Fans wrapped up in the cold would question whether British summer time has really begun, but this was a truly convincing performance by Bath that suggests the sun will be shining in this part of the West Country before long.
The playoff-chasing Exeter were comprehensively dispatched with a potent blend of attacking intelligence and forward cohesion as Bath climbed above Newcastle and off the bottom of the Premiership table. Exeter’s hope of making the playoffs, meanwhile, took a significant blow.
Johann van Graan, the Bath head coach, will argue green shoots of recovery had been visible for some time but this was surely their best performance of the season. Tactical kicking from Bath caused constant problems for an Exeter side who also conceded a succession of damaging penalties.
Finn Russell, the Racing 92 and Scotland fly-half who has signed for next season, was at the Rec to witness his future teammates often kick with his own kind of vision.
“He’s very excited for the future, and it was good for him to see us live,” Van Graan said of Russell’s visit. “When we met a few months ago I sold the vision and where we are going to go as a group, and that [performance] was a good reinforcement for him.”
From Exeter’s point of view this was an intensely disappointing display. It was an inappropriate way for the back-rower Dave Ewers to mark his 200th appearance for the club, and on this evidence the planned farewell tour for several frontline Exeter players departing at the end of the season, Ewers included, will be cut short before the playoffs. The Chiefs’ failure to claim a losing bonus leaves them eight points behind fourth-placed London Irish and five behind fifth-placed Northampton.
The news last week that Thomas du Toit, the Springbok tighthead prop, will join Bath following the World Cup is another reason for them to be optimistic while the blindside flanker Ted Hill returned from injury here and was typically effective, tackling hard and often claiming clean lineout ball.
Indeed, Hill’s lineout catch led to the first try as the No 10, Harvey Skinner, missed a tackle on Cameron Redpath. The 23-year-old Scotland international showed pace and composure to jink beyond Olly Woodburn and to the corner.
Exeter soon exerted some pressure at the other end, though, Solomone Kata forcing his way over from short range. Henry Slade converted and the spectre of a red card loomed into view when the referee, Karl Dickson, reviewed Beno Obano’s upright tackle on Kata; he decided a yellow would suffice.
In Obano’s absence Exeter registered a trademark score when the Australian prop Scott Sio battered over under the posts. Slade’s conversion opened up a seven-point lead for the visitors.
Exeter appeared ready to turn the screw but instead Bath recaptured the momentum. Matt Gallagher’s perceptive kick was scooped up by Ollie Lawrence, moving at full speed. He created the field position for Obano, back from his enforced 10-minute break, to crunch into contact and reach for the try-line.
France get off to winning start in Women's Six Nations
France made a winning start in the Six Nations as they defeated Italy 22-12 in Parma.
The opening try at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi was registered by the hosts as Giada Franco’s effort saw Italy go 7-3 up, before things turned around with Gabrielle Vernier and Carla Arbez crossing en route to France leading 15-7 at the interval.
After Italy reduced the deficit to three points via Alyssa D’Inca’s 47th-minute try, France then wrapped things up in the closing stages via Caroline Boujard.
Gaelle Mignot’s side next play Ireland in Cork on Saturday, while Giovanni Ranieri’s Italy face England at Franklin’s Gardens a day later. PA Media
It got better for Bath when Orlando Bailey teased a kick to the right wing for the destructive Joe Cokanasiga: the ball sat up for the Fiji-born wing and he roared to the corner. Josh Hodge brought him down with a brave attempted tackle but the England player got back on his feet and flopped over. Bath led by five at half‑time.
Exeter badly needed a reaction but it was Bath who stretched their lead soon after the break. Tom Dunn notched the score his own excellent individual display deserved, Bath clinching a bonus-point try.
Dan Frost, the Exeter hooker, was shown a yellow card for a late hit on Bailey that removed the fly-half from the match. Piers Francis, introduced during Bailey’s head injury assessment, nearly set up the fifth try with another clever kick down the middle. But Bath soon had it when Lawrence swivelled to touch down under the posts.
Exeter threatened a recovery when Jack Yeandle rumbled over in another classic Chiefs drive from close range but Bath kept coming. Lawrence and Francis released Tom de Glanville on the left wing but a horrid attempted final pass intended for Gallagher wasted a simple two-on-one.
Francis extended Bath’s advantage with a penalty, stretching their lead beyond two converted tries and assuring their first victory of the year. That completed the scoring on a bracing, revitalising day for the hosts.
“I’m as disappointed watching us play as I’ve been for a very long time,” said Rob Baxter, the Exeter director of rugby, whose side must travel to face playoff rivals Leicester and London Irish in the coming weeks.
“I am a bit angry. There’s an opportunity for guys to achieve things. You only really have to make a couple of decisions and you do it together, you back each other and work hard in certain areas. That clearly wasn’t the case with us today.”
