Joy for ex-Munster coach Van Graan as Bath complete treble
Victory completed a treble for Bath after lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup and European Challenge Cup and rounded off a dominant season in which they finished runaway leaders in the Premiership table.
Tries from Thomas Du Toit and Max Ojomoh, plus 13 points from the boot of Finn Russel,l edged Bath over the line despite a spirited fightback from the Tigers.
Leicester outscored their opponents by three tries to two but left themselves a mountain to climb at 20-7 down with just over 10 minutes to go.
Despite a 29-year wait to become champions, Bath were strong favourites after finishing 11 points clear of second-placed Leicester in the table and winning 43-15 when the two sides met just four weeks ago.
However, nerves got the better of the west country side early on and Leicester took advantage to score first when Jack van Poortvliet touched down after a driving maul carried the Tigers towards the Bath line.
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Russell was wayward from the tee in his last visit to Twickenham, which cost Scotland the Calcutta Cup against England in the Six Nations back in February.
But the mercurial number 10 was back to his best before jetting off to join the British and Irish Lions tour.
Russell immediately reduced the arrears with a penalty before Du Toit barrelled his way over to give Bath the lead.
Another Russell penalty with the last kick of the first half was scant reward for Bath's dominance as Leicester survived unscathed from Julian Montoya's 10 minutes in the sin bin.
A moment of magic from Russell proved to be decisive when he intercepted Handre Pollard's pass midway inside his own half and galloped within sight of the line before flinging the ball inside for Ojomah to walk in between the posts.
Guy Pepper had another score for Bath ruled out by a video review for a knock-on as they threatened to run riot.
Instead, they were made to survive a nerve-shredding few seconds after an unlikely Leicester fightback.
Solomone Kata touched down and Pollard converted to reduce the deficit to six.
Another Russell penalty edged out Bath's advantage once more before remarkable strength from Emeka Ilione to cross the line and a Pollard conversion cut the gap to two points.
Bath, though, held out to cap a remarkable return to the top of the English game for a sleeping giant under South African coach Johaan van Graan.
Just three years ago they finished bottom of the Premiership.
After missing out in the final to Northampton in an agonising 25-21 defeat in last year's final, nearly three decades of hurt have come to an end.
– © AFP 2025
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RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
Linda Djougang: I was googling 'what is rugby?'
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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Linda Djougang: 'We're not going into this World Cup as underdogs'
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Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Extra.ie
40 years of Irish rugby failure leave no room for sentiment
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This country's greatest player Brian O'Driscoll played up until 2014, just a year out from the World Cup, and, as a result, Ireland did not have a settled midfield combination when it mattered in 2015 – a situation New Zealand would never have allowed to happen. Brian O'Driscoll celebrates with the Six Nations trophy in 2014. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan For all their contributions to the cause, there is no point in Bundee Aki (35), James Lowe (33) or Finlay Bealham (33) blocking the path of younger players in November if they are considered unlikely to still be in consideration in 2027. The likes of Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Beirne and Tadhg Furlong are also well into their 30s but these are hugely influential leaders within the Ireland squad and there is precedent for corralling an experienced core to backbone a successful World Cup campaign. England remain the only northern hemisphere side to have won the World Cup and in 2003 they got there on the back of the nous and resolve of the likes of Martin Johnson, Neil Back, Jason Leonard and Mike Catt, who were all well into their fourth decade at the time. England remain the only northern hemisphere side to have won the World Cup. Pic: Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images With careful management, Ireland can do the same with their key veterans, as long as there is plenty of exposure given to younger alternatives to ensure that when Australia 2027 rolls around, Ireland have proven cover in all positions – the key ingredient that's been most consistently absent in previous World Cup failures. However you feel about the Lions in general, and the 2025 tour in particular, this victory represents another landmark achievement for Andy Farrell. Since 2020, Farrell has won two Six Nations titles, three Triple Crowns, the Grand Slam, a historic series in New Zealand, the world coach of the year award in 2023 and now a Lions series. It is a staggering roll call of achievement that already sets Farrell up as one of the finest coaches rugby union has seen. Getting Ireland to their first World Cup semi-final is the only gap yet to be filled and, with the Lions firmly in the rear-view mirror, every action Farrell takes between now and 2027 should be taken with that one knockout game in mind. We are looking at 40 years of failure – there is no room for sentiment.
