Priestland’s imperious as Cokanasiga blow hits Bath
RHYS Priestland tormented his former club as Cardiff looked in better shape for the start of the league season.
After six years at Bath, for whom he scored over 800 points, Priestland returned to Wales to steer his Cardiff side to a deserved win with an excellent all-round performance.
Cardiff ’s director of rugby, Dai Young, said: “For me, Rhys is still up there with the best tens in world rugby.
“The players coming off all spoke highly of his organisation and on the night, his kicking was a real game-changer.”
Priestland wasn’t alone in impressing the watching Welsh coach, Wayne Pivac, as the introduction of centre Willis Halaholo took Cardiff ’s back play to a different level with prop Corey Domachowski furthering his chances of a call-up as the home pack dominated the scrum.
Young said: “We went very well in that area but our line-out was shaky and I’m disappointed that we became very loose and casual after we got our noses in front.”
“We should have scored more points in the first half and also done better against a lot of younger players who they brought on.”
Bath used a total of 36 players but even with their first choice line-up, they were still second best.
Beno Obano and Sam Underhill were the pick of their pack but the departure of Zach Mercer to Montpellier looks a big hole to fill.
Danny Cipriani, brought in to get more potency from Bath’s outside backs, didn’t provide any immediate
improvement while the leg injury picked up by Joe Cokanasiga will be a concern.
Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper said: “It was a good exercise for us but we need to look at our discipline and we certainly didn’t have many moments in the first half.”
James Ratti and Obano were the first half try-scorers, both battering over from close range, with Priestland’s 55m penalty giving Cardiff a 10-7 interval lead.
A try from Richard de Carpentier put Bath ahead for the only time before the hosts took control.
Priestland kicked a second penalty before Cardiff scored two quick tries. First Ray Lee-Lo and Priestland combined cleverly to send Lloyd Williams over before speedy transfers gave Owen Lane his opportunity.
Bath hooker, Tom Dunn, said: “The wind was against us in the first half and we could do nothing as Rhys kept pinning us back into our corners.
“Our ill-discipline in the set piece stopped us putting any style to our game.”