bath rugby Flashes of quality mean a good deal
Wales and British and Irish Lions scrum-half Rhys Webb made his Gallagher Premiership debut as Bath Rugby fell to a 13-19 West Country derby defeat to Bristol Bears.
The 31-year-old signed for Stuart Hooper’s side on Tuesday on a deal until the end of the season and was thrown straight into the starting side by Bath’s director of rugby.
The scrum half last 64 minutes on his first outing for the club having not started a game for club or country since November and an hour was enough time to confirm to every Bath fan in The Rec and watching on TV that Hooper has done some canny business with the midseason deal.
Webb showed snippets of his talent on a solid but at times challenging debut.
Webb managed the game well from nine with him providing a solidarity from the base of the ruck. From the off the Wales international was at the heart of Bath’s play with the West Country outfit playing off nine for much of the time he was on the pitch, bringing the big forwards into the game or Josh Matavesi on crash balls.
Midway through the first half Webb gave a glimpse of his alertness and ability to snipe. Bristol conceded a free kick at a scrum and the Ospreys-bound number nine took off on a fleet-footed burst drawing defenders to put Rhys Priestland through a gap but was brought back for taking it from the wrong position.
The Welshman immediately stepped up to be an on-field leader and decision maker with his voice coming over the referee’s microphone as he directed the forwards into position.
A sign of his quick adaption into the group was the way he was first to congratulate a team mate when winning a penalty, joining his team mates in the joy of their successes, no matter how small.
His experience showed in many other areas of the game as well as his communication, with his game management allowing Bath to have the majority of territory and possession.
For the most part, Webb’s box kicking was on the money with Semesa Rokoduguni and Ruaridh Mcconnochie able to compete against the Bears’ back-three on numerous occasions.
He identified the right times to allow Priestland to play and set the backline loose and when to draw in the Bears’ defence with the Bath pack earning valuable metres for the hosts.
One of the most intangible but vital skills as a scrum half is positioning and Webb found himself in the right spot in both defence and attack more often than not.
In attack, the Welshman was on the shoulder of Semesa Rokoduguni when he made a break down the wing and, had the winger put a chip through or made a basketballstyle pass, Webb could have been in for a try on debut.
This ability to run support lines is underrated and is a key one for Bath with the beaten side making five clean breaks on Sunday but only executing one try from those attempts which ironically came for Webb’s replacement at scrum half, Will Chudley.
Webb’s finest moment of the game came in defence when he made a great cover tackle to try and prevent Bristol’s third and game winning try.
Winger Luke Morahan made a break down the right flank and looked to be in but fullback Tom Homer just brought down the Bears wing; however the Australian jumped back to his feet and it took a firm tackle from the corner-flagging Webb to stop him from reaching the line.
Half-a-dozen phases later Harry Randall burst over the line from close range for Bristol but Webb was at no fault there.
The only negatives that could be taken from the defeat for Webb was a couple of handling errors from lineouts but he was not helped by the service from his forward pack which the ball fired down uncontrollably on several occasions, forcing the waiting scrum half to scramble.
After the game, Webb spoke about how he found his first run out in the Blue, Black and White, saying: “It was good, to me it was just another game. I know it’s a big rivalry between Bath and Bristol but you can’t let that get on top of you.”
Webb spoke about how his first week with the club and how it was joining up with a new squad.
“I’ve come straight in on Monday and the club have been absolutely fantastic with me.”
“I’ve been staying with Rhys Priestland to get up to speed quicker with all the calls and all the boys have been brilliant. The team have helped me massively but I just thought we were unlucky today,” Webb said.
Webb spent the last two seasons in the Top 14 with Toulon but exited the club under a cloud which left him without a club.
The 33-cap Wales start has signed for his former region Ospreys next season in the PRO14 and the nature of the deal appeared to anger the famously explosive Toulon bosses, causing them to come out in the press to say he would not play for the club again.
With his eye firmly on regaining his starting spot in the Wales XV Webb said the deal to join Bath was a no brainer as he needs an opportunity to impress his new national coach, Wayne Pivac, on the club scene.
Talking about missing 18 months of Test rugby including the Rugby World Cup due to being ineligible for playing away from Wales, Webb said: “I have missed it. Once you start you don’t want it to stop. It’s perfect for me to hopefully play week-in-week out and put my hand up for selection.
“That’s the end goal the number nine jersey for Wales but for now I’m at Bath and I want to do the best I can for the team.
“From now until the end of the season I’ll just give 110% for this club.”
Webb is set to rejoin Wales this week and is in contention to feature against England on Saturday in the 2020 Guinness Six Nations.
Bath face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on the same day.