Bath power past Brive into last four of Challenge Cup
TAULUPE Faletau hammered out a statement to Lions boss Warren Gatland with a man-of-the-match display as Bath exorcised the ghosts of last week’s humiliation at Saracens to book a Challenge Cup semifinal against Ospreys or Stade Francais.
Buccaneering No.8 Faletau produced a dominant all-round display, bagging his first tries for the club before rallying his side in the face of a determined second-half onslaught from Brive.
Anthony Watson shone at full-back while Semesa Rokoduguni also notched a splendid try-double to add to Tom Homer’s sniping finish, but it was Faletau who stole the show to keep the heat on Billy Vunipola as the clock ticks on Lions selection.
“I’d be lying if I said the Lions wasn’t on the boys’ minds,” Faletau told The
Rugby Paper. “There have been a few injury setbacks for me this season so it was good to be out there for the full 80 and the more chances I get now, the better.”
Bath supremo Todd Blackadder saluted Faletau’s impact after seeing his side build a commanding 27-6 lead just after the interval before Brive rallied to within a score, only for Rokoduguni to produce a wonder try that eventually saw them off.
Blackadder said: “Faletau stood out. He made great carries, along with Zach Mercer, and he stood up and showed what a leader he is.
“We showed lots of attacking intent and I’m pleased for the players. It was a great response from last week.”
Teddy Irbaren and Rhys Priestland exchanged penalties as Brive took a 6-3 lead, but Bath hit the front when Priestland sidestepped three defenders before offloading to Kahn Fotuali’i, who took the ball upand found Faletau for a 30-metre sprint to the line.
Brive replied with lightning interplay, but Arnaud Mela knocked-on at the vital moment and Bath made him pay with a super score.
Priestland was again the architect, releasing Rokoduguni on a bullocking run, and after the England man had sucked in defenders, the ball went wide through Joseph and Anthony Watson for Homer to apply a one-handed finish.
Tails up, Bath attacked hard again through Banahan and Watson, before the ball went left to right at pace enabling Joseph to shimmy outside the cover defence before releasing Rokoduguni for another scintillating score.
Bath led 20-6 at the break – it would have been more had Watson, making impressive inroads from full-back, not been blocked as he chipped ahead – and the home side began the second half in similarly devastating fashion.
Ellis went on the charge, exchanging passes with Fotuali’i before creating space for Joseph to raid down the right. The ball was worked inside to Banahan, whose popped pass sent Faletau galloping joyfully under the sticks. Game over? Wrong. Priestland converted to put Bath three full scores ahead, but that lead was quickly reduced by seven points when Brive forced three close-range scrum penalties before Sanconnie barrelled over, with Gaetan adding the extras.
Sanconnie soon bagged his second try, finishing an impressive lineout drive, which Gaetan again converted to set home nerves jangling.
Brive butchered a crucial lineout before Rokoduguni sealed the match in sensational fashion.
Wriggling clear of Mignardi in midfield, the powerful wing weaved through a thicket of defenders and splashed down.