Bath player ratings: Scotland star helps Bath progress to Challenge Cup final
Sam Underhill runs toward the try line as Bath defeat Edinburgh
Bath defeated Edinburgh 24-39 on Saturday afternoon to progress to the final of the 2024/25 European Rugby Challenge Cup. Here’s how we rated the English side.
15 Tom de Glanville: Despite playing solidly, De Glanville was guiltyĀ of knocking the ball deliberately down early in the second half, leading to an automatic penalty try and a yellow card. He was fortunate that his teammates weren’t affected too poorly whilst he was in the bin.Ā 5
14 Joe Cokanasiga: A very quiet match for the big man, one that will have frustrated a normally important member of the side. The impacts he did have were not good. He lost 3 turnovers and found himself pushed into touch after a promising line break late into the second half. 3.5
13 Cameron Redpath: Perhaps rather lucky to stay on the field after what looked like a high hit on an Edinburgh player in the opening stages. He made the most of his good fortune by delivering a performance worthy of Lions selection. Always dangerous with ball in hand, it was his defensive display that set him apart today, getting himself involved in multiple turnover attempts and sitting second only to Sam Underhill in tackles made. Most notable interaction was when Redpath chased down an Edinburgh attacker from behind, before winning the turnover in the subsequent ruck.Ā 8.5
12 Will Butt: Barely seen. Caused a penalty to the opposition when he was caught offside due to lazy running. Very little else to say.Ā 3
11 Will Muir: He cynicallyĀ kicked the ball out of attackers hands in the first half, seeing yellow as a result.Ā There was the argument to be had that a ruck hadn’t been formed, meaning that it was legal. The refs decision is final, however, and off he went. He didn’t play well for much of the game, losing the ball more than once, and later being dragged into touch during a clear try scoring opportunity. However, his day changedĀ drastically in the second half. Firstly when he saved a certain try when he got in the way of the Edinburgh passing channel and later brilliantly taking high ball to heap the pressure on the hosts in their 22. To top it all off he set up the final try with an incredible charge down the left wing. A zero to hero story. 7.5
Edinburgh v Bath: Winners and losers as Underhill boosts Lions hopes
10 Finn Russell:Ā Fortunate not to punished for intercepted pass in the early stages, it was a mixed bag for Russell. His ideas were there, but they just were always coming off. Passes just weren’t always going to hand and his kicks weren’t landed as pinpoint as normal. But often we expect too much from the Scottish Messi – he is human after all.Ā 6
9 Ben Spencer: He started the match strongly with a tremendous early kick to the corner, eventually leading to Underhill’s early try. His day could later have unraveled when he popped up an awful pass to no-one on the Edinburgh try line, but he used his experience to keep his head as he regained control of his forwards. 6
The forwards
8 Miles Reid: He justified his selection at number 8, getting his hands on the ball more than any other Bath player during the match and making the heavy tackles when needed.Ā 7.5
7 Sam Underhill: He gave away a cheap early penalty when he put out his leg to disrupt the ball at the breakdown, but this was the only negative from a game that truly suited Underhill’s skillset. He scored Bath’s first try after being heavily involved in the build up, and his day continued to be lively, getting involved in all factions of the match. One late mistake did occur when he let the ball slip through his fingers and into opposition hands at a line out, but this proved not to have an effect on the match.Ā 8.5
6 Guy Pepper: One dodgy moment when he found himself faltering under the high ball at full-back, but he quickly won the ball back with a terrific ruck clear out. Otherwise it was a typically lively performance from the former Falcon as he continues to hope for silverware at his new club.Ā 6.5
5 Charlie Ewels:Ā Provided a highly efficient blitz defence early on when he found himself defending in the Bath midfield. His day continued in a positive vain, with the giant lock orchestrating an almost perfect lineout operation.Ā 7
4 Quinn Roux: Besides being reliable in the lineout, it was an uncharacteristically quiet game for the veteran for Irish international. Not one for the personal highlight tapes. 5.5
3 Will Stuart: The England international would have wanted to impress today, what with the British and Irish Lions squad announcement set to take place within the week, and he didn’t disappoint. Solid in the scrum as expected, but he also provided a powerful running option which helped Bath to gain some all-important extra metres in the opposition half.Ā 7
2 Tom Dunn: Bath’s star man at the Stoop. His lineout throwing was impeccable, as was his follow up, scoring two tries from the back of the subsequent mauls. Notably he also had a important role in creating the first try with a powerful charge to put the hosts on the back foot, just metres from their own goal line.Ā 9
1 Beno Obano: Ten years with the Bath senior squad this year and you can see what the club means to him. Consistently throwing himself into the contact area with increased physicality each time, the 30-year-old looked like he could do a job in the centres at one stage.Ā 7.5
Replacements: The bench was initially altered due to propĀ Francois van WykĀ pulling up with an injury prior to the match. Arguably still the strongest bench in Europe, the men that emerged from the touchline provided the much-needed energy and power to tip the scales in favour of Bath. Big note to Alfie Barbery and Thomas Du Toit who made a visible difference to the second half events.Ā 9
READ MORE:Ā Blues star Cameron Suafoa recieves major surgery to remove tumour
