Bath Rugby head coach Johann van Graan lauded his team’s remarkable resilience and swift regrouping following the Six Nations, as they delivered an emphatic nine-try 62-15 victory over Saracens at the Rec.
The defending Gallagher Premiership champions reclaimed the top spot thanks to standout performances, including a brace of tries from Henry Arundell and additional scores from Will Muir, Josh Bayliss, Alfie Barbeary, Ben Spencer, Kepu Tuipulotu, Guy Pepper, and Bernard van der Linde. Scotland fly-half Finn Russell contributed significantly with seven conversions and a penalty, amassing 17 points.
Van Graan reflected on the team’s quick turnaround, saying, “We met on Monday around lunchtime with all the Six Nations players back, and it was great to have the whole group together again. Despite just one full training session on Tuesday, the squad displayed impressive cohesion and commitment.”
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He praised the collective effort, stating, “Credit to the 23 players that we selected, they represented the group really well. After initially falling 10-nil behind, we found our rhythm and scored multiple tries. The team showed hunger both offensively and defensively, with strong scrambling and smart use of opportunities."
Van Graan highlighted the players’ attitude, including those like Thomas du Toit and Santi Carreras returning from five weeks off, and the international players who had just completed Test matches. Regarding injuries, he mentioned skipper Ben Spencer had twisted his shoulder scoring a try, though it wasn’t a major concern, while replacement prop Francois van Wyck sustained a leg cut.
On the other side, Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall expressed disappointment with the game’s outcome, particularly their strong start unraveling in the second half. “In the last 30 minutes, we looked shell-shocked and got blown away,” McCall admitted. He pinpointed a crucial moment when an offload under their posts led to a Bath counterattack try that shifted momentum decisively.
“The game exposed areas we must improve, including how we handle momentum swings and pressure. Everyone must come back Monday ready to honestly analyze what happened and give their all in training,” he added.
While Saracens struggled to maintain composure against a high-performing Bath side, the match underscored Bath Rugby’s robust team spirit and readiness to build on their early season success.