Bath boss Johann van Graan hailed Springbok prop Thomas du Toit’s ongoing impact after a rout of Sale on Saturday left the club top of the  Premiership table.

Du Toit was one of six try-scorers along with Will Muir, Miles Reid, Ted Hill, Tom Carr-Smith and Francois van Wyk in a 40-13 victory.

Bath have now won five of their six Premiership fixtures following a dramatic defeat by Northampton in last season’s final.

Van Graan, asked about compatriot Du Toit after Bath went ahead of rivals Bristol into first place, replied: “I have the utmost respect for him.

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“Where else in the world can you find a loosehead and tighthead combined into one?

“How good are his hands, putting Will Muir through the gap for his try?…The doc also put stitches in him at half-time, and he comes out and performs again for the next 30 minutes.”

Bath lead Leicester by a point as the Premiership heads into a month-long break for the November internationals, the Tigers withstanding a late Saracens rally in a 32-29 win that gave them a first victory at the London club’s ground in six years.

© Agence France-Presse

Photo: Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images

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