Bath Rugby player ratings from La Rochelle loss - 'Just could not take opportunities'

Bath Rugby fell to defeat in their first Investec Champions Cup match to two-time champions La Rochelle on Friday night, with a disappointing first 40 minutes leaving the Blue, Black and White with too much to do in the second half.

In the swirling wind and the horizontal rain, the Top 14 side took hold of the game in the first half thanks to dominant work from their forward pack, bullying the home side at times with power and precision. Tries from Oscar Jegou, Reda Wardi and Player of the Match Rawera Kerr-Barlow, which were all converted by fly-half Ihaia West, gave the French side a 21-6 halftime lead, with Bath's only points coming from two penalties courtesy of Finn Russell's boot.

However, the second half was much improved for the home side, playing La Rochelle at their own game and succeeding in a great 20-minute spell, with Tom Dunn and Quinn Roux dotting down for the Blue, Black and White as Russell knocked both conversions over. However, a West penalty gave the French side a four-point lead, and after that, both sides had the opportunity to seal the game, but mistakes from each team crept in as the pressure built. But Bath left themselves with too much to do, and one too many mistakes meant they let the opportunity slip through their fingers as La Rochelle came away with the win.

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Rugby writer Olly D'Arcy takes a closer look at the individual performances of the Bath players...

15 Tom de Glanville - 7

A very solid game from De Glanville considering the conditions. He did extremely well under the high ball, making very few mistakes throughout the game. His kicking was also very nice throughout, challenging the La Rochelle backs at every opportunity and winning the territory battle more often than not. While he could not do a lot with the ball in hand as a result of the wind and the rain, he imposed himself very well and was one of the better players for the home side tonight.

14 Joe Cokanasiga - 5

Like Exeter, the big winger did not see any of the ball in the first half, with the Blue, Black and White playing through the backs very rarely due to the conditions. That continued in the second half, and although he tried to get in the game a little bit more by coming off his wing more often to get the ball in his hands, it was not the game for big carries, so he had very little success there as well. A tough day at the office for Cokanasiga.

13 Cam Redpath - 6

The Scottish international returned to the starting XV after coming back from injury, with Ollie Lawrence resting after his international stint. He was used quite frequently as the first receiver in the second half, but as was the case for many others throughout the night, there was little to no joy with big carries, with the La Rochelle defence stifling the Blue, Black and White in the midfield very effectively. It's nice to see Redpath back, however, and there were plenty of signs to show that he is back to full fitness, which will please many home fans.

12 Will Butt - 6

With Lawrence out, the inside centre continued to hold on to the 12 jersey that he fought for well with some brilliant performances. He was used as the first ball carrier as he looked to break down the La Rochelle defence, but they were well-disciplined and stayed strong in the midfield. He wasn't used as much in the second half, and after his red-hot start to the season, he's cooled off a little bit. But he still packs a lot of quality in his performances week in and week out.

11 Will Muir - 7

'The Horse' has been Bath's secret weapon when it comes to the kicking game, always using his long arms to great effect to win his aerial duels. With the kicking game being used plenty of times as a result of the conditions, he was able to do that a couple of times, although a misfiring Bath could not take advantage of any of these. He had the best break of the entire game, galloping forward 20 or 30 metres to give Bath a great attacking platform, showing how exciting of a player he is by making opportunities out of nothing. He was the most dangerous out of all the backs in the entire game, and that has been the case for many games this season.

10 Finn Russell - 7

With driving winds and horizontal rain hitting the Rec this Friday night, it was always going to be a tricky game for Russell and his wonderous skills to show themselves in abundance like they usually do. He tried to be clever on kick-off with low-driving kicks, but he was at fault for La Rochelle's third try, stepping too high to easily allow scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow to score and make it 21-6 just after 30 minutes. However, in the second half, there was fantastic poise and control from the Scottish international, and although it wasn't enough to steer his side to victory, it was clever rugby in very poor conditions.

9 Louis Schreuder - 7

In a late change to the side, captain and talisman Spencer was ruled out through injury before the teams arrived at the Rec, meaning Schreuder was brought up to start at scrum-half, and Tom Carr-Smith filled in on the bench. Schreuder's box kicks were sound enough, but there were silly mistakes that crept into his game that kept putting Bath on the back foot, which included a couple of loose passes. But in the second half, along with Russell, his kicking and control of the game were super, and after stepping in at the 11th hour, it was a performance that garnered much praise from Johann van Graan.

1 Thomas du Toit - 7

The South African made a second straight appearance on the loosehead side of the scrum instead of his favoured tighthead position with Beno Obano still out, once again showing his versatility. There was some good work in defence as always to start, but even Du Toit could not stop a potent La Rochelle pack. In the scrum, he won his matchup well against Atonio with multiple penalties, with the Bath scrum the only real joy in the first 40. He put in some fine work in the second half to bring Bath back in the game, and although he came off a bit earlier than expected, his effect was felt as always.

2 Tom Dunn - 6

Like last weekend against Exeter in the Premiership, there were a couple of loose lineout throws, with one of them giving away a penalty to the French side, who then drove their maul all the way from just inside the 22 to crash over the line to really stamp their authority on the game. Then, a dummy throw from the misfiring lineout gave possession once again inside La Rochelle's 22, summing up the Blue, Black and White's first half as they couldn't take their opportunities with silly mistakes. However, when the lineout went to plan in the 22, Dunn was there to profit off the driving maul, bundling over for the first score in the second half and bringing the Blue, Black and White right back in the game, sparing his blushes from what was a mistake-filled game from the hooker.

3 Will Stuart - 6

Super carry to start the game for the England international, bringing the physicality to the French side as he drove right over his opposite number and man-mountain Uini Atonio. However, the Blue, Black and White were unable to deal with La Rochelle's back inside the 22 as they were easily knocked back behind the gain line multiple times. In the second half, he tried to impose himself a bit more with the ball in hand, and although the scrum continued to have some success, there was not a lot of freedom in the midfield due to La Rochelle's stoutness in the midfield, as well as the torrential conditions.

4 Quinn Roux - 7

There were a couple of big hits that came in from the Irish international in the first half, but it did not bring much joy for the Blue, Black and White, as the French side entered the 22 three times, scoring tries at every attempt as they physically dominated the Bath forwards in the midfield. However, the lock profited off a mistake made by Kerr-Barlow to score his try, with the La Rochelle scrum-half scrambling back and missing the ball as he tried to put downward pressure on the ball in their own try area. As a result, Roux came sliding through and brought Bath to within a point. After a quiet game against Exeter last week, the lock was back to his best with a performance that we have seen a lot this season.

5 Charlie Ewels - 6

The lock took the captain's armband with Spencer out, but even his fantastic leadership qualities were lost on the Bath pack in the first 40, who were second-best in multiple parts of the game as the Top 14 side took a 15-point lead into the sheds with them at the break. He was able to cause havoc to the lineout for the away side who lost multiple set-pieces in the second 40. However, Bath just could not take their opportunities with those chances. Ewels was not as prominent as he would have wanted to be, but it was nice to see him back with the armband, especially in a game as crucial as Friday night's.

6 Ted Hill - 5

Hill has been superb for Bath so far this season, but he kept in check throughout by the away side today. There was very little joy for him in attack, and in defence, especially in the first half, La Rochelle were far too dominant. Although Bath had much more joy in the second 40, again, there was not a lot of Hill in attack or defence. He was neutralised very well by the French side, and there's reason to believe that could have been a tactic, as he was kept extremely quiet, and that has been rarely seen since the bak-rower came to the Rec. There will be plenty more European joy for Hill, but Friday night was not his night.

7 Guy Pepper - 6

Last week's Player of the Match against Exeter did not have as much joy in the first 40, unable to impose himself in defence or at the breakdown where he has been such a menace so far this year. He was kept in check in the second half as well, but he was right alongside Roux to dot down for Bath's second try, with the lock just getting ahead of Pepper to get his name on the scoresheet. There were a couple of sublime tackles that came in too in the second 40, but like Hill, there was little joy for the back-rower.

8 Miles Reid - 6

Reid was once again used as a number eight as we've seen quite a lot this season as Bath had to deal with injuries to Sam Underhill and Alfie Barbeary. The back-rower was used as the first receiver off the back of the lineout multiple times to try and break down the La Rochelle defence, but as was the case for both sides, there was not a lot of joy carrying the ball. As always, he busied himself at the breakdown, with his sublime jackling ability showing itself once again as he won a couple of penalties. In the second half, he tried to make some more inroads but was unable to break through, and after 56 minutes, his busy night with the ball in hand was done.

Replacements:

16 Niall Annett - 5

17 Francois van Wyk - 6

18 Archie Griffin - 6

19 Ross Molony - 6

20 Josh Bayliss - 6

21 Tom Carr-Smith - N/A

22 Max Ojomoh - 6

23 Jaco Coetzee - 7