Johann van Graan's magic is there for all to see
REACTION: Bath boss Johann van Graan said he felt “chuffed” after his side cemented their position as English Premiership leaders by defeating Harlequins 47-28 on Saturday.
The hosts surged into a 26-0 lead at the Recreation Ground and eventually scored seven tries in total, including one from centre Max Ojomoh.
Bath’s Finn Russell, meanwhile, bolstered his case to be selected for the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour of Australia by starring in open play, with the Scotland flyhalf also landing six conversions.
Bath, last season’s beaten Premiership finalists, are now 10 points clear at the top of the table but Van Graan knows league position will only count for so much given the title is decided by play-off games involving the top four at the end of the regular campaign.
“We’re very chuffed about the five points,” said Van Graan. “This was a very good Quins team that had just beaten Saracens.”
“In terms of the bigger picture, we got the five points which puts us in a good position. But as I have said on many occasions we will only see at the back end of May where we are at.”
Elsewhere, centre Seb Atkinson and England flyer Christian Wade both scored hat-tricks as Gloucester beat Bristol 53-28.
The 33-year-old Wade’s treble was a record seventh Premiership hat-trick, one more than that managed by retired England wing Chris Ashton.
Gloucester scored nine tries in total as the Cherry and Whites moved into third place, just behind Bristol.
George Skivington, the Gloucester coach, reckoned Atkinson had done his international prospects no harm given England supremo Steve Borthwick was among those watching on at Kingsholm.
“Seb is still a relative unknown in terms of what he can do on the field and I hope Steve can find a place for him [in the England squad],” said Skivington. “It might have been a very good time for Seb to get that hat-trick with Steve in the crowd.”
Saturday’s other Premiership match saw Exeter edge Newcastle 17-15 thanks to Greg Fisilau’s last-minute try in a basement battle at Sandy Park.
Defeat left Newcastle firmly rooted to the bottom of the standings but frustrated Falcons chief Steve Diamond accused the officials of not spotting what he thought was an illegal clear-out in the build-up to Fisilau’s score.
“There was a clear act of foul play in the try and I don’t know why the television match official doesn’t at least have a look at it,” said Diamond.
