'Debut Delight' – Bath head coach Johann van Graan pleased with new signings after pre-season win against Munster

09/02/2024 06:05 AM

Bath began their pre-season campaign this past Saturday, as they took on Munster for an exhibition friendly at the Rec. Bath secured a 24-21 victory, and head coach Johann van Graan was delighted with what he saw from his new signings, as he awarded an assortment of fresh faces their first run-outs in the famous blue, black and white.

Whilst the focus of the fixture was upon the new-coming lock Ross Molony, who arrived from Irish province Leinster, and powerhouse prop Francois van Vyk who joined from Leicester Tigers, it was a hidden gem who shone brightest in this pre-season friendly. Wing Tyler Offiah exploded off the bench at the beginning of the second half, and after just seven minutes of game time became a try-scorer for Bath Rugby.

The son of Rugby League Hall of Famer and former London Wasp Martin Offiah, Tyler scored a stunning solo try, with his flying run along the left touchline capped off with a dive for the cameras. Van Graan was certainly impressed with what he saw from the 18-year-old, and commended the young wing for his efforts in the battle with Munster. The Bath head coach spoke to the media after the match at the Rec, and is excited to see what Offiah will bring to the 2024/25 Premiership season;

“I think, as a coach, you know, you want to set guys up for success. So I selected him with Tom de Glanville and Joe Cokanasiga as a combination today, you know, make it as comfortable as possible for him. My message to him was just go out and enjoy it. And he certainly enjoyed that try in the corner. I’m looking for him to be doing the basics well. And I thought he did the basics pretty well today.”

Van Graan then cast his mind across his new arrivals, who were all key contributors to the opening win of the 2024/25 pre-season series. Giving Molony and van Vyk their due diligence for impressive first performances at the Rec, the South African coach also gave plenty of plaudits to some of his younger academy graduates that took their chances when called upon in the clash with the Irish giants.

“I thought Ross Maloney had a real solid start. Good in the line and good in the loose. I thought Francois (van Vyk) played really well, the front row’s first time that he, Mikey Summerfield and Niall (Annett) have played together.”

I thought some of the younger lads, Tyler Offiah, a special try for him. James Short did a real solid start, Austin Emens with the chase down, he created our first try. James Short, very good for him to get a bite and a special mention to Jasper Spandler, I think, to come in after four minutes in the unfortunate circumstances of John’s (Stewart) injury, I thought Jasper did really well first time he’s played at this level of that amount of time.”

As van Graan discussed, Bath were hindered by a significant injury just four minutes into the match, as hooker John Stewart was withdrawn from play. After a nasty coming together with Munster’s red-brick wall of defence, the front row was promptly replaced and was seen on crutches along the touch-line in latter stages of the match.

In Stewart’s place was Jasper Spandler, with the young hooker earning his blue, black and white stripes for his first senior Bath cap, and marked the occasion with a try and an assist. Van Graan provided an albeit brief injury update to the status of Stewart’s time off, with more information set to be provided in the coming days.

“Look, obviously, we will see what the scans here, but if you come off after four minutes, that’s pretty loose in terms of this angle. So we’ll take our time to report that.”

Whilst Stewart looks like he will play no part in Bath’s upcoming pre-season Tests, the blue, black and whites have two fixtures coming up this weekend. Van Graan is excited to see the whole squad involved this coming weekend, as Bath travel across the Severn Bridge for a battle with Cardiff on Saturday, before hosting leading Championship outfit Ealing Trailfinders the next day back home at the Rec.

Van Graan ran a similarly intensive weekend in last season’s Premiership preparations, which saw his side take on Edinburgh and Exeter Chiefs across back to back days. Of course the squad will be split in half for the fixtures, with van Graan tasked with travelling back and forth from the Welsh capital in time for the two matches.

“With that double header coming up, I think, pretty similar to what we did last year in the Edinburgh game, and then the next day we played Exeter here, trying to give everybody in the squad an opportunity in those games. So one of the teams will be a very young team.

“Last year we said as a group, how good is it to play over two days. We’re one of the the only clubs to do it again, which in the space of 24 hours we played two games. That means you could have at least 46 guys playing. We’ll be potentially light in certain positions, but we’re going to get everybody in the squad are having a go over the week.”

“‘Stand up and fight’ that’s Munster’s mantra. Obviously we respect them so much. When we agreed to this game, we knew that it’s going to be a test, first out and two very proud clubs. They had opportunities to win it, and we had opportunities to win it. So I thought we played with a a very good spirit to be on top.”

Following this week’s double header of action across Wales and upon home soil, the Bath squad then jet out to Spain to finalise their pre-season preparations with a destination camp. Whilst van Graan may not know the precise location of where he is flying, the Bath head coach has planned the itinerary to the last detail, with plenty of team building exercises expected amongst the hot weather training to improve the squad’s fitness in the run in to the new Premiership season.

“So it’s pretty similar to year one (2022/23 Premiership pre-season), when we went to Jersey as a group. Last year we went to Falmouth. So we’re going to Spain with 42 players and management. There’ll be some players staying behind. It’s about planning for the year ahead. All of the internationals have been back this week, but Thomas (du Toit) obviously, is with South Africa.

“So it’s the first time that we can go and spend some time together, train in a different environment. But also, you know, focus on what’s ahead, which starts with Northampton in the Premiership and La Rochelle in the Champions Cup.”

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