Catt hopes Bath can spring to life after ‘massive wake-up call’
ENGLAND hopeful Nathan Catt denies Bath are mentally weak but admits they must work harder and be smarter to rescue a disintegrating league campaign.
Despite the presence of returning Test stars Jonathan Joseph, George Ford, Anthony Watson, Taulupe Faletau and Luke Charteris, Bath were humiliated 53-10 by Saracens last week to leave their top four chances in the balance.
Following three consecutive league defeats, including an horrendous loss at rock bottom Bristol, Catt’s side face bitter rivals Leicester at Twickenham on Saturday knowing another reverse would spell curtains for their title challenge.
Loosehead prop Catt, below, told The
Rugby Paper: “We were upset about our performance at Saracens and it was the conclusion of a bad few weeks. There’s no hiding place, we have to see a reaction at Twickenham and it’s a must-win game.
“If we beat Leicester we go ahead of them in fourth but we must improve our performance. We need to work harder and be smarter and do everything to give ourselves the best chance of winning.”
He added: “I don’t think there’s a mental block or any other issue there, but conceding eight tries last week was a massive wakeup call. “We can’t say we were unlucky, we were thumped and it’s a feeling nobody wants to experience again.
“Leicester’s not a derby but it’s always an important game and we must embrace the fear of failure and put in a really big performance.”
Catt, 29, was called into England’s elite squad in January but an ill-timed head injury curtailed his Six Nations chances, since when Leicester’s young gun Ellis Genge has emerged as a prime contender for England’s loosehead jersey in Argentina.
Wasps Matt Mullan is also still in the mix and Catt said: “If Mako Vunipola and Joe Marler go with the Lions it will free up a couple of England spots and there are a few guys trying to put their hands up. “I learnt a lot from being involved in the training squad in January and February and all I can do is keep working hard to get my chance.”