Bath are not setting a return date for their England flanker Sam Underhill, who has not played since sustaining a second concussion of the season playing for England against Australia last month.

Underhill had hoped to be back in action for Bath’s European Champions Cup matches against Toulon, but the 21-year-old flanker has continued to show symptoms of concussion and Bath are not prepared to take any risks with him.

“Sam is still really symptomatic,” the Bath director of rugby, Todd Blackadder, said after Bath’s 26-21 victory against Toulon on Saturday night took them to the top of their European Champions Cup group. “Even last Tuesday he was showing signs of what happened when he was with England. It is one of those really frustrating ones: we want him out there as soon as we can and I hope he is in contention for next week.

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“We put him under some physical pressure and he did not feel 100%. We have specialists here and it is symptomatic of concussion. It is one of those things you have to deal with. I have experienced this [in New Zealand] with Kieran Read and Richie McCaw. You have to trust the process: specialists will make the right calls.

“We would never put a player in danger. You have to wait and see. Player safety is really important and we have to get it right. It can create anxiety for players because they have to think about their careers and what happens if it all finishes now.”

Bath are also without their Wales and Lions No8 Taulupe Faletau who sustained knee ligament damage during the first match against Toulon nine days ago. It was initially feared he could be out for up to 16 weeks, but a specialist said the forward did not require surgery and the forward is expected to be back within 12 weeks.

Blackadder hopes the victory against Toulon will fortify his side for the second half of the season. They had blown leads in two Premiership matches at home in the final minutes this season, but held firm to give them a sight advantage in what is a three-way tussle in a group that is likely to provide two quarter-finalists, with the Scarlets one point behind the top two.

“I think it is a massive mindset shift for us that we can trust ourselves to front up against anyone,” Blackadder said. “It was more than a win, it was a psychological victory. We trusted ourselves in defence and attack and I think we will really grow from this. There is more to come.”

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Anthony Watson scored two of Bath’s three tries with moments of individual brilliance from full-back in front of the England head coach, Eddie Jones, who so far has started him on the wing.

“I am always happy to cross the whitewash, but I was more happy to get the win,” Watson said. “It does not matter if Eddie is at the ground, he is always watching. The positions of wing and full-back are interchangeable in today’s game and the skills that make you a better wing will also make you a better full-back.

“I prefer playing full-back at Bath with the way we play, very much on the counter-attack. When it comes to England, it is always a massive privilege to represent your country and I am happy to play wherever Eddie picks me.”