Underhill began like a train, tearing after Bailey’s kick-off and swooping over O’Brien to win a breakdown penalty within 10 seconds. I do feel like we’re taking steps forward.” It would have been one phase and they’d have been through. “At the start of the year, we wouldn’t even have gone toe-to-toe with them for four phases.
“We’ve been in a rut, far lower than we are now,” insisted Charlie Ewels, the Bath captain, at full time. As injuries caused havoc around him, with Sam Underhill failing a head injury assessment, the 20-year-old did not surrender. Yet he is clearly made of the right stuff. Class and cohesion shone.įor Orlando Bailey, the most eye-catching member of England’s latest squad, it was a chastening episode. Age is just a number in his case because his mind is as sharp as ever.”Īndrew Porter, Robbie Henshaw and Hugo Keenan also enjoyed themselves.Fourteen members of Andy Farrell’s Six Nations party were on show, 10 of whom had beaten New Zealand last year. It’s phenomenal, really, for a 36-year-old. “In a way, us and Ireland have been the beneficiaries of him missing the Lions tour. “He’s been a little bit rejuvenated,” said Leo Cullen, Leinster’s head coach, of the playmaker. Otherwise, the form of Jonathan Sexton, in his first start since November, was ominous for Ireland’s upcoming opponents. Jimmy O’Brien, the lively Leinster left wing, scored four times. When the game was over, it felt bizarre to think Bath had started with an outside chance of qualification from the pool stage. Still, the hosts’ concession of 10 tries was another chapter in this grim season and their heaviest margin of defeat at the Rec. Indeed, Saracens managed 71 points in October. Things did not get quite as messy for Bath here. There were more than a few sarcastic comments when Montpellier shipped 89 points to the Leinster juggernaut a week ago. Leinster ease into Champions Cup knockout round.The visitors score three after Gabriel Hamer-Webb sin bin on 46th minute.Four tries for Jimmy O'Brien as Leinster put 10 down against Bath at The Rec.