A pair of West Country derbies made for a gripping weekend of Gallagher Premiership action for our South West sides.
Bristol Bears hosted Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate in the curtain-twitcher on Friday night, as the visitors firmly put their hands up as title contenders with a 50-14 victory that humbled their regional rivals, who were quite simply outclassed.
Gloucester travelled south to The Rec in the league’s most fierce derby, fighting off a spirited yet customary second-half Bath comeback for a 21-17 win that sees bragging rights once again remain with George Skivington’s men, who haven’t been defeated by the Blue, Black and White since February of last year.
Rugby reporter Nathan Russell gives his verdict on what was an jam-packed weekend of engrossing derbies as he selects his West Country team of the week.
15. Matt Gallagher (Bath)
Seeing the full-back blood-stained and beaten at the full-time whistle having given his all summed up everything that is great about rugby – there is no greater honour than having nothing left to give at the end of a game.
Busy all game, at times emulating the out-for-the-season Will Muir with his raw talent at forcing tacklers to fall off him leading him to a monstrous eight beaten defenders on the day. Carried like a trojan, with 15 runs to his name as he got his side on the front foot.
14. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath)
If he didn’t have the number 14 on his back, you’d never believe he was a winger.
Johann van Graan evidently has organised much of his attacking structure around Cokanasiga’s inhuman carrying capabilities, with the big man accumulating a colossal 124 metres on the day, while beating six defenders as he racked up the yards post-contact.
Each bruising collision triggered a groan across the Rec, as the ‘winger’ put in his finest performance in blue, black and white. Undeniable in his current form.
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath)
It should come as a surprise to absolutely no-one that signing Ollie Lawrence (regardless of how long for) may have been a moderately good move on Bath’s behalf.
Brought his traditional bowling ball like qualities, humbling tacklers with his sheer power and plenty of metres post-contact and eased some of Bath’s long-term breakdown woes with two turnovers to his name; oh how a versatile midfielder has been yearned for.
With his long-term services confirmed after signing a contract at the Somerset club earlier this week, management should absolutely capitalise on his gain-line capabilities, which will allow his more playmaker-esque midfield partners such as Cam Redpath and Max Ojomoh to flourish.
12. Mark Atkinson (Gloucester)
When he’s on fire the centre is absolutely unstoppable.
His deft touches and offloads are such a wonderful weapon in Gloucester’s offensive arsenal, and were put to full use as the Cherry and White advanced up the field.
With the Bath defence subdued with preventing Atkinson from flicking a wise offload to supporting runners as he ran square to the line following a set-piece, space was allowed to emerge elsewhere on the field and enabled Matias Alemanno to cut inside and go over for his second.
Defensively reliable with an impressive collection of 13 tackles as he stood up to the challenge for a compelling clash with Bath’s exciting midfield.
Was not fully aware of his cross-field kicking capabilities either – some people really can do it all.
11. Olly Woodburn (Exeter)
In the form of his life.
I shook my head in resignation as Henry Slade’s ball looped in Woodburn’s direction out wide with Piers O’Conor closing in, but the winger bought time with a false step to the inside, before expertly riding the tackle, and keeping his hands free to touch the ball down in the corner for a breath-taking finish that resembled that of Cadan Murley’s last week.
His second was a simpler, yet slightly more acrobatic score that took Harry Randall’s challenge out of the game, with Exeter looking as though they were enjoying every moment with the ball in hand.
Bristol were pretty flimsy in the might of Chiefs’ lethal attack, with Woodburn beating a team-leading 6 men and handling prolifically.
10. Adam Hastings (Gloucester)
The Scottish international really is coming into his own – there isn’t a better rounded fly-half in the South West.
One of the most intelligent 10s in the Premiership, showing an astute ability to select the right option to create space.
Often a good indicator of a fly-half’s acumen is an ability to know when to take a step back, and with Mark Atkinson barging his way through the defence at will, Hastings’ willingness to surrender first receiving duties to the 12 allowed the Gloucester attack to flourish.
17 tackles is the highest any 10 has made all season, with Hastings contributing wholeheartedly to the tireless second half defensive effort as Gloucester survived Bath’s onslaught.
9. Jack Maunder (Exeter)
Produced a masterclass in box kicking with the Bears receivers struggling under the heat as the pressure mounted. His pace enabled Exeter to place significant anguish upon the defence which they simply could not match.
Prevented a certain try with a superb last-ditch tackle on Harry Randall that forced a knock-on.
1. Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester)
Despite some strong carrying and scrummaging Ellis Genge had something of an off-night on Friday, so he doesn’t retain his almost customary slot in place of Rapava-Ruskin, who performed marvellously in the ferocious West Country derby.
Packing down opposite Will Stuart is not the easiest of tasks, but the Georgian’s set-piece was reliable, which ultimately was where Gloucester won the game.
A giant 18 tackles as the prop continues as one of the unsung heroes of this exciting Gloucester squad.
2. Santiago Socino (Gloucester)
Hard to deny Tom Dunn who once again led Bath inspiringly throughout the West Country derby, but Socino’s ability in hitting his targets at the line-out built the foundations upon which Gloucester secured the result.
Steered the rolling maul to perfection as he touched the ball down for his side’s second try, and tackled relentlessly off the ball.
The options Gloucester have at hooker are honestly absurd, and positively terrifying.
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol)
A victory Bristol can take from Friday night was their control of the scrum, with Sinckler using some well-earned expertise to out-manoeuvre Alec Hepburn once they were packed down, winning a couple of penalties in the set-piece early as he recovered well from a poor game in the Newcastle Falcons defeat last week.
Busy as a carrier in the first half, and tallied a decent nine tackles in his 57 minutes.
4. Jonny Gray (Exeter)
Clutch. Made the cruelty of snatching away attacking opportunities for Bristol look like art, with a lineout steal on his own five-metre line springing to mind.
Double figures in both carries and tackles indicates his ambition to fatigue opposition sides with absolute crunchers.
Menacing in the breakdown and received a deserved man of the match award from BT Sport.
5. Matias Alemanno (Gloucester)
Brought the fire from the Rugby Championship like many other of his compatriots, was off to the races from the second Tom Foley first put the whistle to his lips.
Got his side going in style, scoring off the near-invincible driving maul that George Skivington has drilled into the Gloucester psyche to a stunning effect.
The set-piece was near flawless today, with the Argentina international flourishing as he placed his force firmly behind Santiago Socino for the Cherry and White’s second.
Read the game well to cut inside three defenders for his double, giving his side just enough to hold off the inevitable Bath second-half comeback.
Menaced the Blue, Black and White lineout to prevent too much momentum from building.
15 tackles isn’t a bad total either – the Gloucester pack truly is back to full strength.
6. Ruan Ackermann (Gloucester)
Bailed out his side with that turnover as Bath were on the march for the match-winning score, I’m sure had the opportunity arisen many of the visiting fans would’ve kissed him after that heroic clutch play.
His yellow card for a side entry was put firmly in the rear-view mirror, as the South African returned with breakdown supremacy and shuddering collisions, with 12 carries and 22 tackles to his name on Saturday.
He’s English-qualified by the way, if anyone was wondering.
7. Lewis Ludlow (Gloucester)
Before Lewis Ludlow could walk, he could tackle.
Didn’t take him long to acclimatise, with surgeries forcing him to wait until Saturday for his Gallagher Premiership return.
Made more tackles than any other player in a single game so far this season in the Gallagher Premiership, with a Herculean 27.
If that’s not enough for you, he was also a force in the lineout, stealing from Bath’s vulnerable set-piece three times – which ultimately won Gloucester the game.
8. Richard Capstick (Exeter)
An absolute livewire, every time he has the ball in hand you have to keep a close eye.
Found himself out wide as Harvey Skinner walloped a cross-field kick to his channel, allowing the back-rower to demonstrate some awareness to step inside of Toby Fricker before sliding over the white wash.
Capstick put his feet to good use, staying standing at will as he racked up the post-contact metres.
Made a game-leading 20 tackles as Bristol Bears were time and time again halted, with Chiefs making it look as easy as taking candy from a baby.
