Leigh Halfpenny masterclass consigns Bath to home defeat to Scarlets
Bath fell at the first hurdle in their European Champions Cup campaign, beaten at home for the second time in three seasons by Scarlets who triumphed 23-19. The Welshmen were inspired by full-back Leigh Halfpenny who kicked three penalties and two conversions to keep his side within touching distance and then denied Bath fly-half Josh Matavesi a try at the death.
Bath could still have won the game deep into stoppage time but another last-ditch tackle on the goal-line, this time by number eight Sione Kalamafoni, prevented Ben Spencer from snatching victory for the English club.
Bath were first on the scoreboard with a Spencer penalty after Ruaridh McConnochie’s break forced a ruck penalty.
Scarlets scored the first try though, as they worked the ball to the left and Steff Evans easily evaded opposite number Joe Cokanasiga. He found scrum-half Gareth Davies in support and his sidestep did the rest.
Halfpenny converted but was just short with a penalty attempt from halfway after Anthony Watson was caught in possession running back a hoisted kick from his own 22.
Scarlets were living dangerously themselves and the home side should have scored from a spilled ball in midfield. But Zach Mercer, on the field while Taulupe Faletau was being assessed for a head injury, passed to a grey shirt instead of black.
Mercer quickly made amends, however, featuring in a bout of inter-passing on the left which was carried on by Jonathan Joseph and Sam Underhill who offloaded expertly for McConnochie to finish in the corner after 18 minutes.
Spencer’s left-footed conversion was wide but Bath were firmly on the front foot at this stage and the scrum-half landed a straightforward scrum penalty which put Bath 11-7 ahead after 26 minutes.
Faletau did not return and HIAs also accounted for fellow Welsh international team-mates on the opposing side, Jake Ball and Samson Lee.
Yet the Scarlets continued to find space on the left and also to prosper at the breakdown, chiefly through Jac Morgan.
Halfpenny narrowed Bath’s lead to one point with a fine angled penalty from nearly 50 metres but sloppy work at the restart handed Spencer another penalty kick to put Bath 14-10 ahead at the break.
Halfpenny’s accurate boot again raised Scarlets’ hopes after 47 minutes but the Bath pack regrouped to force a five-metre scrum and eventually fashioned a try for England tighthead Will Stuart. Although unconverted it opened up a six-point gap.
The lead was still only one score though and Scarlets opened up the home defence all too easily after 63 minutes to leave replacement Kieran Hardy an easy run-in to the posts, with Halfpenny adding the conversion to put his side 20-19 in front.
Other than their mauling game, Bath were looking increasingly ragged and Halfpenny landed his third penalty before denying Matavesi at the other end by somehow getting under the ball.
Comments on RugbyPass
Adding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
2 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
2 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to comments