Leinster produce heaviest-ever loss
The pain of the 2021/22 season continues for Bath Rugby as the club suffered their heaviest-ever defeat at the Rec in competitive rugby on Saturday, going down 64-7 to Leinster in the Heineken Champions Cup.
The Blue, Black and White conceded 10 tries to the Irish province, the same number they shipped in the 17-71 defeat to Saracens in the Premiership earlier this season.
Despite the scoreline, Bath’s intensity for the opening quarter was superb, with the sides locked at 0-0 until 22 minutes, but the hosts were unable to capitalise on their visits to the red zone during that period. Leinster eventually found their sharpness and winger Jimmy O’brien scored four tries to earn the man of the match award as Jonny Sexton pulled the strings, with further scores from Josh van der Flier, Jordan Larmour, Ciaran Frawley, Andrew Porter, Hugo Keenan, and Dan Sheehan.
Bath did cross the tryline through Max Clark following an interception from Charlie Ewels for a consolation score and now look set to drop down to Challenge Cup unless Ospreys win, draw or get two losing bonus points from their trip to the AJ Bell Stadium on Sunday to face Sale Sharks.
■ 15. RUARIDH MCCONNOCHIE 5 The full-back, unfortunately, left the pitch with what appeared to be another knee injury, sustained as he tried to offload the ball with Bath a couple of metres out from the try line in the second half. Before that he was strong and solid in the air and a threat with the ball in hand, but a distant second-best to Leinster and Ireland opposite number Hugo Keenan who made 133m with ball in hand, repeatedly marching through the home side’s line.
■ 14.WILL BUTT - 4 Drafted into the team late in the day following Tom Prydie’s withdrawal the winger put in a stunning tackle on Jimmy O’brien to help his side win a turnover but had limited opportunities in attack. ■ 13. MAX CLARK - 5 The outside centre scored Bath’s only try as he was on the spot to take an offload following a superb break from Charlie Ewels. Lost the ball in promising positions on a couple of occasions.
■ 12. CAMERON REDPATH - 5 Back in his familiar inside centre berth having played at fly-half last weekend in La Rochelle, Redpath struggled to impact the game and missed four tackles.
■ 11. GABE HAMER-WEBB - 3 The winger’s yellow card for slapping the ball down from a Jonny Sexton pass proved incredibly costly with Leinster scoring three tries in five minutes. Lively living off scraps when he was on the pitch.
■ 10. ORLANDO BAILEY - 5 Off the back of an England call-up this week the fly-half showed flashes of his ability to break the line and offload but his 50/50 gamble passes rarely came off on Saturday. In fairness, given a tough gig behind a struggling pack that was further depowered by early injuries.
■ 9. BEN SPENCER - 5 The scrumhalf made a couple of nice snipes and on another day may have earned his side a penalty try after Max Deegan took him out off the ball chasing through for the Bath man’s own kick. ■ 1. ARTHUR CORDWELL - 5 Making his full European debut with Beno Obano and Lewis Boyce injured, Bath’s scrum held up relatively well. The hosts got turned over against the head on a couple of occasions but penalties were few and far between which is a plus. Missed five tackles.
■ 2. JACQUES du TOIT - 5 The hooker was combative with the ball in hand as he went head-to-head with international standard opposition.
■ 3. WILL STUART - 5 The England tighthead put in a big shift as Bath started with a stunning pace and intensity only to falter in their execution in the red zone.
■ 4. WILL SPENCER - 4 The lock got knocked around as Bath struggled to get on the frontfoot in collisions throughout the match.
■ 5. CHARLIE EWELS - 6 The skipper provided Bath with their standout moment of the game, intercepting an offload from Andrew Porter, handing off Jonny Sexton and then racing away from near halfway to get within five metres of the tryline, offloading to Max Clark to score.
■ 6. TOM ELLIS - 6 The flanker made a team-high 19 tackles and won three turnovers in a defiant performance against the tide of tries coming from Leinster.
■ 7. SAM UNDERHILL - 6 Back after a month out following a head knock against Gloucester on Boxing Day, unfortunately, the England international was withdrawn in the 13th minute after suffering another blow to the head when he got his technique wrong looking to make a secondary hit on Robbie Henshaw. ■ 8. JOSH BAYLISS - 5 The Scottish international showed all the spirit we have become accustomed to as he chased back to clean up a kick through that could have resulted in a try but sadly in doing so he took a blow to the head against the ground and left for a HIA not to return.