Russell should overcome 'cramp' for final
Bath fly-half Finn Russell should be fit for the Premiership final next Saturday after leaving the field with cramp near the end of their semi-final win against Bristol. The Scotland and British and Irish Lions number 10 went off limping in the final five minutes at The Rec after kicking 14 points in their 34-20 victory.Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said he had no reason to believe Russell would not be able to play when they take on either Leicester or Sale for the title at Twickenham in a week's time. "He's in a bit of pain, he's got multiple parts of his body cramping – it's only cramp at this stage," said Van Graan."He put in some effort. I thought his goal kicking was phenomenal, the chases that he put in. He'll be fine, but he's still cramping in the changing room as we speak."It was amazing how many guys on both sides went down with cramp. It just showed the effort that both teams put in. We worked incredibly hard to get into this position, to get back to Twickenham."
Despite being 13-6 down at half-time against their West Country neighbours, Bath scored four tries during the second half to stretch away from Bristol and reach their second successive Premiership final. A year ago they fell agonisingly short against Northampton, but they will return to London as overwhelming favourites to claim their first league title since 1996 and with a treble up for grabs after also winning the Premiership Rugby Cup and European Challenge Cup this season.Van Graan said his side will "love" every minute of the next week as they build-up to the match."A final is once-off," he said. "[I was] speaking to the coaches earlier today (Friday), we had a quiet moment like if you don't come through today that's it, the season's done and you fall short."If you go to the final you know next Saturday afternoon at whatever time, you're either going to win the Premiership or you're going to lose in the final. "That's the reality of sport but it's one more week and we'll absolutely love it because ultimately if you don't love days like today and weeks like next week then get something else to do."
Bath took 'motivation' from Bristol
As well as being a semi-final, Friday night's match had the added spice of being a derby and the extra feeling of expectation was palpable in the atmosphere from both fans and the players on the pitch. Bristol came into the match with the superior head-to-head record - having won five of their previous six Premiership meetings with Bath - and Van Graan said the commentary during the days before had helped give his side "motivation".Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam had spoken about the money Bath had spent, external compared to the Bears on players, and also about the Recreation Ground ticket prices and lack of roof, external."I thought the people of Bath were amazing tonight," added Van Graan. "I think I reconfirmed a very valuable lesson in my life this week, two ears and one mouth – don't speak too much and do your talking on the pitch, and our team certainly did our talking on the pitch. And they did it for the city. "We certainly got a lot of motivation from Bristol and it's amazing the more people give the more we got."
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These kind of encounters are only ever about the first goal. Get it early and it's then a question of how many. It's when the minutes roll by without securing it that managers start to fret. Clarke only had to wait four minutes to breathe a sigh of relief. Robertson's corner from the right was only half cleared by Maximilian Goppel. Miller didn't need an invitation to shoot. His strike rebounded off the unfortunate Kenny Kindle. Adams took a steadying touch before rifling the ball home. It had taken a year since the Tartan Army last saw a striker score for the side. Adams might already have been a provider. Hirst's movement bought him space to get his head on his partner's cross only for a deflection to take it narrowly wide. McGinn had cut an irritable figure on Friday. He was much more at ease in the sunshine of Vaduz. A drop of the shoulder led to him bounding down the left and crossing. Ferguson was only inches away. Scotland weren't to wait much longer. It was a goal to please any coach, the appetite of Miller to press high the key to ensuring Liechtenstein's attempt to play out from the back came unstuck. Keeper Benjamin Buchel's goal kick asked a lot of Nicolas Hasler. Miller got touch tight on the edge of the box to dispossess him and feed Adams. The Torino man applied a composed finish for his eighth international goal. Scotland could have scored any number after that. Another excellent pass by Miller freed up McGinn down the left. He turned inside his opponent and audaciously went for goal. Buchel saved unconventionally with his left hand. Liechtenstein offered no surprises. They were competitive, dogged but limited. Their only threat in the first half came when Kindle danced away from McGinn, cut inside and let fly. Still his shot didn't force Doohan to make a meaningful save. With the job done at the interval, Clarke's only concern would have been a drop in tempo thereafter. Commendably, his players maintained their levels. Having scored at the start of the first period, they repeated the trick after the turnaround. McGinn's ambitious strike beat substitute keeper Justin Ospelt but not the post. Anthony Ralston fired the loose ball across goal. Adams flicked it on. Lurking at the far post, Hirst made a tricky finish look simple. A pleasing night for Clarke afforded debuts to Josh Doig, Andy Irving, Kieron Bowie and Connor Barron. The run-outs from the bench for Tommy Conway and Nathan Patterson were just as welcome. Doig's story in Italy has been somewhat overshadowed by the exploits of others. But in winning Serie B with Sassuolo, the former Hibs full-back also arrived here with a spring in his step. He looked desperate to mark his first appearance with a goal and twice went close. The changes helped to ensure the game didn't peter out. The fourth arrived in the final minute of time added on. Barron's ball down the channel held up perfectly. Conway's pace allowed him to reach it and put in a deep cross. Adams' header completed the perfect hat-trick and rounded off a fine night's work.
