Dynamic duo put life back into Bath

BEN Spencer has partnered two of the leading outside- halves of their generation, Owen Farrell and Finn Russell, and although they have contrasting styles and temperaments, he believes they are very similar. 

- PAUL REES

Spencer spent nine years at Saracens from 2011, enjoying multiple success in the Premiership and Champions Cup, before the scrum-half moved to Bath in 2020 where trophies have been harder to lay claim to.

Farrell was his fly-half during his time with Sarries and since joining Bath he has operated, briefly, with Danny Cipriani before the arrival of Scotland’s No.10 Russell following his side’s exit from the World Cup.

“I have taken a lot from Finn in terms of his attitude,” said the 31-year-old Spencer, who has won two England caps, the last in the 2019 World Cup final when he finished the match with Farrell at 10. “He is a very relaxed guy but it is not the case that he is blasé or does not care. It comes from a place where it is about getting better and winning.

“He backs his skill set and knows he can do things others cannot. His belief is that everything with be all right at the end of the day and when he makes a mistake, he invariably makes up for it with a worldie.

“He has taken a load off my shoulders. Finn has given a clear direction of where we want to go in attack and there has been a collective buy-in. The result has been that we have scored a lot more tries than in previous seasons.