Bath 38-17 Gloucester: Finn Russell conducts the orchestra for Prem champions

Bath ……………………………… 38pts

Tries: De Glanville 6, Dunn 20, Lawrence 26, Richards 30, 65

Conversions: Russell 7, 20, 26, 30, 66

Penalty: Russell 61

Gloucester ……………………17pts

Tries: Joseph 40, Thorley 53, Loader 56

Conversion: Byrne 40

Finn Russell claimed Bath are starting from “ground zero” in their bid to secure back-to-back title successes after they crushed Gloucester at The Rec.

The Scotland star was firmly back in the club groove following his outstanding Lions exploits down under, and controlled and orchestrated this bonus-point victory.

He shrugged off a second-half yellow card to kick ten points and produce a man of the match display with wing Henry Arundell also on fire, and lock Ewan Richards grabbed a brace of tries.

Russell made a triumphant return, while wing Arundell gave Steve Borthwick a huge England nudge in his direction as Bath celebrated West Country bragging rights.

Menacing

Three wins on the bounce, and Johann van Graan’s side are looking very menacing and difficult to stop.

Especially with their No.10 in this kind of mood. And flyhalf Russell said: “I was hungry to get back, having 12 weeks off was the longest spell away from the game for a while.

“It gives you the desire to return and do well.

“Gloucester had a purple patch when I went off for the yellow card. It helped them, and it was disappointing for me because it put our team under a little bit of pressure.

“We have an outstanding squad here now and we can deal with it better when a few of the other boys are not available to play due to injuries, etc.

“Nothing fazes us. We just get on with it. After winning it last year, it’s not as if the boys have switched off from trying to win it again.

“We are starting again from ground zero and we’re building again.”

Match action

Bath had the bonus point sewn up inside half an hour and led 28-7 at the break.

Ollie Lawrence set up the opening try when, with a low scything kick inside the Gloucester 22, Arundell showed his searing pace by catching up with the ball and quickly offloading to the supporting Tom de Glanville to cross.

Tom Dunn bulldozed his way over for the second try, his 37th in the Premiership. And Russell made it three kicks in a row when converting again after Lawrence finished off another blistering Bath assault set up by Arundell, who had gone on a mesmeric side-stepping run which also included collecting his own chip and chase.

Richards raced through for the bonus point try after Russell’s kick down field caused chaos, but Will Joseph gave Gloucester hope on the stroke of the break, somehow eluding four Bath tacklers to cross in the right corner. Ross Byrne converted and it was just what Gloucester needed.

At the double: Bath flanker Ewan Richards

Second half

Gloucester came out firing and fighting to get themselves back in the contest with two more fine tries when Russell was sin-binned for kicking the ball away from a ruck.

First, Ollie Thorley and then Ben Loader with a superb finish out wide after another powerful Joseph run, to lift Gloucester to within 11 points.

But Russell returned to calm the nerves and settle matters and a fine win.

His delayed pass put Richards over for his second and Gloucester’s pain increased with England centre Seb Atkinson limping off near the end.