‘We’ve won nothing yet’ – Johann van Graan calls for calm heads in Bath camp

Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan called for his side to keep their feet on the ground after a 42-24 win over Sale Sharks in the Premiership on Sunday.

The win takes Bath into second place thanks to a Joe Cokanasiga double with Matt Gallagher, Tom Dunn and Ollie Lawrence also crossing for tries.

Stay focused

The signs are encouraging for Bath, who have been resurgent under Van Graan. However, the South African insists that his players need to keep their focus as a lot can happen in the tightly contested league.

“We’ve won nothing yet,” said Van Graan.

“This Premiership is so tight and there are nine teams that can qualify for a semi-final. We’ve got to keep improving our game. For us it’s a constant theme: to get better.

“This is new territory for this group of players – the fact that we are in the top four and want to stay there. Five rounds to go – two at home and three away. Who knows what is going to happen between now and May? We’ve also got Europe to deal with.”

The scores were locked up at 24 points apiece at 60 minutes but Bath had the better final quarter to secure the promising win.

He said: “The first half wasn’t perfect but we just trusted our process and spoke about keeping our discipline. We conceded the try with that pass just after half-time but for me that’s the growth that is being shown in this group. We scored straight away and then we kept building the score.

“We were very good at scoring tries at close quarters last season but we are now scoring from a lot further out. I think it’s pretty difficult to read us.

“Our set piece is working well. We’ve got the ability to attack, defend and use our kicking game.

“The big moment was Sale losing a line-out. We got a scrum and a penalty from that scrum, then a maul penalty and scored in the corner. When we needed our set piece we used it. I thought we defended pretty well too and there were some lovely moments in attack.”

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Lost hold of the game

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson cut a frustrated figure and claimed there were moments that took the game away from his side.

“We were well in it. Five metres from their line. It was ours for the taking and it felt like we had the momentum,” Sanderson said.

“Then a couple of things happened that took away that momentum and our energy. It was a couple of little moments that accounted for the big margin in the scoreline. We never really got back into the game.

“Our intent is to win every game. You have to find form and go into the finals, if you get there, with momentum. The reality is, with everyone playing each other, you only have to win four. You can win your home games and snatch one away. That’s the reality of it.”

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