'A ridiculously talented rugby player... as good as anything in world rugby'
Bath head coach Neal Hatley paid tribute to England flanker Sam Underhill for a stirring two-try performance in their 24-24 draw with Sale just 48 hours after returning from a family wedding in the United States.
Underhill scored twice in a purple patch of six minutes during the first half and might have had a hat-trick just after half-time.
Hatley said: “He was out in Miami for his sister’s wedding on Monday after playing in the Test against France. It had been called off two or three times because of Covid so it was the right thing for him to do.
“It was important for him to spend time with his family.”
Hatley added: “If he scored in the top corner here five or seven minutes into the second half it could have been 28-7, it would have been a long way back for them.
“Sam on his day is as good as anything in world rugby. He hasn’t played a lot of rugby this season. He’s had a few bumps, a little bit of concussion, so he’s coming back into it.
“He’s a ridiculously talented rugby player and to show power five or six metres out for his two tries was phenomenal and he showed great enthusiasm to scramble back and attack the ball.”
Bath remain bottom of the table on points difference below Newcastle despite the draw, which followed two victories in the Premiership.
A frustrated Hatley said: “We were good value for the 21-7 lead at half-time. We were really aggressive, going for the corner even with a good wind, some good decisions from Ben Spencer and Danny Cipriani to keep them under the pump.
“Credit to Sale, they are a good side – a big side. It’s a hell of a pack and they squeezed us in that middle third of the game for 20-22 minutes when they got back into the game.
“But I’m so pleased with our forward pack, especially with the players we’re missing. I couldn’t be more proud of the lads for the effort they put in.”
Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson said: “Was a draw the fair result? It probably was, given how we performed in the first half. They looked dangerous in attack, put their bodies on the line. We looked a bit leaky and uncharacteristically soft.
“There was a general malaise and we lacked urgency in the first half. We addressed that at half-time and therein lies the difference. I’m really proud of that second half. It’s good to get three points but there’s two gone begging.”
Sanderson was attaching no blame to Faf De Klerk for missing a last-gasp penalty that would have wrested back victory after Danny Cipriani’s kick had drawn Bath level with three minutes to go.
He said: “You can go back to the kick, can’t you, but it was all about the thousands of incidents that happened before that. It shouldn’t really come down to the kick.
“Fair game to Bath. They’ve got a bit of form back in the last seven or eight weeks.
“With Ed Griffiths coming in (as chairman), some of their injured players coming back and some of their better players, they look sharp and dangerous. Put a bit of weight into their front five and you’ve got a real team there.”
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I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
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