Bath Rugby : Every Match is Crucial

BRTV spoke to Bath Rugby coaches Mark Bakewell and Brad Davis this week to discuss the thrilling win against Leicester and to ask what kind of threat Northampton will face on Saturday.

Watch pre and post-match highlights from Bath Rugby vs Leicester Tigers with comment from David Flatman as he explains why he signed with the club for two more years.

BRTV was at the Community Foundation 5 year celebration and fundraiser this week. Watch on as the staff do their upmost to raise money for a worthwhile cause.

Bath may still be sitting tight at the top end of the Guinness Premiership and in a better position than they were last season, but the defeat of 22 -6 to Sale last Friday, on a cold and wet night caused great disappointment to the team.

“It was disappointing” said Steve Meehan, “but I don’t think the score line indicated how well our forward pack played.”

Reflecting on the impact that the Shark’s fly-half had on the match, Meehan attributed the vast majority of their success to his kicking ability: “I thought for Sale, Charlie Hodgson played a very good game for them in those conditions and as a result came out on top.”

Now, Bath have to concentrate on moving back to the moving back to European Challenge Cup where every match is crucial. “There are no bonus points! You are either in or you are out. So, it’s very important that we apply ourselves and make sure we improve on everything we want to improve on.

“Hopefully, we get good weather, the pitch is firm under foot and we can get back to playing some good running rugby.”

With this much pressure to consistently produce good, winning rugby, most of the players have pre-match rituals and the Head Coach is no different.

“I try and stay as relaxed as I possibly can. I like to walk down to the ground when the weather is fine as it gives you time alone and an opportunity to think about a few things, but most of your work is done by then. So it’s good to just come in and see the boys and try and look as relaxed and confident as possible – but apart from that I don’t put my left sock on first or anything like that!”

Come and support the players and get yourself down to the Rec on Saturday. Tickets are available on 0871 721 1865

FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW, GO TO www.bathrugby.com/tv