BATH
No.Name
15Anthony Watson, FB
T
2
14Aled Brew, W
13Jonathan Joseph, C
12Ben Tapuai, C
11Matt Banahan, W
10Rhys Priestland, FH
3
9Chris Cook, SH
1Beno Obano, P
T
2Tom Dunn, H
3Max Lahiff, P
4Elliott Stooke, L
5Charlie Ewels, L
6Matt Garvey, FL
7Francois Louw, FL
8Paul Grant, N8
Replacements
16Michael van Vuuren, R
17Nick Auterac, R
18Henry Thomas, R
19Levi Douglas, R
20Zach Mercer, R
21Kahn Fotuali'i, R
22Freddie Burns, R
23Jack Wilson, R

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Recreation Ground
5:30 PM, December 16, 2017
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'+126-21 End of second half
80'Quick full time verdict

A good game of rugby for the neutral fan with some entertaining action at both ends. Neither side really impressed defensively with both lines failing on occassion but with both sides managing to cross the line more than once, it was a decent watch.

Louw made some superb tackles for Bath and was everywhere when they really needed his physicaly stature to supress any Toulon forward movements. Watson was again superb.

Ashton and Nonu the standouts for Toulon. The latter's involvement in their second try was particularly impressive.
80'FULL TIME -- TOULON CAN'T MAKE IT -- BATH EMERGE VICTORIOUS!!!
80'Unbelievable effort from Toulon here, they are up to phase 36 now...! Nearly at the 5m line.
80'29th phase for Toulon!!!
80'Toulon into the 26th phase as they try for this final try, they are in the Bath 22!
79'Some immense last-minute tackling from Bath to suppress this Toulon onslaught. The French side just don't have anymore energy to try and create another try-scoring opportunity.
78'Scrum in the middle of the park, with Toulon obtaining the ball in hand. The clock is ticking...!
78'Player substituted - Matt Banahan , Bath Rugby
78'Substitute on - Freddie Burns , Bath Rugby
77'Ragged and tired bodies all over the pitch as we approach the final whistle. Toulon in position but the Bath line are doing very well at holding them out. The Premiership side are just moments away from claiming victory and topping the group.
76'Both sides engaging in a midfield battle at the moment with neither side looking particularly threatening right now.

Toulon and Bath doing well to counteract eachother.
73'Priestland misses the kick... Opportunity gone begging.
71'Penalty to Bath due to Francois Trinh-Duc failing to release the ball. Some more excellent tackling from Louw.
70'Wilson intercepts a Toulon pass just when the French side look like building a decent looking attack. Importantly for Bath they now have that ball back.
68'Referee awards Toulon a penalty near Bath's 10 metre line. Could be a chance to close the gap even more.
68'Bath, with the ball in hand, feed the scrum inside Toulon's half but it's not emerged how they would have like. The French side collect the ball and kick long, before Priestland has to return fire to ensure his side aren't at risk of conceding a try.
67'Substitute on - Levi Douglas , Bath Rugby
67'Player substituted - Elliott Stooke , Bath Rugby
66'Player substituted - Paul Grant , Bath Rugby
66'Substitute on - Zach Mercer , Bath Rugby
66'Substitute on - Nick Auterac , Bath Rugby
66'Player substituted - Beno Obano , Bath Rugby
65'Toulon's backs coach Edmonds: "We need to put the pressure on. We've got to get back into their half. We've got a team full of character."
65'Player substituted - Florian Fresia , Toulon
65'Substitute on - Laurent Delboulbes , Toulon
65'Player substituted - Marcel van der Merwe , Toulon
65'Substitute on - Emerick Setiano , Toulon
65'Substitute on - Anthony Etrillard , Toulon
65'Player substituted - Guilhem Guirado , Toulon
65'26-21 Penalty goal - Francois Trinh-Duc , Toulon
63'Penalty to Toulon for 30-35 metres out!

And it looks as if Francois Trinh-Duc is to kick this one for the sticks.
62'Scrums, scrums and more scrums. Bath with the ball in hand and still looking to escape their 22 as Toulon desperately look for further points.
61'As it stands, Bath are topping the group, one point ahead of Scarlets and Toulon.
60'Bath win the turnover with some brilliant work at the breakdown. That's an important moment in this game.
59'Penalty for Toulon as Bath collapse in the scrum. Kicked for the corner as the French side look for that next try.
58'And another...
57'Two consecutive scrums brings play back to a pause for a moment from the previously intense tempo that this game has been played at until now.
57'Player substituted - Samu Manoa , Toulon
57'Substitute on - Swan Rebbadj , Toulon
57'Substitute on - Eric Escande , Toulon
57'Player substituted - Alby Mathewson , Toulon
56'DISALLOWED TRY FOR BATH!!!

Paul Grant offloads to Jack Wilson down the right flank who sprints 40 metres and plants it down for a try. Or, what he thought was a try. The play has been brought back for a forward pass from Grant. Very unlucky. He was being slammed to the deck.
56'Player substituted - Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe , Toulon
56'Substitute on - Raphael Lakafia , Toulon
56'Player substituted - Ma'a Nonu , Toulon
56'Substitute on - JP Pietersen , Toulon
56'26-18 Penalty goal - Rhys Priestland , Bath Rugby
55'Little chip from Priestland but it's collected at the back by Hugo Bonneval.
54'Bath lineout, which they attempt to convert into a driving maul, but it collapses within seconds. The Premiership side are still in possession and they are in a good position as well...
53'Substitute on - Juandre Kruger , Toulon
53'Player substituted - Romain Taofifenua , Toulon
52'Joseph punts in long for Priestland to chase, but he can't quite get it. Ball is back in Toulon hands and the French side look to initiate an attack again.
51'Some more superb work at the breakdown from Francois Louw earns Bath a penalty and a chance to escape from that most recent Toulon onslaught.
51'Player substituted - Chris Cook , Bath Rugby
51'Substitute on - Kahn Fotuali'i , Bath Rugby
51'Player substituted - Max Lahiff , Bath Rugby
51'Substitute on - Henry Thomas , Bath Rugby
50'Toulon heaping the pressure on, encroaching on Bath's five metre line. Try could be imminent!
49'
46'Rhys Priestland skips away and very nearly through Toulon's line...but he drops the ball and it's back to square one.
45'Missed from 47m by Francois Trinh-Duc.
44'Storming start to the second half from Toulon. They've earnt another penalty, of which they've opted to kick for the posts.
42'TRY FOR TOULON

Samu Manoa touches down for the side in red but the try was completely manufactured by Ma'a Nonu. He provides a superb forward run through Bath's defence. Chris Ashton also helps carry the ball a few valuable metres but it's Manoa who touches down.
42'23-18 Try - Samu Manoa , Toulon
41'Solid start to the second half from the French side who have had all the ball in hand... Do not write Toulon off just yet.
41'Toulon get the second half underway
41'23-13 Try - Anthony Watson , Bath Rugby
41'+223-13 End of first half
40'
40'
40'SUPERB TRY FOR BATH!!!

Great try from Watson. Scintillating pace from the winger who arcs his run to perfection before slicing through the Toulon line. Hugo Bonneval attempts a last-ditch tackle for the side wearing red but it's not enough.
40'Some last few first-half moments featuring plenty of Toulon kicking but Watson is cool, calm and collected at bringing the ball down.

Bath currently having their go at try to make some ground, but the Toulon line is holding firm.
40'23-13 Start of second half
39'A Toulon lineout with Joseph's kick not going to plan.
38'Matt Banahan drills it via his right boot into the corner. Far too fast for any teammate to chase, but Bath are looking for another try at the minute...
38'Joseph rams his way into the Toulon 22.
37'Bath are straight back at it and not giving their French opponents any time to rest after gaining three points. They are in the mood to make immediate amends.
36'18-13 Penalty goal - Francois Trinh-Duc , Toulon
36'Player substituted - Ben Tapuai , Bath Rugby
36'Substitute on - Jack Wilson , Bath Rugby
35'Penalty to Toulon after an offside tackle at the breakdown.
33'Toulon have slowly but surely blasted their way into the Bath 22 but the Premiership side are doing their best to try and force them away.

They're doing a decent job but it feels like they are just one slip away from gifting the French side another five points...
30'
28'18-10 Try - Anthony Watson , Bath Rugby
27'TRY FOR BATH!

There it is - a reward for his efforts!

Fourth European cup try in 17 appearances.

Fantastic try with the England international cutting them to pieces, sliding between four Toulon players before heading towards the line.
27'13-10 Penalty goal - Francois Trinh-Duc , Toulon
26'Anthony Watson keeps the heat on with his electric running with the ball in hand. He's looked threatening so far.

Bath on the attack, currently, and they're looking to make amends for that three points they just conceded.
26'The scrum collapses and it's a penalty for Toulon.
25' A Bath knock-on at the lineout and it will be a Toulon scrum just five metres out.
24'Bath's Stuart Hooper on the touch line: "Credit to the boys. All the work they put in the opening stages has paid dividends."
23'Some nice footwork from Josua Tuisova down the right flank nearly opens a passage for Toulon but Bath quickly ensure he doesn't get too much further...
22'Some scrappy midfield battles at the minute with neither side making much ground. The game is still being played at a high tempo, but both sides struggling to make much ground.
19'13-7 Conversion - Francois Trinh-Duc , Toulon
18'
18'13-5 Try - Alby Mathewson , Toulon
17'Curse of the commentator - TRY FOR TOULON!

Another lineout manoeuvre works well for the French side and Alby Mathewson is the one to ground the ball down. Five for Toulon and that's his second try in five European appearances.
16'TOULON SO NEARLY WITH A TRY!

That came completely out of nowhere. A lineout, kicked long finds Francois Trinh-Dub just metres out from Bath's line but Watson is there to save the day.
15'Brilliant run from Ben Tapuai as he navigates his way through Toulon's line. However, he's not quite quick enough and he's quickly pegged back.

Offensively, Toulon have been very poor so far.
13'13-0 Penalty goal - Rhys Priestland , Bath Rugby
12'However, the referee has brought everyone back for an earlier offside. Chance for Bath for kick another three.
12'Bath are just metres out from bagging their second try right now...!
11'Bath's forwards are battering their way through Toulons line. It looks as if the French outfit are just seconds away from crumbling when Bath get running at speed.
10'10-0 Penalty goal - Rhys Priestland , Bath Rugby
9'Super kick from Priestland and Bath are establishing themselves well here. They already look the favourites to emerge victorious if they keep this tempo up.
8'More scrums but this time the ball is in Bath hands...
5'Facundo Isa is rebounding Bath's tackles with relative ease but Bath are performing well at the breakdown. Decent game so far.
3'Toulon has responded well from that early set back and are encroaching on Bath's 22. We're into the first scrum of the game now, too.
2'7-0 Conversion - Rhys Priestland , Bath Rugby
1' TRY!!!! Very strong start from Bath who have already claimed the first try of the match as Obano powers to the line. His 1st European try in four matches.

Toulon don't deal with an aerial kick as well as they should and Bath make them pay.
1'Hello and welcome to ESPN's live commentary of the Champions Cup match between Bath and Toulon.

Francois Louw and Charlie Ewels return for Bath as they look for revenge after last weekend's defeat away to Toulon.

Bath: Watson; Brew, Joseph, Tapuai; Banahan; Priestland, Cook; Obano, Dunn, Lahiff, Stooke, Ewels, Garvey, Louw, Grant

Chris Ashton moves from fullback to wing for Toulon while Hugo Bonneval also gets a starting berth.

Toulon: Bonneval; Tuisova, Bastareaud, Nonu, Ashton; Trinh-Duc, Mathewson; Fresia, Guirado, Van Der Merwe, Manoa, Taofifenua, Lobbe, Isa, Vermeulen

1'5-0 Try - Beno Obano , Bath Rugby
1'0-0 Start of first half

European Rugby Champions Cup 2018 News