As Australia and South Africa do battle at Lord’s in the World Test Championship final, an Australian coach and a South African coach take their teams to Twickenham for the playoff final.
Both coaches are relatively new to their current surroundings, and one, Michael Cheika, is only on a flying visit to the East Midlands. Johann van Graan, on the other hand, isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, unless something untoward happens.
History Repeats
Bath and Leicester have played each other a whopping 209 times! The West Country team has won on 75 occasions. History might favour the Tigers, but Bath have won the last two meetings. When the sides met in May, the Blue, Black, and Whites ran out resounding victors, 43-15.
That meeting took place at The Recreation Ground back on the 18th of May. Despite the lopsided scoreline, that game was a hard-fought, close affair.
Both teams had 50% possession during the game, and both teams won 17 lineouts. Bath shaded the territory battle, with 51%, but conceded more penalties. Van Graan’s team conceded 12 to Bath’s 9, but they both received yellow cards for high tackles.
With Bath looking to complete a historic treble this season, you might think this game is a foregone conclusion. And with Leicester lucky to even be in the final after Freddie Steward could (and probably should) have conceded a penalty to cost them the semi-final, Bath fans will be expecting a relaxing afternoon.
The Protagonists
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Cheika has one significant advantage over van Graan: the Aussie has coached at Twickenham on 14 different occasions! Graan’s only visit came 12 months ago when his Bath team lost 25-21 to Northampton.
The Antipodean Tigers team has already visited West London this season, drawing 34-34 with Harlequins. That game was marked by a 78th-minute try by Dan Cole that Handre Pollard converted to rescue a result.
What to Expect
With the recent meeting fresh in the memory, you can be sure that Bath Leicester are going to be determined to right some wrongs.
After Beno Obano’s red card played a significant role in Bath’s 2024 final loss, discipline will be key this time out. But with Karl Dickson on the whistle and Ian Tempest as TM,O only serious penalty offences are going to attract any attention.
If form is any guide to success, then Leicester are in pole position to take the trophy home. The Tigers had to battle until the end against a stubborn Sale team to make the final. Bath only had to stay within touching distance of a Bristol team who blew themselves out in the first 45 minutes.
While Bath have attempted to rotate their squad somewhat, they are nearing the end of a season that has involved three long cup runs and winning 14 of their 18 league games.
With history, form and the extra motivation of the head coach and fly-half departing at the end of the game, it isn’t easy to see past a Tigers win.
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