Van Graan identifies key change in Bath’s win over Sale
REACTION: Johann van Graan was upbeat after seeing his side return to winning ways with a comfortable 36-28 bonus-point victory over South African-led Sale at the Rec.
The Sale Sharks captain is Ernst van Rhyn, who hails from Paarl.
After three consecutive defeats, the home side were greatly improved, playing with far more speed and efficiency than in recent weeks to entertain the sell-out crowd with a number of well-created tries.
Joe Cokanasiga scored two of them, Henry Arundell, Tom de Glanville and Louie Hennessey the others, with Finn Russell converting four and adding a penalty.
Nathan Jibulu, Tom O’Flaherty, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Elia Canakaivata scored Sale’s tries, all of which George Ford converted.
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Bath director of rugby Van Graan said: “Last week we didn’t take our opportunities, but we were much more clinical today.
“We had a good balance to our game, with Finn (Russell) expertly using the space out wide against a big physical side.
“We were really positive throughout and closed the game out well.
“I’m not really concerned about their losing bonus-point as we picked up our five. It’s 10 from our last two home games and I’m happy with a total of 16 from our first batch of fixtures.”
Bath’s back rower Miles Reid had an outstanding game.
He said: “We knew the breakdown would be a vital area especially with the two Currys in their line-out and I thought we were on the right side with a number of refereeing calls going our way.
“It’s very rare that we lose three in a row so to win today was massive. The group is very tight so we knew three defeats wouldn’t break us and we would come back stronger.
“We really gelled today as a team with forwards and backs combining well.”
Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson was buoyed by his side’s efforts.
He said: “I’m really impressed with aspects of our game as we had physicality in spades and showed much better intention to run the ball.
“We created opportunities but left points out there as our execution wasn’t good enough. We were 19-7 down at half-time, but it could have easily between 21-19.
“We fell to some sucker punches and there were big momentum swings but despite being 36-14 down, we wrestled something back from nothing to earn a bonus point.
“However we weren’t good enough to win as they were more dangerous than us in the wide channels and they won the aerial battles, but I truly believe we are not far off and will get where we to be in the end.”
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