Top four finish is a must says Bath prop Obano

BENO Obano has warned Bath anything other than a Premiership semi-final place would constitute failure this season.

The big-spending West Country side have been English rugby’s biggest underachievers having not won silverware since lifting the European Challenge Cup in 2008.

Powerful prop Obano insists it’s time his team delivered on their potential.“Of course the top four is a realistic goal,” said the 24-year-old. “I don’t think we can have any other if I’m honest. It wouldn’t be a successful season if we didn’t finish in the top four.

“As a squad we think we’re good enough to win silverware, but it’s just a matter of doing it. It’s now time to really produce what we are capable of as a club.

“There were aspects of our performance as a pack which weren’t good enough last season. We didn’t score enough from our driving mauls, our scrum wasn’t consistent enough, and our line-out delivery was poor.

“There are so many little aspects for us to improve on as a pack and I think we’ll have it down to a tee this season. Luke Charteris has come into the coaching team to look after the lineouts and I think that’s a big plus for us.”

Obano is still to be capped by England, but he got his first taste of international rugby when he came off the bench in the 51-43 victory over the Barbarians in June.

Obano hopes to pull on the white shirt again and earn his first cap after the World Cup.

He said: “The Barbarians game was okay. Eddie Jones has spoken to me and let me know what I need to get good at to be selected.

“I didn’t have a body of work for last season. I didn’t play many games due to injury.

“I started to play really well at the end of last season but it wasn’t long enough to really stamp down a genuine place in the squad for the World Cup.

“They (the current props) have played well, but I’m ready to go this season. I want to do some good stuff and play some good rugby. If I can do that then hopefully I can win some international honours off the back of it.

“That is always going to be my goal as a rugby player.”