Yahoo News Bath Rugby player ratings from Northampton Saints win - 'A stellar outing'
Bath secured thier spot in the playoffs thanks to a commanding 43-12 win against a rotated Northampton side on Saturday.
Bath took an early 14-0 lead thanks to tries from Josh Bayliss and Will Muir but were pegged back as James Ramm grabbed one just before the break for the visitors. The Blue, Black and White were determined to do all they could for a home semi-final and with tries from Tom Dunn and Ben Spencer their bonus-point and spot in the playoffs was secured before help from Sale Sharks - who beat Saracens at the StoneX, and scores from Alfie Barbeary and another for Muir secured the win and a home semi-final.
Rugby reporter Sam Jess takes a closer look at the individual performances from the Bath Rugby players...
15 Matt Gallagher - 8
In one of his last games for Bath, the full-back had a very bright start with some strong attacking moments as well as his usual sturdiness under the highball. However, with his side under pressure minutes before halftime, he went for an intercept that wasn't on and was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on. This was his only downside as he bounced back with real venom and purpose, showing more of his attacking game. With the game already done and dusted, Mallagher chased down Archie McParland for a beautiful try-saving tackle in a display of his winner's mentality.
14 Joe Cokanasiga - 7
A strong outing from the winger, if not at his best with the handling. Some lovely lines were run all over the park, but sadly, his handling deserted him as he dropped the ball too many times but other than that, it was a fine game
13 Ollie Lawrence - 8
Back to his best. Since the restart, you could argue that Lawrence has been slightly off it, but today, he was his electric self again, making defensive hits all over the park. His attack was on fire as he is dummy lines caused chaos before he sliced through the visitors' defence with ball in hand.
12 Cameron Redpath - 9
What a game from the centre, he is so often not in the headlines compared to his counterparts in the backline, but he deserves to be after a stellar outing. With some slight touches, the Scotland star showed the best of his brilliant attack work with his handling while also proving pure power and grit when called upon. Some neat interplay with Ben Spencer and Finn Russell set up Muir's first try. A brilliant second half ensured Bath secured a semi-final; little did they know it would be a home one.
11 Will Muir - 8
Saving the best until last. What a performance from the Winger. In the first half, he was industrious as ever, breaking tackles before finishing off a great team try. As the game opened up, so did Will Muir, as he constantly showed a threat in the wide channels before scoring his second of the match.
10 Finn Russell -8
Back at the Rec for the first time since the end of March following a spell out with a groin injury, Russell came firing out the blocks with his attacking and kicking game, putting Bath in all the right places. He was then at the heart of the second Bath try as his side launched a brilliant attack. The fly-half ghosted around the back of the move before receiving Ben Spencer's ball to put Will Muir through a gaping hole. A wonderful performance continued into the second half with a range of kicks and passes as he guided them to victory.
9 Ben Spencer - 9
Captain Fantastic. A class act once more around the park as he guided Bath into all the right parts of the pitch with real tempo and momentum. A lovely interplay with Cameron Redpath and Finn Russell was the highlight of the first half before a wonderful interpretation sealed Bath's bonus point and the playoffs.
1 Beno Obano - 8
The Bath faithful were singing his name, and why wouldn't they? After a difficult away trip for Obano last weekend, the prop was back to his dominant self, again with a commanding display at the set-piece.
2 Tom Dunn - 8
The hooker was on a mission today, and it showed with a brutal display of roar power and might while also nailing his arrows at the set-piece. A crucial try just after halftime gave Bath the momentum after a tricky end to the first forty and capped off his best display in some time.
3 Thomas du Toit - 8
Signing of the season? He is certainly up there with power and physicality throughout the charts once more, both in attack and defence. Despite a tricky couple of scrums before halftime, the Tank came back with some great power to win a few scrums after the break.
4 Quinn Roux - 7
It was a strong afternoon for Roux at the lock, who was crucial in securing the set-piece while also smashing people left, right and centre. He has become a key figure in Bath's pack.
5 Charlie Ewels - 7
What a two years for Ewels. In June 2022, he captained Bath as they lost away to Worcester to end the season 13th in the Premiership, and then an ACL injury ruled him out for the entire of the next campaign. Now, he is playing his best rugby with a commanding presence in the lineout and around the park. His leadership has grown without the captaincy and is now at the heart of the pack.
6 Ted Hill - 7
A day made for his running rugby skills, and he made it count with a lovely display of tenacity and power around the park, making defensive read after another, focusing the Saint's back. He also showed some great work in the loose, as usual.
7 Sam Underhill - 8
A menace at the breakdown. Sam Underhill is thriving at Bath under Johann van Graan; another great showing of breakdown skills and defensive work again punished the Saint's rustiness as he pounced at every opportunity.
8 Josh Bayliss - 9
Better late than never. With injury disrupting his season, Bayliss has had to wait until the last home game of the season for a start, but he showed the Rec what they have been missing with a MOTM outing with a breakdown and an all-class running rugby display. A try to get from the maul got the game underway and set Bath on their way to a playoff securing.
Replacements
16 Niall Annett - 6
A decent display off the bench, although the game was a title chaotic in the final twenty, which suited Annett's style
17 Juan Schoeman - 7
Added power off the bench and secured a few scrums
18 Will Stuart - 7
Like his other replacement prop, he added power off the bench.
19 Elliott Stooke - 7
While the game might have been won by the time Stooke entered the fray, he kept up the basics mostly from the line out and kick-off, keeping his side ticking and not letting Saint backs into the match
20 Alfie Barbeary - 8
While he will have been disappointed not to start, he made a real difference coming on. Scoring with his first touch off the bench, the replacement added power and physicality to stop any thought of a Saints comeback
21 Louis Schreuder - 7
A decent display off the bench as he kept the tempo up, something which he has not always done when on the pitch compared to Ben Spencer, but there was no slowing down the South African today.
22 Orlando Bailey - 7
Came on with 20 to go and kept the attacking game up to the max while the control might not have been the flair and intent was as Bath racked up the points
