At the end of another turbulent week for English rugby there was a collective need for some wintry cheer beside the River Avon. Warm it was not but there was enough crackle and bite to this West Country tussle to hold everyone’s attention right up until the final quarter when a free-flowing Bath properly cut loose.
The second of two tries for the energetic Alfie Barbeary helped to put the icing on an increasingly productive home performance which should also encourage the England management as they look ahead to 2024. Sam Underhill, in particular, was a reliable menace at the breakdown for Bath, and currently looks the obvious replacement for the sadly injured Tom Curry at openside.
