Banahan hat-trick sinks Montpellier

 

Rugby league convert Sam Burgess got 80 minutes under his belt for the first time and wing Matt Banahan bagged a hat-trick in what turned out to be a satisfying, if not electrifying victory.

 

Mike Ford’s side left it very late to get the fourth try they wanted for a maximum haul, but they now sit on ten points in European Champions Cup Pool Four.

 

It was super-sub Horacio Agulla who delivered the final score with less than two minutes to go, as he speared his way through the Montpellier defence off the back of a pinpoint George Ford pass.

 

There was plenty on the team sheet for the home fans to be excited about. Burgess was making his first start in the blue, black and white and South African scavenger Francois Louw returned to the back row for the first since injuring his neck while playing for the Springboks in September.

 

Welsh international loosehead Paul James took over the captaincy as Stuart Hooper began the game on the bench, but Hooper was called into action after only 10 minutes when Dave Attwood suffered what looked like a shoulder injury.

 

Burgess managed to set up a try with his first touch, in the third minute – not that he knew much about it. As he ran onto a loose inside pass from number eight Leroy Houston, he instinctively kneed the ball to Banahan, who had an easy canter down the left touch line to score.

 

Ford converted, then extended the lead with a penalty two minutes later.

 

Burgess was able to show off his growing repertoire of union skills in the opening half. He tackled legally, he rucked, he even put in a speculative grubber kick.

 

But it was a midfield decoy line that was second nature from his league days that set up Bath’s second try.

 

Attracting defenders like iron filings to a magnet, he created gaping hole on half way for Ford to find Semesa Rokoduguni, who scythed through the middle. Watson and Banahan were in support and it was the Jersey winger who finished it off.

 

On the face of it – and from the pessimistic tone of Fabien Galthie’s pre-match comments – Montpellier didn’t want to be at The Rec in the first quarter.

 

Bottom of the pool and with nothing to play for, they were happy to take part in a loose game, allowing the home side the space they wanted to get up and running.

 

The one area of concern for Bath was their scrum – normally so dominant, but struggling against the visitors’ might.

 

Fullback Anthony Watson injected some much-needed pace into proceedings after the break, bursting through the ragged Montpellier defence and almost finishing off a counter-attack from 60 metres.

 

Banahan completed his hat-trick on 52 minutes. After a catch-and-drive from the home pack was repelled by some stubborn Montpellier defence, scrumhalf Chris Cook peeled off the back of the maul, drew Yohann Artru and put the left wing in for his fifth try of the season.

 

Montpellier got on the score sheet on 62 minutes when powerful number eight Alex Tulou – a menace all game – finished off a textbook catch-and-drive.

 

Bath started throwing the ball around as they pushed for the bonus point. Alafoti Fa’osiliva made a bullocking break down the left and Watson was his slippery self down the right, as the attacks swept from side to side.

 

But Montpellier grabbed another score when replacement hooker Mickael Ivaldi burrowed over from close range and substitute scrumhalf Benoir Pail Iaugue converted.

 

With three and a half minutes left, Bath found themselves packing down for an attacking scrum 5 metres out. After several resets, they were forced to go expansive.

 

A sumptuous pass from Ford, which missed out at least two players, was pounced upon by replacement Agulla, who scored under the posts to allow his coaches a sigh of relief.

 

 

Tries: Banahan 3, Agulla 

Cons: Ford 3 

Pens: Ford 2

 

Tries: Tulou, Ivaldi 

Con: Paillaugue 

Yellow card: Paillaugue

 

 

Bath: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Sam Burgess, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 George Ford, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Alafoti Fa'osiliva, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Dominic Day 3 David Wilson, 2 Ross Batty, 1 Paul James (captain).

Replacements 16 Rob Webber, 17 Nick Auterac, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Stuart Hooper, 20 David Sisi, 21 Micky Young, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 Horacio Agulla.

 

Montpellier: 15 Pierre Berard 14 Yohann Artru, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Viriviri Nasagavesi 10 Enzo Selponi, 9 Jonathan Pelissie 8 Alex Tulou 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo (captain), 5 Thibaut Privat, 4 Robins Tchale Watchou, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Charles Geli, 1 Na'ama Leleimalefaga. 

Replacements: 16 Mickael Ivaldi, 17 Yvan Watremez, 18 David Attoub, 19 Tom Donnelly, 20 Alexandre Bias, 21 Benoit Paillaugue, 22 Rene Ranger, 23 Benoit Sicart.