From the same match where Leicester snuck a late
Tom Croft try
to steal the win away from Bath, this try is well worth sharing as we believe its up there with the best scored all season.
South African flyhalf Butch James had an outstanding game for the visitors as he set up the first try with a barging run, then showed his more creative side to set up a brilliant try for winger Joe Maddock.
James collected his own delicate kick into space then exchanged passes with Maddock down the right wing before tossing it back to Maddock who stepped inside perfectly and dived over for a sensational try.
When Bath coach Steve signed James there were perhaps doubts over whether a player with such a reputation for brutish rugby would fit into a side that enjoyed such an expansive game.
“I had seen Butch play a lot of Super 14 rugby and had a different view on him than others,” said Meehan.
“I was very aware he had the capability to play a good short or long passing game. His tactical kicking, which has so much variety, has been the aspect of his play that has surprised people most. Geordan Murphy is one of the best full-backs around and I have a huge admiration for him. Butch kept him second-guessing last Sunday and that shows the good job he is doing.”
Try scorer Maddock believes that Bath play in the manner of southern hemisphere sides.
“Bath are as close to a Super 14 team in England as you can get with the style we play. There are other teams, like London Irish, who will chuck the ball around a bit, but I don’t think that they will chance their arm as much as we do. That is certainly a trait that a lot of Super 14 rugby teams have: they are willing to run it from anywhere, which we are, and they score some fantastic tries, which we can do.”
With the type of form that James is showing currently, he should be a shoe in for the number 10 berth come selection time when the Springboks host the British & Irish Lions. Whether the coach decides to look north or not though, remains to be seen.
Time:
02:01
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