Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan hailed Finn Russell as “one of the very best players in the world” after he shone in his side’s 32-23 win over Sale Sharks at Salford Community Stadium on Sunday.
The victory was a momentous one for the Premiership’s table-toppers as they ended their opponents’ unbeaten run at home in the Premiership this season, but Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson was left fuming over a refereeing decision which allowed Russell to initiate what proved to be the match-winning try.
Russell caught the eye with an outstanding attacking performance as he set up three tries and finished with a 12-point contribution courtesy of two penalties and three conversions.
He created two tries for Ruaridh McConnochie during the opening period and also had an assist when Tom Carr-Smith crossed for the visitors’ fourth five-pointer in the game’s closing stages. However, Sanderson criticised Test referee Karl Dickson’s decision to award a penalty to Bath in the build up to that score and where it was taken from by Russell.
The Bath playmaker saw Sale had no-one tracking back deep in defence before launching a long kick upfield and replacement Carr-Smith won the race before crossing for his five-pointer.
Sanderson left with ‘sour grapes’
“That was the game. There were loads of opportunities when we could’ve taken the game away from them, but there was a 14-point swing there that I’m really struggling to get over,” said Sanderson.
“Honestly, I’ve got sour grapes. We’ll go through due process, look at the tapes, but I don’t have to look at them.
Sale Sharks v Bath: Five takeaways as Finn Russell ‘genius’ and ‘massive’ Miles Reid knocks down Premiership fortress
“There’s a hand on the floor, the ball is kicked four, five metres past the mark, yet the try stands. That’s the game, that’s where it went.”
Meanwhile, Van Graan had no complaints after his side’s win and was singing the Scotland fly-half’s praises after the match.
‘One of the very best players in the world’
“Finn is one of the very best players in the world. I said to him in the changing room he is one of the players in world rugby you want in your team,” said Van Graan.
“He is going to be great for Scotland in the Six Nations but he was great for us tonight.
“To play 80 minutes on a Sunday afternoon the week before the Six Nations takes some doing but that’s just the sort of man he is. He came back on Friday with a smile on his face and it was a great performance tonight.
“You need special players in big games to come through and he can certainly came through for us tonight.
“I have a saying: ‘Talent needs a target that nobody else can hit but a genius hits a target that nobody else can see.”
READ MORE: Finn Russell gets British & Irish Lions backing as team-mate lauds ‘world class 10’ ahead of Six Nations
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2025-01-30 08:53:55
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