Bath coach Steve Meehan was clearly very pleased with what he saw, "That was right on the money. We were aware of their threat but defensively we shut them right down and we took the opportunities that came to us in attack."

As Wasps head coach, Shaun Edwards, sat in the stands he must have been thinking that this is a different Bath team to that he has seen in recent seasons. Fast, exciting rugby has replaced the dour play served up under a previous regime. Gone are the continuous pick up and drives time after time. Instead every Bath player is a ball player, expected to make things happen whilst in possession but at the same time maintaining their basic job role.

Forwards are playing like backs in terms of running with the ball but they are also rucking, mauling and scrummaging like forwards should: there is no soft underbelly in this team. In some teams where coaches talk about all fifteen players being inter-changable you'll find glory seeking locks sat on the wing for much of a game. Not in Steve Meehan's team. 

The front row, in which Matt Stevens is actively making a case for being the best prop around at present, digs in amongst the muck to win loose ball or stop charging attackers from making any ground but also makes a series of yard gaining runs throughout the match. Stevens plays like a flanker whilst Lipman puts in hits like a bulldozer. Great stuff!

However this new dynamism brings with it a familiar problem. Through creating an exciting environment down at the Rec our coach is making himself too popular amongst the national rugby fraternity. Already Bath legend, Stuart Barnes, has suggested that Steve Meehan should be recruited by Martin Johnson in to a key role for England. I find this a bit strange from a Bath man who used to regularly be omitted by the England selectors who favoured Rob Andrew.

My view is this should be an Arsene Wenger moment for Bob Calleja and there is a certain irony in this comparison given that Stuart Barnes is an avid Arsenal fan. An offer should be made to Meehan which is so attractive he decides that he wants to build a second golden era down at the Rec. 

Wenger's reason for staying at Arsenal isn't just financial (although that has to play a part), it's because he is given a level of control which means the club is built in his image. This isn't an egotistical issue, it's a realisation that he can create something that will be remembered for decades. Arsenal fans still remember the era of Herbert Chapman some 80 years ago and Wenger wants future generations of Gooners to talk in similar reverential tones about his era.

Steve Meehan has demonstrated that he has the ability to be the central architect of our club in similar vein to Jack Rowell 25 years ago. Not only does he coach his players to exceed all previous achievements but he acts and talks like a true leader who is in love with the City of Bath. "In the most beautiful surroundings of any rugby park in the world, it was an absolute joy." said Meehan after yesterday's match. 

Too right Steve, on a warm sunny afternoon there is no better place than the Rec to watch rugby and it is essential that if we get permission to build a new arena, the architects have to retain this atmosphere.

Please Bob, make Steve Meehan an offer he can't refuse. If this one is tempted to Twickenham you may find £10 million is insufficient compensation to assuage the fury of Bath fans!

The game itself was excitement from start to finish with Michael Claassens starting off the joy after just a few minutes as he charged down a Hodgson clearance to pick up and score. Five minutes later Michael Lipman spotted a gap in the Sale defence and made them pay with a second try for Bath.

The visitors then woke up and scored eleven unanswered points, including a try from Mayor, to make the game a contest once more.  Amazingly Luke McAllister's penalty on 20 minutes was their last score of the game!

Fortunately for Bath, Danny Grewcock regained the momentum for his team with a third try and Barkley's conversion made the score 24-14 at half time.

The second half saw both teams trading possession and territory as they waited to pounce on any mistake which may provide an opening. That crucial opening was converted in to points by Bath as Andy Higgins showed an amazing turn of speed to push through two defenders to grab a bouncing ball on the Sale goal line. The home crowd went wild at this fourth try: just a shame we can't do this in games where a bonus point is earned in such circumstances!

Matt Banahan scored his customary try after 66 minutes and Bath closed out the game secure in the knowledge that they are on their way to Kingsholm to face Worcester in the Final.

Well played Bath, that was as good a performance as I've seen in a long time. It'll certainly get Shaun Edwards thinking as he prepares his team for the play-offs.

More photos from the game

Bath: N Abendanon (S Berne, 76); A Higgins, A Crockett (T Cheeseman, 67), O Barkley, M Banahan; B James, M Claassens (M Baxter, 76); D Barnes, L Mears (P Dixon, 67), M Stevens (D Bell, 67), S Borthwick (capt), D Grewcock (P Short, 67), J Faamatuainu, M Lipman, C Goodman (I Feaunati, 51).

Sale: B Foden; C Mayor, C Bell (J Laharrague, 18), L McAlister, O Ripol (W Cliff, 46); C Hodgson (B Cockbain, 67), R Wigglesworth; A Sheridan (L Faure, 43), S Bruno, N Briggs, 55), S Turner (E Roberts, 51), I Fernandez Lobbe (capt; M Hills, 48), D Schofield, S Cox, C Jones, JM Fernandez Lobbe.

Referee: Christophe Berdos

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