The 15-cap international has been backed to come back stronger
Griffin endured a torrid first half against Saracens last weekend(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Wales prop Archie Griffin has been backed to “come back stronger” after being given a torrid time by his international team-mate Rhys Carre last weekend.
The Bath tighthead endured a horror first half in his side’s win over Saracens in the Champions Cup round of 16 on Saturday, as the in-form Carre dominated him at scrum time. Bath conceded four scrum penalties in the opening 40 minutes, with Griffin responsible for all but one of them as his side fell 10-0 behind at The Rec.
After a brutal first half, the 24-year-old was replaced at the break by Springbok star Thomas du Toit, who was named the player of the match as he rescued his side’s scrum and help them to a 31-22 victory during his 40 minutes on the field.
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It was a bruising experience for Griffin, who won the latest of his 15 caps for Wales during the recent Six Nations, but it is also one his club coach Johann van Graan says he will be wiser for enduring.
The Bath boss believes the Welshman has a “huge ceiling” and is counting on him to keep developing, with du Toit leaving the PREM Rugby side at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
England international tighthead Will Stuart, meanwhile, is still recovering from the Achilles injury he suffered in December after undergoing surgery.
Van Graan says Griffin has a “huge ceiling”
Reflecting on Griffin’s performance last weekend, van Graan said: “He conceded a few penalties in the first half, but we as a group, we win together, we lose together, we gain penalties together.
“It is not about one person, it is about the whole pack.
“As the coach, I felt I needed to change that at half-time and, as ever, this is a growth opportunity. Archie has a huge ceiling, he’ll be back, he’ll learn from it, he’ll be better for it.
“There’s no front-rower in world rugby that hasn’t gone backwards, it is how you come back again.”
Praising the Australian-born prop, the Bath boss added: “I am not qualified too much to speak about the front row because I chose not to play there, that’s a game within a game.
“But Archie is a player with huge potential, he’s just had a very good Six Nations and will certainly come back stronger.”
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