Hooper impressed with Redpath’s performance
CAMERON Redpath’s star continues to rise. In his first game for 62 days following a neck injury, the one-cap Scotland international not only made his return for Bath Rugby in Friday night’s 26-13 victory over London Irish but understatedly played a crucial role in steering his side through potentially troubled waters and into the Challenge Cup semi-finals on the first weekend of May.
With Rhys Priestland sidelined with a hamstring issue, Tian Schoemann out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, Josh Matavesi recovering from a calf problem, and Danny Cipriani set to arrive in May, fourth choice fly-half Orlando Bailey started at number 10 for Bath for the third straight week but lasted just 26 minutes before going off for a HIA following a collision with giant Fijian number eight Albert Tuisue.
Just like at Sixways back in December, Redpath was asked to move in from centre to 10 to dictate play alongside on-field general Ben Spencer. And the former Sale Sharks man, still just 21, showed exactly why he is being tipped for the very top with an assured display opposite former Ireland international fly-half Paddy Jackson, making half breaks, putting players into space and winning turnovers. England full back Anthony Watson might have made more eye catching breaks, explosive number eight Zach Mercer the most metres in attack, Wales great Taulupe Faletau showed impeccable positioning and deft skills, while England prop Will Stuart displayed strongman-esque strength and power; but it was the ‘old head on young shoulders’ who brought the calmness needed in the heat of battle.
The very head which was missing when things unravelled for Bath away at London Irish in the league just two weeks ago following red cards for Charlie Ewels and Tom Dunn.
The quarter-final victory was built on a foundation of forward dominance, but Redpath played a crucial role in the success and will be vital to Bath’s hope of ending more than a decade of waiting for significant silverware.
Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper said: “We are chuffed to bits to be in the semi-finals and I am proud of the lads because there was a fair bit going on out there with our 10 going off and then Cam stepping up at 10 having not played for a number of weeks, and not being a 10.
“We had bits and pieces to deal with and I thought how we dealt with adversity tonight compared to how we did a couple of weeks ago was markedly better.”
Discussing Redpath in more detail with the young back having not played any competitive rugby since starring in a historic Calcutta Cup win over England at Twickenham in the opening game of the 2021 Six Nations back on February, 6, Hooper said: “I thought for someone who has been out for a number of weeks he showed what he is about.
“He was composed, confident when he needed to be and I thought it was a very accomplished performance from a guy who is still really youn. I think he has grown from his Six Nations experience, going to a different environment with different people.”
European Rugby Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals Bath (19) 26 London Irish (10) 13
Bath: Tries: McNally, Stuart 2, Mercer. Cons: B. Spencer 3. Bath: Watson, Cokanasiga, Joseph, Redpath, McConnochie, Bailey B. Spencer, Obano, Walker, Stuart, McNally, Ewels, Faletau Bayliss, Mercer.
Replacements: J. Schoeman for Obano (60) Du Toit for Walker (60), Thomas for Stuart (60) Williams for McNally (70).
Not Used: Reid, Chudley, Clark, Gray.
London Irish: Tries: Creevy. Cons: Jackson. Pens: Jackson 2.
London Irish: Parton, Loader, Brophy-Clews, Hepetema Hassell-Collins, Jackson, Phipps, Gigena, Creevy, Chawatama Nott, Simmons, Rogerson, Cowan, Tuisue. Replacements: Stokes for Brophy-Clews (42) Meehan for Phipps (76), Elrington for Gigena (41) Cornish for Creevy (68), Hoskins for Chawatama (68) Munga for Nott (55), Donnell for Rogerson (68) O’Brien for Cowan (55). Ref: Frank Murphy (Ireland).
Bath have sent a further two players out on loan to the second tier Greene King IPA Championship to get playing time.
Centre Will Butt, 21, and hooker Tom Doughty, 24, have joined Coventry Rugby on loan. Butt and Doughty both have one senior Bath Rugby cap to their names so far, debuting for the club in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
BATH RUGBY .................... 26 LONDON IRISH ................ 13