Bath 61-26 Gloucester: Johann van Graan’s side set up European Challenge Cup semi-final with Edinburgh after big derby win
Bath’s enviable resources and status as the current leaders of the Gallagher Premiership mean they should really be competing in the latter stages of the Investec Champions Cup.
But while the second-tier Challenge Cup is their domain, they are now just two games away from European success and remain on course for what would be a remarkable treble.
Johann van Graan’s side felt the full force of Leinster in January (who hasn’t this season?) and failed to qualify for the Champions Cup knock-out stages as a result.
But after this nine-try West Country derby win over rivals Gloucester, Bath are now close to adding the Challenge Cup to their Premiership Rugby Cup that is already in the bag.
They are also firm favourites to win the Premiership title in June and will travel to Edinburgh for their Challenge Cup last-four clash.
‘To score 61 points takes some doing,’ said Bath head of rugby Van Graan.
Bath ran in nine tries to hammer Gloucester and book a semi-final meeting with Edinburgh
Johann van Graan’s side were in ruthless form as they recorded a dominant 61-26 victory
The South African hailed two-try No 8 Alfie Barbeary, who is yet to win a senior England cap but is putting his hand up to make the summer tour of Argentina and USA.
‘The reason I signed him was because of his Test potential. When we started this journey, we were looking for ball carriers and he is one of the best,’ Van Graan said of Barbeary.
‘He’s got this ability to be in the right place at the right time. He’s a very important player.’
The sight of a number of empty seats here was certainly a rare sight for a Bath home game. There were eight first-half tries when these two sides met in the Premiership last month and it was the same again here.
Two sublime Finn Russell passes set-up Tom de Glanville for Bath’s opener.
Gloucester responded through Santi Carreras, the Bath-bound Argentine collecting Gareth Anscombe’s pinpoint cross-kick.
Tom Dunn, Archie Griffin, captain Ben Spencer and Barbeary continued Bath’s free scoring despite Ted Hill seeing yellow.
Gloucester pair Jack Singleton and Jake Morris responded.
The Cherry and Whites didn’t help themselves with errors and unleashed six forward substitutions at once in the 45th minute.
Russell missed a penalty attempt, but Barbeary’s second put the game to bed and Jaco Coetzee, Hill and Tom Carr-Smith took Bath past 60.
‘We never going to win the game. It was an embarrassing scoreline. We failed massively,’ said despondent Gloucester head coach George Skivington.
‘Bath were better in every facet of the game.’
Scorers
Bath Tries: De Glanville, Dunn, Griffin, Spencer, Barbeary (2), Coetzee, Hill, Carr-Smith Cons: Russell (8)
Gloucester Tries: Carreras, Singleton, Morris, Ludlow Cons: Carreras (3)
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland) Attendance: 9,445 Star man: Alfie Barbeary (Bath)
