Reds continued to dominate as the game progressed, sending hooker James Hadfield over the line with another catch-and-drive routine before scoring the pick of their tries through winger Ben Woollett who burst down the flank from halfway, regathered his own chip kick and then off-loaded to fly-half Russell Bennett to finish the move. A final catch and drive effort saw Hadfield touch down for his second of the match.
Bath host London Scottish on Saturday in their third pool stage game of the Premiership Rugby Cup sitting third in Pool C behind Exeter Chiefs and Jersey who play each other on Saturday in the Channel Islands.