Finn Russell brought a new dimension to Bath's play. Photo: PA/Zac Goodwin Bath 42 Sale 24
From the River in the spring sunshine, Bath showed several qualities that left no doubt about their title credentials. Their attack looked as slick as any when it launched, but more importantly, they now seem to have that all-important ability to dig a little deeper to find a way to force their way around opponents when games are so tight and evasive. like this.
Bath continued unabated as tries from Tom Roebuck and Sam Dugdale kept Sale alive in the second half. Instead they rallied.
It is impossible to discuss Bath's attacking threat, adding five more tries for their eighth bonus point attempt in 13 games, without focusing on Finn Russell. The Scotland number 10 missed out on the Ireland opener but has always felt like a game-changer since his move from Racing 92 was announced.
“He's definitely making a difference,” Johan van Graan, Bath head coach. said, highlighting how much Russell has invested in the group since arriving. “I can’t put into words how much of a part of the team he was.”
Russell's game had a little bit of everything, perhaps culminating with scoring a goal — the first of his career — on the wrong foot. In Bath's first three attempts his hitting was subtle and exceptional. Joe Cocanasiga, named man of the match and often seen here looking for work, seems the obvious beneficiary of Russell's tricks.
Starts with a break, ends with a drop 😮💨
Finn Russell doing his thing 🫡#GallagherPrem #BATvSAL pic.twitter.com/iXp62aWojq
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) March 24, 2024
An inside pass from Russell to Cokanasiga opened up Sale for Matt Gallagher's first try. This naturally made Sale wary of the same tactics, so Russell decided to return inside during another attack on the Cokanasiga support. Sale lunged forward and fell onto Russell's dummy but the ball instead found its way back to Tom Dunn before Cokanasiga intercepted the ball a couple of passes later.
Russell was in their heads. His pass, which provided the breakthrough for Cokanaseega's second shot, was so subtle that if you blinked, you probably missed it.
Quick game blind 🔥
Joe Cocanasiga earns his second of the day as @BathRugby takes the lead. #GallagherPrem #BATvSAL pic.twitter.com/lVsE7esuDy
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) March 24, 2024 < p>“I love it this challenge, and we've faced it a couple of times today. But that’s the point where you don’t,” explained Alex Sanderson, director of rugby. “The moment you start acting like us, deception and unloading sets in.
«When you feel like you're in a really good position to defend, and then it's like, 'Where did that come from? He's got this ability, this X-factor, to magically create something out of nothing.'»
That being said, while Russell provides the stardust, it cannot be overstated how complete Bath now feel as a team. Now there are waves of powerful ball handlers on this team — looking at you, Ted Hill — who are thriving. The hitting game through Ben Spencer is picking up steam.
And the best pass of the day may have belonged to Will Muir, who fed Ollie Lawrence, now sporting a blond haircut after the Six Nations, to score Bath's fifth and final try.
🛁 @BathRugby come home strong and run away with it 👊#GallagherPrem #BATvSAL pic.twitter.com/ROrT9r219i
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) March 24, 2024 .
Dunne trying to score a maul to get a bonus point is where Bath now feel different to the teams of previous seasons who would have crumbled. Bath dominated this time, with a scrum penalty won by Beno Obano, putting pressure on promising Sale youngster Asher Opoku-Forjour, followed by a maul penalty and then a maul try.
The game was finely balanced at 30-24 at this point, and Bath had played fifteen when their score dropped to 14 following Lawrence's yellow card for a high tackle on Rob du Preez. It felt like a statement of intent.
Sale no doubt pushed Bath and looked much better for the remainder of the last few weeks than their previous lengthy outing away at Gloucester. Their attack, with George Ford back in the 10th spot, was greatly improved with flat passes such as the assist leading to a very nice finish from Manu Tuilagi.
Dugdale in particular was excellent, holding the ball well and defending smartly, and deserved his try after a brilliant tackle earlier against Lawrence.
It will hurt Sale that their defense and set play, two staples of last season, ultimately let them down.
But that was the difference. With the game perfectly balanced, Bath had the answers. And considering how low they have been in recent years, this is a huge step forward.
Match Details
Scoring Sequence:5-0 Gallagher try, 7-0 Russell try, 7-3 Ford Pen, 7-8 Tuilagi try, 7-10 Ford try, 12-10 Cokanasiga try, 14-10 Russell try, 14-15 Roebuck try, 14- 17 Ford con, 17-17 Russell Pen, 22-17 Cokanaseega try, 24-17 Russell con, 24-22 Dugdale try, 24-24 Ford con, 27-24 Russell Pen, 30-24 Russell goal, 35-24 Try Danna 37-24 Russell Cone 42-24 Lawrence try.
Bath: M Gallagher (O Bailey 77); J. Cokanasiga, O. Lawrence, K. Redpath, W. Muir; F. Russell, B. Spencer (c, L. Schroeder, 77); B. Obano (J. Schumann 68), T. Dunn (H. Faiva 77), T. du Toit, C. Roux (E. Stuk 60), S. Ewels, T. Hill, S. Underhill ( M. Reid, 72), A. Barberi (J. Coetzee, 40). Not used: Griffin. Yellow card: Lawrence 56.
Sale Sharks:Jay Carpenter; T. Roebuck, R. Du Preez (c), M. Tuilagi (S. James 77), E. Read (T. O'Flaherty 58); J Ford, J Warr (R Quirk 50); B Rodd (S McIntyre 58), L Cowan-Dickie (T Taylor 54), J Harper (A Opoku-Forjour 54), S Wiese (BBamber 59), J. Beaumont, Yves van Ryn, S. Dugdale, J. du Preez. Not used: H. Andrews
Referee: A. Leal
Attendance: 14,509
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