LEARNINGS FOR NEXT SEASON. SEASON REVIEW CONTINUED.
Prendergast: attack?
By PG Tips
June 29 2026
Last week I reviewed Bath’s 2026 performance. Most responses to the question “was it failure, frustration or flatline?” seemed to opt for failure, though some optimists tended to suggest a plateau or ‘flatline’ effect. Many anticipated and have already expressed the points I had drafted for this second part of the review “So, where do we go from here?” As supporter debate continues, Van Graan has plenty to ponder while on his holidays, that’s for sure.
His first challenge will be how to maintain forward dominance post Thomas Du Toit and Alfie Barbeary. Of the two, Du Toit will be the harder to replace. Will Stuart is a deserved Test Lion and Tom Dunn seemingly indestructible in his mid-thirties. The rest of the front row though are either squad level players, young and inexperienced or both. Given his commitment to rotation and player management, van Graan is unlikely to overburden Stuart, who will need gradual return from months of injury. The answer may be as much in the back five of the pack, beefing up the whole eight to maintain the scrum strength of the past two seasons. That itself brings additional selection challenges. The missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle remains the hefty lock mentioned last week. It’s probably too early for Opoku-Gyamfi to be that man on a regular basis so with only 3 specialist locks named in the senior squad (Richards is listed as back row), van Graan will need to rotate Opoku-Gyamfi, Jeanes and Richards carefully with his 3 frontline second rows to keep them fresh. Hopefully the longer-term plan still allows for an ‘enforcer’ type post RWC 27.
Or will he opt for a different approach, both to the scrummage and game plan overall?
That would appear to be the way to make up for the departure of Alfie Barbeary. Bath have several strong options for No8: recruit Dan du Preez, Arthur Green, Miles Reid and, hopefully Jaco Coetzee. Of those only Coetzee can be described as a like-for -like Barbeary replacement. All are strong on the carry and in post contact metres, but not necessarily as effective at tying in numbers of opponents with their charges. Could next season see more dynamic moves from the 8, combining off the base with halfbacks and the blindside wing?
That brings me on to attack. We are yet to learn who will succeed Martin Gleeson, although Mike Prendergast of Munster is widely rumoured to be the man. Can he hit the ground running and revitalise Bath’s backline fortunes, bringing the best out of a talented set of threequarters? The need for variety has already been mentioned, also for better and swifter decision making. Much has been made of the failure to drop for goal in the final push of the semi. The argument overlooks the fact that Bath did not have a drop goal specialist on the pitch. Should van Graan have insisted the players practice as Gareth Southgate did to cure the England football squad’s fear of penalties? Or should a passing option have been used instead to outflank a narrow defence? That is history, but the future will probably bring similar challenges and Bath will need to be ready.
Which reveals another issue. Over reliance on Spencer and Russell. Neither was on the pitch in that last 5 minutes and one expects the result would be different if either had been there. Spencer though looked fatigued after a heavy season leading and, occasionally carrying, the team. Russell, injured for the final rounds, exceeded the recommend maximum games last season and bore a large national and club burden this year. More time for Carr-Smith, van Der Linde, Carreras and Donoghue is necessary -to keep all fresh and to prepare them for crunch moments when Ben and Finn are not available.
Outside the halfbacks there are others who should be ready to step up and earn more game time. Kirk, Verden, Griffin, Richards, Cowan and Timmins up front, Emmens, Offiah and Winters behind. Hopefully we will see a refreshed and more potent Ollie Lawrence. Jaco Coetzee, if fit, would be like a new signing. Of more established players Ted Hill, who has been comparatively quiet this season can hopefully rediscover the form of last year after impressing in England’s recent friendly in Vannes. Henry Arundell, who is electric in attack if given space needs to develop his game with better off the ball movement.
In Bath’s “golden age” under Jack Rowell constant refresh and tactical tweaks kept the squad ahead of rivals. Each cup final seemed to have a new hero: wing David Trick taking over as an unlikely match winning goal kicker for instance or midfielder John Palmer starring at fullback, locks Redman and Haag sparking victory with try doubles. This rota of “star billing” came not from a wait for a new messiah but from within. Can we expect something like that from Johann van Graan? I believe we can.
One view is that “never too high, never too low” is a millstone hampering the team. I interpret it differently. Rather than “the tepid bath of mediocrity” I think the meaning is when winning (as in 2025) “don’t get up ourselves and carried away with success” or when missing out “embrace the need to improve instead of wallowing in doom and gloom.”
For van Graan the response will almost certainly come from the collective efforts of the squad: a series of incremental improvements all round. In that Bath have several jewels that can contribute to a brighter sparkle. Players described by a visiting poster last week as “not good enough starters at the top level” -Dunn, Ewels, Reid, Underhill, Cokanasiga. Many other coaches would give their eye teeth for men of such quality, who by their effort and example can bring the best out of the many talented youngsters pushing for their moment in the spotlight.
If these veterans still have the hunger, with the refresh of a new attack coach and the drive of a few drops of new blood, we can anticipate another season of excitement and yes- hopes of success.
COME ON YOU BATH!
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I think most of the club are on holiday right now.
PG
I expect the announcement of an attack coach this week as July starts and with it new contracts tend to come into force in the Premiership. That is provided the communications team aren’t on holiday.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:06:29:19:09:18 by dcsh.
Quote:shipwrecked
Mike Prendergast should indeed "be the man" PG but it is strange that no announcement has been made. As previously stated team selection will undoubtably be influenced by the influence of the new attack coach depending on whether he wants a mobile or power based pack for example. I really think the club should make an announcement soon.
I’m happy to wait for the club to get the right man and announce it then. I still have dreams that LB will return after England’s disastrous summer. Really not convinced that Prendergast is “the man”.
Quote:dcsh
“The rest of the front row though are either squad level players, young and inexperienced or both.” I think that is a bit hard on Beno Obano, but perhaps him aside could be fair.
I would hope that Jamie Bhatti is better than a squad level player - he needs to be ready for starts.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
I have little doubt that in many matches Bhatti, Tuipulotu, Frost, Sela and Griffin will be fine and even at times dominant. However, can they be relied on to dominate Leicester, Exeter or even Saracens in the scrum?
PG
Quote:P G Tips
Yes dsch and Matt, I phrased that clumsily. Obano is of course quality, but behind the likely first choice trio- Obano, Dunn, Stuart, we have good backups & promising youth, but not the level of power and experience offered by Du Toit and Van Wyk.
I have little doubt that in many matches Bhatti, Tuipulotu, Frost, Sela and Griffin will be fine and even at times dominant. However, can they be relied on to dominate Leicester, Exeter or even Saracens in the scrum?
PG
I am hoping that in the set piece there won't be too much between VW and Bhatti. I would also imagine that there isn't a huge amount in the scrum between Dunn and Kepu (who is a stocky, strong lad).
Sela is a huge talent but I think that he has proven on a few occasions that he isn't quite ready yet - but then in relation to Tigers a 35 year old Mako Vunipola isn't going to be anything like Nicky Smith. Sela certainly won't be dominating Rhys Carré but then I suspect nobody will.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Quote:Treble
We could be w/out Stuart for the AI's and 6N windows, Griffin may be with Wales as might Kepu/Sela with England. Bhatti has been on the Scotland squad fringes for a while too. It's a potential nightmare scenario...
Could be a 6N issue but I would be amazed if Stuart is involved in the AIs. Then is Stuart for the 6N is back I would be amazed is Sela and him are both picked.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Quote:shipwrecked
I am reminded of WT's point about physical development of front row forwards being slower, Griffin, Sela and Tuipolotu fall into that category (and a few more elsewhere) in a couple of years they will all be formidable.
Yes, mind you Griffin is 25 next month. Sela and Tuipolotu are certainly babies in front row terms.
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Quote:But during the AIs and 6Ns we only play Prem Cup matches, we shouldn’t be relying on internationals to play then anyway. There might be a mandatory rest week after but that’s it.BathMatt53Quote:Treble
We could be w/out Stuart for the AI's and 6N windows, Griffin may be with Wales as might Kepu/Sela with England. Bhatti has been on the Scotland squad fringes for a while too. It's a potential nightmare scenario...
Could be a 6N issue but I would be amazed if Stuart is involved in the AIs. Then is Stuart for the 6N is back I would be amazed is Sela and him are both picked.
During the 6Ns last season we had no Stuart due to injury and no TdT as he was given the time off.
We may have to accept competing for 3rd or 4th as a reasonable objective whilst our young front row develops.
Not necessarily a bad thing in the grand scheme of things.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:06:30:14:37:18 by OutsideBath.
The question will be how long it takes the NextGen to step forward and to reflect other people's views of their undoubted talent.
I feel BVDL and Ciaren D will step forward and be very impressive giving Ben and Finn more time and space to also come in with sparkling performances.
Quote:Bath Supporter Jack
I think this coming season will be one of transition and transformation.
The question will be how long it takes the NextGen to step forward and to reflect other people's views of their undoubted talent.
I feel BVDL and Ciaren D will step forward and be very impressive giving Ben and Finn more time and space to also come in with sparkling performances.
Re your last sentence BSJ we will need a platform to deliver the ball to these young men. Our lineout has been a weakness for a season or two and we won't be the same up front w/out TdT's power in the tight and AB's carrying in the loose. I'm with OB's post above re a top 4 finish as the most likely outcome. Our young guns should go all out for the Prem Cup, we can fight on that front and The Prem if we can keep people fit, especially the midfield.
In phases in matches we had dominancy for short periods.....however we did not sustain this over even 40 minutes never mind 80 minutes.
The line out was bad in the first half of the season but then did improve.
I 100% agree with you Treble that without parity, never mind dominance, the backs cannot get on the front foot and show us what we already know they can do and what we want them to do!
Quote:Bath Supporter Jack
Thing is I do not think we dominated in the pack all season.
In phases in matches we had dominancy for short periods.....however we did not sustain this over even 40 minutes never mind 80 minutes.
The line out was bad in the first half of the season but then did improve.
I 100% agree with you Treble that without parity, never mind dominance, the backs cannot get on the front foot and show us what we already know they can do and what we want them to do!
I fundamentally disagree with this. We may have had a few games where we had a struggle at scrum or lineout for, maybe, half the game. But in terms of overall forward dominance, through carry and ruck, we had it over almost everyone, on average. ARGUABLY it wasn't as much as the previous season and we didn't develop as much creativity to make the most of it. But there's no world in which we didn't have a dominant pack.
Again, dominance doesn't mean you win EVERY collision. But that you win more than most.
Dominant periods still happen and can be match defining but generally these things are more variable. I think the Exeter semi is a good example: we had them barbecued in the first half but it didn't last because the subs reset the situation.
I wouldn't worry about us needing a dominant scrum because I don't believe any Prem team had one last year. As long as it's reliable and above average overall (which it should be)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026:07:01:11:19:00 by theredseat.
The most important thing is that the replacement props can change the opinion of the ref for when he thinks you are losing at scrum time.
With FvW, and usually TdT, you knew you always had that.
Certainly, and the ratio of tries bears this out, we were strong in carry and ruck.
However in the first half of the season the lineout was unreliable. That I think got better over the season.
Quote:The Bear
I think it is very rare to have true scrum dominance for a whole match.
I think you're right - and it just reinforces the view that refs are making it up half the time when they award scrum penalties - it's almost as if they'll allow the penalty count to go 60/40, but never much more than that.
Quote:P G Tips
sw
I think most of the club are on holiday right now.
PG
Seems not everyone PG
Quote:shipwreckedQuote:P G Tips
sw
I think most of the club are on holiday right now.
PG
Seems not everyone PG
Maybe they're all avid lurkers on 'ere and took the hint
Quote:BathMatt53Quote:shipwrecked
I am reminded of WT's point about physical development of front row forwards being slower, Griffin, Sela and Tuipolotu fall into that category (and a few more elsewhere) in a couple of years they will all be formidable.
Yes, mind you Griffin is 25 next month. Sela and Tuipolotu are certainly babies in front row terms.
I think Heyes is probably the best example of this. He seemed to be the next thing for about 4 seasons with little sign he was. Then in a season he started looking very good for England and incredible for Tigers. Interestingly I suspect Stuarts absence and Heyes having to step up Internationally was part of that equation. There's only so much you can learn and be tested off the bench.
No idea about Griffin but I suspect both Sela and Tuipolotu will become formidable players.
Our young front row need time and exposure. On that note, I actually think it’s Griffin who’s going to step up sooner!
[24/25 adoptee: Francois van Wyk]
Quote:Bath Hammer
If LB returns he will have failed & England are going nowhere.
BH, I don't hold with LB having been a failure. I see it more as Borthwick not giving him the necessary platform to develop England's attack, but that is only an outside view...
Adopted Players: All of the little blighters!!!