Bath head coach Johann van Graan praised the decisive impact of his star-studded replacements' bench after the team staged a remarkable comeback to edge Gloucester 30-26 at Kingsholm. The reigning Gallagher Premiership champions reclaimed top spot in the league, overcoming a 14-point deficit thanks to two crucial late penalties from fly-half Finn Russell.
Van Graan’s bench featured an impressive lineup including five England internationals—Beno Obano, Charlie Ewels, Guy Pepper, Sam Underhill, and Henry Arundell—alongside powerful South African prop Thomas du Toit. Their influence proved vital in stabilizing Bath’s performance during the closing stages, suppressing a spirited Gloucester side that matched Bath’s four tries and defied their lowly league position.
“It was a great game,” Van Graan told TNT Sports. “It’s fantastic to see Gloucester performing well after a tough period—this is a true Bath versus Gloucester derby. I’m so proud of my team; they kept fighting until the final whistle. Our lineout was shaky in the first half, but we held our nerve in the last 20 minutes, and the bench made a huge difference in the closing moments.
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“As current champions, everyone is gunning for us. Success relies on squad depth, and it’s crucial to rotate players wisely and set them up to succeed. We showed some excellent rugby today, though an 80-minute performance is still something we’re striving for—that’s exciting for us.”
Bath took the lead with tries from Louie Hennessey, Dan Frost, Guy Pepper, and Finn Russell, who also contributed two conversions and penalties to secure a bonus-point win. This victory puts Bath three points clear of Northampton, who have a chance to respond against Sale this weekend.
On the Gloucester side, a determined try-scoring effort came from Val Rapava Ruskin, Charlie Atkinson, Seb Atkinson, and Aso Fasogbon, with George Barton landing three conversions. Their performance earned them two bonus points and a temporary rise to eighth place, overtaking Harlequins.
Gloucester rugby director George Skivington reflected on the contest: “I’m very proud of the group. We know our position this season, but showing our true character is huge right now. The players gave everything. We were in a winning position, but at this level, the margins are razor-thin. Seb Atkinson was outstanding—hopefully, he’s played his way into the England squad for the Six Nations. This was probably our best game of the season so far. We’ll take many positives, even if the pain is fresh.”