Spencer: One win can change everything for us
BRENT Janse van Rensburg has started getting to grips with Bath‘s defensive problems as the West Country club looks to secure its first victory of the season against Gloucester at the Recreation Ground.
Bath have lost 11 matches out of 11 in all competitions this season and are marooned at the foot of the Premiership.
A recent review conducted by Edward Griffiths, who starts work next week as the club’s chairman, concluded a defence coach was needed and Van Rensburg, right, was promptly summoned from South Africa.
“Brent has come in this week and shown us a new direction in defence,” said scrumhalf Ben Spencer, who was injured early in the opening match at Sale and was out for two months. “There is a bit to learn but he will certainly add value to our game.
“Gloucester are a good side and their attack has been impressive this season. We are going to have to be bang on the money in defence and while it will take time to get used to some of Brent’s ideas, we have to be fully committed into buying into them and improving.”
The 29-year-old Spencer arrived at Bath two seasons ago from Saracens where it was rare to lose one match, never mind go on a losing streak.
Saracens were beaten seven times in a row in the 2017-18 campaign, shipping 46 points at home to Clermont Auvergne, before winning at Leicester over Christ- mas and resuming normal service.
“I remember that block of games,” said Spencer. “It was a rough period, but one win changes everything and it is the same now. Your mindset becomes different and one victory goes a long way.
“We have spoken a lot about how you are never as good or as bad as people say you are. We have had back luck with injuries and have been unlucky in a number of matches, but if there were other games we did not deserve to win.
“It was tough watching when I was out for eight weeks, but we have worked hard in training and I hope the wins start coming after Christmas. One in the derby would be a good start.”
