‘By no means too excessive, by no means too low,’ is one in all Johann van Graan’s most-used phrases. Win or lose, Bathtub’s head coach doesn’t get too carried away. That continues to be the case, despite the fact that the newest proof suggests his group is solely not on the elite degree that noticed them declare an excellent Treble within the 2024-25 season.
A 71-48 hammering at reigning PREM champions Northampton noticed Bathtub drop out of the highest 4 for the primary time in additional than three years. Then got here an much more disappointing defeat in Europe – a 32-14 loss on residence soil to Montpellier final weekend.
Of their previous 11 aggressive matches, relationship again to and together with Could’s Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Bordeaux, Bathtub have misplaced seven and received 4. Not a disaster but, however actually a drop-off from the excessive requirements Van Graan has been used to setting because the South African’s sensible overhaul of the membership started in summer season 2022.
‘You’ll be able to’t deny, Bathtub are usually not taking part in to their full capability,’ membership legend and former England prop Gareth Chilcott tells Day by day Mail Sport. ‘What’s barely regarding me is that they are creating possibilities and never taking them.
‘Their self-discipline is a little bit bit wayward they usually appear off the tempo barely. Bathtub have received plenty of video games by overpowering groups late on in video games. They appear to have misplaced that little little bit of an edge.’
When Van Graan joined Bathtub 4 years in the past, he took cost of a membership that was criminally underachieving on the fallacious finish of the PREM. He has since labored wonders, profitable a primary league title for 29 years in 2025 whereas additionally lifting the European Problem Cup and PREM Rugby Cup in the identical season.
Johann van Graan will not be getting carried away, however his facet have been in a rut in latest weeks
Northampton thumped Bathtub 71-48 final day out within the PREM, in a reminder of who the standard-bearers are within the English high flight
And that was adopted by Montpellier hammering Bathtub on residence turf within the opening spherical of the Champions Cup final weekend
Now, although, there seem like just a few chinks of their armour, simply in time for a mouth-watering West Nation Derby at bitter rivals and the PREM’s early leaders Gloucester on Friday night time.
‘It’s not a disaster for Bathtub but, however when a group that has been a high-flier begins to seem like they’re faltering a little bit bit, then it’s comprehensible folks ask questions,’ Chilcott says. ‘As soon as groups see you might be beatable, it may be very troublesome to win video games.’
Bathtub’s success underneath the no-nonsense, methodical Van Graan has been constructed on the facility of their forwards and a scientific edge. Bathtub was unstoppable from shut vary by way of the likes of hulking forwards Thomas du Toit and Alfie Barbeary, however each left the membership in the summertime.
The Montpellier recreation summed up Bathtub’s present travails. Their defence and set-piece was inconsistent they usually missed a number of alternatives, summed up by wing Joe Cokanasiga dropping a sitter of a go for what would have been a sure attempt had he collected. Star No10 Finn Russell was intercepted for a French rating and his group conceded 15 penalties.
Bathtub are nonetheless creating alternatives – in every of their previous three video games, they’ve had greater than 12 entries into the opposition 22. However towards Montpellier, their common factors per entry was only one.
‘When you don’t use your possibilities, you’re not going to win rugby video games towards high quality opposition,’ Van Graan admitted. ‘We had a number of alternatives 5 yards from their attempt line which we didn’t end. It’s as much as us to be higher.’
The place Bathtub have been as soon as ruthless, there’s now a level of profligacy. The departure of juggernaut, try-machine Springbok prop Du Toit can’t be underestimated. When the likes of Ollie Lawrence, Man Pepper and Ted Hill noticed their salaries improve after initially signing on meagre phrases, Bathtub needed to juggle their squad and that meant there was no room for Du Toit and Barbeary, now with Saracens.
‘They have been two actually massive gamers – Bathtub’s two largest ball-carriers,’ Chilcott says. ‘That can take its toll. Du Toit was unbelievably good. There isn’t any doubt they’re lacking him and Barbeary.
Star No10 Finn Russell (proper) has not fairly hit the heights since Bathtub received the league in 2025
Springbok prop Thomas du Toit was an enormous loss over the summer season as he headed again to his homeland
‘Will Stuart has come again from a long-term damage. We all know he’s an awesome England worldwide and a Lion, however he’s a special kind of prop to the large South African. He’ll take some time to get again into the swing of issues.’
Van Graan misplaced his highly-rated assault coach Lee Blackett to England and changed him first with Martin Gleeson after which Irishman Mike Prendergast. The membership’s former head of recruitment Rob Burgess additionally left to turn out to be normal supervisor at Gloucester and can now have eyes on beating his former employers.
Accidents have undoubtedly performed a component too. Unheralded however massively influential wing Will Muir hasn’t performed because the Bordeaux loss, whereas captain Ben Spencer, Henry Arundell, Tom de Glanville, Miles Reid and Billy Sela have all had health points initially of the season.
Stuart continues to be working his means again to peak type after a severe achilles downside. His membership and England team-mate Sam Underhill ruptured his bicep within the PREM-opening win at Harlequins.
New signing Dan du Preez, Barbeary’s substitute, has torn his hamstring and beginning prop Beno Obano has already confirmed he’s leaving for France, with Saracens’ Rhys Carre a number one contender to exchange him.
‘They should get again to profitable methods as rapidly as potential,’ says Chilcott. ‘It’s perhaps ridiculous to say this so early within the season, however I believe the Gloucester recreation is huge for Bathtub.’
One worrying development for Bathtub followers has been their group’s tendency to fall away within the second half of matches.
Of their shock residence PREM semi-final loss to Exeter final season, Van Graan’s group conceded 17 unanswered second-half factors to fall to a 26-27 defeat. Such a scenario has not been a one-off.
One worrying development for Bathtub followers has been their group’s tendency to fall away within the second half of matches
Joe Cokanasiga has misplaced his place for the journey to Gloucester on Friday night time
‘We’ve not had everyone out there and that’s been the theme of our season. However we by no means make a giant concern out of it,’ Van Graan mentioned. ‘We simply again the subsequent man. We’re very snug with the way in which we do issues and there’s a lot of rugby to be performed. There are nonetheless a great deal of gamers to return again.’
Van Graan, who has by no means misplaced at Kingsholm, has overhauled the group for the derby with eight adjustments, bringing in England Below 20s wing Tyler Offiah on the wing instead of Cokanasiga and beginning younger Italian Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi at lock. Offiah and Louie Hennessey get their first begins of the season.
With Bathtub not fairly on the races and the Cherry and Whites the league’s most improved group by a long way, an enthralling recreation is anticipated – although a extreme climate warning is in place.
One other loss for Bathtub would imply the storm clouds already gathering over them darkening even additional.
