Bath look to Faletau as Bears lose plot
TAULUPE Faletau warmed up for Wales’ huge Cardiff battle with France on Friday by inspiring Bath to a dramatic late victory over Bristol which lifted them off the bottom of the Premiership table.
No.8 Faletau, 31, only recently returned to club action from an ankle injury having been out since touring South Africa with the Lions and put in a remarkable 80-minute shift last week on his 87th Wales cap in the defeat by England.
He was pivotal to Bath’s victory at The Rec as his side came back from a 21-0 deficit to claim a bonus point win and snatch West Country bragging rights in a game which saw Bristol have three men yellow carded and one sent off.
Full-back Tom de Glanville’s try with the last play of the day, after Bears’ replacement Theo Strang had been sin-binned for guilty of tackling Josh Bayliss too early, proved decisive in a game which also saw flanker Sam Underhill take his first big step back towards an England recall after his injury absence.
Bath coach Neal Hatley enthused: “Toby (Faletau) is world class. He’s got around 90 caps but if he hadn’t had the injury he would be over 100 by now. Triple British Lion who is very under-stated how he goes about things but if you watch his game he just gets everything right.
“We are so pleased we have him until the end of the season.”
On the last-gasp win, Hatley added: “Bristol are a dangerous side and I’m pleased with the effort we put in and the spirit. To come away with a bonus point win in a local derby is great.
“The cards were the big turning point, especially the red one. We tried to expose them having that man off the pitch and we did that.”
Bristol started like a house on fire by racing over for three tries inside 15 minutes but then had wing Siva Naulago sent off near the end of the first half. The Fijian had just returned from a threematch ban for being dismissed for a similar reckless tackle against London Irish and can expect a longer suspension this time round.
Hooker Harry Thacker crossed for two quick tries both from driving mauls from lineouts and both converted by the accurate Callum Sheedy. A third try was just around the corner as Naulago used his strength to ground the ball in the right corner.
But just when Bristol appeared in full control it turned quickly sour before the break. First, Thacker was sent to the sin bin for persistent foul play with referee Luke Pearce running out of patience. Then Naulago was dismissed for a reckless high shoulder hit into the face of wing Will Butt.
Semesa Rokoduguni charged over in the right corner for his side’s first try while Sheedy kicked a penalty as Bears led 24-5 at half-time.
Bath responded when Sheedy became the second Bears man to be sinbinned this time for a deliberate knock with tries from centre Jonathan Joseph, bursting over in the left corner, and then Faletau finishing off another strong move.
Cokanasiga had one try ruled out but the wing finished off another fine move in the corner to square the game. Sheedy regained the lead for Bears with a penalty but there was still plenty of drama to come with Strang guilty of tackling Bayliss too early with the flanker set to score the winning try.
In the end it was De Glanville who managed that feat as the ball was moved to him from the resulting penalty and he made no mistake.