Bath Rugby Player Ratings from Thrilling Champions Cup Quarter-Final Triumph Over Northampton Saints

Bath Rugby delivered a stunning performance to reach their first Investec Champions Cup semi-final in 20 years, edging out Northampton Saints 43-41 in a gripping quarter-final at the Recreation Ground on Friday night.

Northampton started strong, swiftly establishing a 14-0 lead with early tries by Henry Pollock and Fraser Dingwall. Bath responded with a quick-tap try from Tom Dunn, but Saints quickly extended their dominance as Tom Lockett and Josh Kemeny added two more tries, pushing Northampton ahead by 21 points.

Fly-half Finn Russell ignited hope with an electrifying solo try, narrowing the gap, but Ollie Sleightholme’s powerful run restored Northampton’s commanding lead at 35-14. However, Bath fought back before halftime with vital tries from Henry Arundell and Francois van Wyk, reducing the deficit to nine points.

The second half was a tense, tactical affair as Bath gradually clawed back the lead. Fin Smith’s penalty kept Northampton just ahead, but Kepu Tuipulotu’s maul try energized the home side, and Russell’s precise conversion brought them within striking distance at 33-38.

The fly-halves traded penalties, maintaining a narrow margin, until a decisive late try from Ted Hill sealed a memorable 43-41 comeback win for Bath, propelling them into their first Champions Cup semi-final since 2006.

Here’s a detailed look at the individual performances from the Bath Rugby squad:

Tom de Glanville - 6
De Glanville showed attacking flair at fullback but was occasionally vulnerable defensively, sometimes caught out of position.
Henry Arundell - 8
Arundell’s speed and physicality sparked Bath’s resurgence, breaking through Northampton’s defense when it mattered most.
Ollie Lawrence - 6
A slow start saw defensive lapses that Northampton exploited, but Lawrence improved as the game progressed, delivering key turnovers and powerful runs despite still regaining form after injury.
Cameron Redpath - 6
Defensively robust with some big hits, Redpath tightened up his game in the second half, linking effectively to create Arundell’s try despite some early errors.
Will Muir - 5
Decent under high balls but too narrow defensively, allowing Northampton to find space on the flanks.
Finn Russell - 7
Russell’s creativity and skill shone throughout, highlighted by a brilliant solo try and excellent game management in the second half.
Ben Spencer (captain) - 6
Strong with his kicking game but lacked sharpness during some phase play moments.
Beno Obano - N/A
Obano sustained an injury early and was unable to make an impact in an open and fast-paced match.
Tom Dunn - 5
Scored an important early try but struggled in the lineout and made defensive errors that allowed Saints to capitalize.
Billy Sela - 6
Penalised early but grew into the game with solid scrummaging and ball carries.
Quinn Roux - 5
Inconsistent in defense with missed tackles but offered power in ball carrying.
Charlie Ewels - 6
A dependable workhorse, though disappointed with some defensive lapses.
Guy Pepper - 8
His work rate and breakdown intensity were immense, improving as the game wore on despite occasional soft defense.
Sam Underhill - 5
Aggressive ball carrier but missed key tackles and was forced off early due to a failed head injury assessment.
Miles Reid - 5
Received an early yellow card that proved costly, showing good carries but defensive weaknesses were exploited.

Replacements:
16. Kepu Tuipulotu - 6
Started well with a vital maul try, but some lineout errors and a dropped scoring chance under pressure prevented a higher rating.

Francois van Wyk - 6
Scored a crucial try and scrummaged well despite conceding penalties.
Thomas du Toit - 8
Dominated the scrum, carried powerfully, and won a key turnover penalty that swung momentum.
Ross Molony - 7
Injected energy into the pack and disrupted Northampton’s attack.
Ted Hill - 8
Aggressive and impactful, scoring the late match-winning try.
Santiago Carreras - 5
Quiet off the bench and defensively narrow but added some attacking spark.
Alfie Barbeary - 8
Energetic and physical with strong carries, though he conceded some penalties; nearly saw a yellow card for a dangerous clearance.

This epic victory highlighted Bath’s resilience and determination to restore their status among Europe’s elite, setting up an eagerly anticipated semi-final clash.