It’s important to remember that Finn Russell doesn’t like dropping goals either.
Bath’s first-choice fly-half famously prefers keeping ball in hand, having landed only one in open play in his entire playing career.
That one though came at the exact place that Santi Carreras, standing in for the injured Russell, turned down a string of opportunities at the death in the 27-26 defeat by Exeter on Sunday.
Back in March 2024, in the shadow of the south stand, Russell doubled back to flop over an ugly-looking dropper on the way to victory over Sale. Typically, he did it with his weaker left foot., external
Carreras was at even closer range. A monster four-and-half-minute 40-phase passage of play had taken the hosts to within inches of the line. Carreras could have stepped back deep into the pocket and still had a straightforward, central pot at goal.
Instead, Bath backed their forward power to overwhelm Exeter’s cussed goalline stand. Vilikesa ‘Billy’ Sela did eventually get over – but crucially not down. Held up over the whitewash by a combination of Olly Woodburn and Zack Wimbush, it marked the end of a remarkable match, the culmination of an almighty comeback and the start of some wild celebrations.
