1
Bath crushed in Premiership opener by the Hughes and Piutau show
By Online Editors
Bristol secured the West Country bragging rights over Bath with a thumping 43-16 win before a record Ashton Gate crowd. A sell-out crowd of 26,399 saw this Gallagher Premiership season opener, the largest attendance for a sporting fixture since the stadium’s redevelopment concluded in 2016.
Bristol ran in seven tries to claim a bonus point victory and register their determination to improve on last season’s ninth-place finish. Bath had to defend for long spells and only a combination of some careless Bears handling and Rhys Priestland’s kicking kept them in the contest until the final 15 minutes.
Bristol gave a Premiership debut to former Wasps number eight Nathan Hughes and veteran lock forward Dave Atwood made his first Bears appearance for over 10 years following his summer return from Bath. Hughes stormed towards the try-line in the first minute after Bristol instantly won turnover ball and Luke Morahan finished in the corner following some patient play and neat footwork from Charles Piutau.
Bath replied with a Priestland penalty, but most of the opening exchanges took place in their territory and Hughes’ debut try soon arrived. Hooker Harry Thacker fed Piutau with an inside ball and Hughes was on the New Zealander’s shoulder to score under the posts, with Callum Sheedy adding the extras.
Priestland cut the deficit with a 40-metre penalty but missed another from closer in to reduce the gap further. But Bath went in front when Aled Brew’s kick and chase set up a lineout five yards out after Mat Protheroe had scampered across from the other wing to save a try.
(Continue reading below...)
Bath secured possession at the front and Zach Mercer drove through the maul to stretch for the line. Priestland converted from out wide and Bath led 13-12. The Bears had been sloppy after their bright start, but they pressed again and were rewarded for turning down a kickable penalty seconds from the interval.
Bath held up several drives close to the line but the ball was finally spun to the right for Protheroe to step inside and score. Sheedy missed a simple conversion for Bristol to lead 17-13 at half-time – a fair reflection on the balance of play.
Bristol extended their lead as Dan Thomas’ brilliant pick-up got the Bears’ backline moving again, and Hughes was in the outside channel this time to send Protheroe through. The wing was dragged down just short of the line, but Piers O’Connor was in support to secure a bonus point and Sheedy added the conversion.
Priestland kicked his third penalty, but Bath replacement Lewis Boyce was yellow-carded for a swinging arm after 65 minutes with Bristol camped on the try line. Bristol immediately made their one-man advantage count as prop John Afoa burrowed over from a maul and Sheedy added the touchline conversion.
Replacement Ioan Lloyd, at 18 the youngest player to play for the Bears in the Premiership, and Morahan’s second try wrapped up the win in the final moments.
“I’ve known Nathan since he was young, back home he was in my academy,” said Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam about his new Fijian-born number eight. “He’s a quality player. But number eights must have high involvement and he’s got to improve his aerobic capacity.
“I want what he can do for 80 minutes. We’ve been building him, and he’s trimmed about four kilos. He’s lost a lot of body fat and we’ve worked him hard with ball in hand. He can be a world-class player, not just bits and pieces. I’ve told Nathan I’m happy but not satisfied, as there’s more that he can do.”
- Press Association
WATCH: Former Australian international Matt Giteau sits down with RugbyPass in the latest episode of Rugby World Cup Memories
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' weaknesses
3
All Blacks player ratings vs Italy
4
Scotland's Sione Tuipulotu admits anger at Australian rugby
5
Latest Comments
GB = England, Scotland, Wales. UK = England, Wales, Scotland, NI
Nothing to stew son.
Go to commentsTupaea is a natural 12. What is it with you kiwis and playing players out of their positions. Is that some sort of national sport? Is that on purpose? You’ve got an utility back and a winger at 12 and 13 respectivelly. You played Savea at 8 for ages, wasting the potential of one of the world’s three best players in the last 4-5 years.
ALB is equally effective at 12 and 13, so why not have him or Tupaea at 12, and Proctor at 13? God forbid you’d have two midfielders playing at their natural positions! There must be a law in New Zealand, that prohibits that. Small sample size, but Proctor walked on water in his international debut at 13.
But the kiwi selectors seem to love Rieko’s speed, so as long as the horse is fast enough, they decided they’ll teach him to climb trees anyway.
You don’t have a better 10 than BB and Mo’unga. DMac is a more instinctive attacker (almost as good as Mo’unga … almost), but doesn’t have BB’s game-controlling skills. You have and will lose games due to his aimless kicking and spur-of-the-moment inventions none of his team mates are able to read at the international pace. Works okay at Super Rugby level, doesn’t mean it’s transferable to test matches. But hey, suit yourself.
Go to comments