Russell delights boss in impressive derby victory

BATH head of rugby Johann van Graan hailed the performance of skipper Finn Russell in his team’s Gallagher Prem victory over Gloucester at a sold-out Rec.

- ALAN BROWN at the Recreation Ground

The British & Irish Lions fly-half, who kicked 13 points, spent ten minutes in the sin-bin early in the second half, but came back to close the game down after Gloucester scored 17 points to narrow the deficit to 28-17.

Van Graan said: “If you lose your ten, that's pretty pivotal. Finn is one of the best players in the world and was our captain on the evening, but I thought we remained calm.

“When he came back on we also put on the last four impact guys.

“I thought tactically we got it spot on. Ultimately we took the game away from them.”

He added: “Defensively Finn was excellent tonight and his kicking game is so good that you've just got to expect that of him.