With three rounds of the Premiership to go, the race to reach playoffs has become incredibly tight, with eight teams still mathematically in the hunt to finish in the top four.
For Bath, a first playoff appearance since 2020 is in touching distance as they currently sit in second place, five points clear of fifth placed Harlequins, but had they completed a miracle comeback over the Londoners a few weeks ago, then top four could have already been secured.
Harlequins were dominant for most of the match, leading 40-3 after 45 minutes, but despite Bath closing the gap to four points at 40-36, the thrilling game will be remembered for only one reason.
On 63 minutes, Bath scored their second try to make the score 40-8 while Harlequins lock Irne Herbst was also sent to the bin.
However, just seven minutes later, Herbst was making crucial tackles for the host as the visitor’s improbable comeback gathered steam tries from Alfie Barbeary, Louis Schreuder, and Ruaridh McConnochie cut the gap to just 11 points.
Did Harlequins have an early returner? đ@BathRugby Head Coach Johann van Graan gives his view on the situation in his post match reaction đŹ#GallagherPrem #HARvBAT pic.twitter.com/UWrviFemsX
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) March 30, 2024
Bath’s Head of Rugby Johann van Graan was certainly not impressed post-match.
“I flagged it with the referee after the game,” Van Graan said.
“There’s not a lot he can do. We went through our team manager and made the fourth official aware.”
With Louis Lynagh going to the sin-bin on 70 minutes, the visitors were meant to be playing against 13 men and looked to have created some overlaps, only for Herbst to tackle Will Muir after returning to the field three minutes early.
“On a yellow card, you’re supposed to be off for 10 minutes, not seven.”
Bath did manage to score one final try on 77 minutes, as Elliott Stooke crashed over to give Bath a glimmer of hope going into the final few plays at 40-36, but had Herbst not come on too early and made those tackles, there is a good chance that Stooke’s try would have been for the lead rather than a losing bonus point.
van Graan did complain about the match, only for the RFU to release a basic statement.
“It is going to go to Paul Hull, and I will let the process follow its course.”
While there wasn’t much the RFU could do post-match, it could have some severe consequences.
Had Bath scored an additional try, they would have likely claimed the full five points instead of the two they amassed. This would mean they would currently sit on 52 points, 8 points ahead of Quins. A win over Saracens and anything less for Harlequins against Northampton Saints would have confirmed Bath’s place in the playoffs, as they would be 14 points clear of fifth-place Quins if you took three points of their total.
The incident could affect Bath as well as Bristol; fourth-place Bristol is only one point ahead of Harlequins, but if Bath had won the match, the Bears would have been four points ahead of the Londoners.
 With the Bears facing Harlequins on the season’s final day, those extra few points earned by Danny Wilson’s side could be crucial.
While we will never know if Herbst stayed off for the full 10 minutes, Bath would have scored one more try, giving them the victory, but there is a very good chance they would have.
