Bath’s head of rugby, Johann van Graan, expressed his satisfaction after his team secured a crucial bonus-point victory, defeating Harlequins 48-15 at home in the Gallagher Premiership. The win returns Bath to their winning ways following their recent success in the Champions Cup.
Santi Carreras was a standout performer for Bath, crossing the try line twice in the first half as the hosts ran in a total of eight tries, successfully consolidating their second-place position in the league standings.
Van Graan commented, “After the excitement of the Champions Cup, it was vital that we delivered here in the Premiership. Putting 48 points on the board with eight tries to two is certainly a satisfying result. It wasn’t our finest performance, but our goal was clear—we came for five points and we got five.”
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He acknowledged there is room for improvement, particularly around breakdown situations, where Harlequins applied heavy pressure. “It wasn’t the classic performance fans might expect, but achieving the win with a bonus point was the key outcome. We’ll take the lessons from this and look to sharpen our game.”
Looking ahead to next weekend’s clash against league leaders Northampton, van Graan expressed respect for their rivals: “Northampton showed again today why they are top of the table, scoring a last-minute winning try. We have great respect for them, but our focus remains on running our own race. We’re eager for the challenge.”
Van Graan also provided an update on captain Ben Spencer, who had to withdraw before kickoff due to a shoulder issue. “We considered playing him, but he was uncomfortable, so we chose not to risk further injury.”
On the Harlequins side, head of rugby Jason Gilmore faced a tough injury situation. “Losing both starting wingers early and then Jarrod Evans in the second half complicated things. It’s challenging to maintain squad depth under these circumstances.”
Gilmore noted the pressure to prepare for their upcoming match against Sale. “The deadline to bring in new players has passed, and unless it’s an emergency front-row replacement, we’re limited. Our players are training with intent, but when so many are sidelined, the quality of full-team execution suffers. We must regroup and prepare for Sale—it’s a crucial game at home.”
Despite the tough day, Gilmore praised captain Alex Dombrandt’s leadership and performance at number eight. “Alex has been outstanding recently, both in play and as a leader. His commitment during this period has been exceptional, and he continues to lead by example.”