Ewels had nothing Toulouse on home debut

Imagine this... You’re a 19-year-old lock in Bath Rugby Academy. You’re told you’re going make your home debut for the 1st XV at the Rec. A couple of other things... It’s in the European Champions Cup and you’re starting at number eight against Toulouse. Oh, and the opposition back-row is a trio of French internationals in Thierry Dusautoir, Imanol Harinordoquy and Louis Picamoles. That was the prospect Charlie Ewels faced four years ago when the Blue, Black and Whites hosted the four-time European champions, just as they do this Saturday (1pm). Looking back at that sunny autumn day, Ewels said: “I remember when Boothy [Toby Booth, forwards coach] told me, I didn’t actually believe him. “We had some injuries at the time so I’d made my first-team debut in the back row up in Glasgow the week before. This was going to be my home debut against a massive club like Toulouse, stacked with internationals. “I remember being really excited. I was playing against guys I grew up watching on the TV. I remember the occasion but the game itself was a bit of a blur. “Grewy [Danny Grewcock] was in charge of the academy at the time and he gave me some great advice. He told me to take 20 seconds after running out on the field to do a 360, look around the ground and take it all in. “He told me not to neglect the atmosphere and then move on. My girlfriend Amelia had watched me in the A League earlier in the season. “I told her I was starting and I was trying to explain to her what to expect. She said after the game: ‘There were a few more fans here today.’” Dominic Day, another second row, and Dave Sisi were his backrow partners in the 21-19 defeat. And once Dusautoir had emptied his tank, another French international in Yannick Nyanga entered the fray fro the visitors. Bath almost came back to deliver a famous win. Trailing by two points at the death, they had a dominant driving maul but no penalty came. Ewels, pictured, added: “On the Monday after the game Nigel Owens apologised and admitted he could have awarded us several different penalties in that play.” Fast-forward four years and Ewels is a full England international looking to break back into the Red Rose reckoning after missing the start of the season with an ankle and foot injury. But first he wants to be part of some big wins for Bath. “There are some French clubs where their whole season is defined by how they do in the Champions Cup and Toulouse always seem to have a special relationship with it,” he said. “I’ve played French teams before and when we’ve done our analysis and watched footage of them in the Top14 and they don’t look anything special, but in Europe they’re a completely different prospect. “These are the kind of games where you make special memories. They are the best days to be a rugby player. “There’s a different feel and energy to a European Cup game at the Rec. There’s a real buzz and they’re the occasions you want to be involved in.”