by All points will be counted over the final stages of the Premiership season and, on this evidence, Bath will have reason to thank Finn Russell when the playing sums are complete. Among the reasons for the Scottish planes to move to the west country was a desire to compete for silverware and, together with Joe Cokanasiga, he was among the main architects of a significant victory that his team raises in the second place in the table.
A dominant quarterback from Bath’s starting line-up was also responsible for Sale’s sixth straight win in all competitions but Russell had a hand in four of his side’s goals, kicking brilliantly from both sides and, for good measure, also the first goalkeeper out. of his career in the Premier Division due to his weaker left leg. A brace of tries for Cokanasiga and one for England’s Ollie Lawrence also gave Bath a home advantage.
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A final margin for the underdog could have been even wider if Cokanasiga had received a pass from Lawrence in the closing hours when a hat-trick for the big winger looked formal. By that time, however, the Sharks had long ago reeled in a beautiful clear Sunday afternoon near the River Avon and Russell was subbed off in readiness for more missions ahead.
If the home win wasn’t all but guaranteed with the scores tied at 24-24 with 17 minutes remaining, Sale’s set piece began to crack and, with a quick ball, few other experts are taking advantage of Russell. In the space of 12 minutes Bath rattled up 18 points without reply, including Russell’s small wobbler left-footed drop goal, and drive themselves within two points of leaders Northampton with five regular season games to play.
Alex Sanderson, Sale’s director of rugby, was later right when he described Bath as a team that can now win games in different ways. They can cut you open, as they did delightfully two or three times with Russell pulling a whole range of layers, they can block teams with the fine kicking game of the investigator Ben Spencer or, if necessary they can route one to do correctly. The three will knit together and, if they can stay as focused, they could be serious contenders this year.
It was not as if Sale were passive observers. At times they also attacked with purpose and Manu Tuilagi, sniping from Russell’s tackle and blazing from cover to put his side ahead in the first quarter, showed why Bayonne paid more than a euro to sign him for the first season. This time, however, a rejuvenated Cokanasiga looked just as dangerous and, after an earlier chance went begging, Russell, Tom Dunn and Cam Redpath finished to regain the lead.
George Ford, playing level with the line as he did with England, was also asking questions of his old club and Sale hit first after half-time when Spencer’s pass was intercepted by Tom Roebuck. Despite losing Alfie Barbeary at half-time with a strained hamstring, however, and Lawrence with a yellow card, Bath always seemed capable of solving problems when needed.
Cokanasiga, after a nice flick from Russell and support from Sam Underhill and the excellent Ted Hill, grabbed his second – his 10th try in nine games – and, despite Sam Dugdale’s reply for Sale, Bath were able to maintain control. the competition when it mattered. With the Sharks settled and flat under pressure, Dunn was at the bottom of the pile to grab a bonus point before another nice offload, this time from Will Muir, put Lawrence on the left.
Bath’s director of rugby, Johann van Graan, was later at pains to point out that Russell was not the only weapon available to his squad but, equally, he acknowledged that the Scot played a key role and the club trying to taste success at home and in the country. Champions Cup. “He’s an incredible person with a very unique personality,” Van Graan said, pointing out that Russell was quick to end Scotland’s Six Nations campaign. “He has this ability to put the past behind him…he fits right in.”
Sanderson, having been the recipient, was equally enthusiastic in his praise. “We went to him a few times today but it’s the time you don’t do it. The moment when you take the show-and-go, as we did in the second half. You feel like you’re in a really good spot defensively and then it’s like, ‘Where did that come from?’ He has that X-factor to make something magical out of nothing.”
Next week for Bath is Harlequins, another potentially great competition. Win that and Van Graan’s side will really be in the mix, with an under-16 Champions Cup final in Exeter to follow. “As a club we are dreaming big,” insisted Van Graan, insisting that his team wants to compete in all areas. They may still do so at this rate.
