Instant Highlights - Bath Rugby v Stade Rochelais Round 1 | Investec Champions Cup 2024/25

The 30th edition of the Investec Champions Cup and it's underway. The first moment was a nutmeg. It is going to come back or at least that's the order of the referee. In fact it's become a penalty advantage. And Andy Brace, the referee, called it clearly in the short release. Tolulatu kept his hand in there and it should be a straightforward three points for Finn Russell. And Andrew Brace needs to give them the mark. Oh and it's going to be the quick dive for the line but it's not enough. Drawbridge was down and pulled up at the last from Bath but now they drive again. La Rochelle, is that down in there? Oh yes it is. Andrew Brace has seen all he needs to see. Bleeding, head bleeding a lot. Go through some pillowcases I reckon. This is a drive from La Rochelle that is getting quite some change out of the Bath defence. That's a good 15 metres so far and smuggled back. Rene Wardy with his hands on it now. All of the pack getting involved. Sucheni over the line and the try scored. Oh they are not hanging around in the drive. It's Aldric saying well if you're not going to offer us them all then we'll just keep making those metres. But eventually the turnover will come. You find yourself isolated. Has it got the legs? Yes it has. They seem to be temperatures coming from the far side. They weren't sure. To understand what you've got to do you've got to follow your man around and then try and get out of the way last minute. Long one and it's going to work nicely. Oh it's a super pick up and it's just absolutely opened up for Tawara Ker-Barlow. Look I just wonder if the impact of that last drive, the last score from La Rochelle, impacts their decision making. They fly into this mall really early. Pepper commits early as the ball is thrown to the tail. Part of the decision behind this was a conversation between Finn Russell and Thakkarna Singh again. Is it going to be the job of the forwards? Or is it going to be the backs all piling in? It is. Thakkarna Singh adds himself through to try to drive it and push it in the right direction. It's at the back. It's the try for Barr. It's the first time in the game that Bath have actually managed to capitalise on that field position. We saw in the first half with the double pump on the throw the missed opportunity. We spoke about just a few minutes ago the importance of scoring early, scoring next, narrowing that scoreboard pressure. Importantly. On side. Advantage if you want. Just on the toe. This is the one that Thakkarna Singh was meant to go forward and try and claim. And Pepper reacts to the loose ball. Oh, there's going to be a bit of work. They've got the advantage. But every single player in that back line knows they put it into no man's land. Silla Leeds does a good job of missing the ball entirely. And then Caballo slips. But that's what you do in these conditions. You understand there's going to be so much error just in how you collect the ball. The post gets in the way of Caballo as he slips. Game on. OK, checking now, Bracey. Oh, that might just be enough. OK, so it's not grounded by Black. It's knocked backwards. And it's clearly grounded by Bath. Yeah, I think Quinn Roo gets his hand down first. Try is good. Olly Hodges. There we go. Black's is going wild now. I'm sure they can both spit a drink at the end of the evening if it particularly proves to be decisive. Because we have a one-point game at the rack. In the wind and the rain. OK, OK, OK. Thank you. West. Slots the three. That's it. Keep the ball in hand. But going from 65 metres out, pretty tough. Yeah, a penalty at a strong time would help. But not that way. Yeah, it's not going the way. Fourth try. They know now that three-pointed Bath have already got the bonus point. No, they're going to hoop it out. They don't want to risk anything. Well said, Rochelet. Did all the work in the first half that gave them the platform for that victory. Three tries from Shagu, Wardy and Kerbalo from their opening match of the Investec Champions Cup. They've seen off Bath by 24 points to 20.