Saturday 23 May 2015 21:05, UK
Mike Ford will stand by Bath’s attacking principles in the Aviva Premiership final against Saracens on Saturday.
Bath played some excellent rugby in their 47-10 semi-final rout of Leicester at the Recreation Ground, running in seven tries in a performance led majestically by England backs George Ford, Jonathan Joseph, Kyle Eastmond and Anthony Watson.
Wing Matt Banahan scored three tries, while Ford, Watson, Eastmond and scrum-half Peter Stringer also touched down as Leicester were swamped eight months after being demolished 45-0 on the same ground.
The emphatic victory booked Bath’s place in the Premiership final for the first time since 2004 and while they arguably face a step up in class against Saracens, who won at Northampton, Ford will not abandon his team’s running rugby style.
"We were so clinical in the first half - the attack was outstanding," Bath head coach Ford said. "The boys kept their composure, and once the bench came on and we got that fourth try, the game was over.
"I thought the scoreboard was a bit skewed. I thought Leicester played better than the scoreboard suggested.
"I am very pleased that we were able to soak up a lot of pressure, and then be clinical on attack. I think good teams do that.
"We would be stupid to change unless it is absolutely a monsoon next Saturday. Saracens will know what's coming - they are an excellent kick-chase side.
"At the same time, I would be devastated if we don't take opportunities when they are on.
"We've done that all season, and my job with this young side is to keep them pressure-free, make them have fun and enjoy it and go out and do what they do.
"I don't think Saracens will change. They are very good at what they do, and if they get in front then it is very difficult to beat them."
Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: "I have no complaints about the result. I thought we probably could have managed the game a bit better.
"We came here to win. We controlled the game for large parts, we just didn't have enough firepower to get over the line.
"The penalty count was horrendous against Bath, but every time we got within five or six metres of the line, the referee was quite lenient on offences.
"To have only two guys binned and not be under the sticks for a penalty try was frustrating, but that's life. Once they got away from us, they were away, and we had no way of clawing that back.
"We need to be better, and we will be. There is a lot of quality to come back into that side, and I have got no qualms about where we will be at, quality-wise.
"If Bath play like they can, and they are allowed to play like they can, they will certainly score points. But if any side are going to contain an attacking side, Saracens would be that side."
