Alex Crockett and Steve Meehan have both hailed the impact Shontayne Hape is starting to have on Bath's season.

The former rugby league star played a key role as Bath crushed Bristol 45-8 in the Guinness Premiership on Saturday, producing an assured midfield performance alongside Butch James and Crockett.

Hape only switched codes last summer, joining Bath from Bradford Bulls, and is gradually settling into life in the 15-man game.

Club captain Crockett, who scored two of his side's six tries in Saturday's derby demolition, said: "Shontayne was fantastic.

"He was brilliant at Worcester, too, and was then rested – and I think the coaches are cautious of chucking him in and asking too much of him too early.

"I think they're doing the right thing by bringing him in slowly and giving him a couple of games here and a couple of games there.

"At the start of the season, he showed he is strong and athletic and has a great offload, but perhaps he sometimes made the wrong decisions. But now he is making the right decisions more often than not.

"I said at the start of the season he was going to be good, and he's really starting to show that now."

Head coach Meehan was equally enthusiastic about the New Zealander's contribution from inside centre.

"He's had to be patient for his opportunities, but he has clearly taken his last few opportunities very well," he said. "We're delighted with his progress. I think he has shown great strides already this season – and I expect him to continue.

"I don't think there are going to be any dramas with him dropping the tag of being a convert or being a rugby league player trying to learn the game of rugby union.

"I think that by the end of this season, and certainly the beginning of next, he's going to be a real rugby union centre and somebody a lot of teams will start paying a lot of attention to."