Leicester need to have a cold shower

Bath Rugby 45 – 0 Leicester Tigers

Bath Rugby showed every Aviva Premiership team they’re the side to beat as they ruthlessly battered Leicester Tigers at The Rec.

Tries from Semesa Rokoduguni, Jonathan Joseph, Kyle Eastmond, Olly Woodburn and Peter Stringer plus 20 points from the boot of George Ford but it wasn’t just the scoreline, which utterly humiliated their old rivals but the all round performance as well Bath were dominant in every department.

The pressure was on the West County side from Friday as chairman Bruce Craig told his team “This season has to be delivery time” and “This has to be our moment.” They did just that as this is the best start to a season for Bath since 2003/04 season.

Before kick-off it started badly for Richard Cockerill and his Leicester Tigers as both Manu Tuilagi and Anthony Allen were late withdrawals as both were suffering with injury and this was the start of a very bad day in Tigers history. 

It only took eight minutes for the home side to get their first try as they put pressure on Leicester’s five metre line and Ford’s cut – out pass to flanker Carl Fearns who fed Rokoduguni who touch down in the right corner.

The hosts were in double digits in 12 minutes as a strong Bath scrum owned the Tigers and the pressure was too much and the visitor’s conceded another penalty which Ford simply scored.

Just over 17 minutes and Bath scored their second try as Eastmond’s lovely flat pass to his centre partner Joseph opened a gap in the Tigers defence and England International had a simple run to the try line. Adding Ford’s conversion and the West County side were 17 – 0 up.

Just before half time Ford added six more points as the 21 year old scored with a drop goal and a penalty as Bath went into the break 23 – 0 to the good.

Half – Time – Bath Rugby 23 – 0 Leicester Tigers

Cockerill’s men had hoped to get back into the game after the break, but three minutes into the second half Ford kept his kicking boots on as another penalty went through the posts.

Leicester failed to put pressure on Bath’s five metre line with a poor lineout and maul and hooker Rob Webber was able to clear the ball and passed to Joseph, who has been very impressive in the opening three games of the season, and the outside centre broke and carried the ball to the halfway line and then Eastmond wiggled his way to the Tigers 22 and after a couple of phases it was Ford making life hell for his former club again with his tap – pass to Eastmond who finished off a fantastic end – to – end try.

Even though Ford proved he was human with his conversion hitting the post, however Bath were leading 31 – 0 and the Rec was really to burst.

It took until 65 minutes for Bath to score their fourth try which gave them the bonus point and it was worth the wait. Freddie Burns tried to chip the ball which was charged down by Eastmond and quickly passed to Ford, who’s deep kick was picked up by Woodburn who was flying down the wing and had 1 – 2 pass with No.8 Leroy Houston and the replacement winger strolled under the posts.

Leicester did look like to have got something from the game as replacement prop Nick Auterac was sin binned and looked like they had scored and secured losing bonus point and they clearly touch down on Bath’s try line but referee Wayne Barnes wrongly called no try. 

It got even worse as six minutes from time replacement scrum – half Stringer finished another brilliant try which started on their five metre line again as Rokoduguni broke free from the weakless defence and changed to the halfway line and linked with Alafoti Fa’osiliva who offloaded to the former Ireland International who showed his strength to score.

Ford added the conversion to hover up Leicester’s performance and which ended with replacement scrum half Davd Mele wrongly shown a red card.

Don’t take anything away from Bath who showed what damage they can do and this is a day no one will forget.

At the end of the game Cockerill admitted “It is my responsibility, my fault. I pick the team, I coach the team and the loss is down to me.”

Don’t worry Richard I think the fans will blame you.

Scorecard
8 mins - S Rokoduguni (Try) 5 -0
9 mins - G Ford (Con) 7 - 0
12 mins - G Ford (Pen) 10 - 0
17 mins - J Joseph (Try) 15 - 0
18 mins - G Ford (Con) 17 - 0
32 mins - G Ford (Drop Goal) 20 - 0
35 mins - G Ford (Pen) 23 - 0
Half Time - Bath Rugby 23 - 0 Leicester Tigers
43 mins - G Ford (Pen) 26 - 0
46 mins - K Eastmond (Try) 31 - 0
65 mins - O Woodburn (Try) 36 - 0
67 mins - G Ford (Con) 38 - 0
73 mins - P Stringer (Try) 42 - 0
74 mins - G Ford (Con) 45 - 0