CAMERON REDPATH
Bath’s Scotland ace looking for revenge over Leicester Tigers
CAM REDPATH says any thoughts of joining his father, Bryan, and moving a step closer to becoming a European Challenge Cup winner will have to be put on hold for the time being.
The Scotland international returned from a two-month lay-off with a neck injury to help Bath into the semi-finals of Europe’s second-tier competition with a 26-13 victory over London Irish last weekend.
The semi-final against Montpellier on May 1 comes after Premiership battles against fellow European semi-finalists Leicester and Wasps.
Today’s opponents, Leicester, have won five of their last six games in all competitions, and were far from disgraced in picking up two losing points in their only defeat in that run at Exeter, so arrive at The Rec in good form.
“They are a very good side and looking more like the old Leicester Tigers which is always a tough team to play,” acknowledged the classy centre.
“We lost to them earlier in the season (36-31), which for us, was a big hit. We should never have lost
the game, we let them back in.
“But we’re really confident in our ability and we feel that when we get it right on the day, there are very few teams that can stop us.”
Redpath’s return from the neck injury he sustained while on Scotland duty in the Six Nations campaign is a major boost for Bath as they strive to stay in contention on two fronts.
With Leicester in seventh place and Bath one point behind in eighth in the Premiership table and only eight games remaining, today’s match has a make-or-break feel in the race for the play-offs.
It could also serve as a dress rehearsal for the Challenge Cup final if Bath can beat Montpellier and Leicester overcome Ulster in the other semi-final.
“We’ve got to focus on the Premiership in the next couple of weeks but it is in the back of our mind that some silverware is up for grabs,” said Redpath, whose father won the European Challenge Cup with Sale in 2002 and 2005.
“We need a big game against Leicester this weekend and hopefully against Wasps the weekend after so we can go into the game against Montpellier flying. We’re in a good place at the minute as a club and we’d like to think we can win that tournament.”
Victory would end Bath’s 13-year wait for a trophy of any description and cap what has been a remarkable season for Redpath.
The 21-year-old made his Test debut in the opening round of the Six Nations as Scotland beat England at Twickenham for the first time since 1983.
Redpath looked totally at home in the Calcutta Cup triumph and his partnership with Finn Russell in the 10-12 axis promised much until injury intervened.
“I was gutted, obviously, about getting injured and having to miss the rest of the tournament but I guess that has kind of been a theme of my career so far, every time I do something alright, I kind of get injured,” he said.
“But I am a pretty positive guy, I like to think, and it was good to get back to Bath and try and get back fit as quickly as possible.
“Because it was a neck injury, I didn’t want to rush it. It’s been a long eight weeks but it is nice to be back playing again.”
Redpath slotted in at flyhalf against London Irish after Orlando Bailey was forced off with a head injury. With Rhys Priestland (hamstring) and Tian Schoeman (knee) out of the equation, he faces the prospect of more game time there.
“It (10) is not my favourite position but it’s part of the game and if I am needed to cover there, I am happy to do so,” he admitted, happy to be wearing 12 today with Josh Matavesi at 10.
“I quite like carrying, not necessarily a physical game, but I like to get my head stuck in and jackaling and things like that, and as a 10 sometimes you have got to be a bit more aware of things going on elsewhere on the pitch and call the plays. I don’t mind doing that, but I prefer to be right in the middle of it and
12, for me, is a position where I feel I can do that.”