Russell-inspired Bath cruise past 14-man Clermont

Pool 2 of the Investec Champions Cup

Bath: (21) 40

Tries: De Glanville, Russell, Cokanasiga, Du Toit 2, Lawrence Cons: Russell 5

Clermont Auvergne: (14) 21

With a stunning bonus-point victory over Clermont Auvergne, Bath resurrected their Investec Champions Cup campaign.

The visitors lost Giorgi Akhaladze to a first-half red card while Finn Russell was the architect of Clermont’s demise. He produced an influential display with the ball in hand and from the boot.

Before Russell created a second try for Bath, who had lost their opening two games in Pool 2, rose to a quick lead after Tom de Glanville’s try.

Folau Fainga’a fired over from close range, but Clermont made a comeback when Akhaladze was sent off for making direct head contact with Bath centre Max Ojomoh.

Two minutes later, when Ojomoh tapped Russell’s clever chip to feed Joe Cokanasiga for their third try, the hosts punished Clermont.

On the stroke of half-time, Clermont were rewarded for their resolve with Anthony Belleau’s neat finish pirouette over the line.

After the break, Thomas du Toit’s surge under the posts gave him the bonus before the prop burrowed over from the same distance for Bath’s fifth try.

After defeating Benetton before losing to Leinster, Clermont stayed committed and received a deserved consolation through Peceli Yato, but Ollie Lawrence gave the hosts the final say when they threw their sixth try in the corner.

Bath move up from Pool 2 to third place, but they will face a challenging trip to Leinster, who have already advanced from Pool 3 and who are four-time champions.

Bath signed Scotland fly-half Russell before the 2023-24 season in a deal reportedly worth £1m-a-year, with the clear objective of winning the biggest prizes.

Johann van Graan’s side led domestically, but La Rochelle and Benetton’s opening defeats had not translated into Europe.

Needing a win to kick-start their campaign, their talisman rose to the challenge.

Ojomoh latched on to the Scot’s flat pass for the opening break, which did not occur until the second minute. After a further perfectly weighted pass, De Glanville soared over for the opener as Bath continued to advance.

The Scots were just beginning to get started, but the vociferous home support did.

Russell, a master of deception, then threw a dummy to make room for Cokanasiga to leap over the gain-line before getting his hands on the ball several times to pass his team’s second try.

Next, the deft boot, which Ojomoh clutched on to and sent Cokanasiga over, if that was nonchalant running rugby.

” You can make two choices. You can talk about Leinster’s talent because of their incredible side, or you can focus on yourself.

What a great place to travel to play against one of the best teams in world rugby, especially from a club perspective, and I have had some fond memories there, as well as some significant disappointments.

Replacements: Annett, Van Wyk, Stuart, Molony, Bayliss, Schreuder, Bailey, Staddon.

Clermont Auvergne: Newsome, Delguy, Fouyssac, Simone, Tauzin, Belleau, Jauneau, Akhaladze, Fainga’a, Montagne, Simmons, Yato, Tixeront, Kremer, Lee (capt).

Replacements: Fourcade, Lotrian, Ala’alatoa, Ceyte, Rixen, Bezy, Giral, Raka.