Team-by-team Premiership Previews: Bath
BATH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 12: Ben Spencer (r) of Bath is dejected on the final whistle after a TMO decision ruled out a last minute try as Blade Thomson of Scarlets shakes his hand during the Heineken Champions Cup Pool 1 match between Bath Rugby and Scarlets at The Recreation Ground on December 12, 2020 in Bath, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Head coach: Johann van Graan
Captain: Ben Spencer
Ground: The Recreation Ground
Capacity: 14,509
PREDICTED FINISH: 11TH
Johann van Graan, Bath’s new head coach, is not interested in talking about last season. It was the stuff of nightmares: they finished bottom of the table for the first time and suffered a number of embarrassing defeats, not least the 64-0 drubbing at Gloucester that marked the nadir.
The gloom was not impenetrable: young players like Orlando Bailey, Max Ojomoh, below, and Ewan Richards spent considerably more time on the field than they would have but for an injury list that remained high throughout the season and now have something to fall back on.
Van Graan has looked for experience in his recruitment and his first task will be to repair the holes in a defence that was excessively leaky. Does he give young players their heads, or put them on the bench to be used if a game needs chasing? Bailey’s rival at fly-half is Piers Francis, a recruit from Northampton who has played most of his rugby since arriving from New Zealand at centre but wants a go at 10.
Will second row Will Richards be preferred to the Ireland international Quinn Roux, a late signing made after Charlie Ewels suffered a knee injury on England‘s tour to Australia that will keep him out of most, if not all, of the season?
Van Graan’s appointment of Ben Spencer as captain was his first big decision in the role, and Spencer’s apparent consistent and hard-working approach is perhaps an indication of a key element the new boss wants to instill.
“Ben is a fantastic player, but most importantly a fantastic man,” he told the club website.
“He is a highly respected individual in our squad and cares deeply about his team-mates, the support staff and Bath Rugby.
“On the field he is a competitor, leads by example and is a quality communicator, not only through word but via his actions too.
“Ben is consistent in his approach week-by-week and continues to push everyone to be the best version of themselves.”
There will be no relegation again, but van Graan does not see that as a free hand. He will be judged on results and position, meaning victories any old how in the opening weeks of the campaign.
INS AND OUTS
IN: Quinn Roux (Toulon), Niall Annett (Worcester Warriors), Matt Gallagher (Munster), Wesley White (Jersey), Louis Schreuder (Newcastle Falcons), Chris Cloete (Munster), Dave Attwood (Bristol Bears), Piers Francis (Northampton Saints), JJ Tonks (Northampton Saints), Louie Hennessey (Cardiff), GJ van Velze (Tel Aviv Heat), Aranos Coetzee (Free State Cheetahs), Orlando Bailey, Max Ojomoh, Ewan Richards (all Academy)
OUT: Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff), Max Clark (Dragons), Semesa Rokoduguni (Montauban), Valery Morozov (Worcester Warriors), Tian Schoeman (Newcastle Falcons), Danny Cipriani (released) Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers), Jacques du Toit (Zebre), Ollie Fox (Ealing Trailfinders), Harry Casson (released), Ma’afu Fia (Ospreys), Joe Simpson (Gloucester), Will Vaughan, Tom Prydie (both released)
2022-23 SQUAD
Lewis Boyce, Arthur Cordwell, Archie Griffin, Johannes Jonker, Archie Maggs, Beno Obano, D’Arcy Rae, Juan Schoeman, Archie Stanley, Will Stuart, Kieran Verden, Niall Annett, Tom Doughty, Tom Dunn, Jasper Spandler, John Stewart, Dave Attwood, Josh Dingley, Charlie Ewels, Josh McNally, Ewan Richards, Will Spencer, Mike Williams, Abdul-Khalik Akenzua Al Kareem, Josh Bayliss, Chris Cloete, Jaco Coetzee, Thompson Cowan, Richard de Carpentier, Tom Ellis, Mackenzie Graham, Arthur Green, Will Jeanes, Nahum Merigan, Frankie Read, Miles Reid, Ethan Staddon, JJ Tonks, Sam Underhill, Wesley White, Tom Carr-Smith, Max Green, Louis Schreuder, Ben Spencer, Orlando Bailey, Ciaran Donoghue, Piers Francis, Sam Harris, George Worboys, Will Butt, Louie Hennessey, Jonathan Joseph, Max Ojomoh, Will Parry, Cameron Redpath, Jordan Venter, Max Wright, Darren Atkins, Joe Cokanasiga, Matt Gallagher, Gabe Goss, Tom de Glanville, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Ruaridh McConnochie, Will Muir, GJ van Velze, Aranos Coetzee, Quinn Roux, Michael Etete
