Bath Rugby : James happy to be back

Chas Williamson

James happy to be back

16 April 2008, 5:06 pm

By Simon Clark

After making a comeback from a dislocated shoulder on Tuesday night during a thrilling 26-12 win against Leicester Tigers at the Rec, Bath Rugby fly-half Butch James was just pleased to get back into the thick of the action.

"It was good to be playing again, instead of watching the game, and be involved out on the pitch.

“During my rehabilitation period it was hard, I really get worked up and uptight when I am not playing and it was awesome to not just put the jersey on but to be back on the field playing.”

James played the full eighty minutes of the game and was pleased with Bath’s first-half display but thought Bath let Leicester back into the game in the second half.

“The first half was really good. We played some of the best rugby that we have played all season. We then fell asleep a bit and Leicester got their hands a bit more on the ball than they did in the first half.”

With a vital home win secured, Bath now turn their attention to Worcester and despite the Midland clubs position near the bottom of the Guinness Premiership table, James is under no illusions about the task at hand given the fact that Worcester have taken the scalps of both Gloucester and Leicester at Sixways in recent games.

“It is going to be tough as they have had some good results in the last few games and will be a much more difficult side to play against than people expect.”

Having arrived at Bath in November after helping South Africa lift the World Cup, James is now settled and looking forward to the end of season run in as Bath Rugby continue to progress in both the Guinness Premiership and the European Challenge Cup.

“It did not take me long to get settled and within a month I felt part of the team. I am now looking forward to the rest of my time here.

“There is a lot to look forward to for the rest of the season. I think it is an exciting time and I felt the buzz around the stadium and around the boys on Tuesday night – it is good and it is important for us to finish the season off well and be in the top two or three at the end of the regular season.”