Bath head coach Johann van Graan has questioned why three “headshots” on number eight Alfie Barbeary were not formally reviewed by match officials during his side's Investec Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Bordeaux Begles.
The defending champions secured a 38-26 victory at the Stade Atlantique, pulling away in the second half to set up a final against Leinster. It was Bath's first semi-final in the competition since 2006.
Van Graan felt that more needs to be done to ensure all angles are available for review, after possible high tackles, including one by scrum half Maxime Lucu, were not picked up. Commentating on Premier Sports, former England internationals Andy Goode and Lawrence Dallaglio questioned why pertinent replays were not made available to referee Nika Amashukeli and television match official Ben Whitehouse.
“I thought the officials did a fantastic job but there were three, we believe, headshots on Alfie in the 19th, 23rd and 42nd minutes,” said Van Graan. “All that we as coaches, players, lovers of the game, ask is that there’s consistency right through every single game. I thought Nika Amashukeli did a fantastic job, and I thought Ben Whitehouse, the TMO, did the best that he could with the angles available to him. However, for such an amazing contest, we need to make sure they’ve got the footage they need.”
Bath had hoped to remain in the hunt for a second European crown, having won their first in the same city against Brive in 1998, but fell short. Fly half Finn Russell rued a number of “silly mistakes” after the reigning Gallagher Premiership champions exited the competition. “We’re gutted,” Russell told Premier Sports. “We went behind in the first half, got ourselves back in the second half but we just didn’t really take our chances in that game. At this level you give soft penalties away and make silly mistakes you get punished for it.”
Bordeaux Begles will bid to defend their title against Leinster in Bilbao on Saturday 23 May. Ulster will play Montpellier in the Challenge Cup final a night prior.
