Bath Rugby head coach Johann van Graan has applauded his squad for their rapid regrouping after the Six Nations, leading to a commanding 62-15 victory over Saracens at The Rec. The champions reclaimed the top spot in the Gallagher Premiership with an impressive nine-try performance.
Henry Arundell starred with two tries, joined by tries from Will Muir, Josh Bayliss, Alfie Barbeary, Ben Spencer, Kepu Tuipulotu, Guy Pepper, and Bernard van der Linde. Scotland fly-half Finn Russell contributed 17 points through seven conversions and a penalty.
Van Graan reflected on the team’s cohesion: “We met on Monday with the entire squad, including Six Nations players, and it was great to have everyone back. Despite only one full training session on Tuesday, the players showed remarkable unity and determination.”
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He added, “Although it took a few minutes to find our rhythm after going 10-0 down, we bounced back strongly and scored multiple tries. Our defensive efforts were solid, and the hunger to attack was evident throughout. Special credit goes to players like Thomas du Toit and Santi Carreras, who returned from holidays, and to the internationals who had just finished Test matches.”
Captain Ben Spencer’s try came despite twisting his shoulder, with no major concerns reported. Francois van Wyck, who came off the bench, sustained a minor leg cut.
On the opposing side, Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall expressed his disappointment, particularly about the team’s collapse in the final 30 minutes. “We started well but were overwhelmed as the game progressed. A key missed opportunity early in the second half shifted momentum decisively against us,” McCall explained.
He urged accountability going forward: “We need to handle momentum swings better and show more resilience as a group. It’s vital everyone reflects honestly and commits fully in training to improve next week.”