BATH scrum-half Mark McMillan was taken to hospital with a bad neck injury after his side romped to a resounding 46-16 LV= Cup victory away to Newport Gwent Dragons.

Play was held up for 10 minutes in the first half after McMillan fell to the ground and had to be stretchered off the Rodney Parade ground.

Sir Ian McGeechan, Bath's director of rugby, said: "He has suffered a knee to the back of the head and has suffered bruising to his upper vertebrae."

It was the only downside of a rousing victory for the West Country outfit, who scored seven tries through wings Olly Woodburn and Tom Biggs, returning England centre Matt Banahan and fellow midfield man Matt Carraro, plus full-back Jack Cuthbert, lock Will Spencer and replacement prop Anthony Perenise.

The Dragons' only try came when flying South African winger Tonderai Chavhanga latched onto a high ball on halfway and raced 45 metres to the line for the score.

Despite McMillan's injury, McGeechan was more than satisfied with the way things went for his side.

"If we had been loose today, we would have found it very difficult," said the former British and Irish Lions coach.

"Because we controlled the ball, we controlled the possession and the way we played was a significant factor in the ultimate score.

"The players coming back (from the World Cup) will be coming into a really vibrant group. There has been a great attitude with these players and we have to keep taking it forward.

"We feel we have not done ourselves enough justice in the previous games this season, but today I felt we did ourselves that justice."

Banahan was the first of Bath's England contingent to return to club action, with captain Lewis Moody one of two others who are due back at The Rec.

But he does not think there will be any problem getting them back to club action after their efforts in New Zealand.

"One of the plusses for (England) not getting past the quarter-finals is that we have a couple of LV= games to start integrating the odd England boys and Francois Louw (South African flanker) into the back row," McGeechan said.

"They will be in training full time after having a week off, and then it means we can have a look at the make-up of the squad against Worcester next week.

"They need to have that familiarity of playing with one another that we have built up with this group since June."

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