There’s faith and belief Bath can do something really special TheBIG ASK

The England flanker has been central to Bath’s surge up the table in the echo chambers of a crowd- free Premiership. But as the regular season reaches crunch point, he tells NEIL SQUIRES he is relishing the prospect of 1,000 fans being allowed into The Re

Q

BATH HAVE THE BEST RECORD IN THE PREMIERSHIP SINCE LOCKDOWN. DO YOU PREFER RUGBY WITH NO FANS?

AThere has been one bonus in that communication is a lot more clear on the pitch, like in training, but you do miss the atmosphere. Home and away games have felt much the same – pretty sterile. We’ve had to look inwards within the squad to try to create the energy you normally get from a crowd. I think we’re all looking forward to getting back to a sense of normality.

Q

HAS THE QUALITY OF THE GAMES SUFFERED WITH LOCKOUTS?

A

The standard of the competition hasn’t been affected. I don’t think it has dropped off at all. It has been pretty impressive, especially with short turnarounds and lots of team changes, but it has definitely shown how important strength in depth is. The format has definitely rewarded those clubs that have it and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

QSIX

WINS OUT OF SEVEN AND 30

POINTS SINCE THE RESUMPTION HAVE TAKEN BATH FROM SEVENTH TO THIRD.

YOU SHOULD MAKE THE PLAY- OFFS

NOW, SHOULDN’T YOU?

A

We are in a good enough position now that it is in our hands over the next couple of weeks whether we get a topfour finish. We’ve given ourselves the best possible chance of doing it, now the job is to do it. I have been really impressed how the lads have gone over the past few weeks.

We are happy with the results but it is also how we have got them. There’s a lot of faith and belief in the squad now that we can achieve something special.

QJUST

LIKE THE OLD

BATH THEN? the challenge for us is whether we can keep doing it. In terms of our performance, we are very much of a mind that we as a group have a tremendous opportunity and we are the ones that can make it happen.

Q

The history of this IT IS INCREDIBLE BUT BATH HAVE NOT WON A club is massive and TROPHY SINCE THEY MANAGED TO PICK UP THE nostalgia is definitely a EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP EIGHT YEARS AGO. WHAT motivating factor, but WOULD IT MEAN TO THE CITY IF YOU COULD TAKE THE what was good enough TITLE? in the past definitely

A

The club is central to the city. The Rec is in town won’t be good enough and everyone here in general loves rugby. It now, and what’s good enough now has an amazing fan base and an amazing feel about won’t be good the place. I think it’s a unique place to play rugby, enough in three especially in the UK.

Q

or four weeks’ THE EUROPEAN QUARTER- FINALS TAKE PLACE time in a semiTHIS WEEKEND. WITH NO PREMIERSHIP GAMES, final or a final. WILL YOU BE TUNING IN?

We have to keep

A

getting better. I I will be watching. It’s a big one for Saracens at think we have Leinster but it’s about as open a competition done that and as you could imagine. I wouldn’t want to take a right now punt on it.