Leinster ran in 10 tries at The Recreation Ground to confirm their last-16 spot, but Bath were missing 19 players and were forced into a late change when wing Tom Prydie tested positive for Covid-19 to be replaced by Will Butt.

Then, once the match started, they lost experienced flankers Josh Bayliss and Sam Underhill following Head Injury Assessments (HIAs).

Hatley told Channel 4: “We need players back. We were missing probably up to 50% of our squad for today’s game, so hopefully we get a few back for next week.

“We also need to look after the ball better. I'm not going to say that we need to go back and work harder, because these guys work hard, but we’ve got to be more clinical when we’ve got the ball.

“We conceded two or three tries today from our scrum and just turnover ball, so we’ve got to be better looking after the ball.”

However, Hatley had praise for his side despite the heavy loss, saying: “I think we fronted up. It was always going to be a tough ask with what we have got missing and then to lose players like we did with the HIAs, ending up with hookers in the back row and nines on the wing.

“Leinster were also very clinical in that yellow-card period. They scored four tries and we paid a price against probably the top side in Europe.

“But there were a lot of moments there where we fronted up and our guys got stuck in.”

Bath Rugby head coach Neal Hatley admitted the Gallagher Premiership club “need players back” before they tackle the last 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup in April, after crashing to a 64-7 home defeat against Leinster Rugby in the Heineken Champions Cup at the weekend.