Meehan demands improvements
Bath head coach Steve Meehan says his side have to improve in a number of areas if they are going to win the Premiership this season.
Bath started the season in a positive manner by beating Leeds 32-16 away from home to put a first win on the board. However, it seems that Meehan is far from happy with the way the team played at points during the match.
Sam Vesty stole the show on his league debut for the club. The ex-Leicester man rattled off 17 points during the game and emerged as the most likely player to take all of the club's kicks this season.
Meehan believes there are one or two fine areas that the club can focus on and get better over the course of the year. However, no follower of Bath will argue even if the side wins every game playing poor rugby and winning narrowly.
Areas to improve
Bath seemed a little sluggish early on in the game and it's important this balance is addressed. The club cannot let better sides have an easy start and it has to play the first ten minutes as intensely as the last ten minutes.
The team has to make more of the set-plays they are given. Bath wasted line-outs and penalty advantages at various points during the game. These are often golden chances to pile the pressure on the opposition and it's something the side has to work on.
Bath's players must move the ball much more quickly. When a side is moving the ball quite slowly, it's easier for the opposition defence to read which way the ball is going and they are able to account for this. There were not enough short and fast passes, but this will develop over one or two games.
Meehan said: "Our set-piece must get better but when your work ethic is high and you're determined to perform, you've still got a chance of winning. From an attitude point of view we were very happy. Matt [Banahan] is a big powerful player and I think he's going to develop into an outside centre. He's got great technique and a great offloading game."
Winning ugly
Every side that wants to win the Premiership is going to have to win ugly at some point in a season. This is when a side does not necessarily play well but does enough to win the game and get points on the board.
Bath is going to be a very happy rugby club if the team wins the Premiership but play unattractive rugby all season long. However, this is unlikely because the club can take enough from this game to suggest they will blow one or two sides away at home this year.
Meehan added: "We felt very strong at half-time and the chat in the changing room was very positive. We were disappointed in the first half that we made so many chances but turned the ball over too easily. That was really the crux of it and in the second half a different Bath side came out. We knew that would happen because they are past masters at turning games around."
Betting advice
If you were thinking of backing Bath to lift the title by the end of this season then very little from this game would have changed your mind. There are improvements to be made but Bath has a very good team and everyone seems to know their role in this team.
Sam Vesty looks a stunning bet to be top scorer at the club this season. He will score points in every single game in the kicking position.
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