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Johann van Graan and Ronan O'Gara on Bath loss to La Rochelle

By PA
Bath v Stade Rochelais – Investec Champions Cup – The Recreation Ground

Bath boss Johann van Graan was left to reflect on “small margins” after his team lost their opening Investec Champions Cup game 24-20 against La Rochelle.

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The Gallagher Premiership leaders launched a powerful second-half fightback, scoring two converted tries from 15 points adrift, but La Rochelle had just enough in the tank for a priceless away win.

“It is an 80-minute game. We got ourselves back into at 21-20, and we could not convert a couple of opportunities in the last few moments,” Van Graan said.

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Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White on the weather conditions in London ahead of the Saracens clash

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Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White on the weather conditions in London ahead of the Saracens clash

Storm Darragh is set to bring strong winds and heavy rain to London this weekend, but White believes he has a matchday squad that can adapt to all conditions.

“It was a real battle, and we are disappointed. The margins are so small.

“We execute one more opportunity, we win by a point and we are all happy I thought we competed, the scrum was a real battle, the maul, the kicking game – both sides got some aerial dominance.

“I am content with the fact we played our game, we mixed it with one of the heavier teams in world rugby.”

La Rochelle raced clear through tries from flanker Oscar Jegou, prop Reda Wardi and scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow, while fly-half Ihaia West kicked three conversions and a later penalty.

Bath were in deep trouble at half-time, managing only two Finn Russell penalties, yet they stirred after the break as hooker Tom Dunn and lock Quinn Roux claimed touchdowns, with Russell adding the extras.

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Despite swirling rain and a gusting wind, a compelling contest unfolded, although it ramps up pressure on Bath, despite a losing bonus-point, to potentially win at least two of their last three pool games as they chase a last-16 place.

They tackle Benetton in Italy next, with Clermont Auvergne and Leinster looming as testing opponents in January.

“When you play in conditions like this, the game throws stuff at you,” Bath captain Charlie Ewels told Premier Sports.

“I liked how we stayed calm and I liked how we never played scoreboard pressure when we were 15 points down. It gave us opportunities to win the game, but we didn’t take them.

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“It feels like a Test match, it feels like every play was a big play, I am proud of the effort, but you want to win these ones and I feel like we are in a place now when we can win these big ones.”

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara said: “We were clinical for 40 minutes. We have an exceptional driving maul, and then it was exceptional hands from Tawera Kerr-Barlow for his try.

“We then had a very poor first 10 minutes of the second half and put ourselves under unnecessary pressure, and we conceded a soft maul try.

“We should have been double figures better than Bath, but it was all about the win tonight.

“We have been terribly inconsistent, and we need to get our game going for more than 50 minutes.”

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JW 3 hours ago
'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

I have the selection opinion of ‘chuck them in the deep end, see if they swim’. Starting Mo’unga in the third test

But you’re calling favoritism of Dmac based on common practice, thats the illogical mindset you have and which I’m pointing out.

He isn’t Mo’unga which disproves your statement

You’ve missed my point. Mo’unga is your fixation for ‘game manager’. Dmac is every bit the game manager even then, his boot has always been his best asset.

At 10 I would’ve had: Cruden, B Barrett, and McKenzie

Thats fine, but that statement you’re trying to defend is “I guess Hansen sold them the idea that McKenzie was the way forward at 10” with the implication that now, in 2023 they let Mo’unga go because Dmac he was selected there for one test in 2018.

I brought it up as I it shows that Hansen and Foster would rather have a second 10

I brought those facts up to as I believe that both Hansen and Foster didn’t really want Mo’unga at 10 and only used him at 10 when they ran out of other ideas (which they both did)

And I have shown you the real facts, that they didn’t do that. They played MO’UNGA! The very next series after Dmac was asked to play 10 due to injury, with no experience (hence why he wanted more the next year), Mo’unga was used as the alternative 10 to Barrett, playing one game, WITH MCKENZIE AT 15, of the 6 Rugby Championships. The series after that was were opinion really shifted to Mo’unga having a better partnership with Dmac at the back than Barrett did.


THOSE ARE THE ONLY RELEVANT FACTS!


You can have your theories all you like Spew, but I’m telling you they are based on you own fallacy when it comes your picture of Dmac, and therefor any correlation with Mo’unga. They have always been great together.

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W
WilmaKiel 5 hours ago
One rule for Europe's copycats, another for the Springboks

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