This was billed as Bath’s breakthrough season when they would turn potential into pots but, as the club’s backer, Bruce Craig, reflects on the money he has spent on the squad and training facilities, his return is an early exit from Europe and a lowly position in the Premiership.
It promised to be different last May when Bath crushed Leicester to reach the final of the Premiership at Twickenham where defeat by Saracens was seen as a stepping stone for a young, exuberant side committed to a running game. Defeat by a Leinster side sprinkled with rookies suggested it was a misstep but this is a different season because of the World Cup that denied a number of players a pre-season with their club.
Bath have struggled to restore the flow of the previous two years and here they got on top only for a period in the third quarter when their forwards took control of the set pieces and worked a try from a driving maul. Little was seen of the club’s threat from its international set of outside backs and it was Leinster who posed the greater running threat even though their first-choice half-backs were on the bench.
Club owners are not renowned for their patience and never mind a place in the play-offs, Bath have it all to do to finish in the top six and qualify for next season’s Champions Cup. The quality is there but confidence is in hibernation. The final group match against Toulon at The Rec on Saturday may have nothing on it for the home side but a rousing send-off would give them something to take into the resumption of the Premiership campaign.
“We still have a lot to play for this season,” Mike Ford said. “Things have not gone well for us this season but if you look at the bigger picture and where this team is now from two years ago, we have a squad to die for.” The Bath coach added: We have not had the rub of the green but we are not getting the front-foot ball we enjoyed last season. We will get there.”
Leinster fielded a weakened team because their hopes of making the last eight had already been extinguished but Garry Ringrose, Luke McGrath, Rory Molony and James Tracy stood out as the successful ploy of squeezing Bath’s lineout and making them play behind the gainline worked with a number of turnovers turned into profit as the hosts attacked with alacrity.
“It was bitterly disappointing,” said the Bath captain, Stuart Hooper. “Leinster played very well tactically but as a team we have to realise that while games are there for the winning, it will not just happen. The guys are working hard but when things are not coming off you have to react and make them happen. Confidence is not as high as it is when things are going well, but the mark of a good player and leadership is to step up and deliver. Everyone is trying and the players are desperate to play well for the club.”
Bath were passive in the first half and trailed 12-3 but Leroy Houston’s try after 58 minutes finished off their first period of dominance and should have set a platform. Instead two mistakes after the restart were turned into a try by Seán Cronin and there was no way back.
Leinster may still finish bottom of the group but they stopped their worst run of results in the tournament, five straight defeats, and gave Leo Cullen his first European win as head coach. “We invest a lot in youth and it was good to see so many youngsters come through against strong opposition,” he said.
Leinster Kirchner (Reid, 69); Nacewa (capt; Sexton, 74), Ringrose, Te’o, D Kearney; Madigan, L McGrath (Reddan, 66); Dooley (J McGrath, 46), Tracy (Cronin, 46), Furlong (Moore, 46), Molony, McCarthy (Denton, 46), Ruddock, Van der Flier, Murphy (O’Brien, 59). Try Cronin. Con Madigan. Pens Madigan 6.
Bath Watson (Homer, 64); Rokoduguni, Joseph, Eastmond, Banahan; Ford (Priestland, 68), Cook (Evans, 71); Lahiff (Auterac, 50), Webber (Batty, h-t), Wilson (Thomas, h-t), Hooper (capt), Day (Ewels, 54), Garvey, Louw (Denton, ht), Houston.
Try Houston. Pen Ford, Priestland. Sin-bin Day 35.
Referee P Gauzère (Fr). Attendance 14,569.
