Bath Rugby delivered an emphatic statement in their Investec Champions Cup opener, overpowering Munster 40-14 at the Recreation Ground. The home side’s early dominance set the tone, racing into a 21-0 lead within the first 12 minutes amidst relentless rain and challenging conditions.
Bath’s rapid start included an early penalty try following Munster captain Tadhg Beirne’s sin-binning, and multiple tries from key players like Miles Reid and Henry Arundell, capitalizing on Munster’s errors. Cameron Redpath’s accurate conversions and the tactical kicking of skipper Ben Spencer maintained Bath’s momentum throughout the half.
Munster, facing late lineup changes including the absence of fly-half Jack Crowley, fought back with resilience. JJ Hanrahan, returning for a third spell with Munster, and hooker Edwin Edogbo sparked a response with two second-half tries. Despite this, their set-piece struggled under pressure, and they were unable to close the gap beyond 21 points at halftime.
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The second half saw a tactical battle under grey skies as Munster tried to claw back ground thanks to Hanrahan’s strategic kicking. Bath held firm despite losing prop Will Stuart to a leg injury following a scrum collapse. The tight exchanges continued until the 78th minute when Joe Cokanasiga burst down the right, linking up with Spencer and offloading to Ted Hill to seal the win.
Bath’s early intensity, smart game management, and resilience under pressure earned them a comprehensive victory against a determined Munster side, making a strong start to their Champions Cup campaign.