Bath suffer midfield injury blow as Johann van Graan provides update on Max Ojomoh
Max Ojomoh will miss the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season with a foot injury, Bath's head of rugby Johann van Graan has confirmed, leaving the South African coach with decisions to make about the make-up of his midfield.
Ojomoh was forced to come off after just 12 minutes of play in the Blue, Black and White's pre-season game against Championship team Ealing Trailfinders, which they lost 28-36. It means that one of the thinner positions in the star-studded Bath squad is stretched further heading into the new campaign, as Scotland international Cam Redpath is also still recovering from shoulder surgery and won't be around for another few weeks.
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Speaking after Bath's 26-3 victory after Dragons RFU in their final game before the Gallagher Premiership opener against the Northampton Saints next Friday night, Van Graan said: "I'll give a bit more feedback next week, but Max will be out for some time with his foot injury. We're waiting for the last bit of info, but he won't be back soon."
Normal fly-half Orlando Bailey was given the start against the Dragons to conclude pre-season, but with Ojomoh and Redpath out, it will give the South African a lot to think about regarding centre partnership. He said: "Cam is still a few weeks away, so I've got to make a decision of whether I play Will Butt at 12, Orlando at 12, or do I move Ollie [Lawrence] in from 13 to 12 and potentially play Louie Hennessey at 13. Amongst those combinations, we'll pick across the next few weeks."
Lawrence has predominantly played at outside centre for Bath since joining the club from Worcester Warriors but is more regularly employed at 12 for England. Whoever starts in midfield in the opening rounds of the Premiership, van Graan emphasised that scenarios like this are exactly why he designed a pre-season programme that saw more than 50 players get game time. He said: "I think speaking to coaches across the Premiership, Europe and South Africa, everyone is going to pick up injuries, some players longer than others. That is why you have to have a squad. I'd like to think everyone in the squad has done their part during pre-season, whether it's Tom Dunn, the most capped player, or Tyler Offiah, who is making his third appearance in pre-season. That is what you want from your squad, and they worked really hard."