Hape powers through Bristol's defence

Head coach Steve Meehan says Shontayne Hape has put in a strong claim to keep the number 12 shirt in Bath's midfield.

Hape, who joined Bath from rugby league side Bradford Bulls in the summer, has taken time to adjust but Meehan says the club are now reaping the reward.

The New Zealander, 28, was outstanding in the 45-8 win over Bristol and is closing in on a regular starting berth.

"If he keeps improving he may well be the answer (at 12)," Meehan told BBC Radio Bristol.

"The way that he's developed over the course of the year could suggest that. He's a big guy, he's nice and physical.

"Defensively I challenged him against Bristol and said I don't want players coming through the midfield. He answered that and in attack he was a handful."

Meehan has chopped and changed Hape with Shaun Berne and Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu in the inside-centre berth, with the Samoan starting the previous two games against London Irish and Gloucester since Hape's last outing in the win at Worcester.

Midfield partner and skipper Alex Crockett described Hape's performance in the West country derby as "fantastic".

606: DEBATE With the way Eli & Berne are playing he should now be first choice 12 now, but because he has earned it with some good performances in his last couple of games! Rugbydump

"I think the coaches are cautious of chucking him in and asking too much of him too early," Crockett told the Bath Chronicle.

"I think they're doing the right thing by bringing him in slowly and giving him a couple of games here and a couple of games there.

"At the start of the season, he showed he is strong and athletic and has a great offload, but perhaps he sometimes made the wrong decisions. But now he is making the right decisions more often than not.

"I said at the start of the season he was going to be good, and he's really starting to show that now."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version